This tour gives you the opportunity to connect the cities of Granada and Córdoba with their world cultural heritages: the marvelous palace of the “Alhambra” in Granada and the astounding Great Mosque-Cathedral in the “Mezquita” in Córdoba. Betake a journey through time and across unique landscapes and natural reserves that feature along the way. Ride through landscapes with tranquil hills of olive groves, holm-oak woods, vegetable gardens and vineyards, rushing streams, imposing watchtowers, proud castles, impeccable farmhouses and humble farmsteads, all giving the backdrop to an unforgettable visit. Enjoy the villages, castles, churches and towns that stretch before you just waiting to be discovered, such as Moclín, Tózar, Alcalá la Real, Alcaudete, Zuheros, Castro del Río, Espejo, Baena, that now give their name to some of the world’s finest olive oil. You will find them the perfect place to relax and recover lost energy with the best food and wines this region has to offer. Feel the history on every kilometer, and even at night, when you sleep in a charming restored village house or just in front of the Mosque (Mezquita)!
Day 1: Arrival in Granada
From airport Malaga or Granada, you will take the local comfortable bus to Granada, where you will stay in a comfortable hotel in the historical part of town. You can stroll around the cathedral and its old silk market, take some drinks and be invited to the rich tapas. Finally, we suggest an authentic flamenco show to get ready for a journey, which has only just begun.
Day 2: Granada, Alhambra and transfer >Tozar
Today you can explore the city and the amazing Alhambra: This palace and fortress, residence of the Nasrid Sultans will awake your affection for the city (tickets are not included and should be booked in advance). Delightful little corners, palaces and gardens abound in its old neighborhoods, along with a multitude of tapas bars, restaurants and wine houses... All this will bring you to love a city that is as full of life as it is of history and poetry. Late in the afternoon you will be collected at your hotel and will be brought in 45 minutes to the small village of Tózar, where you will stay in the friendly hosted Rincón de Marcelo. Here you get the bikes. You can make a short stroll to the anthropomorphic tombs dug out of the rock and the remains of a defensive system set up during the Spanish Civil War the tombs and remaining of the Civil War before you enjoy the home-made dinner.
Day 3: Tozar > Alcala, ~28 km (17 miles)
After breakfast, you cycle first to the neighbor village of Limones. Then you will leave the asphalt and continue on unpaved roads with ups and downs towards Casillas de Gumiel. From here you continue on tarmac roads, the landscape changes and you ride between fields of cereal crops which are full of poppies in springtime! You come to Fuente del Rey (The Kings’ fountain), where you can stay in a B&B, or 2km further in Alcalá la Real, depending on the availability. Here you can visit the majestic „La Mota„ fortress with its thick castle walls, imposing towers and the old cathedral built by the reconquering Christians within its confines defending the town of Alcalá.
Day 4: Alcala > Zuheros, ~29 or 58 km (18 or 36 miles)
You can visit the castle Alcalá, in case you did not so yesterday. You then leave Alcalá by a trail or by the old tarmac road; you choose what you prefer, to Castillo Locubín. (after 12 km). You can have a drink here (in the park of the village are 2 bars) before heading to Alcaudete. A good downhill brings you to the San Juan River, which you will follow. Alcaudete is a perfect place for lunch. From Alcaudete you head down to the Greenway „Vía Verde„ (an old railway line), which you follow riding comfortably flat for about 24 km. You will coming along the Salt Lake (maybe you can see flamingos!). After passing the Luque station, where you can have lunch in an old wooden train wagon, you can decide to leave the Greenway and continue the tarmac road to the village of Luque and then cycle almost flat towards the beautiful village of Zuheros. A long stage, but you can also travel with the luggage transport and skip the first part until Alcaudete), making it a 29 km stage.
Day 5: Zuheros > Castro del Rio/Espejo, ~37 or 47 km (23 oder 29 miles)
Today you cycle easily via Baena to Castro del Río and Espejo. First you head back on the Greenway to the Luque station. Here you take the bridge over the road and the Greenway to Baena after total 18 km, where you can have a second breakfast (Spanish people take this around 11:00). The typically breakfast here is bread with tomato and olive oil! There is a Museum of the Olive Culture, daily opened from 10:30 to 13:30, but not on Tuesdays. Then continue on a road almost in disuse to Castro del Río, another village famous for its olive oil and the local crafts as furniture made from olive wood, which has been exported as far as Japan. And from here you continue uphill to the next village Espejo, with the magnificent Castillo de Alcalat, built in the early fourteenth century. You will stay in a recently rehabilitated hundred-years-old village house!
Day 6: Castro del Rio/Espejo > Cordoba, ~43 or 47 km (27 or 29 miles)
After breakfast, you can either go by taxi to Córdoba (normally 10:00 o’clock) or you can cycle on a beautiful quiet country road with hardly any traffic but with some climbs to come to the Roman bridge of Córdoba. Visit the stunning Mosque with a catholic cathedral inside! Enjoy a walk through the old Jewish quarter to see its beautiful patios and have tapas in its inns. Or join an spectacular flamenco show!
Day 7: Departure or additional nights
