Basque Country to Andalucia Classic - North to South

Spain, España, doesn’t need much of an introduction. We all know something about this country which takes up the lions share of the Iberian Peninsula. Most of us know about the great weather, the best in Europe even, and you probably know something about Spanish culture, flamenco, bull fighting and the infectious fun-loving attitude of the locals. You may have tasted tapas, manchego cheese and spicy chorizo and you may have followed your heroes on the Vuelta a España. We may know that Andalucia is in the sweltering south, the north is mountainous and green and the capital, Madrid is slap bang in the centre.
But how well do we really know it?

Did you know that Spain is the 2nd most mountainous country in Europe? Many know the north and south are mountainous and think the middle is one huge plain! Think again, this journey heads through an untold number of sierras, the most significant being the Cordillera Cantabrica, the huge natural barrier that runs across the Atlantic north, the spectacular Sierras de Guadarrama and Gredos that envelope Madrid and the limestone splendour of the Nieves and Grazalema ranges in Andalucia.

The Vuelta a España has been running since 1935 and the whole country is a road cyclists’ paradise with untold amounts spent on ‘upgrading’ rural roads into smooth, flowing ribbons of asphalt. The road cycling tradition and culture is an integral part of life in Spain, with fantastic, empty roads winding their way through stunning sierras.

It’s certainly a bumpy ride, but we do try to keep climbing to a minimum at the same time as taking you on a most spectacular route. This is certainly no col bagging trip, but one which links the very different provinces of Spain, giving you the chance to be seduced by the ever changing geography, flavours and culture this proud country has on offer.

Days in the saddle will be linked by planned drink stops in local bars, al fresco lunches of the best produce in the region and stays in a cherry picked hotels including monasteries, olive farms, town mansions and a number of other historical buildings which will all put the topping on this very Spanish cake!

This will be a challenging journey giving you 14 days in the saddle, but a trip that will never stop charming you on this discovery of Spain.

Highlights

• Cycling through the varied beauty of 14 national parks
• Delicious regional dishes which change from day to day as you traverse the entire country
• Crossing the granite Guadarrama and Gredos mountain ranges as you move from the north to the south of the country
• Views over the Straits of Gibraltar to Morocco
• The beautiful towns of San Sebastian, Guadaloupe and Ronda
• The satisfaction of arriving in to Tarifa with over 1,000 miles of Spanish roads having passed beneath your wheels