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Prices listed are per person:
Shared Room: $TBA
Private Room: $TBA
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Physical Challenge
Highlights
Cycle beside meandering rivers, along Via Verde trails following abandoned rail lines, and on mountain roads offering amazing views of the scenic Andalucian countryside.
See the great cities of Seville, Cordoba and Granada.
Ride through beautiful white towns (pueblos blancos) in the shadow of the Sierra Nevadas.
Explore history from Ancient Roman walls to Medieval castles to Moorish mosques.
Check out Neolithic cave paintings in the Cueva de los Murcielagos/Bat Caves.
Enjoy tapas, rioja wine and Spanish anis dulce.
Overview
Cycle the Via Verde through rural Spain
Andalucia, the heartland of Southern Spain, is a fertile stretch of land from the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Mediterranean Sea. We will experience the most famous cities and villages of the region in our weeklong bicycle excursion from Seville to Cordoba to Granada. From the tiny whitewashed pueblos to the palatial Alhambra, we will see the influence of several civilizations as we ride with the sun. With evenings at leisure to sample tapas and sherry, catch a bullfight or explore the nightlife, our Andalucian Sun ride is a wonderful assortment of fresh air, new flavors and exciting sights.
Day 1: Seville and Palma del Rio
We will meet in Seville in the afternoon and enjoy a walking tour of the old city from the Barrio Santa Cruz with its Moorish and Jewish quarters, to the cavernous gothic Cathedral, with its distinctive Moorish-style bell tower, through the romantic Murillo Gardens to the banks of the Guadalquivir River. Afterward, we will transfer to our unique hotel a few miles outside of Seville, and enjoy a Welcome Dinner.
Today’s destination is Palma del Rio, located along the Guadalquivir River. We spend our first night in a former monastery, known for its gardens and superb food, which we will enjoy during our included dinner.
Days 2-3: Cordoba
After breakfast, out gay biking group departs Palma del Rio along a system of canals formed from the Guadalquivir River to the town of Almodóvar. There we will have time to visit the impressive castle, which can be reached by biking up the steep incline or by riding in our van. Lunch is on your own, in or nearby the castle. After lunch, we ride over gently undulating terrain to the outskirts of Cordoba, after a leisurely 42 km riding day. We then shuttle into the city in a mini-bus.
Cordoba was the center of Western Civilization in 1,000 AD, with over 500,000 inhabitants; today the city preserves its rich medieval atmosphere and legacy. We stay in the heart of the old quarter of this white city. Dinner is on your own, leaving you the evening to explore the labyrinth of streets and alleys that weave this city together.
The next morning, a local guide will escort us to the Mesquita/Great Mosque and show us other treasures of Cordoba. Later, we will transfer by mini-bus most of the way to the village of Zuheros, a dramatic pueblo blanco in a gorge, crowned by a Moorish castle, and with hiking and biking paths to explore the area. Before our dinner at our hotel, we will visit a local olive oil and cheese producer.
Days 4-5: Into the Hills
This morning we will head to the Alhambra Fortress and the Nasrid Palaces, the most famous and visited zone of the Alhambra complex. Followed up with a visit to Generalife, a recreation area for Granada’s monarchs when they wanted to fell from the official life of the palace. After an amazing morning of sightseeing, we will have the afternoon free.
On Day 5 we will make our way to Ronda and get checked into our hotel. Again, an afternoon of leisure and relaxation. In the evening we will meet up for dinner for an excellent selection of dishes from Andalusia, such as stewed partridge, roast kid, rabbit “a la rondena” and almond soup.
Day 6: Cold Mountain and Hot Writer
For our final biking of the week, you can bike or take our van to the summit above Montefrio, then enjoy a 23 km downhill ride to the outskirts of Granada. We end our ride near the town of Fuente Vaqueros, at the Casa Museo Federico Lorca, former home of Spain’s outspoken gay writer and popular personality. From Fuente Vaqueros, we board our mini-bus for the shuttle through traffic into central Granada where we will spend two nights.
Day 7: The Palaces of Granada
This morning we tour the renowned Alhambra and Generalife Palaces with a local guide, then have the afternoon free to explore this vibrant city on our own, from our hotel in the central area of the city. In the evening we will enjoy our Farewell Dinner together at one of Granada’s signature restaurants.
Day 8: Departure
Our tour concludes this morning after breakfast. For now, we say Hasta Luego!!
Price Includes
Price includes: Comfortable hotels each night; Services of two tour guides; Five guided tours of historic sites; All breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches, and 4 dinners with wine included; Tapas and Wine tasting; Transportation to get luggage (and tired riders!) to destination; Use of bike; Map and detailed route instructions. HE Travel provides complimentary Medical & Evacuation Insurance for every US Resident on our group tours who does not have other coverage.
Not included: Transportation to Seville and from Granada; Transfers between airports or train stations and hotels at start and end of trip; 5 lunches; 3 dinners; Personal items such as souvenirs, snacks, faxes and telephone calls; Admissions not described as included in the itinerary; Gratuities for guides.
Optional Tour Choices:
TBA Single Supplement (for solo travelers who wish to enjoy a private bedroom and bathroom)
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Extensions
FAQ
- What if I am traveling alone?
- Most of our trips draw more single travelers than couples. When couples do join us, it’s usually because they’re looking forward to interacting with a gay group; if they wanted a holiday by themselves, they wouldn’t have signed up to travel with us. Furthermore, the activities included with our trips serve as natural ice-breakers. Within a day, you’ll be traveling with friends. You don’t need to pay the single supplement if you’re traveling alone. We’ll be happy to match you with a roommate. Pay the single supplement only if you want a bedroom to yourself. For selected trips, including cruises, we will charge half the single supplement if you request a roommate but we can’t match you with someone.
- What is the physical activity level of this tour?
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Physical Activity Level
This trip is for cyclists who can comfortably bike 40 to 50 miles a day over moderate terrain with some steeper hills. Much of our cycling will be on lightly traveled roads across rolling terrain and on Via Verde trails following old railbeds, offering a safe, traffic free ride through lovely countryside. There are some larger hills on our route as well, as we ride up to picturesque white-washed villages overlooking the valleys below.
From time to time, people come on a trip intending to cycle but end up riding in the van because of a minor injury, or because they discover the trip is harder than they expected. If you need to ride in the van, we’re happy to accommodate you.However, this is a bike tour, not a van tour. The van’s route and itinerary are set up to accommodate cyclists, not van passengers. You’ll miss some of the sights, and some of the fun, if you’re in the van.
We offer trips in a variety of terrains; you should be able to find a bike trip on which you can complete each day’s biking. You’ll have a much better vacation if you select a trip that’s right for your abilities.
- Where does the tour start and end? How do I get there?
- This trip starts at 2 pm on the first day of the tour at the Santa Justa train station in Seville, Spain. The first activity is an afternoon walking tour of the old quarter of Seville before driving to our first night’s lodging a few miles out of the city. The trip ends after breakfast on the last day of the trip in Granada.
Most travelers will take international flights to and from Madrid. From Madrid, you can connect to a domestic flight to Seville, or transfer to downtown Madrid, then take one of the frequent high-speed AVE trains to Seville. From Granada, you can take an early morning flight, connecting to most international flights from Madrid, or you can take one of the two daily trains. If you go by train, you will need to spend at least one night in Madrid before taking your flight home.
- Where can I find timetables for Spanish trains?
- The English-language website for the Spanish National Railways (RENFE) is the most detailed source for train information in Spain. RailEurope.com is useful for international travel and for busier lines in Spain, such as Madrid-Seville and Bilbao-Madrid, but this site is better for less traveled lines, such as Granada-Madrid, and for trains to and from Rioja.
- Additional Questions
- For answers to your additional questions, please email info@hetravel.com or call 305-294-8174