Mountain biking short breaks in Spain
| country: | Spain |
| location: | Andalucia |
| trip type: | Introductory to hard core mountain biking holidays |
| departures: | 2009: 3 Dec, 10 Dec |
| price: | From £340 - £455 (4-6 days) excluding flights (2008). Includes qualified guiding (2-4.5 days, depending on stay), full Land Rover support, all farmhouse meals/drinks (not 2 restaurant meals). Bike hire available. Non cyclists pay 65% |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
The ultimate mountain biking short break with professional guiding and gorgeous accommodation in the high sierras of Southern Spain.
Our guests share a beautiful cortijo (farmhouse), dramatically perched just above the picture postcard village of Bérchules, in the wildly scenic Alpujarras region of the Sierra Nevada Natural Park of Andalucía. The house & holidays are luxurious but operate on sustainable principles. The mountain biking & weather are superb!
We tend towards cross-country biking so you won't need body armour but you will need enthusiasm. We run Classic, Tricky Trails and Easy Going trips and a special Mountain Bike Marathon trip. Our guides are Offroad Training Consultancy qualified and tailor the rides to the experience and fitness level of each group, which is a maximum of eight riders plus guide and full Land Rover support for food, drink and spares.
Living here, we know the huge variety of tracks and trails in the Alpujarras. Some are wide and gradually undulating and others are much more technical. Some are on rocky open mountainsides while others are in lush valleys. There are plenty of epic climbs and thrilling descents and, of course, miles of gorgeous singletrack.
Being centre-based you can unpack, settle in and relax for the duration of your holiday. We are never under pressure to get to the next place regardless of weather, punctures, nightfall etc. There is always the option of getting into the Land Rover. If you feel like a day off the bike you can take it easy at the farmhouse or do something different such as horse riding, walking, a day trip to Granada or simply relaxing!
We also organise week long mountain biking holidays and family holidays.
If you are organising your own group of 4 or more we can provide holidays outside the schedule to suit you at the same rates.
These trips are perfect for fit and experienced (or at least fit or experienced) mountain bikers wanting to get the most out of their mountain biking holiday by being out on the bike from 10 til 4 each day, with stops for coffee and lunch of course.You need not be indefatigable, because Land Rover support is on hand. We can give you hints and tips to help you to improve your technical skills and plenty of opportunity to put those skills into practice.
Departures in 2009: 23 Jul (4/5 nights), 8 Oct (4 nights), 27 Oct (4/5 nights), 3 Nov (4/5 nights), 10 Nov (4/5 nights)
Easy going trips:
Maybe you're new to mountain biking, or need an active but not too active break, or maybe you just want to chill out in a spectacular wilderness. If you're looking for a holiday which combines exhilarating, but not too demanding, mountain biking with plenty of time to do your own thing (perhaps relaxing with a book and a glass of wine, hanging out at the pool, walking, horse riding or exploring) these are the trips for you. There's always time to stop to take a photo, chat to the locals or pop into an intriguing-looking bar for a coffee or glass of tinto de verano. All the spectacle with a little less perspiration!
Departures in 2009: 23 Jul (4/5 nights), 12 Sep (4/5 nights), 27 Oct (4/5 nights), 3 Nov (4/5 nights), 10 Nov (4/5 nights)
Tricky Trails trips:
These short breaks will give experienced bikers the chance to focus on improving their skills by concentrating on technical, rocky trails, up and down. The mountains and villages of the Sierra Nevada are full of the sort of twisty, turny tracks and rock-studded mule paths that you might find in short supply at home.
Departures in 2009: 27 Oct (4/5 nights), 3 Nov (4/5 nights), 10 Nov (4/5 nights)
Mountain Bike Marathon trip:
A chance to join a tough but fantastic 90 km mountain bike marathon as part of your holiday. We enter a team of guests and staff, offering an unforgettable trip for those looking for a huge challenge combined with a fun bike holiday.
Departures in 2009: 26 March, 27 June, 1 October
Winter Desert Weekends:
Take advantage of Spain's hottest, driest and oddest corner, Cabo (cape) de Gata. This triangle of rocky semi-desert is surrounded by the Mediterranean on two sides, but its remoteness and designation as a Natural Park has left it largely untouched by developers. It's too hot for biking in the summer, but in winter it's a weekend mountain biking paradise, with practically guaranteed sunshine, dry, dusty trails and less than an hour's transfer from Almería airport. Leave home in the morning and be negotiating your bike down a rocky track to a sandy cove the same afternoon!
Think spaghetti westerns (filmed nearby), prickly pears and flamingoes.
Our Winter Desert Weekends run early and late in the year. They include three nights lovely hotel accommodation and two and half days guided bike riding, airport transfers and full board (excluding evening drinks). The weekends are graded as Epic trips.
Departures in 2009: 10 Nov (3 nights), 19 Nov (3nights), 3 Dec (3 nights), 10 Dec (3 nights)
10.00am Set off on the bikes, having done a final bike and kit check. Ride some exhilarating forest singletrack.
11.30am Coffee break and magic buns. Carry on riding until lunch…
1.30pm Picnic lunch in a scenic and shady spot
2.30 to 4pm More fantastic riding, finishing with a thrilling descent to the farmhouse for a refreshing drink
Evening Relax on the terrace as the sun sets with a drink or two before a hearty dinner. In summer there are quite a few local fiestas to visit if you like late nights and firecrackers!
If the weather is especially hot we may start and finish earlier. We always try to do the majority of the climbing in the cooler hours of the day.
The cortijo is dramatically sited on its own mountainside at an altitude 1,700 metres. From the house there are panoramic views of the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada (highest peak Mulhacén 3,482m), the Mediterranean and the Rif Mountains of Morocco.
The spacious, light-filled guest rooms open onto a cloistered Moorish patio with a central fountain. Each room has its own bathroom with a heated towel rail. You can request twin (90cm/3 feet wide) or double beds (180cm/6 feet wide). The beds are firm and very comfortable, with duvets and cotton sheets. Prices are based on two people sharing a room.
We eat in the farmhouse kitchen and relax outside or in the shared sitting room which has wonderful views of mountains and sea from its south facing terrace. In the sitting room there is a magnificent wood burning stove.
The abundant Andalucian sunshine and efficient solar panels ensure that we have a plentiful supply of electricity and more than enough hot water for showering dusty mountain bikers. We also have a generator for power backup and a boiler for extra hot water and central heating in the winter, in addition to the wood burning stove. Water comes from our own spring.
Our accommodation can also be rented out for parties of up to 8 which is ideal for friends, family or colleagues. See here.
Our guests share a beautiful cortijo (farmhouse), dramatically perched just above the picture postcard village of Bérchules, in the wildly scenic Alpujarras region of the Sierra Nevada Natural Park of Andalucía. The house & holidays are luxurious but operate on sustainable principles. The mountain biking & weather are superb!
We tend towards cross-country biking so you won't need body armour but you will need enthusiasm. We run Classic, Tricky Trails and Easy Going trips and a special Mountain Bike Marathon trip. Our guides are Offroad Training Consultancy qualified and tailor the rides to the experience and fitness level of each group, which is a maximum of eight riders plus guide and full Land Rover support for food, drink and spares.
Living here, we know the huge variety of tracks and trails in the Alpujarras. Some are wide and gradually undulating and others are much more technical. Some are on rocky open mountainsides while others are in lush valleys. There are plenty of epic climbs and thrilling descents and, of course, miles of gorgeous singletrack.
Being centre-based you can unpack, settle in and relax for the duration of your holiday. We are never under pressure to get to the next place regardless of weather, punctures, nightfall etc. There is always the option of getting into the Land Rover. If you feel like a day off the bike you can take it easy at the farmhouse or do something different such as horse riding, walking, a day trip to Granada or simply relaxing!
We also organise week long mountain biking holidays and family holidays.
If you are organising your own group of 4 or more we can provide holidays outside the schedule to suit you at the same rates.
our mountain biking short breaks
Epic trips: These trips are perfect for fit and experienced (or at least fit or experienced) mountain bikers wanting to get the most out of their mountain biking holiday by being out on the bike from 10 til 4 each day, with stops for coffee and lunch of course.You need not be indefatigable, because Land Rover support is on hand. We can give you hints and tips to help you to improve your technical skills and plenty of opportunity to put those skills into practice.
Departures in 2009: 23 Jul (4/5 nights), 8 Oct (4 nights), 27 Oct (4/5 nights), 3 Nov (4/5 nights), 10 Nov (4/5 nights)
Easy going trips:
Maybe you're new to mountain biking, or need an active but not too active break, or maybe you just want to chill out in a spectacular wilderness. If you're looking for a holiday which combines exhilarating, but not too demanding, mountain biking with plenty of time to do your own thing (perhaps relaxing with a book and a glass of wine, hanging out at the pool, walking, horse riding or exploring) these are the trips for you. There's always time to stop to take a photo, chat to the locals or pop into an intriguing-looking bar for a coffee or glass of tinto de verano. All the spectacle with a little less perspiration!
Departures in 2009: 23 Jul (4/5 nights), 12 Sep (4/5 nights), 27 Oct (4/5 nights), 3 Nov (4/5 nights), 10 Nov (4/5 nights)
Tricky Trails trips:
These short breaks will give experienced bikers the chance to focus on improving their skills by concentrating on technical, rocky trails, up and down. The mountains and villages of the Sierra Nevada are full of the sort of twisty, turny tracks and rock-studded mule paths that you might find in short supply at home.
Departures in 2009: 27 Oct (4/5 nights), 3 Nov (4/5 nights), 10 Nov (4/5 nights)
Mountain Bike Marathon trip:
A chance to join a tough but fantastic 90 km mountain bike marathon as part of your holiday. We enter a team of guests and staff, offering an unforgettable trip for those looking for a huge challenge combined with a fun bike holiday.
Departures in 2009: 26 March, 27 June, 1 October
Winter Desert Weekends:
Take advantage of Spain's hottest, driest and oddest corner, Cabo (cape) de Gata. This triangle of rocky semi-desert is surrounded by the Mediterranean on two sides, but its remoteness and designation as a Natural Park has left it largely untouched by developers. It's too hot for biking in the summer, but in winter it's a weekend mountain biking paradise, with practically guaranteed sunshine, dry, dusty trails and less than an hour's transfer from Almería airport. Leave home in the morning and be negotiating your bike down a rocky track to a sandy cove the same afternoon!
Think spaghetti westerns (filmed nearby), prickly pears and flamingoes.
Our Winter Desert Weekends run early and late in the year. They include three nights lovely hotel accommodation and two and half days guided bike riding, airport transfers and full board (excluding evening drinks). The weekends are graded as Epic trips.
Departures in 2009: 10 Nov (3 nights), 19 Nov (3nights), 3 Dec (3 nights), 10 Dec (3 nights)
a typical day
9.00am Breakfast 10.00am Set off on the bikes, having done a final bike and kit check. Ride some exhilarating forest singletrack.
11.30am Coffee break and magic buns. Carry on riding until lunch…
1.30pm Picnic lunch in a scenic and shady spot
2.30 to 4pm More fantastic riding, finishing with a thrilling descent to the farmhouse for a refreshing drink
Evening Relax on the terrace as the sun sets with a drink or two before a hearty dinner. In summer there are quite a few local fiestas to visit if you like late nights and firecrackers!
If the weather is especially hot we may start and finish earlier. We always try to do the majority of the climbing in the cooler hours of the day.
accommodation
The cortijo is dramatically sited on its own mountainside at an altitude 1,700 metres. From the house there are panoramic views of the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada (highest peak Mulhacén 3,482m), the Mediterranean and the Rif Mountains of Morocco. The spacious, light-filled guest rooms open onto a cloistered Moorish patio with a central fountain. Each room has its own bathroom with a heated towel rail. You can request twin (90cm/3 feet wide) or double beds (180cm/6 feet wide). The beds are firm and very comfortable, with duvets and cotton sheets. Prices are based on two people sharing a room.
We eat in the farmhouse kitchen and relax outside or in the shared sitting room which has wonderful views of mountains and sea from its south facing terrace. In the sitting room there is a magnificent wood burning stove. The abundant Andalucian sunshine and efficient solar panels ensure that we have a plentiful supply of electricity and more than enough hot water for showering dusty mountain bikers. We also have a generator for power backup and a boiler for extra hot water and central heating in the winter, in addition to the wood burning stove. Water comes from our own spring.
Our accommodation can also be rented out for parties of up to 8 which is ideal for friends, family or colleagues. See here.
free bike hire for guests arriving by train!
In the spirit of promoting greener transport and longer stays per mile travelled, we are offering guests who travel to Spain by rail the incentive of free top-of-the-range mountain bike hire for the duration of their holiday (worth £110 for an eight day trip). So, as well as getting a great deal, guests need not worry about the complexities of taking their bikes on the train.It is surprisingly easy and a great holiday adventure in itself to travel from the UK to Andalucia by train. The afternoon Eurostar from London to Paris takes just 2 hours 20 minutes, followed by the excellent overnight trainhotel from Paris to Madrid. From Madrid there are regular regional trains to Malaga, Almeria and Granada.
Plus, if you do not need airport transfers, we offer you a £30/€42 'no transfers' discount per person from the cost of your holiday.
how this holiday makes a difference
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We encourage a responsible approach to travel. We offer expertly and sensitively guided mountain biking for small groups, staying in our farmhouse in Sierra Nevada Natural Park, within The Alpujarra region of Andalucia. The development of responsible rural tourism in the area provides economic benefits and encourages an alternative development pattern to the intensive poly-tunnel agriculture or golf course tourism, which have affected many parts of Andalucia.
Accommodation: Guests stay in our farmhouse, which has been built in compliance with environmental and aesthetic considerations. We live in the farmhouse year-round, contributing to the economic and social structure of the village. We have regenerated the smallholding around the farmhouse and planted numerous indigenous trees, thus encouraging birds and other animals back to the land. The house runs on solar power for the hot water and electricity generation and guests are encouraged to understand the need for modest consumption of electricity and water. Staff: We employ local people for cooking, cleaning and transport. Food: Meals are made from scratch with locally sourced ingredients, avoiding packaging wherever possible. We avoid paper napkins and disposable plates etc. Glass bottles are returned to the supplier or recycled. Kitchen waste is composted. When eating out we patronise locally owned bars and restaurants.  Water and water use: Potable water from local springs is provided for drinking, avoiding the need for bottled water. Guests are encouraged to be sparing in their water consumption. Towels and sheets are changes once a week on request. Office: We use recycled and recyclable materials wherever possible; print as little as possible using double sided printing. Bookings and correspondence are done electronically, avoiding paper use. Culture: Guests are encouraged to interact positively with the local community by being respectful and courteous in the countryside and villages. We also encourage guests to try and to buy local foods, and wines and crafts. Respect for the environment: Guests are informed of the fragility of the mountain ecosystem and required not to leave litter or damage or stray from the trails. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |