Thinking about riding the Badlands of Andalucia? Prepare yourself for the adventure with Louise's Cyclists' Guide!
The Badlands are a unique collection of landscapes that have been put on the gravel cyclists’ radar by the annual Badlands Ultra event. Every year 500 cyclists sign up to race a 600km self-supported route non-stop. The race starts in Granada, heads east through the Sierra Huetor to the Gorafe desert, then turns south through the Tabernas desert en route to a spectacular finish along the coast at Cabo de Gata.
Our Cyclist’s Guide to the Badlands is all about how best to enjoy the region at a more relaxed pace, we’ll cover the cycling highlights, where to stay, what to eat, cultural highlights and of course when to ride & what to pack. Let’s go!
Each region listed below can easily support 3 or 4 days of unique riding. The beauty starts when you put them all together and witness the dramatic changes in landscape from olive groves, forests and snow-capped high mountains to desert ravines & ramblas and the spectacular Mediterranean coast.
The city of Granada provides the perfect starting point for the adventure. Cobbled streets rise to the Alhambra palace and to gravel trails beyond.
To the west of the city you’ll find the olive groves of La Vega with gentle rolling hills perfect for a leg loosening ride after a long journey.
To the north east is the Sierra Huetor, full of steep forested slopes and spectacular vistas.
To the south east the Sierra Nevada rise above the city. Snow capped peaks in winter make a picturesque backdrop to the Alhambra. The mountain range is home to challenging gravel rides and the mighty Pico de Veleta.
100 kms from Granada you’ll find the tiny village of Gor, and to the north the village of Gorafe, gateway to the Gorafe desert. The landscape is astonishing, marked with deep gullies formed by thousands of years of erosion and full of beautiful colours.
At an altitude of xx the desert rises and falls, making for challenging and rewarding riding. Look out for vultures circling high above.
Journey south from Gor to Tabernas and the desert which provides the location for the shooting of the Spaghetti Westerns of the 1950s, Indiana Jones & most recently Black Mirror.
The cycling highlights have to be the deep ramblas (dry river beds) that cut through the desert.
The first UNESCO nature reserve in Andalucia, the Cabo de Gata provides a spectacular backdrop to the finish of the Badlands route. A dramatic coast road rises up and down providing a stunning finish to the ride.
The whole area is packed with Espectaculos! Here’s our top 5 not to miss culture moments:
Food is an essential part of any journey through the Badlands. Here’s my favourite food moments:
There are plenty of great options for those of us normal folk not wanting to spend the night in a bivvy bag on the side of a road or wedged into a bus stop… Here’s an ever expanding list of our favourite places to stay.
Granada
Gorafe
Tabernas
Cabo de Gata
The area can be enjoyed all year around although it’s advisable to avoid the brutal heat of July and August when carrying enough water becomes an issue. September to June provide ideal cycling conditions. January & February are cooler but still really comfortable to ride in.
This depends on whether you’re riding self-supported or have vehicle back up or luggage transfers, however there some essentials to ensure comfort whilst riding.
Fly in to Málaga, Granada or Almeria. There’s a train from Málaga and Almeria to Granada (you can take a bike on the regional slow speed, the high speed requires a reservation and the bike packing into a small-ish box).
Eat Sleep Cycle can also arrange bike friendly private transfers to your start location.
If you’re interested in discovering the magic of Badlands get in touch! You can also browse our self-guided and fully supported tours from our Badlands page. Our itineraries have been designed meticulously in colaboration with route-master & founder of Badlands, David. We offer full flexibility and love to work with private groups too.
