Cycling the last Nasride kingdom. Murcia to Granada by Eastern Andalusia

Prices and Departures:

This is a self-guided route. Therefore, you may start the route whenever you please. No hurries, no schedules, we only need to know the date. A route in complete freedom.

Price information:

Prices in € per person (and children if applicable) based on 2 sharing with breakfast. 2 persons minimum.

Options:

• SIngle room: +170,00 €/pers.
• Solo departure: +550,00 €/pers.

The price includes:

• Documentation and maps of the trip
• Six nights’ accommodation in hotel 4*, rural hotels and rural inns with breakfast in shared double rooms.
• Luggage transfer between your accommodations.
• Return trip to Murcia
• Compulsory insurance.

The price does not include:

• Tickets price for visiting monuments and museums.
• Personal insurance.
• Round trip transportation to Lorca from Cieza.
• Bicycle rental.
• Unspecified meals and dinners.

Bicycle rental rate:

The bicycles are fully equipped (luggage carrier, 1 pannier bag, 1 lock, 1 helmet, 1 repair kit with a pump and 1 map holder).

• Trekking bike rental: 110,00 €
• Electric bicycle rental: 150,00 €

How to get there? Which airport should I fly to? :

• Alicante, Murcia International Airport.
• Nearest train station: Murcia del Carmen.
• Transfer options from airport: Ask information.
• Transfer options from train stations: Ask information.

Day 1

• Arrival in Murcia (see optional conditions for transfer).
• One night’s accommodation in Murcia.
• Optional loop ride to Fuensanta Sanctuary

Day 2

We drive out from Murcia till Lorca (50′ drive). Before starting our route to Vélez Blanco, we will discover the historic city centre of Lorca and its Fortress of the Sun. Visiting this Fortress will help us understand the major role it had during the defence of the last medieval border between the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada and the Christian Kingdom of Murcia. On our way to Vélez Blanco we will pass through valleys flanked by buttes and wooded hillocks. You will visit the Castle of Xiquena before arriving to Vélez Blanco and its beautiful historic city centre. One night’s accommodation in Vélez Blanco.

• 48km.
• 4h30 cycling.
• Level: Moderate to Challenging.
• Lorca-La Parroquia-Vélez Blanco

Day 3

María will be the first stop towards the Granada’s Altiplano. The 8 km long ascent from Vélez Blanco to the village of María, entrance of the Granada’s Altiplano, is just a hard debut for a quite pleasant day. The route goes on a very quiet and straight road through a dense pine forest, downhill, towards the first traces of the quaternary badlands around Orce and Galera. In Fuente Nueva you will see the first troglodyte habitats, up the hill, with the Cuevas de la Lavandera. There more than 20000 caves dwillings in the province of Granada. The road continues till Orce, a Muslim funded village, famous all around the world because of the archaeological excavations where were found the oldest evidences of Humans in Europe. We recommend the visit of 2 museums: The Museo de los Primeros Pobladores (Museum of the first settlers) and the Centro de Intepretación arqueolígico El Cerro de la Virgen (Visitor Center of the the archaeological sites). Before your arrival at Galera, enjoy the Fuencaliente hot springs (free entrance). Galera is our destination: Don’t forget the visit of the Castellón Alto archaeological site. It is part of the Argaric Culture, from the latter part of the Middle Bronze Age. The visit of the Tututgi necropolis is also an excelent way to discover the Iberian culture (500BC). The Museum of Galera exhibits main archaeological pieces about the History of the this territory. One night’s accommodation in Galera.

• 44 km.
• 4h15 cycling. L
• evel: Easy to Moderate.
• Vélez Blanco – María – Orce – Galera

Day 4

You go right to the heart of the Granada Geopark. The first part of the today’s ride is by the Galera and Guardal river valleys. The badlands, by the side of the road, are the background of this ride. you will follow ancient ditches till the steep village of Benamaurel, the Spanish village with highest density of cave dwellings. We recommend the visit of the Cave Dwellings Visitor Center, located close to the old graveyard. The way goes on quiet roads, along the Acequia del Nogueral, by the Guardal river valley, towards the imposing Jabalcón mountain. You will see several cave dwellings small villages like San Marcos, Puente Arriba o Huerta Real. Around Cuevas Negras, you will cross the Guardal river towards Baza, the final town. The last part of the ride is a long ascent, through a nice farmland and along the Jabalcón irrigation canal. Baza is inhabited since ancient times by various civilizations that have marked his inheritance, the character of the bastetanos. But the Arab heritage is maybe the most impacting: Muslims were settled during 800 years and you can still visit the XIII century arab baths or the Alcazaba. The posterior Christian heritage gave the actual aspect to the old town. One night’s accommodation in a hostal in Baza.

• 50 km.
• 5 h cycling.
• Level: Moderate.
• Galera – El Castillejar – Benamaurel – Baza.

Day 5

Be ready for an awesome ride: First because it’ll be the longest of your trip (optional initial transfer available), and second because you will ride throught the most stunning part of the Granada Geopark. You will ride first on the Greenway towards the scenic iron bridge of Baúl, upon the Baúl river, by a 22 km long constant ascent. Around Gorafe, take your time to stop at the Puntal view point, above the Gor river canyon. The stop in Gorafe, at midway, is perfect to recover efforts before the last part of te ride. The succession of geosites make the way greater and more pleasant: the Gorafe discordance, the hotspring (35ºC) in the Balneario de Alicún, the Toril travertine ditch, the black badlands of the Fardes river. The end of the ride will by the Fardes river valley, a long and quiet ascent to Guadix. The high Cathedral of Guadix, example of Baroque style architecture, is the milestone of this endway. One night’s accommodation in hotel in Guadix.

• 62-84 km.
• 6h-8h cycling.
• Level: Challenging.
• Baza – Baúl – Gorafe – Baños de Alicún – Fonelas – Guadix.

Day 6

Last day: From Guadix you will reach the foothills of Sierra Nevada through awesome badlands sceneries around Marchal and Baños. The End of Wolrd, El Fin del Mundo, viewpoint offer fantastic views of the landscape with Sierra Nevada in the background. Los Baños, Marchal and La Peza are the “last redoubts of life” before the 9 km long ascent to Los Blancares mountain pass. The climb is not very difficult and passes through dense pine forests and Mediterranean high mountain landscape. Take a breath at the mountain pass before the crazy 22 km long descent towards Granada. The entrance in Granada is very easy by the Genil river cycle lane. One night’s accommodation in Granada.

• 57 km.
• 6h cycling.
• Level: Challenging.
• Guadix – Beas de Guadix – Marchal – La Peza – Los Blancares pass – Quentar – Granada.

Day 7

Return transfer to Murcia after breakfast. See conditions for other transfers and extra nights in Murcia or Granada.

Luggage:

We strongly recommend that you divide your luggage between a rucksack and a non-rigid travel bag.

The rucksack, together with the bicycle saddle bag, will be very useful in cycling and walking days. We recommend that you keep your fragile stuff (cameras, binoculars and personal belongings) in the rucksack, whereas everything else can be kept in the saddle bag (picnic food, water, change of clothes, etc.). It must be medium-sized (around 20 litres) to make cycling movement easier.

The non-rigid travel bag will contain the rest of your personal belongings (clothes, toiletries, etc.). Every time the accommodation is changed, we will bring it to your new accommodation at the end of the day. Before leaving, you will be given a set of tags to identify your luggage with your full name, address, and identification data of the route you are doing.

If you travel by plane, we recommend you to consult the conditions regarding luggage with your air company: authorised products, size, weight, etc. In addition, you should be careful that your personal belongings or gifts you may have bought during your stay do not exceed the maximum authorised weight.

Recommended clothes:

• 1 hat or cap.
• 1 kerchief.
• T-shirts (1 for each cycling or walking day). No cotton garments, as they take a long time to dry; short-sleeved T-shirts made of breathable synthetic fabric are preferable.
• 1 long-sleeved T-shirt (follow the previous recommendation) or 1 long-sleeved shirt.
• 1 Gore-tex jacket or similar (simple and light).
• A pair of padded cycling shorts for better cycling comfort.
• A pair of long trousers for the evening.
• Underwear (preferably seamless). It is recommended to wear the cycling shorts without underwear to avoid skin abrasion.
• Socks (a pair for each or two cycling days). Breathable fabric is recommended. 1 swimsuit.

Footwear:

• A pair of comfortable multi-activity boots with regular sole to pedal and walk (avoid high boots).
• A pair of sneakers or sandals for the evening.

This list is to be reviewed depending on the season.

Gear:

• A pair of good quality sunglasses.
• 1 front light (optional).
• 1 utility knife (do not carry it in your flight hand luggage.
• 1 waterproof purse. 1 bathroom kit.
• 1 set of towels (we recommend fast drying towels).
• Toilet paper.
• Sunscreen and lip balm.
• Ear plugs (optional).

If you bring your own bicycle:

• 1 helmet (not compulsory, but strongly recommended).
• A pair of long cycling gloves.
• 1 map holder (optional)
• 1 water container or water rucksack (1.5l minimum)
• 1 repair kit.
• 1 lock.
• Saddle bags.
• Bicycle insurance.

Picnic stuff:

• 1 Tupperware or similar hermetically sealed plastic container.
• Plastic glasses.
• Cutlery.

Personal first-aid kit:

• Your habitual medicines.
• C Vitamin or multivitamins.
• Painkillers: preferably paracetamol.
• Elastic adhesive bandage.
• Plasters and sterile gauze pads.
• Anti-mosquito products.
• Hand sanitizer.

Material provided:

If you rent our bikes (supplement) 1 conventional or electric hybrid bicycle (see conditions), equipped with:

• front suspension,
• rear handle bags,
• helmet,
• reflective jacket,
• repair kit,
• lock.

Material not provided:

• Water container(s).

Required documents for renting a bicycle:

• Deposit (credit card or cash): 250,00 €. The deposit is refunded after giving the bicycle back. Theft exemption: 500,00 € (see specific conditions).