Andalucia Gravel Escape

A women-only gravel bikepacking adventure through the wilderness of Southern Spain

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In partnership with

From mountains to coast, through the desert

If you’re looking for a real adventure, this 450 km gravel bikepacking trip through the famous Badlands of southern Spain is the perfect challenge.

As we cycle from Granada through the desert landscapes of the Sierra Nevada to the stunning coastal cliffs of Cabo de Gata, you’ll experience the wild beauty of the terrain that’s become iconic from the ultra-distance Badlands race. This route is famous for its world-class gravel paths, dramatic hills, and remote landscapes, but we’ve carefully selected the highlights, so you can enjoy the best of it at a comfortable pace while still embracing the challenge.

Cycling with Support and Coaching

We’ve designed this trip with adventure lovers like you in mind, offering the perfect mix of support and learning. As we cycle through the wild, you’ll have the security of a fully supported experience, with a van nearby for a quick fuel stop, picnic lunches, or gear checks.

On top of that, you’ll benefit from the expertise of Laura, founder of Converge Cycling Coaching, who will be on hand to provide professional advice on training, recovery, and technique. This combination of logistical and personal coaching support ensures you can focus on exploring the terrain, pushing your limits, while fully immersing yourself in the fun of the adventure. 

Gravel and Gratitude

We’ll kick off the days with sunrise meditation and stretching to set the tone for the adventure ahead. After the ride, unwind with sunset a session to relax your body and your mind. We’ll take time to explore the rich culture of Granada with a visit to the stunning Alhambra Palace, stay in authentic cave houses typical of the area and enjoy the local flavours before arriving at the extraordinary coast of Cabo de Gata for a well-deserved relaxation by the sea. 

“This is my second trip with Mindful Escape Club, and it’s just incredible how unique these trips are! The accommodations, breakfasts, and organization were all amazing. I completely cleared my mind and came back feeling refreshed. The connections I made were always wonderful 🧡.”

- Daphné T.

Itinerary: 450km in 5 stages

Monday, May 5 - Welcome to Granada

We will meet you at Malaga or Granada Airport and bring you the heart of Granada. 

After lunch, we will setup our bikes, do a shake-out ride to test our gear and make any adjustments. In the evening we'll enjoy dinner together in a traditional restaurant.

Airport transfers, bike setup, shake-out ride


Tuesday, May 6 - Exploring Granada

Waking up in the historic city of Granada, we'll start the day with a visit to the breathtaking Alhambra Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Spain's most iconic landmarks. 

In the afternoon, we'll enjoy a relaxed ride around Granada overlooking the Sierra Nevada mountains, taking in the incredible surroundings. We'll end the day with a delicious dinner and an early night for the start of our adventure!

Alhambra visit, exploratory ride


Wednesday, May 7 - Day 1: Granada to Guadix

88km / 1,870m

The ride begins in Granada with a climb into the Sierra de Huétor Natural Park, with pine and fir forested paths overlooking the Sierra Nevada. As we continue, the green scenery shifts to the dramatic arid landscapes of La Hoya de Guadix. This area is famous for its Badlands-style terrain and Europe’s largest concentration of cave homes. Tonight, we’ll stay in the traditional cave houses of Chumbera, a unique and memorable experience.


Thursday, May 8 - Day 2: Gorafe Desert

Today’s route takes us into the breathtaking Gorafe Desert, one of Europe’s most remarkable landscapes. The ride begins with a journey to the charming village of Gorafe at the base of Gor Canyon, serving as the gateway to the desert. Here, we'll explore Los Coloraos, famous for its striking red colours and resemblance to the Grand Canyon. The adventure continues with a gravel climb to Los Altos de Alicún before circling back to Gorafe. From there, we head towards to the village of Gor, where we'll rest in the beautiful cave houses of El Atochal.

78km / 1,410m


Friday, May 9 - Day 3: Sierra de Los Filabres

Today’s journey will take us into the Sierra de Los Filabres, the largest mountain range in Almería. This remote region often reaching over 2,000m in elevation and is rich in history, with remains of Roman aqueducts and Arab castles. The route includes a climb over Puerto de Escúllar and leads to the day’s highest point, the Calar Alto Observatory. The day ends in the quiet village of Bacares, where we’ll stay in a rural guesthouse in the heart of the Sierra de Los Filabres.

82km / 1,700m


Saturday, May 10 - Day 4: Tabernas Desert

We’ll kick off the day with a climb up to Puerto de La Venta Luisa, followed by a refreshing descent into the village of Gérgal. From there, we head into the Tabernas Desert, officially the only true desert in Europe. The route takes us through dry riverbeds, known locally as ramblas. Highlights include the Rambla de Lanujar (14 km), Rambla de Tabernas (7 km), and Rambla del Búho (3 km), before reaching the village of Tabernas. We will end the day in a charming hotel with Andalusian-style architecture surrounded by the stunning desert and mountain landscapes.

96km / 1,460m


Sunday, May 11 - Day 5: Cabo de Gata

The journey starts with a smooth, steady descent from Lucainena de las Torres into the breathtaking Cabo de Gata Natural Park, a volcanic wonder and the largest protected coastal area in Europe. Known for its dramatic cliffs, unique geological formations, and sandy stretches, this park marks the ecological transition between Europe and Africa. The route follows a mix of surfaces, from peaceful roads to gravel and coastal sandy trails, leading to the village of San Jose by the Mediterranean Sea.

92km / 780m


The Andalucía Gravel Escape draws to an end! We will enjoy a final breakfast together before arranging your transfers back to Granada or Malaga, depending on your plans.

Farewell and airport transfers

Monday, May 12 - Departures

Meet the team

Meet Astrid, the founder of Mindful Escape Club. Passionate about gravel cycling adventures and mindfulness, she loves creating new connections and memorable getaways. Drawing on her background in luxury hospitality and certification as a yoga teacher, she brings thoughtfulness and a personal touch to every journey. She's excited to share this bikepacking adventure with you!

Laura is a dedicated cycling performance coach and ultra-endurance cyclist from Barcelona. As the founder of Converge Cycling Coaching, she’s excited to share her expertise and experience for you to optimize your energy and performance on the bike. Andalucía is one of her favorite places (she also participated in the Badlands ultra distance race) and she can’t wait to guide you through this incredible landscape!

Anna is the founder of the Girona Gravel Girls community. She is passionate about cycling and signed up for the 560km Traka gravel race this year! She will be resting her legs during the trip and act as extra support for us in the van. She also loves taking videos and photos, so watch out for the paparazzi! We’re so happy to have her part of the team for this trip.

Your Experience

Included

  • 7 nights accommodation in double occupancy (twin beds) from 5 to 12 May

  • 7 days of guided gravel bikepacking 

  • Training, recovery and gravel technique sessions with Laura, certified coach and founder of Converge Cycling Coaching

  • Daily mindful practice and meditation with Astrid, certified yoga teacher

  • Breakfast for the duration of the stay

  • Support vehicle with snacks, electrolytes, water and sometimes a picnic lunch

  • Visit of the Alhambra Palace in Granada

  • Airport transfers to/from Granada or Malaga

  • Photos and videos for you to keep memories of the trip

  • Detailed route planning and GPX files 

Not included

  • Lunch and coffees at local cafés en route

  • Dinner - we will eat together at a local restaurant each evening

  • Flights

  • Travel insurance (we recommend securing personal travel insurance, for your peace of mind)

Optional extras

  • Bike rental (from €240 for the week)

  • Bikepacking bags rental (handlebar bag and saddle bag from €45 each for the week)

Registration

 FAQs

  • This getaway has been curated for riders who have experience gravel cycling and are looking for a bit of a challenge. You should feel comfortable riding for extended hours on the saddle and handle climbs at your own pace. 

  • This adventure offers amazing gravel riding with occasional single-track sections. The terrain varies from smooth, well-maintained forest gravel roads to steeper, rougher trails, with some long and sometimes technical sections. A unique feature is riding through sandy dry riverbeds, adding an exciting challenge. 

  • This is a women-only trip for all ages, all origins! Anyone who identifies as a woman is welcome to join. We provide a safe space for women to ride on gravel in a supportive, non-competitive environment. 

  • Yes! Many of the women on these trips come on their own, and it's a great opportunity to meet new people and make connections. Whether you're an experienced rider or new to bikepacking, you'll find a supportive and welcoming community. This adventure is all about empowerment, fun, and exploring together :)

  • This tour starts in Granada and ends in Cabo de Gata. Your airport transfers to and from Malaga or Granada airports are included. 

    We recommend arriving in the morning to Malaga or Granada to make the most of the first day. There are frequent flights and trains from Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla and Valencia. 

  • We’re keeping the group size intimate, with a minimum of 5 participants and a maximum of 10. This ensures everyone has the opportunity to receive personalized coaching and benefit from a more tailored experience. 

  • The accommodations are carefully-selected traditional small hotels and cave houses, ideally located on our route. Regular bedrooms are double occupancy with twin beds, but you can book an individual bedroom available for a supplement of €300.

  • Yes! Gravel bikes are available from €240 for the week depending on type and availability. Contact us and we will happily help arrange this for you, along with bike bag rentals if necessary.

  • Of course - please note the gravel bike needs to be tubeless due to the terrain of this trip. Transfers for your own bike and storage of your bike box during the trip is included. 

  • We’ll provide mechanical support if needed throughout the trip, and a support van will be on hand to supply snacks, electrolytes, and water. When we're in more remote areas, we'll also offer a picnic lunch. This ensures you can focus on enjoying the ride with peace of mind.

  • Yes - bikepacking is a good exercise to get minimalist! We recommend taking 2 bibs, jerseys, pair of socks, shirts to pack light. You will be able to hand wash clothes during the trip and we will be sharing a full packing list before the trip. Suitcases and bike boxes will be stored for the duration of the trip. 

  • A refund of the deposit is made in case of force majeure (for instance if you have an injury that prevents you from attending). If you're simply changing your mind, a refund will be made if we find someone to take your spot. 

  • Full payment is due 30 days before the start of the trip on April 5, 2025.

  • Insurance is not included on this trip. We highly recommend taking travel insurance at the time of reservation with a local company where you are visiting from. We will ask you for details of your insurance provider before you travel.

  • The booking deadline is March 30, 2025.

Let’s connect

Any questions? Simply reach out!