Andalusia Bikepacking
Length
Trip Style
Hotels & guesthouses: 1* - 4*
Start Point
Granada, Alhambra
Terrain
End Point
Gravel
Almeria
Challenge
5th - 12th April
480km
Price
£1295
WILDER Bikepacking Trip
7 nights
Accomodation
Dates
Distance
Last spot available with £250 discount!
Inspired by the iconic Badlands race, this week long trip will showcase the incredible diversity and wild landscape of this special corner of Andalucia. Meeting in Malaga, but starting our ride in the Moorish mountain city of Granada, we’ll ride through colourful canyons, below snow-capped peaks, through high forests, along arid desert ramblas, and finally join the coast for some dreamy coastal riding through the Cabo de Gata national park to the beaches of Almeria.
This was the first of our WILDER series - bikepacking trips in wild landscapes that go that little bit further. Longer days, bigger climbs, more thrilling descents, wilder terrain, more solitutde, and even more memories to be made. With average daily mileage of 70+km, 70% off-road terrain, and a mix of all types of terrain, this a trip well suited to experienced gravel riders who love long days in the saddle. Our days will be wild, but we’ll spend our nights in comfy local guesthouses and hotels, and a hint of luxury to kick us off in Granada.
Ready to come over to the WILDER side?
Highlights
✔ Experience incredible diversity - ride from mountains to desert to sea
✔ One of our favourite routes with the most gravel riding %
✔ Kick off with a bit of luxury in gorgeous Granada
✔ Wild riding with a chance to enjoy Spanish cafe culture everyday
✔ Explore a little visited area of Spain
Itinerary
Meeting Point: Granada, Alhambra
End Point: Almeria
Carrying the basics we need for the week on our bikes, we’ll be hopping between vibrant Spanish cities and little visited towns, giving us a unique insight into this beautiful corner of Europe. We begin in beautiful Granada, on the doorstep of the Morrish Alhambra and head to the badlands of the otherworldly Guadix desert, before climbing through the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The daily mileage on this trip is one of our biggest, and means the scenery changes everyday, as we move into the ramblas of the Tabernas desert (the driest place in Europe!), and head towards the wild west landscapes that bring us to the coast. Our final day sees us riding right along the beautiful Mediterranean coastline, with lots of spots to swim. We finish in cosmopolitan Almeria, joining locals for a weekend on the beach and dinner al freso in the city.
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Sleep: Granada, Hotel Alixeres or similar (4*)
Breakfast/Dinner: Not included/Included
Today you can make your way to our hotel in Granada, and check in from 2pm. Our team will be around from 3pm to help you rebuild your bikes, and you’ll have time to enjoy the hotel’s pool, or explore the town before a quick optional shakedown ride.
We’ll share dinner together and talk about the plan for the week, before a good nights sleep ready for the ride to begin!
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Sleep: Guadix, Hotel Mulhacen
https://www.hotelmulhacen.com
Breakfast/Dinner: Included/Included
Today we ride straight out of the city, with the iconic Alhambra palace to our side. We’ll join the locals riding through the General Life park, and soon we’re out into the hills. A gorgeous climb through pine forest will reward us with views of the Sierra Nevada, before the landscape changes drastically as we arrive to the small city of Guadix, where vast canyons suddenly appear. We’ll make Guadix our home for the next two nights.
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Sleep: Guadix, Hotel Mulhacen (2*) or similar
Breakfast/Dinner: Included/Not included
Today is an incredible loop ride that will throw out some challenges! There’s the option to make this loop shorter or longer too.
We head straight towards the Gorafe desert, home to the iconic classic badlands scenery of multi coloured towers of sandy rock and dry river beds that weave through them. There’s some chunky terrain today, a thrilling descent and a fun climb back out of the canyon. We’ll feel miles away from anyone as we explore this vast wilderness, Europe’s only true desert.
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Sleep: Fiñana (Rural Houses)
Breakfast/Dinner: Included/Included
We’ll have a big and early breakfast today as we prepare for one of our biggest climbing days!
From Guadix, we turn towards the Sierra Nevada, and will spend much of our day climbing into it, then staying high as we skirt around its northern flanks. We’ll be up at almost 1800m today, with incredible views down to the plains below us, before a final thrilling descent to one the town of Hueneja nestled in the foothills of the Sierras. and onto Fiñana. Tonight we’ll stay in a Casa Rurale, a pair of traditional rural homes where we’ll prepare a simple dinner (and hopefully enjoy it al fresco!).
Time to eat, sleep, and get ready for another big day!
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Sleep: Tabernas, 2* Hotel
Breakfast/Dinner: Included/Included
Today we head to the Tabernas desert, home to many a Wild West film set, and the only true desert in Europe.
Though the miles are big today, many of the first ones will be fast and smooth, as we enjoy some smooth tarmac (with a bit of gravel thrown in!) to reach the edge of the desert after 40km.
From here the scenery changes drastically. We’ll climb into the desert over bone-dry hills, and down a wide ramblas (dry river bed) that provides local farmers with space and nutrients to grow on it.
We’ll stop for well earned cafe con leche and Gador, riding through orange trees before we explore our second ramblas of the day. Here we’ll be picking our way through narrower gorges, with towering Wild West scenery all around. It’s easy to imagine turning a corner to be greeted by a shoot out! Time dependent, you may even have a chance to pop into Fort Bravo - still home to many of the old Western film sets.
We’ll gradually climb up to our home for the night in Tabernas, with time to wash off the desert dirt and enjoy a dinner together.
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Sleep: Hostal in Los Albaricoques
Breakfast/Dinner: Included/Included
Today we head to the coast! But first, we climb.
We leave Tabernas with some smooth flat riding to get us to the base of our climb up and over the Sierra Alhamilla. The switch back climb has a kind gradient, with opportunity to grab some shade as we near the top, and an optional out and back to the classic view point at the top of Colativi, at 1390m. Our descent to the pretty Andalusian town of Nijar is beautiful and wild, with some testing gravel sections to keep you on your toes!
We’ll stop for refreshments in Nijar, before continuing on to our home for the night, just inland from the coast at La Isleta. The scenery changes dramatically once again''; We start with a glimpse of what this region is known for - agriculture, and the vast areas of poly-tunnels that looked like lakes from our viewpoint. Then, we’re in Indiana Jones territory, still home to the Gold Mines and red rock that were used as a film set.
We’re staying in the sleepy village of Los Albaricoques this evening, a literal one horse town with just one local bar and a hostal which we’ll be taking over for the evening!
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Sleep: 4* Hotel in Almeria
Breakfast/Dinner: Included/not Included
Our final day! We finish our descent to the coast and spend much of the day skirting the coast, through Cabo de Gato national park. A couple of short sharp climbs bring us over headlands, with stunning views down to the ocean, before we join the flat and sandy tracks that follow the beaches through the park, with a few chances to grab coffee and ice cream on the way. It’s a ride to savour, with plenty of opportunities to dip in the ocean.
We finish our ride on cycle paths that take us all the way into Almeria, via it’s long sandy beach and many bars with a cold beer waiting to celebrate with.
Tonight, we’ll have a chance to share dinner together in town, and to soak up the experience of weekend in a vibrant Spanish city. No riding tomorrow - so go enjoy!
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We’ll say our farewells over breakfast.
Bikes can be packed up at the hotel, with a special storage room and tools available.
Our hotel can help arrange taxis to Almeria airport for onward travel, or there is a public bus available that goes to Malaga and Malaga airport (4 hours) from the city bus station.
View Dates & Book
2025 Dates
April 5th - 12th 2025
Interested in future dates?
Pricing info
Last spot available - £250 off.
£1295 for a spot. Book now with a £300 deposit. Full balance due 60 days before the trip.
Click on your preferred trip date to be directed to our secure booking partner WeTravel who will process and manage your booking. We recommend paying with bank details to avoid card processing fees.
Optional add ons
Single supplement - £280
Bikepacking bags (£25) and Hammerhead Karoo navigation devices (£10) can be hired from us, and added at booking. Don’t fancy carrying your luggage? Luggage transfer can be added for £100.
Minimum trip number
Minimum met - guaranteed departure!
Please note, this trip has a minimum number of 6 to run. Your deposit is fully refundable up to this point. We will confirm as soon as this number has been met. Please do not book your travel until then.
Cancellation policy
You can secure your spot by paying a £300 deposit which is refundable up to the point that we confirm the trip minimum numbers have been met. Once the trip is confirmed, the deposit is not refundable. The remaining balance is due 60 days before the trip by bank transfer. Cancel between 60 days and 28 days, and you’ll get 50% back. Cancellation within 28 days is non-refundable, but you can transfer your booking to another person should you find one. View the full booking terms and conditions here.
What’s included?
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Our trip will be hosted by our British Cycling and First Aid qualified Sisters in the Wild guides. Who between them have a tonne of experience of riding in this area.
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Seven nights accommodation included in a mix of simple guesthouses, pensions and 3*/ 4* hotels.
Single supplement is available.
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Bikepacking bags and navigation devices can be added to your booking, and we’ll have them ready for you on day one.
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Each participant will be provided with a specially curated collection of routes and route briefings via Komoot, and a free map bundle to access/navigate them.
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Breakfast: Breakfast included everyday
Dinners: Four dinners are included (N1, N2 and N4, N5). On our final night we’ll book a table to eat together. On N3 in Guadix, we’ll provide you with some recommendations to enjoy the town. On N6 and N7, we’ll book a table and you're free to order and pay for what you like!
Not included
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Lunch and snacks are not included. We’ll make sure you know where you can pick up food on the ride.
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Riders can bring their own bike, or hire in Andalucia (see Bike Hire section for details).
Riders should carry simple tools/spare for their bike in case of bike issues. Our guide team can help you use them!
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Flights, transfers and all travel to our start point at our Granda Hotel is not included. Our trip finishes at our hotel in Almeria, and we’ll arrange for bike bags to be transferred to meet us in Almeria.
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Travel insurance that allows multi day cycling as an activity, and covers medical emergency, repatriation, cancellation and public liability is mandatory for all SITW trips and is not included.
Spain is in the EU and Shengen zone, and most travellers do not require a visa. If you require a visa to travel, this will not be included.
Accomodation & Food
Accommodation
We'll be moving between accommodation throughout the trip, on this point to point adventure. Seven nights accommodation included in a mix of simple but comfortable local guesthouses, casas ruruales (rural holiday homes), and 3/4* and boutique hotels. Most nights will be twin room basis, with one night potentially in a triple room. We choose our accomodations for their location, which means our nights at the start and end of the trip will give you a dash of luxury, and those in between will be simple but comfortable affairs. Single supplements are available for most nights.
This is a bikepacking trip, with riders carrying their own stuff between hotels. If you prefer, luggage transfer can be added to your booking for £100.
Food
Breakfast is included everyday. On some days this will be a hotel style buffet, and on other days where we stay in smaller towns, this may be more of a typical Spanish style breakfast of tostada and tortilla in a local cafe.
Dinners will be at our hotels, or at local restaurants. Most restaurants don’t open until 8/8:30, so dinners can run a little later than they might in the UK! Where possible, we try to bring this time earlier!
We will pass on dietary requirements given at booking. This part of Spain can be a tricky place for gluten free/vegans, and you may find choices in some parts of the route can be limited. You may wish to bring extra supplies from home for lunches that we can keep in the support vehicle.
Lunches are not included, but we will recommend our favourite cafes and villages en route to pick up supplies.
We’ve rated this trip as a 4/5 challenge level. This trip is a part of our WILDER series - bikepacking trips in wild landscapes that go that little bit further. Longer days, bigger climbs, more thrilling descents, wilder terrain, more solitude, and even more memories to be made. With average daily mileage of 70+km, 70% off-road terrain, and a mix off all types of trails, this a trip well suited to experienced gravel riders who love long days in the saddle and embrace some chunkier gravel terrain. Take a look at our highlight reel on Instagram for more about our last trip!
About the riding
Terrain
The riding on this trip is around 70% off-road, predominantly on double track trails, of mixed quality, with some single-track trails in sections. We’ll have plenty of stretches of well maintained forest gravel roads, but also some trails that can be steep and looser/rougher in places. There are some long and occasionally steep downhill stretches that vary in quality in places (e.g. washed out, rockier) and require confidence in descending on off-road terrain.
Unique to the area, we’ll spend time riding through dry riverbeds, which can be sandy and slow going in places. On some days, the tracks will be more technical with features such as washed out channels, larger rubble and rocks, or clay. Whilst the area is relatively arid, periods of rain can cause clay tracks to become unrideable, and some bits of walking your bike may be needed. Overall, the route is 99% rideable by confident gravel riders.
Amongst the off-road sections, we’ll also have some smooth tarmac riding, where we’ll enjoy a chance to make some quick miles or elevation!
Climbing
There is a significant amount of climbing on this trip with three days over 1500m, a couple around 1000m, and a couple of flatter/downhill days. Our days of significant climbing tent to be one or two big climbs, with some undulating around it. Most of our our significant climbs are on off-road terrain and tend to have steady gradients, though there are some steeper sections.
Daily Distances
Our daily distances are between 60 and 90km averaging around 70km per day. On some days, there are shortcut options that cut some distance and/or climbing. Komoot suggests an average moving time per day of around 7 hours in the saddle.
Remoteness & Weather
Whilst the scenery is stunning and we’ll often be alone on the road or trails for hours at a time, this route has well spaced opportunities to hit a cafe or bar at least once on most days, and most of the route is accessible by vehicles. There’s one day where we’ll need to carry all of our supplies (food and water) for the whole ride.
Challenge Level
Support style
Our SITW Bikepacking trips aim to strike the perfect balance of freedom and support. Riders are free to ride the routes at their own pace or with the guide and group. Regardless, our team will be out on the routes to support and cheerlead.
Guiding
Depending on our group size, we’ll have one or two SITW guides out on the bike, moving back and forth amongst the group and sweeping more remote sections. Our guides are qualified first aiders and experienced mechanics and can help troubleshoot issues on the trail. Riders should equipped with their own navigation and not rely on following a guide for directions. Each participant will be provided with a specially curated collection of routes and route briefings via Komoot, to enable self supported navigation.
Support
In addition to the bike based guides, this trip has a SITW guide in a support vehicle to assist the group in case of issues (mechanicals, injury etc). This should not not be viewed as a shuttle option, but will meet us at key points along the route to check in, make sure we have what we need, and provide assistance where needed. The SITW team will likely switch between bikes and vehicle.
Bikes & Bike Hire
Bike hire is not included as standard on this trip, and riders are welcome to bring their own bike or hire locally. There’'ll be space to rebuild the bikes at our starting hostel, and we arrange storage of bike boxes whilst on the trip, and delivery to the end of our trip.
Recommended bike
A gravel bike with minimum 42mm tyres with a decent amount of grip, or a hardtail MTB are both sound choices for this trip. All bikes should be in safe working condition for the trip, and we’d highly recommend a basic service before the trip to minimise the risk of issues during it. If you are newer to off-road riding, a hardtail can be a good choice for building confidence on the off-road sections, though may feel slower on the tarmac sections. A good gearing ratio will help you with the climbs, especially as you’ll be carrying your bikepacking bags! We would recommend avoiding tan wall tyres if possible - we’ve seen these be more likely to rip in the rugged terrain.
Bike hire
Bike hire is available in Granada with https://www.sierranevada.cc/bike-rental who offer gravel and hardtail MTBs for rental.
There is a fee for collection from Almeria at the end of the trip. We’d suggest giving them a call to discuss your options.
Travelling with your bike
Check your airlines bike carriage policy for weight and size restrictions. Some airlines will allow bikes as part of their checked in baggage allowance (e.g. British Airways), but most require a bike to be added as a specific piece of sports luggage (Easyjet, Ryanair, Wizzair, Jet2 etc) . You often you get a higher weight allowance. This usually costs in the region of £40 -£60.
Your bike box/bag can be stored whilst on the trip.
What spares and tools to bring
2 x spare tubes and patches
Small pump
Tubeless plugs/spare sealant if running tubeless tyres
Multitool with what you need for your bike e.g. allen keys
Spare set of brake pads (specific for your bike)
We also recommend bringing a few spares that are specific to your bike. We don’t expect you to know how to fit these! But having them to hand can mean our team or local bike shop is better able to get you back on the road.
Chain quick link
Spare derailleur hanger
Extra brake pads just in case!
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Please do not book your travel until we have confirmed the minimum trip number has been met.
Our cycling trip starts in Granada and ends in Almeria. We will meet you at our starting hotel in Granada.
We recommend booking your outward flight to Malaga, and return flight from Almeria. Both are well served by budget airlines.
Malaga Airport is well served by buses and trains directly to Granada. These can be booked in advance, and have spots for bikes (in bags/boxes). From the bus or train station in Granada, it’s a 15 minute taxi to meet us at our hotel perched on the edge of the city. Uber is available, or there are usually taxis waiting outside the station.
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Malaga, Granada and Almeria are served by trains. In Spain, there are special rules about which trains you can take bikes on:
ALSA is the bus service that serves the region, and most services have the ability to book bikes on, in a bag or box.
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You can secure your spot by paying a £300 deposit, which is refundable up to the point that we confirm the trip minimum numbers have been met. Once the trip is confirmed, the deposit is not refundable. The remaining balance is due 60 days before the trip by bank transfer. Cancellation between 60 days and 28 days, you’ll get 50% back. Cancellation within 28 days is non-refundable, but you can transfer your booking to another person should you find one. View the full booking terms and conditions here.
We highly recommend taking out travel insurance at the point of booking to cover in case of cancellation or curtailment.
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We’ll have a max group size of 16, minimum group size of 8 to run.
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We will help to pass any dietary requirements to places that we eat, Unfortunately it may not always be possible for them to accommodate due to their limited ingredients and menus. We’ll try to work with you to find solutions. You can let us know any dietary requirements at time of booking. If you have serious allergies, please email us before booking on hello@sistersinthewild.com.
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INSURANCE Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our trips Your insurance must include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation or repatriation, your baggage and equipment, and the specific activities (for example, multi day off-road cycling) involved on your SITW trip. We highly recommend that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your trip. We also highly recommend taking out a policy which also includes personal liability, cancellation and cover in the event you are unable to join your trip due to illness or injury, curtailment, loss of luggage or personal effects, or for any other reason.
E.g. with Yellow Jersey, Bikmo, Laka
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In order to make the most of the riding on offer, we’d suggest that you are comfortable riding 45+ miles in a day in hilly off-road terrain, for a few days on the run. Riding a loaded bike takes a little more effort, so we’d recommend trying some practice rides of 50 miles + with some weight/luggage on your bike. You should be comfortable with off-road climbing and descending.
Feel free to drop us an email hello@sistersinthewild.com if you have any questions on this.
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Yes, you can book directly with our starting/ending hotel if you wish to stay earlier/late. We’ll share our hotel info once the trip is confirmed.
If you need to arrive late, that’s also fine, and the shakedown ride can be skipped. Ideally we’d have you join in time for the rider briefing on the evening of day 1, but we can fill you in.
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Check your airlines or train/busbike carriage policy.
Most airlines require a bike to be added as a specific piece of Sports Luggage, but often you get a higher weight allowance. Usually costs in the region of £40 - 50.
Train/bus rules are dependent on carrier with some requiring bikes to be packed or pre-booked. Please check the specific rules for the service.
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Late spring and early autumn in the region generally sees warm/hot days and cooler nights. We start higher in the hills around Granada, where evenings will likely be cooler, dropping down to the coast at Almeria.
There are often seasonal variations, so we recommend checking the latest weather forecast in the few days before
Come prepared for heat, but also for potential rain and cooler temperatures at higher elevations on the ride as we will be climbing close to 2000m at times.
Some of the riding days will be exposed with little shade, and some large distances/climbs between resupply.
Temperatures can feel very hot in the desert areas..
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We’’ll share a detailed packing list as part of the Trip Joining Info.
This is a bikepacking trip, which means you'll need to carry all your stuff or the week - so packing light is a good shout! Though you'll need to balance this with making sure you're equipped for changeable weather and supporting yourself out on the rides.
No camping gear is required for this trip, and we can lend you bikepacking bags and navigation device if you need them. These can be booked as Add Ons to your trip.
Bike Stuff
The basics
Off-road bike and Helmet
Navigation device (available to loan from us)
Bike lights (just in case!) and headtorch (optional)
A secure bike lock for overnight (can be stored in support van)
Lightweight lock for the rides
Capacity to carry at least 1.5 litres of water.
Bikepacking bags (available to loan from us)
If you plan to borrow bags, please bring a small rucksack (10-1 litres) to supplement if needed.
A small collapsable rucksack/bumbag or tote bag can be useful for carrying stuff off the bike
Basic first aid kit for your rides
Cup/spork/bowl
Bike tools/spares to carry
Spare tube and patches
Small pump
Tubeless plugs/spare sealant if running tubeless tyres
Multitool with what you need for your bike e.g. allen keys, chain breaker
Chain quick link (these are specific for your bike)
Spare derailleur hanger (specific to your bike.) This website can help you
find the one you need for your bike
Brake pads (specific for your bike)
Small amount of chain oil
A few zip ties/bits of duct tape & electrical tape wrapped around your
pump are always useful!
Personal Stuff
Travel insurance that covers off-road cycle touring/theft
Passport
Any personal medication needed
Mini toiletries (travel toothpaste, toothbrush etc)
Battery pack/cables to keep phone and nav device charged
Cash/card
Earplugs....just in case!
Lightweight towel for swims
Sun cream/SPF lipbalm
Electrolytes (optional but recommended)
Clothing
Clothing is a great place to slim down your packing list and get ruthless! However, this should be balanced with keeping safe and warm and dry if we have poor weather. Generally we could expect some very hot and sunny days, with the possibility of rain/thunderstorms.
Consider how you can double up uses of clothes for day/evening/sleeping, and embrace a bit of dirtbag spirit!
There's a chance to do laundry on day 5, and sinks available on every other night. Showers are available everyday.
Cycling clothes
We recommend 2 sets that you can wash/swap through the
week, plus a warm layer set.
Comfy shorts and quick dry t-shirts or cycling top
Shoes. We recommend only using clip in shoes/pedals if
you’re already confident in off-road riding.
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof trousers (optional)
Extra layers in case of poor weather, especially on
downhills e.g. leggings, long gloves, mid layer,
windbreaker
Cycling gloves (optional)
Glasses (optional but recommended - downhill bugs and
gravel dust)
Socks
Cycling cap/hat to keep the sun off your face
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We have a library of navigation devices we can loan you for the weekend. These can be added to your booking through the normal ticket process.
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Bikepacking bags can be loaned from us, and added to your booking for a small fee. Book through the normal ticket process, and we’ll match them to your order. Alternatively, Luggage Transfer can be added to your trip for £100.
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We recommend checking out the country-specific information
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Slovenia is in the EU Shengen zone, and most travellers do not require a visa. Please check the specific requirements for your country.
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Bike boxes/bags can be left at the start of the trip, and we will meet them again at the end.
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