Malaga, Spain - Self Drive Tour

Please note this tour is available year-round, rates are quoted on an individual basis.

Day 1 : Malaga/Marbella - Malaga

Today you arrive at Malaga airport and transfer on your own to your hotel. Malaga is the major coastal city in Andalucia and is a genuine and typical Andaluz city with a gritty individualism untouched by tourism and - to a large extent - the passage of time. The Moors occupied the city until the mid-fifteenth century, after which it grew to become one of the foremost merchant centers in the entire Iberian Peninsula. This illustrious past has left its imprint on the historic center, particularly around La Alcazaba, a fortress, which dates back to 1065 and is now a fascinating archaeological museum. Pablo Picasso is the city’s famous son and there are several galleries showing his work, including the 16^th century Museum of Fine Arts, adjacent to the Cathedral. Overnight.

Day 2 : Malaga - Granada

This morning please contact the local EagleRider office to arrange for your motorcycle pick-up. You will either get a transfer from your hotel to EagleRider, or your motorcycle will be brought over to the hotel for you. Once all paperwork is done, you are ready to hit the road in Southern Spain. Andalucia fits everyone’s romantic image of Spain and makes a paradise for motorcycle enthusiasts. From Malaga you head east and enjoy a ride along the coast until you get to Almunecar. Here, you head inland and up into the mountains. You ride the scenic roads of Sierra Tejada National Park. Continue to Granada, which is one of the most spectacular capital cities in Spain. It’s history and monuments are testimony to this fact. It was the meeting point of Islamic and Christian cultures. We recommend riding up into the Sierra Nevada, where you can enjoy a great view of the city of Granada at night, and on clear days you can actually see Morocco. Overnight.

Day 3 : Granada - Cordoba

This morning you will have time to visit the – undoubtedly – most emblematic monument in the city, the Alhambra, declared a World Heritage Site. This mighty compound of buildings – including the summer palace called Generalife, with its fountains and gardens – stand at the foot of Spain’s highest mountain range, the Sierra Nevada, and overlooks the city below and the fertile plain of Granada. The Alhambra is one of the most brilliant jewels of universal architecture, built under the Nazari Dynasty in the 14^th century. From Granada you head northwest towards Baena, which is in the province of Cordoba. This is a famous route – it was used the Arabs when they conquered this part of the country, from Granada to Cordoba. Therefore, you will ride past many Arab fortresses and castles en route to Cordoba. Once the largest city of Roman Spain, Cordoba later formed the heart of the western Islamic Empire. Today, the city is a typical bustling, noisy Andalusian city, with lots of atmosphere, fascinating sites, intriguing small streets and shops and the inevitable choice of restaurants and bars. Make some time to visit some of the many attractions, such as the Great Mosque, which is the largest and only one of its kind in Europe. Other sights include the City Walls, the Seville Gate, the Alcazar and the Episcopal Palace. Overnight. 

Day 4 : Cordoba - Ronda

From Cordoba you head south and ride along the river Guadalquivir, the largest river in Andalucia, and see many small white villages en route. Arrive in Andalucia’s capital Sevilla for lunch. Here, street cafes bustle with flamenco strumming gypsies singing the heartfelt songs of southern Spain. Most attractions are within walking distance of each other – the Giralda tower, the oldest Arab minaret and also the symbol of this fascinating city, the Cathedral, which contains the tomb of Christopher Columbus. Next to the Cathedral are the Reales Alcazares with their beautiful patios and gardens, and the picturesque Santa Cruz quarter with its wrought iron grilles and flower-filled patios. While in Sevilla don’t miss out on the tapas – the city is credited with their invention and has more than a thousand bars where the choice of food is virtually unlimited. Continue further south to Ronda, one of Andalucia’s loveliest places, which is steeped in history. It stands on a towering plateau in the mountains of Malaga Province, and is famous through Spain for the plunging river Gorge, which divides the medieval from the 18^th century parts of the town. Ronda is also famous for its bullring, the oldest and the most beautiful in Spain; the arena itself is the country’s largest. When there are no fights, the bullring is open to visitors, and has a fascinating museum with many mementos of Spain’s most renowned bullfighters. Overnight.

Day 5 : Ronda - Jerez de la Frontera

From Ronda you ride west towards Jerez de la Frontera. Jerez became famous throughout the world for its sweet wines named after the town, which the British pronounced “sherry”. It is called “de la Frontera” because it once stood on the frontier between the Moorish and the Christian realms. Jerez is also famous, throughout the world, for its fine horses and brilliant singers and dancers of flamenco. While here you should make a trip to Puerto Santa Maria to visit Spain’s largest Sherry Houses, or visit the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. Overnight.

Day 6 : Jerez de la Frontera - Tarifa

Today you are in for another beautiful ride as you head towards Tarifa, the southernmost point in Europe. From Jerez you ride over to the Atlantic coast and might want to make a stop in Cadiz, the oldest city in Europe. Cadiz stands on a peninsula jutting out into a bay and is almost entirely surrounded by water. The old city is quite Moorish in appearance and is intriguing with narrow cobbled streets opening onto small squares. You continue your scenic ride down the Costa de la Luz, the western part of the Andalucia coastline that faces to the Atlantic. The typical beaches here are more expansive and probably backed by sand dunes and pine trees – the sand is finer and a more golden color than the neighboring Costa del Sol. The Costa de la Luz stretches all the way to Tarifa at the mouth of the Mediterranean sea. Tarifa’s wild coastline attracts surfers and nature-lovers alike. This little fishing town was the first point of the Mooorish invasion of Southern Spain in AD 711. Overnight. PLEASE NOTE: From Tarifa it’s only 11 km’s (7 miles) across the Straits of Gibraltar at its narrowest point. You can enjoy spectacular views of the Rif Mountains of Africa across the water. Perhaps you would like to go on a quick trip over to Morocco while staying in Tarifa. It’s an easy ferry ride from Tarifa over to Tangier, and you find yourself at the gateway to Africa. Tangier is located on a beautiful bay and has a history dating back to 500 BC and which can be discovered in the many museums here. The places of interest include the Harbor, the Grand Socco, the Petit Socco, and of course, the infamous Kasbah – the highest part of the Medina, the present Kasbah dates back to the fifteenth century. It contains the 17^th-century Dar el-Makhzen, the former sultan’s palace and now a good museum.

Day 7 : Tarifa - Malaga

This morning you might want to ride to the upper part of the rock to enjoy a perfect view over the Bay of Algeciras and visit the infamous monkeys, who live up here. You continue towards Ronda and ride through the Sierra Bermeja mountain range. Perhaps you would like to visit the well-preserved Arab Baths, dating from the 13^th century? From Ronda it’s back to the Mediterranean coast and you head over to Marbella – ride via Puerto Banus. Marbella’s motto is “A Way of Life” and, this luxurious resort town seems to have it all, and is a favorite location with the rich and famous. But Marbella has a down to earth side as well, an air of individuality, which can be best appreciated by exploring the back streets in the old part of town. One of the prettiest places is the fabled “Orange Square” which is located just off the main street in the older district and is also home to the 16^th century town hall and tourist office, where you can pick up a detailed map and visitor information. From Marbella it’s just another 60 kilometers to get to the EagleRider office in Torremolinos. It’s time to return your motorcycle and transfer back to your hotel. Overnight.   Please note: Instead of riding back via Ronda/through the mountains today, you might prefer a scenic ride back along the coast. This would take you via Estepona, one of the few coastal towns that has succeeded in maintaining its pueblo charm and character.

Day 8 : Malaga - Malaga/Marbella

Today your most adventurous ride through the South of Spain will end with your departure flight back home.