Madrid surroundings self-guided

This is our most popular self-guided cycling tour within a range of 50-100 kms (32-62 miles) of Madrid. It will take you through the most attractive parts of the Madrid Guadarrama mountain range which soon will be declared a national reserve park, stopping at the 13th century monastery of Rascafria and shortly after the mediaeval village of Pedraza, like a movie set. Biycling through the province of Segovia you can stop at any number of picturesque villages, each with its romanesque church and where inhabitants livelihood is drawn from the produce of the land they live on.

On your arrival at the noble and thousand year old city of Segovia, you are cast back centuries in history. You enter under a superbly preserved Roman aqueduct and make your way up to the beautiful sandstone cathedral and on to the Alcazar, a castle-fortress, of fairy tales appearence. Your accommodation is in the city center of the lively Plaza Mayor. The following day takes us up to the Palace of La Granja de San de Ildefonso, once a royal summer residence for the Borbon kings. Your road climbs challengingly up to Fuenfría pass to cross the Sierra range once more. On the descend you ride along a Roman road, flanked by pine tress and shady creeks towards the mountain village of Cercedilla. Further on, at San Lorenzo de El Escorial, you are once again surrounded by world heritage monuments, gardens and the monastery palace of King Philip II that still standing graciously as if time had not passed. Your cycle trip ends in Spain's magnificent capital where we will enjoy the intensity and liveliness of a modern metropolis offering art galleries and museums like the Prado, Retiro park, royal palaces and finely preserved monuments.