RIDING ON GRAVEL ROADS IN TABERNAS DESERT AND SIERRA DE BAZA
This motorcycle adventure trip will first lead you to the only desert located in Europe called The Tabernas, located in Andalusia just north of Almeria. It is a place featuring wild landscapes dotted with rocks, low shrubs, and many cacti, much like the great American deserts of Arizona and Nevada. Riding a motorcycle in such a weird environment in Europe is a great experience for bikers!
The Taberbas Desert was almost unknown for tourism until a few decades ago when it became famous. Between the 60s and 70s, the Italian director Sergio Leone chose this desert as the set of many scenes of the successful movie-series called: The Italian Westerns or Spaghetti Westerns, including movies such as "A Fistful of Dollars" 1964 starring Clint Eastwood in his first leading role, "For a Few Dollars More", and the legendary "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" 1966) played by Clint Eastwood again, and other famous actors such as Franco Nero, and Lee Van Cleef among others.
The itinerary of the tour "Riding on gravel roads in the Tabernas Desert and Sierra de Baza":
For motorcyclists, the Tabernas Desert is not simply a Hollywood-style attraction as it was the set of some famous Italian western movies as mentioned above, but first of all, it is a place of great interest since the desert is rich in dirt and gravel roads where to have fun riding their motorcycles. After several excursions in this wild wasteland, we have traced this itinerary that follows the most exciting routes of the Tabernas Desert riding first in the northern part reaching the Baranco de l'Infierno del Carrizalejo, and then keeping on riding in the southern part through the Rambla Sergio Leone and the Cerro Lee Van Cleef towards the first hills of the Sierra Alhamilla.
Leaving the Tabernas Desert, the tour goes north, this time on a paved road, and facing first the heart-pumping hairpin bends of "Puerto de Velefique" and then heading towards "Sierra de Baza", where there are several dirt tracks to have fun again. Left Amarguilla behind, just follow the river "Rio del Sauco" for a while and then keep on riding your motorcycle along the ridge of the ravines of "Gola de la Sarna", at last south until you will reach again "Rio del Sauco".
On the way back to Almeria, after about the first ten kilometers, you will pass the gorges of Los Pajares, Los Hoyos, La Risca, La Frenfria, and Los Prados. Then the tour follows the southern border of Sierra de Baza up to the wild Calvache Gorge, then south to the ancient village of Fiñana. In the Sierra Nevada, you will ride your bike along a stretch of paved road but after you reached Almeria there will be another fantastic winding dirt road waiting for you!
Warnings:
- About 450 km out of the entire tour is on gravel or dirt roads where there are only a few gas stations, therefore it is recommended you always have behind a good supply of petrol.
- The route does not present extreme difficulties, but an average experience in riding a motorcycle on dirt and gravel roads is required.
- Maxi enduro motorbikes with a passenger are also suitable but of course, riding a lighter bike you will have more fun.
- Raccomanded tires: medium off-road dowelled tires, such as Continental TKC 70 or Michelin Anakee Adventure
Note: when riding motorbikes on secondary winding roads with few road signs and especially on dirt and gravel roads, you must have GPS or Smartphone devices to rely on them in order not to get lost.
Our Roadbook Package will supply you with all the necessary files for this purpose.
