Badlands Basecamps: Gravel Riding Without the Race
Badlands has a reputation. For most of us it means the self-supported gravel ultra across Andalusia: deserts, volcanic coast and a climb towards the Sierra Nevada, all done on little sleep. Badlands Basecamps keeps the landscape and drops the suffering.
Run by Badlands with Fara Cycling and hosted by local guides Ride Granada, Basecamps are small-group gravel weeks based in one place. You ride iconic stretches of the Badlands route by day, then come back to a proper bed and a hot dinner. Join the guided group or head off self-guided at your own pace, and stop for photos whenever you like.
Three camps are on the calendar: Gorafe Desert this autumn, and Cabo de Gata + Tabernas Desert in January and April 2027.
What's included
Both camps share the same core package and start from €1,995 per person.
- Daily gravel rides with an expert local guide, plus GPX files and a route book
- Accommodation for the whole stay, with breakfast and dinner every day
- On-bike nutrition on every riding day and a welcome pack
- Photos taken on the route
- A group transfer to Granada or Málaga airport on departure day
You'll need to sort your own travel insurance, your transfer from the airport to camp, and any extra food and drinks off the bike. Groups are small, and each camp needs at least 3 riders to run.
Gorafe Desert: 31 October – 6 November 2026
This is the big one: six nights, six riding days and passes close to 2,000m. Ride Granada pitch it at intermediate to advanced riders, and it starts from €1,995 in a shared cave house.
Home for the week is Cuevas El Atochal, a set of cave houses dug into the hillside near Gor with views straight over the desert. The riding mixes fast, smooth desert gravel with long forest climbs.
- Arrival and warm-up loop. Build bikes, check them over, and get a first taste of the local gravel.
- Gorafe Desert. Canyons, red clay and prehistoric dolmens inside the Granada Geopark, on a section of the Badlands race route.
- Fin del Mundo viewpoint. Villages around Guadix, pine forest, and a climb to one of the race's best-known lookouts.
- Sierra de Baza. Long, steady mountain climbs with the desert spread out below.
- Face Retama. Semi-desert around Guadix, past the cave hermitages of San Torcuato.
- Jabalcón and Zújar. Up to the 1,488m summit, then down for a soak in the natural thermal baths at about 40°C (water levels permitting).
- Departure. Breakfast, then the group transfer to the airport.
Gorafe Basecamp details and booking
Cabo de Gata + Tabernas Desert: January and April 2027
Cabo de Gata Natural Park. Photo: Ride Granada.
Two editions run on the same route: 18–23 January and 18–23 April 2027. Each is five nights and five riding days, open to all levels, topping out around 1,300m. Prices start at €1,995 in a shared room, or €2,395 for a private room.
January brings low winter light and empty roads; April brings wildflowers and warmer days. The base sits inside the Cabo de Gata Natural Park, a short walk from the beach.
- Arrival and warm-up. A loop around the base, finishing with a climb to the Punta de la Polacra viewpoint.
- Cabo de Gata. The wild volcanic coast, with a few technical bits and short hike-a-bike sections early on.
- Sierra de Cabrera. Mountain riding with the Mediterranean as the backdrop.
- Tabernas Desert. After an hour's transfer, the longest and hardest day of the week, through Europe's only desert.
- Agua Amarga. Along the coast to Agua Amarga and Mesa de Roldán, above the cliffs.
- Departure. Breakfast and the airport transfer.
Cabo de Gata Basecamp details and booking
Which camp, and how to set up your bike
If you've got a winter of Surrey Hills gravel in your legs and fancy proper altitude, Gorafe is the pick. If you want sunshine in January or a gentler introduction to Badlands terrain, go for Cabo de Gata.
Either way, this is dry, loose, rocky ground a long way from a bike shop. A few things worth sorting before you fly:
- Tyres: go wider than you ride at home. Both routes have loose, stony sections where extra volume pays off.
- Tubeless: fresh sealant and a plug kit. Desert plants and sharp rock are hard on tyres.
- Wheels: a strong, true pair you trust for six days straight. Check spoke tension and hub bearings before you pack.
- Gearing: low gears matter in Gorafe, where the climbs run long towards 2,000m.
Thinking about a wheel upgrade before your trip? Our Terra Labs gravel builds are made to order for exactly this kind of riding. Get in touch and we'll spec a set around your bike and route.
How to book
Booking is direct with Ride Granada, and places are limited. Badlands lists Gorafe at 10 riders and Cabo de Gata at 12, while Ride Granada's page says up to 8, so check numbers when you book.
Questions go to info@ridegranada.com. And if you book, tell us. We'd love to see the photos.
Header photo: Gorafe Desert, courtesy of Ride Granada.