Away From The Crowds Reviews 

We hired e bikes from this company which were in great condition and easy to use with lots of capacity to ensure easy cycling on the Parador tour in Spain. Very well explained initial instruction and we were quickly on our way with a text contact the first night to ensure everything was OK. I highly recommend this knowledgeable friendly company who clearly know their job .

We had a great e-bike trip with Away From The Crowds across Extremadura. Very well organised, excellent App for following the route easily, along mostly quiet rural roads. Seamless luggage transfers and overnight stays in very comfortable paradors with plenty of time to explore the local towns and history. Trujillo was our favourite with it's beautiful plaza major. Highly recommended .

We've just completed our second cycling holiday with Away from the Crowds, this time the 'Segovia - Medieval Spain' ride in Castile. Once again the organisation was excellent, plus this time we got to meet Gaynor, Jaime and some of the team when we set off. The accomodation was again superb, the route excellent, the surprisingly remote Castilian plain with its medieval villages under incredible blue skies was both dramatic and beautiful. In short it was superb. We cannot think of a better holiday if you like making your own way under the careful, personal planning and guidance of Away from the Crowds. We've already decided - we'll be back!
Peter and Gunilla Fuller.

My wife and I joined friends on a self-guided e-bike tour with Away from the Crowds in mid-September 2026. We wanted the flexibility to explore at our own pace without being tied to a group timetable, and their self-guided format was exactly what we were looking for.

The logistics provided by Away from the Crowds made independent exploration completely stress-free.

The Perfect Cultural Prelude: We started our tour spending a few nights in Córdoba, which gave us time to explore the city's amazing UNESCO World Heritage sites. Visiting the breathtaking La Mezquita—the ancient mosque-cathedral—was an absolutely unforgettable way to immerse ourselves in the region's history before picking up our bikes.

Extensive Pre-Trip Prep: Before we even set off, the company provided us with extensive route notes. These were extremely helpful, offering detailed insights, historic highlights to watch out for, and excellent recommendations for local spots along the way. They gave us complete confidence before we even started pedaling.

Out on the road, navigation with Ride with GPS was an absolute breeze, that offered clear, turn-by-turn directions. Our phone clipped onto a holder on our handlebars, meaning we never had to worry about getting lost or constantly stopping to check a map.

Breathtaking Scenery & History: The route itself was magnificent. We rode through mesmerizing landscapes featuring olive trees for miles and miles, painting a beautiful, quintessential backdrop. Along the way, the itinerary guided us directly to fascinating historic sites to visit, allowing us to easily blend an active outdoor adventure with local culture and history.

On our very first day of cycling, we stopped in Aguilar de la Frontera for an incredible, private wine and vinegar tasting tour at Bodegas Toro Albalá. We learned so much from our highly engaging tour guide, Lorena (one of the winemakers), who shared her deep expertise and even generously let us taste a spectacular sherry that was almost 100 years old!

Perfect Pacing & Gear: The length of biking each day was just right for us, offering a satisfying workout without being exhausting. While the weather during our trip was a little warm, the premium, well-maintained e-bikes completely saved the day. Having that smooth electric boost meant we didn't have to work too hard or overexert ourselves in the heat, allowing us to cruise comfortably up the rolling hills.

Charming Overnight Stays & Local Hospitality: We enjoyed beautiful overnight stays in Lucena, Priego de Córdoba, and Zuheros. The local hospitality was unforgettable—while in Zuheros, we even had the unique pleasure of sharing drinks with the town's mayor and witnessing a wonderful local community parade in the evening.

A Grand Finale: At the very end of our trip, we stayed at the stunning castle hotel, Parador de Jaén. What an absolutely amazing, historic place to cap off an incredible journey! After biking for a few days, some down time lounging by the castle pool was just what we needed.

Seamless Logistics: Even though we were on our own, we felt fully supported. Our daily luggage transfers were flawless and they kept 24/7 telephone support on standby.

Constructive Feedback
The only minor hiccup was that one brief section of the route was slightly outdated due to recent trail maintenance. However, between our extensive printed route notes and the app's clear interface, we easily navigated a quick detour and rejoined the path safely.

Recommendations for Future Travelers
If you are planning to book a trip through Away from the Crowds, keep these tips in mind:
Extend Your Stay in Córdoba: Be sure to budget a few days at the beginning of the trip. You don't want to rush your visits to landmarks like La Mezquita.

Don't Miss the Winery Tour: If your route includes the stop in Aguilar de la Frontera, the private experience at Bodegas Toro Albalá is an absolute must-do for the history and the exclusive tastings.

Definitely Choose the E-Bike: If you are traveling during warmer months, the electric assist is a game-changer for keeping you cool and refreshed throughout the day.

This is an exceptional option for anyone who wants an active, independent adventure with all the premium logistics completely taken care of!

This was our third trip with Away From The Crowds, having in the past been with our children on a cycling holiday and also a walking holiday with a donkey! This time we travelled as a couple, on a walking holiday in Someido Natural Park. Everything was seemless, from our initial booking enquiry through the end of our trip. The gps walking guides, supported by written notes, were excellent. The walks and scenery were beautiful. The service provided by Away From The Crowds was superb thoughout and felt very personal. We can highly recommend them.

The first two days (cycling Burgos to La Rioja route) were challenging because of the gravel paths through the woods. But enchanting in their own way. The reward was the rest of the trip which was cycling out in the beautiful open countryside, on paved roads that had almost no traffic, and arriving at a new place every day. It's kind of magical. And we'd never felt so taken care of by a travel agency. The Aftc staff was always available, weeks in advance, getting all the details arranged, and ready to answer any of our questions. They even helped us find and book transportation out of Elciego after the cycling trip was over!
The road book was very detailed. We appreciated the information about food and water and Spanish eating times and when establishments would be open and closed.  Having all of this information ahead of time was reassuring and gave us confidence to know what to expect along the way. Our experience with self-guided cycling, away from our own country, was extremely limited. But now we are excited to try another adventure! 

This was our second trip with Away from the Crowd and like the first did not dissapoint.

Four of us did the Rioja Tour. The route seemed well considered including a well needed rest day after 3 days on the saddle.

La Rioja is a stunning little region - small and accessible rolling hills, a flat plain - great agricultural diversity including its famous vines - all fringed by brooding mountains.

Ther were no ‘highlights’ for me - it was all excellent. The hotels were well chosen especially the accomodation in Escaray, Haro and Laguardia were especially noteworthy.

Take the recommendations of places to visit such as Echuaran restaurant and Marqués de Risca - great experiences.

In Haro and Logroño we stumbled across fiestas- the random magic that Spain is famous for we found in both of these places.

In Laguardia seek and find ‘Restaurante Biazteri 1974’ this was the first place in our trip that we found true Basque Pintxos - well worth finding.

This a great company to deal with - a true 5 star experience!

This Company was efficient, helpful and responsive from our very first enquiry to the post trip follow up!
All the staff we dealt with were professional, friendly and made us feel that nothing was too much trouble!

We cycled the Segovia- Medieval Villages route which was quite delightful. The little villages scattered through rural Spain made for leisurely rides through peaceful countryside. The historical towns provided plenty of cultural interest and the hotel accommodation was well appointed and ideally located.

Our bag transfers were seamless, the bikes and the equipment provided were in really good condition, and the routes were well planned!

Having e-bikes was a game changer!
We had the best time and are already planning our next trip!

Thank you Awayfromthecrowds for delivering the perfect holiday!

Six of us did the Segovia Medieval Spain cycle tour in May, 4 on e bikes, 2 on regular bikes. We all had a fantastic time. Hotels were varied but always a good 3-star level, and instructions/GPS all spot on. Their initial briefing/bike fitting was really thorough, and when I had a major mechanical (8km from return on final day!) they immediately arranged for a taxi to get me home. Nice people, thoroughly recommend them!