There's a reason so many bikes have been launched in southern Spain over the years: the roads, the weather, the scenery, the food... it's all fantastic. I did my first launch down there way back in 2003 and I've been there a lot over the years – not just on launches but also on touring features, researching travel guides and on my own holidays (even on family holidays I'd sneak a day out on a bike). It's a simply staggering place to be on two wheels.

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The catch is that it's a long way – even if you sail to Santander. Especially if you don't want to sit on motorways to get down to Andalusia. So this main-road-avoiding tour takes ten days. It's designed to fit with the Plymouth service that lands on a Monday, coming home on the Thursday the following week (not the same week!). That leaves a day in hand to have a bit of time off the bike to see some sights in one of the historic cities… or you could ride a bit more.

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The Tour Pack version comes with three daytrip routes that can be added to the tour so, if you have more time, you can get a later ferry and see even more of the amazing roads Andalusia has to offer.

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What’s included on the route? Each day’s route has recommended places to stop for coffee in the morning and afternoon, a suggested lunch stop and planned fuel stops. The interactive notes that accompany the tour include hotel recommendations and information on attractions along the way.

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How long is each day’s ride? The cross-country days are just over six hours; the days in Andalusia are a fraction under it (and the additional daytrips are a little more relaxed again). They are full days in the saddle – it is a riding holiday – but it's not a trial of endurance. Just a bike trip that covers the best part of 200 miles. Saddle-time rating: seven out of 10.

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What are the highlights? So may... from the moment you roll off the ferry, cutting through the Cantabrian mountains and heading south. There's epic scenery (and riding) in the central sierras before you even get to Andalusia. But once you get there, it's riding heaven with the bike-launch staple of the "Ronda Road" and the "Sorbas bends" not to mention the majestic Las Palomas Pass, the epic climb over Alto de Velefique and - if you take the extra route included in the tour pack - the sublime Sierra Nevada summit road.

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Why ten days? It's all down to the ferry schedule. Ten days gives you scope to have a rest day (or ride the Sierra Nevada route) but the tour can be expanded if you're able to get a later return ferry.

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How is it supplied? The download consists of an interactive eBook of notes supported by individual GPX files for each day's route. You can simply download the GPX files and install them in your sat nav or phone app. However, I strongly recommend getting the tour pack of tankbag route notes and marked-up maps (not sold separately) which really make running the tour so much easier.