Al Andalus Ultimate Trail 2027: route, stages and entry fee

Plan your race pace

Loja will host the start and finish of the 2027 edition of the Al Andalus Ultimate Trail, a mountain ultramarathon taking place from July 5 to 9 in Poniente Granadino. The route covers 230 kilometres over five stages and crosses varied terrain, from paths through olive groves to mountain trails and sun-exposed tracks.

The event combines competition and several days of shared experience: runners pass through different towns in Granada and spend nights at stage campsites. The organizers place the start and finish at Hotel El Mirador in Loja. For 2027, one registration listing gives a price of 1,380 euros, although terms and fees should be checked before entering.

A five-stage ultramarathon

The 230 kilometres are not covered in one continuous effort but in five stages, each ending in a different town. This format changes the logic of a conventional ultra: as well as managing effort during each day, runners must preserve enough energy to race again the next morning. Recovery between stages becomes part of the event, rather than a break separate from it.

The race takes place in the Poniente Granadino area of Granada province. Routes combine technical trails, dirt roads, paved sections and rural tracks, with elevation changes and sun exposure varying from day to day. This is not a race at one steady pace: the terrain calls for a mix of running and walking, as well as constant attention to how much energy remains.

Key dates, start and 2027 details

The next edition is scheduled from Monday, July 5, to Friday, July 9, 2027. The start and finish are at Hotel El Mirador on Avenida de Andalucía in Loja. Available information identifies the town and venue but does not specify the daily start time, so runners should check the official event material provided to participants.

The summer calendar is an important factor in assessing the challenge. In July, inland Andalusia can bring hot days and long stretches without shade; one event listing cites an average July temperature of 28 degrees in Loja, a climate reference rather than a forecast for race week. Actual temperatures will depend on the weather, but heat exposure is part of the context runners should consider.

How the route unfolds over five stages

The first day starts in Loja and finishes in Alhama de Granada, near the municipal swimming pool. The course includes a demanding climb through dry scenery, with little shade over much of the route, followed by rolling tracks and descents. In the final kilometres, the trail passes through olive-growing country before approaching the finish. The elevation and lack of shelter can matter as much as distance.

The second stage connects Alhama de Granada with Játar, crosses the Alhama Gorge and joins sections of the GR-7 trail. Farther on, the route enters the Sierra Almijara along mountain paths and narrow trails. The day ends at El Nacimiento campsite in Játar. The changing surface and sustained climbs mean that average speed alone does not describe the effort: technique and the ability to maintain a steady pace matter too.

The third day links Játar and Jayena. From the campsite, the route climbs on a paved road toward Bermejales Reservoir, then continues along farm tracks and mountain paths. It passes through La Resinera and rejoins the GR-7. Although the course crosses natural scenery, it is not all trail: switches between pavement, gravel and dirt require runners to adjust their stride and pace.

The fourth stage, from Jayena to Alhama de Granada, is the longest described, at about 62 kilometres. The route begins beside the Turillas River, tackles a tough climb and passes through Fornes and Arenas del Rey before skirting Bermejales Reservoir. More climbs, tracks and sections through Cacín follow, including exposed areas with little shade. Its length makes it a decisive point for both the standings and the cumulative demands of the race.

The fifth and final day returns from the outskirts of Alhama de Granada to Loja. The route skirts the reservoir, passes through the gorge and crosses the town of Alhama before joining tracks and a long descent toward Hotel El Mirador. After four days of effort, the final descent may feel less forgiving than it looks on a map: runners’ legs already carry the strain of the previous stages.

Heat and terrain shape the challenge

Difficulty is not simply a matter of adding up kilometres. In a five-day event, each stage begins with the memory of the one before, while heat can make running on open tracks more costly. Several sections are specifically described as lacking shade, especially climbs and exposed tracks. The combination of temperature, elevation and accumulated fatigue helps explain why a pace that feels comfortable early on may not stay that way.

The surface also changes how the race feels. Pavement offers more regular footing but can become punishing over time; technical trails demand focus and balance, while dirt tracks can feel monotonous and dusty. The route includes natural areas and country paths, but this is not a hike: it is an endurance race, with checkpoints and cut-off times governing progress.

Checkpoints, course marking and cut-off times

The organizers describe a route marked with pink ribbons and paint, with extra signs at road junctions. An official route book is also provided. Markings help runners follow the course but do not remove individual responsibility: each runner must pay attention to the markers and review the race information, rather than relying blindly on other people or a GPS file.

According to published information, each stage has cut-off times based on a minimum average speed of approximately 5.5 to 6.5 kilometres per hour. Checkpoint closing times are communicated before the relevant stage. Anyone who fails to reach a checkpoint on time may be transported to the stage finish. The race director and medical team may make decisions for safety reasons.

Accommodation and life between stages

The format involves travel between Loja and several points in the region, with overnight stays at campsites near stage finishes. Available information places the finishes in Alhama de Granada, Játar, Jayena and Alhama again before the return to Loja. These changes of accommodation give the race a travelling character: after finishing, the day does not necessarily end in a hotel room, but at the designated camp.

Food options around each campsite vary. Race information mentions restaurants and shops near some towns, but also remote locations, including the third-stage campsite, where paella is prepared for participants. Pasta is listed for another stage, followed by a gala dinner at the hotel. Specific services may change, so runners should check the updated details for this edition.

Entry fee and details to confirm before registering

One published listing gives an entry fee of 1,380 euros. This is the available reference for 2027 and may vary with the registration period, availability or terms set by the organizers. Another platform indicates that there are price tiers and a registration closing date, but the exact fee and validity of each tier should be confirmed with the organizers before payment.

The event lists services associated with participation, including medical support, aid stations, showers, accident insurance, meals and airport transfers, as well as keepsakes and photography. The availability or scope of each service may depend on the entry option and the rules for that edition. Cancellation and transfer conditions are also described, but terms posted on third-party pages may be outdated; the current policy should be read during official registration.

The kind of runner the event tends to attract

The format is aimed at runners with long-distance experience and the ability to repeat hard efforts over five days. Finishing a marathon alone does not predict how someone will cope with a mountain stage followed by another long day. The challenge involves running while tired, adapting to different surfaces and managing effort without losing sight of checkpoint deadlines. It is very different from a trail race lasting a single morning.

The race also attracts international participants and runners looking for an extended experience, closer to a competitive journey than a standalone event. Time spent together at campsites and passing through small towns are part of the format, but they do not make the sporting challenge less demanding. The central task is to sustain the effort through the fifth stage, rather than excel on one day and pay for an overly fast start later.

Getting to Loja and what the location means

Loja sits beside the A-92 motorway and serves as the base for the start and finish. Race information places the town about 35 minutes from Granada Airport and 55 minutes from Málaga Airport. These are approximate travel times, subject to traffic, the precise arrival point and the transfers arranged for the edition.

The location is practical for a race that concentrates its initial logistics and finish there, although the intervening stages take place in other Poniente Granadino towns. Distances between campsites, arrival times and transport availability all form part of travel planning. In a stage race, logistics between days are as real as the course: they affect rest and equipment arrangements.

A route revealing another side of Granada

Passing through Alhama de Granada, Játar, Jayena, Fornes, Arenas del Rey and Cacín creates a rural route, far removed from a city race on a repeated circuit. The course approaches the Alhama Gorge, the Sierra Almijara and the area around Bermejales Reservoir. Varied landscapes are part of its appeal, but every setting brings a different challenge: heat on open ground, elevation in the mountains and wear from long tracks.

In that setting, the July 2027 edition offers a physical and geographical journey through Poniente Granadino: five days in which the landscape changes as fatigue builds. The 230-kilometre total conveys the scale of the challenge, but cannot by itself explain what it takes to finish. The combination of stages, heat and uneven terrain is key to understanding how this event differs from a one-day ultra.