Sierra Alhamilla & Tabernas Desert · Almería
Feel the adrenaline at the wheel of a buggy across Almería's mythical landscapes: the Sierra Alhamilla of Game of Thrones and Exodus, the western-movie Tabernas desert and the tracks of the Andarax valley.
Off-Road Adventure
South-east of Almería stretch two arid, cinematic territories. The Tabernas Desert, the only true desert in continental Europe, is a protected natural site since 1989 covering some 11,448 hectares of dry riverbeds and badlands. A few kilometres away, the Sierra Alhamilla keeps a mining and thermal past, and film sets reused by recent blockbusters.
Aboard a 1 to 6-seat buggy, accompanied by local guides who know the terrain, you will leave the asphalt behind to read this landscape from the inside: dry washes, clay slopes, open horizons and the sets where much of cinema history was written. Two local companies run these routes all year round.
The three landscapes
The Sierra Alhamilla was a set for Exodus (Ridley Scott) and season 6 of Game of Thrones, where El Chorrillo near Pechina became Vaes Dothrak. Around 2 hours of cinema, palm groves and historic thermal baths.
From the canyons and ramblas of Tabernas — the set of over 300 westerns, including Sergio Leone's Dollars Trilogy — to the historic tracks of the Andarax valley, with its old Roman road and the river crossing.
The most approachable route in the catalogue: stretches of the old road linking the interior to the coast, the Andarax river crossing, a historic walled bridge and the vega that saw the birth of Bayyana, the mother of Almería.
The Fleet
Road-legal, insured, automatic and easy-to-drive vehicles, designed for the rough terrain of the desert and the sierra. Depending on the operator you'll find anything from single-seaters to 6-seat family buggies; the guide leads in their own buggy and paces each group.
Agile, compact single and two-seaters — like the CAN-AM Maverick Trail — ideal for duos after direct thrills.
Roomy buggies — like the CFMOTO ZForce 950 or Desert Buggy's 6-seaters — perfect for families or groups of friends.
Ready to go?
The catalogue
Two local companies run the area's buggy tours, each with its own routes, fleet and style. Prices are per buggy (not per person) — confirm when booking.
The film-route specialist: the Sierra Alhamilla of Game of Thrones and the western-movie desert.
CAN-AM Maverick Trail (2 seats) · CFMOTO ZForce 950 (4 seats)
Three routes from Pechina, 1 to 6-seat buggies, and photos and videos of your tour included for free.
Automatic buggies with 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 seats
Advance booking required with each operator (phone, WhatsApp or website). Changes and cancellations: generally 48 h in advance.
Frequently asked questions
Yes: the driver needs a valid B licence (some operators also require 2+ years). No off-road experience is needed, and you can always ride as a passenger — even with the guide.
Yes, as passengers. Depending on the operator, they are welcome from age 3 or over 1.05 m tall, and usually get a discount in the 4 and 6-seater buggies.
Tours run 2 to 3 hours. Pricing is PER BUGGY (not per person), starting around €140 for a single-seater; a 4-seater runs about €220-260 and a 6-seater €280-320 depending on the route (confirm when booking).
Operators supply the safety gear (helmet or goggles, bandana). Bring comfortable clothes you don't mind getting dusty, closed shoes, water and sun protection.
Across the Tabernas desert, the Sierra Alhamilla and the tracks of the lower Andarax, always on guided tours: the guide leads in their own buggy and paces the group.
Directly with the local operators: Buggy Almería and Desert Buggy (Pechina). Both run year-round by reservation; their routes, prices and official links are detailed above.