Best Of Catalonia Combined Cycling & Walking Holiday

The riding starts in the mountain town of Ripoll cycling along the ‘Ruta del Ferro’ to the village of Sant Joan de les Abadesses. Once we have passed through the town we climb up and over the beautiful mountain pass of the ‘Col de Santigosa’ before descending into Olot, which is the capital city of the volcanic region of ‘La Garrotxa”.

From Olot to Girona the riding takes place on the converted railway that is known as the ‘Carrilet’. It is a gentle descent for about 60 km into Girona through stunning scenery. The following day’s section of the Carrilet between Girona and Sant Feliu de Guixols is approximately 40 km and covers a diverse range of scenery from the undulating farmland around Girona to the Pine and Cork forests of the coastal region.

From Sant Feliu de Guixols the itinerary switches from the ‘saddle to the shoe’ as we join the beautiful ‘Cami de Ronda’ coastal walking path as it hugs its way along the stunning stretch of Mediterranean coastline towards the hilltop town of Begur.

Highlights of this section of the Cami de Ronda walking route include:

strolling through the S’Agaro estate that was designed by the Catalan architect Rafael Maso
visiting the Cap Roig Botanical gardens with stunning views over the Mediterranean Sea
walking through the iconic Costa Brava bays of Calella de Palafrugell, Llafranc and Tamariu
staying in the beautiful hilltop village of Begur
From Begur you will continue by bike following the well signed Baix Emporda Cycle Network through the timeless Medieval Villages area, stopping off for a coffee and lunch en-route as you pass through the charming villages. Your destination is a lovingly restored 4 star hotel in the village of Monells, one of the prettiest of the medieval villages in the region.

On your second day in Monells you will cycle through more of the medieval villages, including a visit to the Salvador Dali Castle Museum in Pubol. In addition, there is the opportunity to eat lunch in a 14th Century Castle that was once owned by a captain on Christopher Columbus’s fleet.

On your final day you will be transferred to Girona train station to return to Barcelona by direct train after an incredible 10 days of exploring the very best of the cycling and walking on offer in this part of Catalonia, Spain.