Catalonia on two wheels
The pine-scented coastal region of Catalonia has long attracted artists (Salvador Dali, among others), writers, and those in search of beauty, tranquility, and inspiration. With its multitude of villages, sunny weather, seaside splendor, art, culture, and gastronomy & wine, this corner of Spain offers everything we look for when traveling. Did we mention the cycling is superb? In fact, many pro teams live and train here when not competing. While most of our routes are more moderate in length and difficulty, avid cyclists will have lots of options should they choose. From Figueres, to Callela de Palafrugell to Girona, we have created an itinerary that shows you the very best of this region.
Only Great Explorations:
Figueres, Spain
Day 1+2
Calella de Palafrugell
Day 3+4
Girona, Spain
Day 5-7
| 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|
| Apr 13-19 | Apr 12-18 |
| Apr 20-26 | Apr 19-25 |
| May 4-10 | May 2-8 |
| May 11-17 | May 9-15 |
| Jun 1-7 | May 30- Jun 6 |
| Jun 8-14 | Jun 7-13 |
| Sep 7-13 | Sep 6-12 |
| Sep 21-27 | Sep 20-26 |
| Oct 5-11 | Oct 4-10 |
| Oct 19-25 | Oct 18-24 |
Trip can start at any date. Self-guided and custom trips also available. Call or email for details.
Trip Size
Total Days
Arrive/Depart
Activity LevelModerate with challenging options
40-70+ km daily
Van supported
TerrainVaried - expect some hills, worth the effort to climb
CostLand Cost
US $3,950
Includes 6B/2L/5D
Single Supplement
US $1000
Bike Rentals
Hybrid Bikes: US $320
Racing Bikes: US $420
E-bikes*: US $480
*E-bikes are generally available but are on an ‘on request basis ‘ and will be confirmed on receipt of your booking registration. E-bikes provided are the best rentals available in the region. Our regular fleet of hybrid and race bikes are fun to ride and light and fast, but if having an e-bike will make your trip, we’ll do our best to provide. E-bike rentals are non-refundable.
Getting There
The tour starts in Figueres. You will want to stay in Barcelona the night before the trip begins as we recommend the 8:22 a.m. train that arrives into Figueres Villafant at 9:19 a.m. (55 min). We will meet that train (or the one specified in your Trip Planner) and whisk you to the hotel so we can enjoy a full day of riding. If you come on a different train, you can easily take a taxi to the hotel – we plan to depart on bikes by 10 a.m.
Figueres
Bienvenido to Figueres, birthplace of Salvador Dali, and gateway to the beautiful Alt Emporda with traffic-free, smooth paved roads with stunning scenery, quaint villages and beautiful beaches. On our first day of riding, we will ride towards Pont de Molins and past the Castell de les Escaules en-route to a sanctuary near Terrades. An add-on loop visits Darnius and the Panta de Boadella reservoir.
Distance: 26 km; 335 m gain or 52 km; 875 m gain
Figueres
Today, we will ride to the wine town of Peralada, one of the most charming villages in the region. Explore the historic center, visit the XII century Romanesque cloister of Sant Domenec museum here or wine taste if you wish – the newly opened Celler Perelada offers tours of the Perelada Castle and winery. Reach Roses, a beachside enclave where you can swim or enjoy a cappuccino from one of the cool cafes here. From here, you will ride through Empuriabrava with its navigable waterways and marinas and then through the Aiguamolls d’Emporda, an important bird sanctuary. Have lunch in Castell D’Empuries, one of the gems of Catalonia with a basilica, and impressive town center with great restaurants.
A long option will reach Cadaqués, an unspoiled and remote village with crystal-blue water, fishing boats, sandy beaches, and old white-washed houses.
Back in Figueres, we will visit the Dali Museum with an expert guide; the artist was known as much for his flamboyance and exhibitionism as he as for his surrealist and exotic imagery and definitely leaves an impression on visitors. We will finish the day with another great meal in a traditional asador restaurant frequented by Dali.
Distance: 50 km; 270 m gain or 88 km; 1,390 m gain
Calella de Palafrugell
Riding south from Figueres, we ride past the archeological site of Empuries and along a scenic sea-side bike path with a possible swim spot at a lovely bay. We ride through the medieval city of Torroella de Montgri and admire the ruin of a castle high above town. In Palau-Sator we have lunch at an atmospheric restaurant before continuing to Castell d’Emporda, a idyllic hamlet with luxurious amenities.
Distance: 45 km; 170 m or 68 km; 450 m gain
Calella de Palafrugell
The views between Calella and Begur is some of the most stunning scenery of the trip; there are some steep sections but they are short. You will have time to explore medieval Begur with its castle above town and Pals, an enchanting village. On the Luxe trip, you will want to arrive back to Castell d’Emporda to enjoy the pool and surroundings of the hotel. If you wish a hiking day as an alternative to biking, the guides can take you to hike a spectacular section of the coastal trail.
Riding distance: 60 km; 890 m gain
Hiking distance (optional): 12.3 km; 380 m gain or 1.9 km; 200 m gain
Girona
Ride to Girona where professional cyclists live and train off-season (attracted by the climate and food, just like us). Along the way, stop to visit the castle that Dali and his wife Gala built in Pubol and to have lunch before a wee climb over the Mare de Deu dels Angels before descending into Girona. We will enjoy a walking tour of the city, to learn of the many treasures here before dinner on your own – options abound from Michelin starred (The Roca brothers El Celler de Can Roca is rated one of the best restaurants in the world, but their newest restaurant, Normal is easier to get into and also superb).
Distance: 36 km; 460 m gain or 57 km; 930 m gain
Girona
Choose from moderate or challenging rides northwest of Girona and then post-ride lunch at Cafe Fabrica, owned by (now retired) Canadian pro cyclist Christain Meier and his wife Amber. We will have a memorable final night wine tasting and then dinner at our favourite restaurant in Girona. Hungry anyone?
Distance: 52 km; 555 m gain or 75 km; 900 m gain
Depart
Depart at your leisure for onward travel. Trains from Girona reach Barcelona in 30 minutes (25 trains per day).
Mas Falgarona is a 17th-century property with that large and light guest rooms that retain the original thick stone walls and raftered ceilings. There's a swimming pool, a shady garden and an organic kitchen garden providing much of the produce for the restaurant. The location, just 5 km outside of Figueres, is quiet with lovely gardens and beautiful setting.
This boutique hotel boasts sea-view rooms, a lovely terrace where breakfast and dinner are served overlooking the beach, and a great location, steps to town. It has been owned by the same family for three generations. “Quite simply the hotel has the best position in the most charming resort on the most beautiful and rugged coast on the whole Mediterranean.” - Arnold Z., Leeds, UK
This exclusive 5-star Relais & Chateaux property is stunning. The rooms are spacious and the bar and restaurant here are excellent. This is one of our favourite hotels in Spain.
*We sometimes substitute Mas de Torrent for Hotel Sant Roc, in which case there is an est. US$200 pp sur-charge.
Exuding comfortable elegance, this 4-star hotel is located in the historic centre of Girona. The design incorporates the historic property with a contemporary décor and friendly atmosphere.
Tour Reviews
“Our most recent trip in Catalonia was possibly the best. The variety of rural and seaside riding was wonderful and mileage options for our diverse group of 16 was much appreciated. However, our 3 guides were fantastic. They knew the region, local foods and worked very hard to make sure we had a great experience. Job well done.”
“I loved it all!”
“Great country, I enjoy riding and earning my dinner/drinks. It was spectacular. The coastal ride, the hills out of Figueres, Dali museum, Girona was a surprise – nicer than I expected. Fun group to travel with!”
“Guides were excellent and charming companions and always punctual. Riding on ebikes was wonderful!!”
“It is a joy to be able to bike in such a beautiful area. It was an excellent vacation, all around. Great guides, hotels and food. Excellent biking routes, with lots of variety of terrain, incline, and scenery and a nice mix of tours included. Perfect!”
“I really enjoyed the biking experience, region, speaking Spanish, and most of all, I LOVED our guides – they made the trip. They are kind, eager to please, extremely thoughtful, caring and provided us the safety and guidance that we needed. They are so easy to get along with and made it their priority to be punctual, professional and create a team spirit. Fabulous! The food and drinks were outstanding. Absolutely LOVED Ana, the guide that took us through the Salvador Dali museum and Girona. More of that would be great! I love riding and bike distance options.”
“We had two fabulous guides and they made the experience more than expected. They went above and beyond, adding many little highlights including a water taxi on the hiking day that made it extra special. The scenery was spectacular and the culinary experience was also very memorable. Wine tasting was fun, and the Dali museum was very interesting. The vehicle was always available and the guides made sure we were supported, including snacks, hydration etc. Honestly the adventure was amazing. Spain is a beautiful destination and having two experienced, fun and professional guides that became our friends made it even more special.”
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