Catalonia Gastronomic Bike Tour

This bicycle tour of Spain, near to Girona, covers the Emporda interior and coast. You cycle through the area of the Empordanet, also known as the Catalan Tuscany, for its beautiful countryside and incredible medieval villages. Along the bike route you will visit wine cellars, olive oil mills, gastronomy museums like the marmalade museum! This tour is outstanding for the quality, charm, and high gastronomy of the selected lodgings along with moderate cycling.
An optional extension includes Figueres (Dali Museum).

Day 1 | Arrival Day

Arrival in Girona at the train station or airport and transfer on your own to your deluxe 4 star lodging in the historic old town. You have the rest of the day and night to explore Girona and its fantastic Old City. Dinner on your own - we'll give you several suggestions among the many good options available. Girona has become an excellent place to sample high quality Catalan cuisine; and if we have enough time, we can book you into Celler de Can Roca - one of the best in the world! We encourage early arrivals to be able to visit this historic city.

Day 2 | Transfer to Romanya de la Selva and bike ride to Llafranc - 30 km

After breakfast we will meet you for an orientation at 9:30 am to cover the tour, size bikes, and then take you by van to start your ride. (be ready to roll!) Upon arrival at the ride start, Bo will do your bike setup and complete the orientation. You start at the mountain top village Romanyà de la Selva (30min drive) offering panoramic views over the Gavarres mountain. Start your bike tour with an incredible downhill ride following a tranquil road to the coast near Palamos, the most important port town in the Girona province. Why not try a typical prawn dish or some tapas in the old town? The bike route continues along La Fosca beach and the lovely Castell cove passing through Mediterranean scenery full of cork trees and the Greenway Bike Path “Ruta del Tren Petit”, a former narrow gauge railway line. Your ride ends in the charming seaside town Llafranc at a hotel right at the beach. You can extend the ride to nearby winery (+8km) or botanical gardens (+3km). Breakfast and dinner included, tasting menu included in upgraded version!

Day 3 | Ride from Llafranc to Pals Beach - 36km

Ride through the area ‘Empordanet’ with a great variety of beautiful landscapes with many historic villages and towns like the medieval Pals, Peratallada and Palau-Sator. These villages are full of atmosphere and offer a great opportunity to join the locals for a snack or drink on one of quiet village squares. Highlights include the walled villages of Pals and Peretallada and the optional visit to the Jam Museum in Torrent. Today's ride ends at Pals beach (Platja de Pals) at the comfortable hotel Sa Punta, only about 800m away from a long Mediterranean beach. (B,D*) Some extensions for more riding to a lighthouse, or village ruin are possible.

Day 4 | Ride from Pals Beach - Sant Marti d'Empuries - 35km

Today our route starts along the beach and sand dunes (photo) and then passes through the rice fields of Pals, an interesting area with dunes, marshland, irrigation canals, rice mills and virgin beaches. You can choose to take a detour to the coast to see the outlet of the Ter River and the surrounding protected area Basses d en Coll. (Rice has long been cultivated here and appears in many local dishes; be sure to try Arros a La Cassola!) From here your ride goes on toward L'Escala but first you have to choose a flatter route around the Montgri or a more challenging route over the hills. Your hotel (eco hotel gold LEED certified) is on the beach next to the 2000+ year old Empuries archeaological site, that you will want to visit. Dinner with Tasting Menu included* in upgraded version.

Day 5 | Loop ride Sant Marti d'Empuries to Castello d Empuries - 51km

Today could be a rest day at the beach or to visit the ruins of Empuries. But a nice loop ride is also available to visit the Natural Park “Aiguamolls” in the wet areas of Emporda. This is a protected area of great ornithological importance. We will also pay a visit to Castello d'Empuries, a medieval city of great historical importance. Return back to the same hotel, dinner on your own. (B) Option: go to Figueres by bus on weekdays; and back.

Day 6 | Ride to Madremanya - 38 km

The ride to Madremanya takes you back to the interior part of the region, the hilly sections sectors on the western borders at the alluvial plain. This is an eminently agricultural area where you can visit typical villages such as Verges, a medieval village with the remains of its ancient walls. Before reaching your hotel, why not take a short detour to the village of Pubol to have a snack and visit the castle. It was the home to surrealist painter Salvador Dalí and his wife Gala (she is buried at the castle). Dalí bought the castle in 1969. It has been open to the public since 1996. Excellent lodging tonight at La Placa, suite category (if available in upgrade version) and tasting menu included in upgrade version.

Day 7 | Loop ride Medieval Villages - 39 km

A rest day by the pool and enjoy the charming ambiance of the hotel and the quite village or one last bike tour and your ultimate challenge on the bike. Explore the countryside in depth including some small but very charming medieval villages such as Monells, Casavells, Corca and Pubol. You are also invited to visit one of the local pottery shops with typical ceramics in the small town La Bisbal d Emporda. Dinner on your own tonight - you will probably want to eat at La Placa and can choose your menu.

Day 8 | Return transfer to Girona included.

Extra nights in Barcelona possible, we have several hotels we recommend. Contact us for information.

Add an Extra night and ride today: ask us for the itinerary and rate!
Cooking classes can also be added as extra days on this bike Bed & breakfast for 6 nights.

What's included
7 nights deluxe lodging - basic or upgraded rooms, see below
Breakfast daily
4 top quality dinners (upgraded price only)
Luggage transfers
Local Girona based emergency support
Orientation and bike set up
Day 2 and departure transfers
Road books with riding route maps and cue sheets, suggestions for visitation and dining.
Additional services and stays can be arranged separately.

We have 2 price options; basic and upgraded. We believe that the upgraded version is absolutely worth it including the tasting menus and dinners that come with those superior category rooms. However, the Basic tour rate is at the same excellent hotels and offers some savings for those who don't want these extras.

Lodging
Accommodation: 7 nights in deluxe 3 and 4 star hotels. Both basic and upgraded tours stay at the same hotel, but in different room categories. All lodging offer a private bathroom and a variety of other amenities. Hotels include:
Hotel Historic****, Girona: standard or Jr Suite
Hotel Llevant***, Llafranc: standard or sea view room
Hotel Sa Punta****, Pals beach: standard or superior room
Hostal Empuries***, Sant Marti d'Empuries new wing/Spa room
Hotel La Placa***, Madremanya, standard or suite