Best of Catalonia Cycle Touring

5/5 (12)
8 nights
27 miles/day
Guided from EUR € 2250
Self guided from EUR € 1650
Bike tour in Spain
Rider Level: Active Electric bike tours Client favorites

Best of Catalonia Cycle Touring

5/5 (12)

Rider Level: Active Electric bike tours Client favorites

8 nights
27 miles/day

Guided from EUR € 2250
Self guided from EUR € 1650
Bike tour in Spain

Tap above to jump to different sections of this tour

  • Mountain passes, medieval villages, and a mesmerizing coastline await

    This is a 9 day/8 night cycling tour that includes cycling the 'Carrilet', the converted railway that runs for 135 km from Ripoll in the Pyrenees to Sant Feliu de Guixols on the Mediterranean Sea.

    The riding starts in the mountain town of Ripoll, cycling the 'Ruta del Ferro' to the village of Sant Joan de les Abadesses. Gliding through the town and over the magnificent mountain pass of the 'Col de Santigosa', you'll descend into Olot, the capital of the volcanic region of 'La Garrotxa'.

    From Olot to Girona, the riding 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. A truly beautiful ride.

    The itinerary then heads north along the breathtaking Costa Brava coastline, exploring its many treasures. A second day in Llafranc is included in the itinerary to further explore the iconic Costa Brava bays of Tamariu and Calella de Palafrugell.

    The last two days of the tour are spent following the Baix Emporda Cycling Network routes that head inland through the timeless medieval villages of the region. Your cycling route takes you to the village of Pubol, where Salvador Dali’s 'Castle Museum' is located with many of his great works on display.

    On your final day, you will be transferred to Girona train station to return to Barcelona by train after a fantastic 8 days of exploring the very best of this part of Catalonia.

    NOTE: If you wish, you may extend this program. In order to book during the months of July or August, the program must be extended by one night due to hotel restrictions. August is a high-volume travel month, so if you wish to book during this month, we will secure a price quote from our local partner. Please contact us for pricing.

    • Paella in Spain! Mack Male@Flickr
    • Llafranc, Spain. Manuel Torres Garcia, Unsplash
    • Catalonia Bike Tour
    • Catalonia, Spain. Kasper Mols, Unsplash
    • Vineyards galore in Spain! Nacho Dominguez Argenta, Unsplash
    • Tapas in Spain! Pug Girl@Flickr
    • Catalonia Bike Tour
    • Girona, Spain. Error 420, Unsplash

    View more photos

    Highlights

    • Exploring the medieval city of Girona
    • Cycling the 'Carrilet'
    • Discovering the jewels of the Mediterranean bays
    • Cycling through the beautiful medieval villages of the Girona region

    Learn More

    Not sure which type of tour to book? Learn about the differences between guided and self-guided tours or see more Spain bike tours.

    Interested in adding to your itinerary? Take a look at our cycling day tours in Barcelona.

  • Traveler photos

    • Platja D'Aro from S'Agora Hotel (photo by Anne Stanek)
    • Our second day of riding - Pyrenees are behind us as we coast down towards the Mediterranean! (photo by Anne Stanek)
    • Followed the Via Verde much of the way - an extremely well maintained rail trail. (photo by Anne Stanek)
    • A medieval castle town on a hill as seen between olive trees. (photo by Anne Stanek)
    • The Mediterranean! (photo by Anne Stanek)
    • View from Far de Sebastian over LLafranc, where we spent two nights. (photo by Anne Stanek)
    • Cycling in medieval town (photo by StuNH)
    • The Costa Brava (photo by StuNH)
    • First Day of our adventure (photo by GregS)
    • We made it to the sea. (photo by GregS)

    Best of Catalonia Cycle Touring

     Tour Description Daily Program 

  • Daily program

    Day 1: Arrival in Ripoll
    Arrival by train from Barcelona to the Pyrenees mountain town of Ripoll. Explore the old town of Ripoll on foot and visit the Santa Maria de Ripoll Monastery.

    Day 2: Ripoll – Olot (25 miles/40 km)
    Morning tour briefing and bike setup at the hotel, you will cycle to Olot over the mountain pass of the 'Coll de Santigosa'.

    Overnight in Olot.

    Day 3: Olot – Girona (37 miles/60 km)
    Cycle along the 'Carrilet' (converted railway line) from Olot to Girona, cycling through the beautiful 'La Garrotxa' volcanic region.

    Overnight in Girona.

    Day 4: Girona – Sant Feliu de Guixols (25 miles/40 km)
    Continue along the 'Carrilet' to Sant Feliu de Guixols on the Mediterranean Sea. The converted railway line snakes its way from the plain of Girona to the pine forests of the coast.

    Overnight in Sant Feliu de Guixols.

    Day 5: Sant Feliu de Guixols – Llafranc (25 miles/40 km)
    Follow the beautiful coastal route through fields and forests of pine and cork trees to Llafranc.

    Overnight in Llafranc.

    Day 6: Llafranc (19 miles/30 km)
    Explore the beautiful bays of Llafranc, Calella de Palafrugell, and Tamariu.

    Overnight in Llafranc.

    Day 7: Llafranc – Monells (25 miles/40 km)
    Meander through the charming medieval villages of the Baix Emporda.

    Overnight in Monells.

    Day 8: Monells (25 miles/40 km)
    Explore more of the medieval villages following the Baix Emporda Cycling Network, visiting the Salvador Dali ‘Castle Museum’ in Pubol.

    Overnight in Monells.

    Day 9: Return to Girona and departure (19 miles/30 km)
    Return to Girona with the option to cycle up and over the challenging and stunning 'Els Angels' monastery route. This is one of the favorite road rides for many of the professional riders based in Girona.

    Transfer to Girona train station for regular direct trains to Barcelona. Don't want the tour to end? Add a cycling day tour in Barcelona to the end of your itinerary!

    Surface and terrain

    The tour follows the Baix Emporda Cycling Network which is made up of beautiful and tranquil secondary roads and country lanes. These are a mix of tarmac, dirt or gravel surfaces. This tour is suitable for standard bikes.


    Hotels

    These are sample hotels and may vary based on availability.

    Ripoll: Hotel La Trobada

    Olot: Hotel Can Blanc

    Girona: Hotel Peninsular

    Sant Feliu de Guixols: Hotel S’Agaro

    Llafranc: Hotel Casamar

    Monells: Hotel Arcs

    Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.


    How to get there

    Tour start
    Nearest airport and train station: Barcelona, Spain

    Tour end
    Nearest airport and bus station: Girona (GRO), Spain

    At the end of the tour clients are transferred to Girona train station where there are regular direct trains to Barcelona.

    Tips on getting to and from your tour.


    Best of Catalonia Cycle Touring

     Tour Photos Dates & Prices 

  • Dates

    • Daily, upon request: Mar 1-Jun 30; Sep 1-Nov 15, 2024 (additional dates in Jul-Aug available upon request for a surcharge)

    • Daily, upon request*: Mar 1-Jun 30; Sep 1-Nov 15, 2024 (*Minimum of 4 participants. Additional dates in Jul-Aug available upon request for a surcharge)

    Prices

    • Tour package

      Per person, double occupancy €1650
      Single use room (1 person/1 room) €2050
      Solo traveler (1 person in party with single use room) €2550
    • Tour package

      Per person, double occupancy €2350
      Single use room (1 person/1 room) €2750

      Minimum of 4 participants required.


    Bike Rentals

    Electrically assisted bike €338
    Cycle touring bike Included

    Extra Nights, Ripoll

    Per person, double occupancy €95
    Single use room (1 person/1 room) €148

    Extra Nights, Girona

    Per person, double occupancy €105
    Single use room (1 person/1 room) €158

    Included services

    Self-guided package includes:

    • 7 nights accommodation
    • Breakfasts
    • Luggage transfers between hotels
    • Detailed map of and notes on the cycling route
    • Emergency back up if required
    • Cycle touring bike
    • Return transfer at the end of the tour
    • 1 Garmin Edge Touring Plus GPS unit (per group)

    Guided package includes:

    • 7 nights accommodation
    • Breakfasts
    • Luggage transfers between hotels
    • Detailed map of and notes on the cycling route
    • Emergency back up if required
    • Cycle touring bike
    • Return transfer at the end of the tour
    • 1 Garmin Edge Touring Plus GPS unit (per group)
    • English speaking guide service

    Bike rentals

    Bikes available and included in the tour cost (must be reserved in advance at time of booking):

    • Standard bike: Corratec X-Vert Cross road bike with front suspension

    Bikes available to rent (must be reserved in advance at time of booking):

    • Electrically assisted bike: Scott E-SUB Active Unisex*


    Tour Company


    Best of Catalonia Cycle Touring

     Daily program Route Map 

  • Route Map

    Maps are for information purposes only and reflect typical routes between overnight locations. They may not reflect your actual route.


    Best of Catalonia Cycle Touring

     Dates & Prices Tour Reviews 

    • Anne Stanek 5 months ago

      Second time on this trip and it was well worth a second visit!

      This trip is extremely well organized, with lovely hotels, great breakfasts and so much variety in the bike routes. Although it has some challenging uphills, a lot of it is down hill, which is great fun. There is so much scenic beauty - going from the Pyrenees down to the Mediterranean Coast. It was really nice to stay in the same hotel two separate times (one right on the Mediterranean and another next to a castle) but still do loop rides which were fun. We found Daniel, owner of Creative Catalonia, was a most personable and easy going guy. We had a problem with a bike and within two hours (during which time we enjoyed one of the many superb lunches we had along the way) he had arrived where we were and fixed the bike. This is still one of my most favorite rides out of the ten tours that we have done over the years.

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 2023
      How many tours have you completed?
      10
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • Platja D'Aro from S'Agora Hotel (photo by Anne Stanek)
      • Our second day of riding - Pyrenees are behind us as we coast down towards the Mediterranean! (photo by Anne Stanek)
      • Followed the Via Verde much of the way - an extremely well maintained rail trail. (photo by Anne Stanek)
      • A medieval castle town on a hill as seen between olive trees. (photo by Anne Stanek)
      • The Mediterranean! (photo by Anne Stanek)
      • View from Far de Sebastian over LLafranc, where we spent two nights. (photo by Anne Stanek)
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Theresa Schwingenschloegl 10 months ago

      A fabulous 7 days

      Our e bike tour was meticulously routed by our guide Daniel. With his planning we adapted our North American stomachs to a later lunch which was always timed perfectly for the 4 of us to to end our day, allowing us to relax and enjoy a delicious main meal accompanied by wonderful local wines and beers. It was a surprise to us that our bike tour was just the four of us but it turned out to be a wonderful active holiday at just the right pace. A mirror and a bell for my e bike are the only suggestions I could make. We were mostly on well packed trails but also had fabulous downhill riding on quiet well paved roads where you could see a good distance ahead, which gave confidence to a novice rider. The weather cooperated, our accomadations were very comfortable, our bags were always there ahead of us, the bikes were great. What wonderful holiday.

    • Theresa Schwingenschloegl 10 months ago

      A fabulous 7 days

      Our e bike tour was meticulously routed by our guide Daniel. With his planning we adapted our North American stomachs to a later lunch which was always timed perfectly for the 4 of us to to end our day, allowing us to relax and enjoy a delicious main meal accompanied by wonderful local wines and beers. It was a surprise to us that our bike tour was just the four of us but it turned out to be a wonderful active holiday at just the right pace. A mirror and a bell for my e bike are the only suggestions I could make. We were mostly on well packed trails but also had fabulous downhill riding on quiet well paved roads where you could see a good distance ahead, which gave confidence to a novice rider. The weather cooperated, our accomadations were very comfortable, our bags were always there ahead of us, the bikes were great. What wonderful holiday.

    • Julie Griesert 10 months ago

      Fabulous trip

      This was our third self-guided bike trip and probably the most organized and well-planned. Daniel met us at the first hotel and was very thorough with instructions, giving us both a map with notes as well as a gps that worked great. He even made dinner reservations at one of the hotels (the restaurant is amazing and reservations must be made in advance). We loved the variety of areas the route took us through - country and coastal. The last 2 hotels were over the top, and the last one was our absolute favorite. Things to know when considering this trip: you have to want to bike most of the day, that's what these trips are about. We'd start our days with a great breakfast and then were on the road by 10 or 10:30, biking until the afternoon (anywhere from 2 - 4pm depending on the mileage). I had an e-bike but the other 2 of us had regular bikes. I was happy to have the assist so I could keep up. You will likely run into a few stretches that aren't pleasant; maybe next to a noisy road, or suddenly it gets super windy or rainy and bugs are flying into your eyes (I recommend eye wear of some kind) but then you are in blissful sections in the middle of a quiet forest on a rail-to-trail path, or rolling through sunny fields of wheat. The less pleasant bits were rare but do note that these trips are better for people who can handle a bit of rain or wind or whatever. Food tip: Meal times in Europe are skewed later and restaurants and stores may not be open when you want to eat. Try to plan ahead and either buy picnic food in town in the am so you can eat on the road later, or be prepared to eat a fixed price multi-course lunch in the later afternoon (unless you are in a bigger town that has more options). We managed to convince a couple places to do a lower fixed price lunch with fewer dishes but it's just not the norm. By the end of the trip we were so done with large meals. It was new for us to have the 2 night stays in 2 of the hotels but they were at our 2 favorite hotels and with the one on the coast, we ended up taking advantage of the 2 nights by not doing the second day's ride. It was cold, windy, and a bit rainy so we ended up taking a very slow morning until the rain subsided, then we walked the coastal footpath, which was gorgeous. It worked out well as a nice break. Also, I recommend not looking up the hotels in advance - one of the fun things about these trips is rolling up to the hotel in the afternoon and knowing nothing about it. On previous trips we've had some pretty odd mixes of places, including one semi-creepy place (not on this trip) that we still laugh about today and even kind of appreciate that we ended up there. All-in-all a great trip.

      What was the date of your tour?
      May 2023
      How many tours have you completed?
      3
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Ulla Dueck 10 months ago

      Great adventure!

      This was our first visit to Spain and what a fabulous way to see part of the country. Our guide (Daniel) was the best. The terrain varied many times along the route, but was always manageable. The hotels were great and the food was delicious. Loved the abundance of seafood.

      What was the date of your tour?
      May 2023
      How many tours have you completed?
      4
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
      • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
    • Craig Williams 11 months ago

      Loved all the old cities!

      Great route, the cities we rode thru and old rail trails were safer than city/country roads. The guide was fantastic with educational info, language skills and expertise on coffee and lunch/dinner stops.

    • StuNH October 14, 2021

      A tour far exceeding expectations!

      Reading previous reviews, what most needs to be said is praise for this tour is not over rated. It was an exceptional tour! We did the tour in late September into October. The high tourist season was past, so our entire tour was quiet, peaceful, relaxing. The weather was very pleasant, and swimming in the Mediterranean was delightful. We had 3 days on the coast to enjoy that. We loved the various cycling experiences - the "Carrilet", the coast (Costa Brava), and the medieval villages. The hotels were all outstanding.
      Even though the tour was self guided, the tour operator remained in touch and was exceptional.

      What was the date of your tour?
      9/28/21 - 10/6/21
      How many tours have you completed?
      10+ (I've lost count)
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • Cycling in medieval town (photo by StuNH)
      • The Costa Brava (photo by StuNH)
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
      • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
    • GregS June 25, 2018

      Wonderful Trip, Great Experience

      Great service, Hotels and staff were the best. Level 3 was a little tough for a beginner, but I made it.

      What was the date of your tour?
      5-8-18/5-18-18
      How many tours have you completed?
      First
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • First Day of our adventure (photo by GregS)
      • We made it to the sea. (photo by GregS)
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 3/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • george October 3, 2017

      Surprisingly luxurious biking

      the biking was largely on old railroad right of ways or farm roads. the sections on paved roads were nearly deserted of traffic. The Costa Brava was gorgeous. Lots of medieval stone hilltop towns. The hotels were just fabulous. Great lunches and dinners for relatively little money. A side trip to the Dali museum.

      What was the date of your tour?
      mid-September
      How many tours have you completed?
      1
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Much easier
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Anne52 October 2, 2017

      An idyllic, romantic and gorgeous bike trip!

      This was our first self guided bike trip and what a lucky choice it was! Daniel and Lucy of Creative Catalonia are a dynamic couple who were so personable and helpful. They have organized a fascinating and beautiful bike trip. We were amazed at the often paved bike paths that wound through gorgeous country side, from the mountains to the sea. The places we stayed were super, we were often alone on the paths, the side trips were interesting, the restaurant recommendations were outstanding... We can't rave enough about this outstanding bike tour.

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 14 - 21, 2016
      How many tours have you completed?
      This was our first.
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Rosie September 26, 2017

      One of the best researched and organized tours I've ever been on

      Creative Catalonia selected absolutely the best routes through beautiful countryside and seaside scenery as well as taking one through picturesque villages and selecting really great hotels in interesting cities and villages. We had a great variety of scenery and experiences. Additionally their equipment was great and their maps and instructions were very clear. Their assessments of distances and difficulty were right on and they kept us on small farm roads or streets with very few cars as much as possible. They also provided one garmen for every group that had the route programmed into it. It was impossible to get lost. They were also helpful with he small changes we wanted to make and had great suggestions for restaurants and other experiences along the way.

      This is an exceptional outfitter.

      Rosemary Heil
      fall 2017

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 2017
      How many tours have you completed?
      3
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • BikeTours.com staff reply from Jim Johnson, Founder and president September 27, 2017

        Thank you for the great review, Rosemary! We love the "superlatives!" We agree that Creative Catalonia is among the best of the best--absolutely exceptional.

      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Pablito October 23, 2016

      Great Trip

      We had a large group (16!) with varying levels of ability. All aspects of the tour were great. Logistics worked well: pick up and fitting of bikes went without a hitch. The rides were very scenic and covered a range of terrain, from mountains to the flats. All hotels were very nice and Creative Catalonia booked a couple of very fine meals in Olot and Llafranc at truly world-class restaurants. Scenery on the rides was fantastic, and the routes had little traffic and were often off the roads altogether.

      The only hiccup of the trip was that only 4 map packages were provided to our group. Would have expected that each rider would get a full pack of maps.

      What was the date of your tour?
      October 9-16
      How many tours have you completed?
      2
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 3/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection

    Best of Catalonia Cycle Touring

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