Medieval Villages of Catalonia

4.8/5 (32)
6 nights
25 miles/day
Guided from EUR € 1850
Self guided from EUR € 1350
Bike tour in Spain
Rider Level: Recreational Electric bike tours

Medieval Villages of Catalonia

4.8/5 (32)

Rider Level: Recreational Electric bike tours

6 nights
25 miles/day

Guided from EUR € 1850
Self guided from EUR € 1350
Bike tour in Spain

Tap above to jump to different sections of this tour

  • Medieval Villages of Catalonia

    This Medieval villages cycling tour is a perfect way to explore the quieter, less traveled areas in this fascinating region of Catalonia.

    The tour starts in Girona city and winds its way gently through the undulating and ever-changing scenery of the Baix Emporda. All of the cycling takes place on quiet country roads that are part of the Baix Emporda Cycle Network that has been developed to allow cyclists to fully enjoy the splendors of this area.

    The tour follows the cycling network and finishes in the charming medieval village of Monells. Your luggage will be transported for you from hotel to hotel, so you can relax and enjoy the cycling. The accommodation provided is 2-, 3-, and 4-star hotels, including breakfast with your stay. Hotels are dependent upon availability.

    Each day’s ride is approximately 25 miles/40 km and covers terrain that is mostly flat with some rolling hills, so you can pace yourself to stop and enjoy the views. Each day, after arriving at your hotel, there are plenty of great cycling options, ranging from 12-25 miles/20-40km, to explore the local areas further, so if you have enough energy to see a little more, then each area is well worth exploring. You will be provided with detailed maps and route plans to help you on your way.

    Each day, from your hotels you will explore the beautiful scenery of the Baix Emporda region of Catalonia, cycling the selected highlights of the well-signposted bike trail network. Additionally, you will cycle a variety of stunning rides that will clearly explain why this area of Europe is renowned as a cyclist’s paradise!

    The rest of the tour follows the well-marked "Baix Emporda Cycle Network" that utilizes quiet country lanes and back roads that are almost completely traffic-free. The road surfaces are a mix of hard packed gravel and tarmac.

    The Medieval Villages tour is our easiest tour, and it is well within the reach of almost all cycling abilities. In addition, it is a beautiful route that encompasses spending time exploring Girona city by the Mediterranean Sea and cycling through the timeless medieval villages of the Baix Emporda region of Catalonia, Spain.

    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.

    • Girona, Catalonia, Spain. Error420@Unsplash
    • Catalonia, Spain. Laia Vidal@Unsplash
    • Llafranc, Catalonia, Spain. Manuel Torres Garcia@Unsplash
    • Medieval Villages of Catalonia Spain Bike Tour
    • Catalonia, Spain. ORNELLA BINNI@Unsplash
    • Spanish dining! Michael Behrens@Flickr
    • Vineyards en route! Nacho Domingue Zargenta@Unsplash
    • Girona, Catalonia, Spain. Enric Rubioros@Flickr

    View more photos

    Highlights

    • Medieval City of Girona
    • Cycling the 'Carrilet
    • Discovering the bays of the Mediterranean Sea
    • Cycling through the beautiful medieval villages of the Girona region
    • Staying in one of the prettiest Medieval Villages of the area

    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.

  • Traveler photos

    • One of the off road bike paths from Girona to Sant Pol beach resort, day 1 ride. (photo by Melanie Wood)
    • The view out front of our hotel. (photo by Melanie Wood)
    • Cycling into Madremanya Day 6 (photo by Maria)
    • Team ECM's! (photo by Maria)
    • Up to the monastery on Day 6 (photo by Maria)
    • Countryside (photo by Maria)
    • Fleurs and a pannier:-) We LOVE Creative Catalonia <3 (photo by Maria)
    • Beautiful Costa Brava (photo by Oscar)
    • Monells' arcs (photo by Oscar)
    • Riuades sobtades (photo by Oscar)

    Medieval Villages of Catalonia

     Tour Description Daily Program 

  • Daily program

    Day 1: Girona
    Individual arrival. Explore the medieval center of this beautiful city.
    Overnight in Girona.

    Day 2: Girona to the Mediterranean Sea (25 miles/40 km)
    10am Tour Briefing and Bike Setup in your Hotel in Girona city. Cycling from Girona city to Sant Feliu de Guixols by the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Riding the ‘Carrilet’ – the converted railway that is now a dedicated cycleway, from Girona to the coast. Optional extra ride: Exploring the coastal area of Sant Feliu de Guixols to Cala Sa Conca (13 miles/20 km)
    Overnight in Sant Feliu de Guixols.

    Day 3: Sant Feliu de Guixols to Llafranc (25 miles/40 km)
    Follow the beautiful coastal route through fields and forests of Pine and Cork trees to Llafranc. Optional extra ride: Llafranc to Tamariu return (19 miles/30 km).
    Overnight in Llafranc.

    Day 4: Llafranc loop ride (25 miles/40 km)
    Explore the beautiful bays of Llanfranc and Tamariu.
    Overnight in Llafranc.

    Day 5: Llafranc to Monells (25 miles/40 km)
    Meander through the charming medieval villages of the Baix Emporda.
    Overnight in Monells.

    Day 6: Monells loop ride (25 miles/40 km)
    Explore more of the Medieval villages following the Baix Emporda cycle network with a visit to the castle that Salvador Dali built for his wife, Gala.
    Overnight in Monells.

    Day 7: Departure to Girona city (19 miles/30 km)
    Return to Girona with the option to cycle up and over the challenging and stunning 'Els Angels' monastery route that is one of the favorite road rides for the professional riders based in Girona. Lodging in Girona is not included but is available as an extra night. End of tour and individual departure.

    Surface and terrain

    The Medieval Villages tour has mostly flat riding with few hills. The route starts from Girona city to Sant Feliu de Guixols by the Mediterranean Sea along the "Carrilet" - the old converted railway that is now a dedicated dual use cycle and walk way and is traffic-free (except where it passes through villages). The routes continue on the Baix Emporda Cycle Network which is a network of country lanes, seafront promenades and secondary roads that are all designed to reduce the amount of cycling on roads with traffic. The surface is primarily asphalt or hard-packed gravel surface with a very easy gradient, with some sections that may be occasionally rocky, rutted or sandy, depending on recent weather conditions.


    Hotels

    These are sample hotels and may vary based on availability.

    Girona: Hotel Llegendes

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

    Please note: you are responsible for arranging transfer to/from the airport or train station and the first/last tour hotel.

    Tips on getting to and from your tour


    Medieval Villages of Catalonia

     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 €1350
      Single use room (1 person/1 room) €1695
      Solo traveler (1 person in party with single use room) €2020
    • Tour package

      Per person, double occupancy €1850
      Single use room (1 person/1 room) €2195

      Minimum of 4 participants required.


    Bike Rentals

    Electrically assisted bike €295
    Cycle touring bike Included

    Extra Nights, Girona

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

    Extra Nights, Sant Feliu de Guixols

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

    Included services

    Self-guided package includes:

    • 6 nights accommodation
    • Breakfasts
    • Luggage transfers
    • Detailed route information and maps
    • 1 Garmin Edge Touring Plus GPS Unit (per group)
    • Transfer to Girona train or bus station at end of tour
    • Cycle touring bike hire with locks, repair kit, spare tubes, pump, water bottle and helmet

    Guided package includes:

    • 6 nights accommodation
    • Breakfasts
    • Luggage transfers
    • Detailed route information and maps
    • Bike guide
    • Transfer to Girona train or bus station at end of tour
    • Cycle touring bike hire with locks, repair kit, spare tubes, pump, water bottle and helmet

    Bike rentals

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

    • Cycle touring bikes, Radon Scart 7.0

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

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

    *More about electrically-assisted bikes >

    Our standard touring bikes come equipped with:

    • Helmet
    • Pump
    • Repair kit
    • Spare tubes
    • Multi-tool
    • Lock
    • Water bottle
    • Handlebar bag
    • Pannier (approximately 15 liters - the size of a small backpack)
    • Map holder
    • 1 Garmin Edge Touring Plus GPS Unit per group

    Pedals:
    The bikes will have flat pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals.

    Helmets:
    Helmets are available on this tour, but we recommend that you bring your own for safety and hygiene purposes.


    Tour Company


    Medieval Villages of Catalonia

     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.


    Medieval Villages of Catalonia

     Dates & Prices Tour Reviews 

    • Lynn Melin 5 months ago

      Good trip!

      A nice combination of biking and opportunities to experience medieval Catalonian history.

    • Michael Golenberke 5 months ago

      Spain Was Wonderful!

      Our first trip to Spain was fantastic. This was not our first bike tour we were much better prepared. We had some difficulty navigating the Barcelona airport and train station to get to Girona. Once we arrived however, all was absolutely beautiful. I cannot give enough praise to Daniel. His briefing, preparation of the bikes and tips on stops along the various routes was excellent. He was a joy to work with. The only comment was to possibly reconsider staying one night in Monells instead of two. Monells is a very charming village but very small and limited sites to see. Otherwise, I would not change a thing! You will not be disappointed.

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 2023
      How many tours have you completed?
      2
      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
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Stanley Holman 9 months ago

      Excellent tour.

      This self-guided tour was easily managed. The cycling was moderate, and most of the route was on either dedicated bike routes or calm roads. A reasonably accomplished cyclist would not need to dis-mount for the occasional steep or rough section (always short.) There was plenty of time to move from hotel to hotel and there were only 3 days when a move was required. There were numerous opportunities for refreshments along the way. AND the scenery was grand! Such a lovely way to see the countryside - riding through farmed fields, villages and towns. Able to smell the air and the scents of the flowers, hear the birds and feel the sun and the breeze. It was a great experience. And the hotels were excellent with delicious breakfasts.

      What was the date of your tour?
      May/June 2023
      How many tours have you completed?
      1
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat easier
      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
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Sara Riordan December 2, 2022

      Wonderful ride, wonderful scenery, wonderful people

      My friend and I chose the self-guided trip and loved every minute of it. Daniel was very thorough in orienting us to the itinerary and important details. The map and GPS worked great and we felt very safe. Our accommodations were nicer than expected with lovely hosts, great views, delicious breakfasts, and very comfortable rooms. The riding was not difficult and gave us a chance to explore as we wished. It was magical to ride through the rolling countryside and medieval villages. I loved riding along the coast and jumped in the Mediterranean at every beach. Our trip was the last week in October with (unseasonably) warm weather and no crowds. We visited castles, museums, an archeological dig, and a gorgeous botanical garden on a cliff above the sea. Last but certainly not least, the food was amazing everywhere we went. It was just perfect! Many thanks for a very well-organized tour!

      What was the date of your tour?
      Late October 2022
      How many tours have you completed?
      My first organized by a company
      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
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Kathryn Staropoli November 14, 2022

      This trip exceeded all expectations!

      This was the perfect trip! I love biking on a recreational level, and the friend I went with is a more avid biker, but it was great for both of us. It was challenging without being too difficult. We rode 20-25 miles a day on the self guided tour and loved it. We were on bike paths, trails, and dedicated bike lanes for almost the entire trip. We rode through farms and fields, along the sea, and through beautiful medieval villages without ever feeling like we had to rush to reach our destination, and we always felt safe. We met Daniel from Creative Catalonia, who set us up with the bikes, and he was incredibly kind and helpful. We had no trouble at all, so we never had to reach out for assistance, but I'm sure he would have been able to help us out if we were ever in need. They did let us know that the hotel restaurant where we would be having dinner was hosting an event the night we were staying there, and asked if we wanted them to make a reservation for us so we would still be able to eat there. We said yes and enjoyed a wonderful dinner thanks to their considerate outreach.
      The GPS worked very well. My friend is very good with directions and she did a great job navigating. Some spots, those intersections with a number of options, were sometimes hard to correctly discern, but if we did choose the wrong path, the GPS quickly corrected us and we would be on our way after only a few extra minutes. The route they programmed for us was really great. We loved going through fields, farms, and wooded areas, riding along the Mediterranean was just beautiful, and we stopped in several of the medieval villages to explore, shop, or grab lunch. We didn't typically stop where they suggested we go for lunch or a coffee, but we were always able to find food and drink along the way. The stops they recommended for sightseeing were really great and we did stop for all of those. They were fun and varied. They included a botanical garden, the Dali museum, the ancient ruins of a city, and a lighthouse! The route they chose was exactly what we were hoping for.
      They were also great about the luggage transfers. It was always at the hotel when we arrived and the hotels themselves were really nice, they were clean and comfortable, and each included a delicious breakfast.
      We did go in the off season and really lucked out with the weather considering we were there the last week of October. It was perfect biking weather for me, clear and sunny, with temperatures in the high 60s and into the 70s every day. The fact that many cafes and restaurants were closed was not a big deal, we always found a place to eat. Quite honestly, it was a small price to pay for the lack of tourists. Everywhere we went was far less crowded than it would have been in season.
      I highly recommend this tour and Creative Catalonia.

      What was the date of your tour?
      October 2022
      How many tours have you completed?
      This was my first
      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
    • Evelyn Savage November 7, 2022

      Adventure

      Medieval Villages of Catalonia was an adventurous, fun and challenging bike tour. The villages were very interesting, the hotels very nice, the ebikes great and self guided directions mostly good. We had a few challenges finding some of the paths and the terrain was much more mountain biking than expected. But we found our way and enjoyed the beautiful countryside. One should be an experienced cyclist or mountain biker to enjoy the trails have some experience with directions to do self guided. Overall a very good way to experience the Baja Emporda coast and Medieval towns.

      What was the date of your tour?
      October 2022
      How many tours have you completed?
      2
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 3/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Christopher Attwood October 26, 2022

      The Coast and Medieval Catalonia

      What a lovely cycle tour. Mostly on cycle tracks that avoid the hustle and danger of busy roads. We were in an exclusive group of 10 which does add to the flexibility and fun of the ride. Riding with GPS is a game changer. So easy and allows for "self-guided" tours. I do think more variations should be incorporated on the routes to allow one to tailor make the ride for distance and substance. All the suggested restuarants and photo opportunities were spot on. If "Unguided", a better backround pack of stops and their historical significance could be prepared. Great holiday and experience.

    • Melanie Wood October 13, 2022

      Lovely scenery and great Accommodations

      Lovely to ride all those miles on paths and low traffic roads. The ebikes were super and welcomed on a couple of paths that had been damaged by a huge storm the first night of the ride. Our hotels were great and got better further in the trip. Nice rooms and very helpful staff.

      What was the date of your tour?
      October 7 2022
      How many tours have you completed?
      Total about 12, but this is the 4th with BikeTours.com
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • One of the off road bike paths from Girona to Sant Pol beach resort, day 1 ride. (photo by Melanie Wood)
      • The view out front of our hotel. (photo by Melanie Wood)
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Veronica Calderon September 24, 2022

      Better than expected!

      Very organized, hotels were amazing, people were friendly. Never felt lost or like i didn't know what to do. Couldn't recommend more, will definitely using biketours.com again. Thanks for everything!

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 2022
      How many tours have you completed?
      1
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
      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
    • Sharon Roberts September 12, 2022

      Beautiful Spain!

      Best curated trip I’ve been on so far. Hotels were pretty and comfortable and had wonderful staff. Bikes were in great shape and loved the electronic gps devices provided. The creative Catalonia folks were over the top helpful. Great mix of beaches, medieval villages and scenic views of the mountains and the med. Highly recommend.

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 2022
      How many tours have you completed?
      4
      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
    • marka3 April 4, 2022

      wonderful bike tour

      Medieval Villages of Catalonia was a great cycling tour for us. We went in late March, and had very little rain and no traffic/crowds. Daniel was an excellent tour organizer. Very friendly, helpful , organized. The GPS systems( 2 of them) along with the maps made it impossible to get lost on our self guided tour. The hotels were good, and the bikes were very good. Highly recommend this tour.

      What was the date of your tour?
      19/3 to 1/4
      How many tours have you completed?
      4 others
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 4/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • WilcoxTandem November 10, 2019

      Great Bike Ride with our 20 year old Grandson

      Our Grandson is attending a College Semester in Barcelona and had a week off. Since we have done 4 other tours with Bike Tours we contacted them to find the right ride. Right away Taylor did a very good job of directing us to the Medieval Villages Ride. We wanted to take our own tandem and she contacted Lucy and Daniel to make sure it would work on the non asphalt paths.
      During the ride Lucy and Daniel did and outstanding job of supporting us even though it was a Self Guided ride. The second day there was a huge lightening/thunder storm with lots of rain. They contacted us that morning and we mutually decided to not ride and they transported us along with our tandem to the next hotel.
      The rout, scenery, and historical value was out of this world. Thanks everyone for a great ride---Barrie and Susan

      What was the date of your tour?
      October, 2019
      How many tours have you completed?
      15
      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 Chloe November 11, 2019

        Barrie and Susan, thanks kindly for this review. We're delighted you guys got to spend some time with your grandson in Spain -- what a lovely family adventure! We're delighted (but not surprised) to hear that Taylor was very helpful, and the tour operator, supportive. We're so glad you loved the route, scenery, and historical value and that everything went smoothly with the tandem. We can't wait to book the next one!

      • 5/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • kathy60 October 1, 2019

      Beautiful coastline & Great Hotels

      We have done many trips with biketours and this will be remembered as a very special one. The hotels were very good and we even had ocean view rooms! This is extremely rare on packaged bike tours, even when upgrading hotels. The old town of Girona is fun to explore. Daniel provided a good briefing and even though this was September, his bikes were excellent and seemed brand new. This is a rarity for September tours as usually it's evident the bikes have already been used all season. As someone else mentioned, Daniel provides both a gps and an adroid with the routes on maps.me. This makes the trip so much more enjoyable for the navigators! The Brava Costa coastal area in early September was beautiful and we swam every day. The restaurants are still open, but not as busy as in August. The Arc Hotel in Monells is a little gem and very relaxing. The route itself has some dirt roads and some hills ... and even though the distances are shorter, if it's hot you'll feel like you've had a good ride, with time for a swim after each day.

      What was the date of your tour?
      early September, 2019
      How many tours have you completed?
      15+
      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 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 4/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Gabby September 30, 2019

      Perfect trip and ride for vacation

      We loved the rides, and places to stay on this trip. Daniel did an excellent job prepping us and providing us with a gps and a smartphone with a map that made this the easiest self guided tour we have done. The hotels we stayed at and the towns were beautiful. Do not pass up eating at Hotel Arcs in Monells. Best meal of trip and we had a lot of great meals.

      What was the date of your tour?
      Sept 16-21
      How many tours have you completed?
      5
      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
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • sharon November 11, 2018

      beautiful scenery, perfectly planned route

      This is one of the most organized self-guided tours we have taken. The map and accompanying photos and tips were terrific. In addition, one bike had a Garmin GPS device, the other a smart phone with Maps.me. Great bikes, high-quality accommodations...It was a wonderful trip. We have several friends who are considering doing it.

      What was the date of your tour?
      10/4/18
      How many tours have you completed?
      7
      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
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • pam123 September 5, 2018

      Beautiful landscapes - amazing way to see Catalonia

      Our second trip through biketours.com did not disappoint. We did the peak season self-guided trip in August 2018. Our orientation guide was extremely kind and took a lot of time with us to get us oriented to the materials and the bikes. There was a hiccup on the first day with the bag drop off, but Daniel, the head of the local tour company, was responsive and immediately worked to rectify it. We were pleased that they gave us both a GPS device and an smartphone with the routes outlined in the maps.me app - so both of us could follow our route in real time. We had a few times where we had to backtrack just a bit to make a different turn, but we were never lost -- and the GPS-enabled devices meant we could venture off the course when we liked and then find our way back to the pre-determined route pretty easily. Bikes were very good. Roads were a mix of paved and dirt (about 60/40 I'd guess). We had one flat just before the last day but we were able to fix it with just tire inflation. All in all, we liked the routes and the suggested stopping points, as well as the hotels we stayed in -- especially the first and the last hotels. One thing that would have made the trip better would have been some information on each daily route, with more suggestions/options on places to stop in the various towns or along the way -- e.g. churches, museums, other points of interest.

      What was the date of your tour?
      August 2018
      How many tours have you completed?
      2
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 2/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Maria June 24, 2018

      Beautiful coast and villages

      What a fantastic trip! We were 10 women all eager to see the Costa Brava and Creative Catalonia made it happen. First off the tour briefing in Girona with Lucy and Daniel before we set off was amazing. I've done 5 trips with Bike Tours and never have we had the tour operator go over so thoroughly our week at a glance. Very impressed with the time and care these two put into their clients' cycling experience.

      The hotels and restaurants were lovely and every attention to detail sorted before we set off. We can not thank you enough for your expertise and all the time and effort in creating our Catalonia experience. You had your work cut out for you and you delivered. It was outstanding. We will be back! Muchisimas gracias!!Example: The perfect way to experience Italy! Our guide was great - a very knowledgeable local. The hotels were charming, but wish we'd gone for....

      What was the date of your tour?
      May 31-June 6, 2018
      How many tours have you completed?
      5
      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 into Madremanya Day 6 (photo by Maria)
      • Team ECM's! (photo by Maria)
      • Up to the monastery on Day 6 (photo by Maria)
      • Countryside (photo by Maria)
      • Fleurs and a pannier:-) We LOVE Creative Catalonia <3 (photo by Maria)
      • 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
    • Kimmer June 21, 2018

      Girona - Great Trip!

      This was my first bike trip so I was a bit nervous but Lucy was amazing, she kindly installed the upright handlebars that I'd brought so that I could ride more upright. Lucy and Daniel gave us a very thorough briefing with maps and GPS devices. We had such an amazing trip I would highly recommend them!

      What was the date of your tour?
      June 1st, 2018
      How many tours have you completed?
      First one.
      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
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • happyPedals December 2, 2017

      Variety, history, largely off roads

      I appreciated the variety in landscape, from hilly interior to craggy and beautiful coastline. The trails were varied, from slightly rough bike trails to quiet roads. Hotels were good. I went at the end of October. Some facilities were closed, but also this made things quiet which I like, and the weather was still warm. I would recommend this tour. The Creative Catalonia owners were very helpful.

      What was the date of your tour?
      29 Oct start
      How many tours have you completed?
      2
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 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
    • Badger biker October 26, 2017

      Good trip

      A very interesting ride along the shore of the Costa Brava and by a number od medieval towns. Generally not a difficult ride however much of the ride is on unpaved lanes and quite of bit of that is on rough roads, with sand and big rocks and large potholes. The tour company Creative Catalonia was very good. The hotels were excellent.

      What was the date of your tour?
      Oct 5 2017
      How many tours have you completed?
      4
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      No
      • 4/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 4/5 Scenery
      • 3/5 Ease of navigation
      • 3/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Cowboybob October 17, 2017

      Off-Road Adventure

      My first tour with Creative Catalonia tours, and I would consider another. I was with a group of eight friends, one who managed the Garmin about 90% of the daily routes were on off-roadway, gravel trails through beautiful countryside. Staying on route required close reading of the route maps at times. The villages toured are amazing for their age and charm. Plenty of great cafes and restaurants along the way. The arranged hotel lodging was very good.

      What was the date of your tour?
      October 6, 2017
      How many tours have you completed?
      4
      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
      • 3/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 2/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Bonita September 25, 2017

      Great scenery, great food & good biking trails

      Our guide, Daniel with Creative Catalonia, was always aware of our safety. He was knowledgeable about the things we were seeing. If he didn't know the answer to questions, we'd often receive an email that evening containing an answer. We got to see some amazing sites. The hotels were very nice & resturants we were directed to were usually really good. He made sure that our bikes were all in good, working condition.

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 2017
      How many tours have you completed?
      2
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • BikeTours.com staff reply from Jim Johnson, founder and president September 26, 2017

        Thank you for your review and ratings! Daniel is great, as is the Creative Catalonia organization. I'm glad you were able to have such a positive experience with them.

      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 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
      • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
    • bikebuddies September 20, 2017

      Muy Bueno!

      A great way to see and experience this area of Spain. The hotels were very nice to exceptional; especially the Hotel Los Arcs in Monells with its very gracious host/owner family and wonderful food. The maps and Garmin GPS made route finding almost flawless and the tour operators (Lucy and Daniel ) checked in with us during the week to see how things were going and if we needed anything. Don't miss seeing the Botanical Gardens midway through the trip on one of the loop rides; it is very well worth a visit. We have done over a dozen self-guided bike tours in Europe and this is one of the best organized and planned.

      What was the date of your tour?
      Sept 11-16, 2017
      How many tours have you completed?
      13
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 4/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Bonita September 16, 2017

      This Tour went beyond our expectations!

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 2017
      How many tours have you completed?
      2
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 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)
    • Oscar September 9, 2017

      Very interesting sights, routes could be better planned/guided

      The medieval villages of Catalonia are certainly worth the visit. Beautiful and well maintained and inhabited villages, and of course the starting point in Girona old city - really beautiful places. In addition, for history lovers there are three interesting archaeological sites of ancient Iberian towns/villages on the road.
      On the downside are some difficulties with cycling itself. If this tour had difficulty 1-2 on the scale 1-5, I wonder what categories 3-4 are. A very big part of the routes were "dirty roads", which as best meant steady sand roads, but as well at some places really rocky roads or soft sand. And the navigation... The Catalonian way of marking cycle routes left at quite many points room for improvement, especially those tiny little signs. But also the maps provided (piles of A4 paper sheets) meant that far too much of energy was spent on navigation instead of enjoying the cycling.
      Equipment, service, accomodation: excellent.

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 2017
      How many tours have you completed?
      2
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • Beautiful Costa Brava (photo by Oscar)
      • Monells' arcs (photo by Oscar)
      • Riuades sobtades (photo by Oscar)
      • BikeTours.com staff reply from Jim Johnson, Founder and president September 10, 2017

        Dear Oscar,

        Thank you for your valuable feedback, which we will pass along to the local tour company that operates the tour. In the meantime, we will also update the "Surface and terrain" information to reflect your comments.

      • 3/5 Value
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 2/5 Ease of navigation
      • 3/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 3/5 Route selection
    • Bruce K August 23, 2017

      Terrific all the way around

      Wonderful trip. The routes were well-planned and suitable for a group of six with differing levels of biking experience. The scenery was spectacular. With the garmins, following the route paths was easy. Being able to stay two nights at each hotel (all first-class) was great, giving us a feel for the places we were staying in, and the loop routes on alternating days meant we experienced something new each day, too. Lucy, the Creative Catalonia founder, was enormously helpful and easy to work with. I can't say enough about how great a time we had. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone.

      What was the date of your tour?
      5/29/2017 - 6/5/2017
      How many tours have you completed?
      1
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat easier
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, 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 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • RegW June 29, 2017

      Fabulous family trip.

      We had a group age 9 - 60 that thoroughly enjoyed this trip. You have two separate hotels where you stay for two nights each which made for a relaxing vacation. We had no problems with bikes, luggage or accommodations. The local tour company was very professional and the maps and GPS quite thorough. Make sure you know when lunch is in the area as we missed the mark once or twice and arrived for an American lunch hour to find it was siesta time. Also, you might want to verify sea views. The local tour company tries to ensure them but we arrived on a very busy week and it was a problem for our three in one room. The suggestions from Lucy (the local tour operator) were very good and she checked on us a couple of times during the trip because there was a heat wave happening that week. The sights, food and people of Spain were marvelous and I would highly recommend this trip.

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

      Excellent from start to finish!

      This is a great introduction to the region, mixing coast and countryside, modern and ancient. We took the guided option to spare ourselves the map reading, the routes are generally well signposted but a few turnings could be tricky to spot. We've done previous tours in Tuscany I'd say the grade 2 rating is appropriate for the length of daily ride (up to 40km) plus the hills are fewer and generally shorter than the grade 2 Tuscany rides. Recommend taking the coastal walk option on day three, the botanical gardens are lovely even for a non-botanist. Bikes are very high quality, not a single problem all week, and even at a leisurely pace we were at our hotels by 4pm and able to enjoy a relaxed evening. No complaints at all, it was a great week!

      What was the date of your tour?
      May 2017
      How many tours have you completed?
      3
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      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
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
      • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
    • PDBB May 17, 2017

      Challenging and Beautiful Trip across Costa Brava and Baix Emporda

      Just completed this cycle trip. Scenery was stunning, as promised. Weather (May) was also very good (showers on 1 day only); temps mostly in mid-teens celsius. Bikes of excellent quality; maps could have been better (larger scale of font, better readability). Cycle routes were mostly well marked; but you can never have enough signage. I would not agree that the routes wind "gently" through the region. Hotels (even the 2-star) were very good; breakfasts Good to VG. The regional food is delicious; local bike company provided useful recommendations for restaurants and advice. This was our second cycling trip (4 seniors), and it was definitely more challenging (even with shorter daily distances) than the last (Danube) trip.The terrain is not "mostly flat with few hills to climb"; some hills were daunting/steep and long. We completed the tour but were never able to do the suggested/offered "optional extra cycling rides" after the day's cycling; simply too much for us to tackle. Others might be more accomplished or fit, but we rarely rolled into the next destination before 6 PM. We choose self-guided; but local cycling company was always available to assist if needed (we emailed regularly). This was not a Level 1 tour; nor does it claim to be. But it may not even be a Level 2 tour? Scenery of Mediterranean coast was stunning and the medieval villages were beautiful. All of us are glad to have taken the tour, and to have finished the cycling challenges. It's a beautiful part of Spain.

      What was the date of your tour?
      May, 2017
      How many tours have you completed?
      1 previously (Level 1)
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Much harder
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 2/5 Ease of navigation
      • 3/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Mattman October 25, 2016

      Wonderful Cycling Vacation

      This trip was exactly what we we're hoping for. Casual cycling along the coast and villages. The bikes we're fantastic and comfortable. All the hotels were first class and the food and ambiance in the hotels and small restaurants throughout the trip were delightful. GPS was adequate, but be sure you can read a map! The tour briefing was helpful beforehand and be sure you understand how to change a tire before you embark. There is some incredibly beautiful country on this ride, and since it is 6 days long, I think if we we're to do it again we might have skipped a day of riding in Calella de Palafrugel in favor of a hike along the coastline. There are some lovely hiking trails that were begging to be explored. Also, by traveling in early October we missed the european vacationers and essentially had all the beaches and villages to ourselves. Never a worry with busy roads or vehicle traffic. Looking forward to our next adventure.

      What was the date of your tour?
      October 2016
      How many tours have you completed?
      1
      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
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
      • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
    • BikingNana September 21, 2016

      Fabulous vacation pedaling by the Sea

      This trip was a blast. I love seeing the world from the back of a bicycle. We had great weather the entire trip. There were a lot of gravel roads but not much traffic. We were self-guided with maps and a Garmin so we enjoyed getting off course a few times at first with lots of laughs. We ate in some fabulous restaurants suggested by the super nice lady who gave us our bikes and packets. She was very helpful and insightful with great ideas. The villages were full of nice people, historical castles and churches. I really enjoyed staying in the towns by the Mediterranean Sea and going to the beaches. Girona is a beautiful city. I liked the narrow old streets lined with little shops and walking the wall built around the city. We rode our bikes up and over Els Angels on our last day and it was a nice view from the top. We only had one small issue when our luggage was taken to the wrong hotel but it arrived within an hour. I highly recommend this bike tour.

      What was the date of your tour?
      09/07/2016-09/12/2016
      How many tours have you completed?
      First one
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      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
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • ErinH March 21, 2016

      Beyond Awesome!

      I had an absolutely wonderful time! Daniel and Lucy (AKA Creative Catalonia) went out of their way to make this a fabulous trip. The scenery is terrific, the hotels were great! Food was out of this world! Particularly good if you like history, which I do. This was my first trip to Spain, but it will NOT be the last! I went on the off-season, so it was quiet, which I enjoy

      How many tours have you completed?
      this is my second
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Families with teens, Solo travelers
      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
      • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)

    Medieval Villages of Catalonia

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