Discover the culture and culinary delights of Catalonia

Girona country is an area containing great geographical diversity. From the well-known Costa Brava to the Pyrenees, there is a huge range of different landscapes full of history and culture.

On this week-long itinerary, you'll discover the Empordà, one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world. Thanks to the Mediterranean climate and the soil, this area is a perfect terrain to produce grapes. The ancient farmers in the area decided to use the plains for planting olive trees and the slopes toward the mountains for planting terraced vineyards, separated by dry-stone walls. Girona has a nice cyclist ambiance. The Empordà plain is a great area for cycle tourism. Ride through the quiet back roads, enjoying the great diversity of landscape, and visit interesting cultural and historical sites as well.

Since 2005, influential wine guru Robert Parker put Empordà on the world wine-producing map. Thanks to the hard work of the wineries, this area has been certified as an Origin Designation of Empordà.

As the region has so many different landscapes, there is a rich variety of land products which has developed a great variety of traditional cuisine. Nowadays, this cuisine combines with prestigious gastronomy, with famous chefs like Ferran Adrià, from restaurant El Bullí, or the three brothers, from the 3* Michelin restaurant El Celler de Can Roca considered the best restaurant in the world in 2013 and 2015.

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Highlights

• Cycle through l’Empordà, one of the most beautiful landscapes of Catalonia
• Discover the land products of the region!
• Visit some local museums of the history of fishing, cork manufacturing, or anchovies, ancient factory of flour, marmalade shop, or an oil mill
• Admire the surrealist genius Salvador Dalí born in Figueres

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Learn more about guided tours or see more Spain bike tours.

Daily program

Day 1: Individual arrival to Girona
You'll find plenty to do in Girona. The city is famous for having one of the best-preserved Jewish old towns, and the Cathedral boasts one of the largest stone vaulted spaces in Gothic architecture. A walk along the city walls is highly recommended or following the Onyar River, which gives you a nice picturesque view of the colored houses of Onyar River.
Overnight in Girona

Day 2: Girona – Sant Feliu de Guíxols (28 miles/45km; elevation gain 919 feet/280m)
On your first day of cycling, you will meet with the local tour representative to receive your bikes. You will follow a cycle path to exit the city to the south. The ride takes you straight to the Mediterranean Sea. This section follows greenway called “El Carrilet,” passing through the towns of Quart, Cassà de la Selva, Llagostera, and Santa Cristina d'Aro. Along the route we always have the Gavarres Massif as a backdrop, a mountainous forest area, consisting mainly of oaks, important for the cork production.
Overnight in San Feliu de Guíxols

Day 3: Sant Feliu de Guíxols – Calella de Palafrugell (19 miles/30km; elevation gain 889 feet/271m)
Today you’ll ride North along the coast combining the coastal road with the front sea boulevards, visiting the main port town of Palamós. After a few kilometers, you’ll pass the unspoiled cove, Platja de Castell, with its Iberian settlement on the left side. This is a nice place to have a picnic or take a swim in the Mediterranean Sea. Later on, you arrive in the picturesque old fishing village of Calella de Palafrugell, one of the pearls of Costa Brava. On the last section, you’ll be cycling along the greenway called “Ruta del Tren Petit.”
Overnight in Calella de Palafrugell

Day 4: Calella de Palafrugell – Torroella de Montgrí (18 miles/29km; elevation gain 787 feet/240m)
The route leads you inland and north, passing through Palafrugell, where you can visit the fish, meat and vegetable market. The market allows you to experience and learn about the products of the land in this region. Here you may choose to visit the Cork Museum. Continue cycling to the medieval village of Pals, one of the better-conserved medieval centers. The ride will take you through natural wetlands with extensive rice fields and long sandy beaches. Today's route ends in Torroella de Montgrí at the foot of the castle Montgri Massif.
Overnight in Torroella de Montgrí

Day 5: Torroella de Montgrí – Castelló d’Empúries (22 miles/36km; elevation gain 623 feet/190m)
The route continues north passing the Montgrí massif into the county of Alt Empordà. We enter the long Bay of Roses with long, sandy beaches. Onward to the pretty medieval settlement Sant Martí de Empúries and right in front of the superb beach. You should take the time to visit the archeological settlement Empúries with Greek and Roman ruins, the gateway of the classic cultures to the Iberian Peninsular.

The route continues north where you will pass through the protected marshlands of Aiguamolls de l’Empordà. The route ends at the village of Castelló d’Empúries with its rich architectural heritage: gothic church, Count’s palace, old market building, and Jewish quarter.
Overnight in Castelló d’Empúries

Day 6: Loop ride around Castelló d’Empúries (23 miles/37km; elevation gain 702 feet/214m)
This ride provides fantastic views of the Pyrenees as a backdrop while cycling through the 100-year-old vineyards. Today you will ride through the well-known vineyards of Empordà. Moreover, you will have the opportunity to cycle along the most interesting wineries, that are mainly located in the towns of Vilajuïga and Pau.
Overnight in Castelló d’Empúries

Day 7: Castelló d’Empúries – Figueres (27 miles/43km; elevation gain 1444 feet/440m)
For your final day of cycling, you will head for Peralada (the capital of the wine DO) where you will visit the castle and the medieval town. From there you will cycle across the upper part of the vineyards zone passing by Garriguella, Vilamaniscle and Rabos where you will see the most ancient groves. From there the tour takes you to a long downhill ride where you arrive at your final destination, the city of Figueres. After arriving to Figueres you can enjoy a visit to the world-famous Theatre-Museum Dalí, still one of the most visited tourist sites in Spain.
Overnight in Figueres

Day 8: Departure
The tour ends following breakfast.

Photos

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Dates & Prices

Questions about pricing or options? Call +1-215-613-0874 to talk to a Tour Advisor now.

Included services

• 7 nights’ accommodation in a double room in 3- and 4-star hotels
• Breakfast each morning
• Standard touring bike
• Rental bike protection
• Luggage transfers (1 piece per person)
• Road book and maps for every day; general touristic information of the area
• Navigational app
• Service hotline assistance during the trip (daily, 8a-8p)
• Tourist tax

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