Short description
From cosmopolitan Barcelona to legendary Girona, the quintessential cycling haven, travelling around the Catalan countryside and discovering its impressive scenery by passing through three natural parks and the enchanting rural areas they hide.
Three intensive days in the Catalan countryside, pedalling through landscapes where plains and mountains alternate in harmony with forests and fields. We’ll go through the lush Montseny Natural Park, Biosphere Reserve, and we’ll climb up to the highest point in the province of Barcelona, the Turó de l’Home, before continuing north to reach the monumental and gastronomic city of Vic. The delightful Catalan villages of Rupit and Tavertet will take us deep into the colourful display offered by the beech tree forests in the Volcanic Area of La Garrotxa, and before we reach Girona we’ll climb the legendary Rocacorba, the pole of attraction for many professional cyclists in the region of Girona.
The itinerary
DAY 1
Arrival and transfer.
DAY 2 | STAGE 1 73km | +1,827m
We will start our trip with a short drive in a van that will take us from Barcelona to Sant Celoni, a town nestled at the foot of the Montseny Massif, where we will tackle the first challenge of the tour with the ascent of the Turó de l’Home, one of the longest and hardest mountain passes in Catalonia. We advise you to save some energy for the last 5 kilometres, a stretch frequently chosen by professional cyclists for training on its steep slopes.
After reaching the top, we’ll carry on riding for a few kilometres in Montseny Natural Park to join up with another summit that is popular in the Catalan cycling world, the Alto de Santa Fe, which will delight you with wonderful views of the province of Girona.
Continuing the route along privileged roads of great natural beauty and without losing sight of the Montseny, we come to Viladrau, a charming rural village located to the south-west of our final destination, Vic. The bucolic spirit of its historical quarter and the renowned gastronomy of the capital of this inland area of Barcelona will undoubtedly be a perfect combination for completing this first intensive day of the tour.
DAY 3 | STAGE 2 71km | +1,117m
Halfway through the tour, we tackle the stage that will take us to the region of La Garrotxa, a land of volcanoes and mediaeval villages.
Starting out from Vic and heading towards Les Guilleries Massif, the route is made up of peaceful roads that will lead to Manlleu, where we’ll start an easy and pretty ascent to Tavertet, one of Catalonia’s most picturesque and hidden villages standing on the top of some cliffs.
After reaching the summit of the first ascent in the stage, we’ll ride down to Rupit, one of the region’s best-preserved mediaeval villages where we’ll be able to get our strength back or take a few photos of its famous hanging bridge.
We’ll continue our route going uphill again to Coll de Condreu, an old mountain pass that used to join the towns of Vic and Olot that will take us a bit closer to volcanic land.
Before beginning the last scenic descent to arrive at today’s destination, we’ll visit the Sanctuary of Mare de Déu del Far, an old hermitage standing atop a mountain that offers superb views, to thus bring this beautiful stage to an end.
DAY 4 | STAGE 3 89km | +1,297m
The last stage of our tour begins in the middle of the volcanic area, where we’ll ride our bikes surrounded by pastures and fields of crops in one of the most breath-taking and hidden regions in Catalonia.
Enveloped by landscapes where the striking volcanic land is displayed in all its splendour, we enter into the nature reserve of La Fageda d’en Jordà, with its beech tree forest that grows on a flow of lava. A few kilometres later, on the way to Banyoles, we’ll visit Santa Pau, the beautiful mediaeval village with the greatest wealth of volcanic phenomena in the region.
After arriving in Banyoles, a town flanked by its great lake and the Rocacorba mountain range, we’ll start the ascent to its legendary summit, a place of worship and a popular training area for numerous professional and amateur cyclists who live in the Girona region.
After a technical descent, we’ll head towards Girona, the end of today’s stage where we’ll enjoy the last night of the tour in the cycling capital of Southern Europe.
DAY 5
Transfer and departure.
Key information
- Highlights
- Whats included
- What's not included
- Explore Barcelona's hidden secrets with our local guides
- Ride through the stunning Montseny Natural Park; a UNESCO designated biosphere
- Discover the spectacular cliffs of Tavertet and the impressive suspension bridge of Rupit
- Enjoy a private cycling experience including guiding services by local cyclists and luxury accomodation
- Climb the mythic ascents of Rocacorba & Turó de l'Home, training ground of the pro's living in Girona
- Ride around the Volcanic Natural Park in La Garrotxa and be amazed by its landscapes
- Discover Girona's old quarter and feel the atmosphere of the cycling capital of Europe
- Enjoy a cup of coffee in front of the spectacular Banyoles lake
- Accommodation in selected hotels in double occupancy room with half-board.
- Transfer of travellers as soon as they arrive to our country to their destination.
- Execution of the tour by certified and multilingual bike tour guides specialised in tourism.
- Visits to tourist attractions and tourist advice during the rides.
- Daily transport of luggage.
- Supply of solid and liquid provisions during the tour.
- Health insurance.
- Tourist tax.
- Mechanical service (doesn’t include replacement components of privately-owned bicyles).
- Routes accessed via mobile app.
- Trip PhotoBook.
- Support vehicle and roadside assistance and lunch (Groups 6 people or more).
- OPTIONAL: High-end rental bikes.
- OPTIONAL: Single rooms.
- OPTIONAL: Additional nights.
- OPTIONAL: Activities and additional visits.
