Barcelona to Girona Adventure: Catalonia Bike Tour
Guided5 days
Ride through the most breathtaking scenery of Catalonia – a renowned cycling paradise. Ride perfect roads with little traffic and deep forests. Take on challenging mountain passes and discover the region.
Style
Road cycling
Gain
4,200 m
Distance
240 km
Level
Medium
Tour overview
CATALONIA'S GOLDEN ROUTE
This tour from Barcelona to Girona has 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 and Biosphere Reserve. Then we’ll climb up to the highest point in the province of Barcelona, the Turó de l’Home. All 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.
An epic guided tour to discover some of Spain’s best roads to ride on. Book your place today!
Flights not included. Direct flights available at lastminute.com
Essential riding through Catalonia
Highlights of your cycling trip
Expert Guides with Van Support
You will ride side by side with expert multilingual cycling guides. They will support you along the way and share their local knowledge so that you feel at home and immerse in the local atmosphere. Support van is also there when you need it.
Exceptional Experience
We are getting you to one of the world's greatest cycling spots. Excellent empty roads, jaw-dropping beauty and vibrant Catalan culture is a recipe for an outstanding riding holiday. Prepare for an experience of a lifetime.
Luxury Accommodation
Each hotel is carefully selected in dreamy locations. You'll feel well rested after each day in the saddle throughout your trip. Every hotel is a 4* standard with fantastic facilities to make the trip even more memorable.
Tour destination
CATALONIA
Catalonia is where the love of biking knows no bounds. Explore the Terra Alta or Girona's greenways, or hit the magnificent mountain passes for a spot of MTB. Catalonia is the land of great cyclists. It gives you roads, paths and greenways for a bicycle excursion perfect for all levels. For decades, the hundreds of cycle touring associations in the country have been creating space in the Catalan local road network. On weekends, the curvy roads and steep hills are the perfect places for bike-lovers to cruise around with friends for the sheer pleasure of the sport.
Catalonia offers lots of the warm Spanish sun. North of the peninsula, you'll get fresher rides during the spring and autumn months. Make sure you grab your gilet for some wind and rain protection for those unlucky days and bring sun cream for the rest.
Terrain
Catalonia is a remarkably rough country! Flat areas are limited. Hills and mountains dominate. North is marked by the Pyrenees. Then, there is the seaside ridge. Inland is also surprisingly hilly with some remarkable places like the Montserrat Mountain, perfect for climbing.
Culture
Catalan culture boasts a huge history as well as its own unique traditions and cuisine. Take the time to discover some authentic Catalan traditions to make your trip to Catalonia even better. And of course, cycling is big deal here. La Vuelta has a Catalan root waiting to be discovered.
41.5912° N, 1.5209° E
Discover more about the rides you'll be conquering
El Àngels, Girona
A certain ‘ex’ 7x tour winner regularly rode this route for a tough short workout, but there’s far more than just a test of fitness to be had. Cross the Gavarres mountain massif twice and climb to the chapel where Salvador Dali married. This loop is an ideal intro to Girona road cycling.
For a good day’s challenge, we recommend taking on the Sant Hilari loop. This loop takes you up to the town of Sant Hilari Sacalm, inland from the coast, offering a great quiet alternative in the holiday season.<br />
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If you are in the Girona area, this ride is not to be missed!<br />
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Rocacorba has been used for over a decade by many local pros as a test of form, the famous mountain is a challenge to anyone and everyone. The 10.7 km climb has a deceptive overall gradient of 7%. Starting teasingly gentle before levelling off, disciplined pacing will pay off.
All hotels has been meticulously selected to provide you with luxury experience. Great food to power your rides and excellent locations to be expected. Hotels are 4* level and have just everything you need to a relaxed stay.
Tour itinerary
Your guide to a perfect cycling tour
Welcome and gear set up
WELCOME TO CATALUNYA!
We will meet at our hotel in Barcelona where our team will be waiting in the hall to welcome you at 18:00.
You will be able to check-in at your own convenience if you plan to arrive before the set time. If you have booked accommodation in a shared room with another guest, we kindly ask you to keep the room in perfect condition until their arrival.
At the welcome briefing, you will be provided with general information about the tour. We will then tune the bicycles of all the guests who have contracted our rental service.
We will end the first day of the trip with a fantastic welcoming dinner in the hotel, with the whole team.
Saint Celoni - Vic
Distance
73 km
Climb
1827 m
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 popular stretch 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 historic 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.
Vic – Les Preses
Distance
71 km
Climb
1117 m
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 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 Condrieu, 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.
Les Preses – Girona
Distance
89 km
Climb
1300 m
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.
Optional recovery ride and onward travel
After a few intensive cycling days, this great experience reaches its end. We sincerely hope that you enjoy it as much as we do. Transfer will take you to the airport.
Getting there
Information to help you book your flights and get around.
Any questions about flights and transfers? The Epico team is here for you. Ping us via the chatbot in the corner of your page or send an email to [email protected]
Flying in
Fly in airport: Barcelona
When best to fly in: in the morning or early afternoon on the first day of the camp (the group meets up in the hotel in Barcelona at 18:00 on the first day)
Transfers: scheduled airport transfers are included in the price of this trip; we will reach out to you for your exact flight details to be sure you are picked up
Flying out
Fly out airport: Barcelona
When to leave: in the late morning on the last day of the tour
Transfers: scheduled airport transfers are included in the price of this trip; we will reach out to you for your exact flight details to be sure you can take your flight hassle-free
Tour essentials
What’s included in your cycling trip.
Luxury Accommodation 4*
Standard accommodation is a shared room with another rider of the same gender
Half-board meals
Breakfasts and dinners are included
Guided Cycling
Professional multilingual guide on bike to lead the group, assistance vehicle available in cases of emergency
Daily Luggage Transfer
Support vehicles will transport your luggage on to the next hotel, so you only have to carry your essentials
Experienced Mechanic
Mechanical service in case of breakdowns (does not include spare parts in customer bicycle repairs)
Health Insurance
Medical sport accident insurance covering any cost up to €6000 is included on this trip
What’s not included in your cycling trip.
Flight
The best airport to fly to is Barcelona. We can assist with additional transfers for you and your bike. If you have any questions on how to best organise your flights, contact us for more information.
Extra
Bike rental
Only €240 for the entire trip
It’s not always easy travelling with a bike but fear not, high quality disc brake carbon bikes are available for rental for the duration of the tour. To make sure you get the maximum from your bike for your trip, we’ve partnered with some of the best brands in cycling to give you the latest choice of equipment.
Choose a lightweight Canyon Endurace Road bike or a CANYON Endurace:ON E-road bike to suit your needs for your tour.
With a variety of sizes available, we can ensure your bike fits you perfectly. All rental bikes are mechanically checked and adjusted before each and every tour so you can have peace of mind that your bike will be running smoothly from start to finish!
You can select this option when you proceed to checkout.
Canyon Endurace Road Bike
Fitted to you and ready to ride!
More things to maximise your cycling trip
EXTRA
Single accommodation
€240 for the tour duration
By default, you'll share a room with a rider of your gender. If you wish to stay in a single room, you will be able to select this option for €240 per person when you proceed to checkout.
Booking options
Choose when you want to travel
Don't see the travel dates you want or have a special request, such as adding a non-rider, please contact us.
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