Bike Tour in Catalonia - Cycling Girona and the Costa Brava
CATALONIA CYCLING, THIS ROAD AND TOURING CYCLING PARADISE IS RICH WITH GREAT RIDING, BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE, THE WINE COUNTRY, NUMEROUS COASTAL TOWNS AND A RICH GASTRONOMY.
Catalonia and Girona cycling in a Costa Brava bike tour, is the perfect setting for a road cycling tour. Known for being home to dozens of cyclists of the pro peloton for the varied riding it offers, this region of Spain stretches from the Pyrenees to the coast, enabling you to ride the rugged and beautiful coast, the flats and hills of the wine region of Empordá, as well as the serious climbs of the natural parks and some of cycling's most "notorious" climbs leading to the top of the Pyrenees.
Besides all this, cycling Catalonia and Costa Brava will introduce you to this region world famous gastronomy, with incredible food, ranging from small family run restaurants and bars that offer the regional specialties to the greatest names of Spanish cuisine with Michelin star food and restaurants.
Let's not forget the Empordá wine region, that borders the French Roussilon region, with whom it shares the mediterranean climate and benefit from the balming presence of the Pyrenees mountains. They are famous for their reds, whites and sweet strong wine.
To top this you'll be able to experience the region's hospitality in a mix of carefully selected hotels, from the coastal hotels overlooking the sea in Sant Feliu de Guíxols, S'Agaró or Cadaqués and also experiencing the rural and historical hotels in the inland regions of art city Figueres and gastronomic the stronghold of Girona.
Where to start? I tagged along with my friends on a 6-day bike tour. We had e-bikes, although our guide, Ricardo, ...
Pick up from the airport of Girona for a transfer to your hotel in Girona.
Tour briefing and bike setup. Optional short ride to Brunyola to test the bikes and enjoy some Girona cycling.
Afternoon/Evening to enjoy the beautiful Girona and taste the brilliant food and wine of this region.
Hotel – Hotel Nord 1901 Superior or Hotel Montjuic Boutique ("premium" option)
Breakfast at your hotel;
Ride through the Massif de Cadirets to Sant Feliu de Guíxols / S'Agoró. Start your Girona cycling holidays by riding through the city centre heading south towards the coast to tackle the climb of the Massis de Cadirets to the quaint Tossa de Mar with its beautiful bay and ocean views. You'll continue along the coast to San Feliu de Guíxols and S'Agoró, where your hotel is located.
Hotel – Hotel Cala de Pi or Hostal de la Gavina ("premium" option)
Breakfast at your hotel;
Ride from S'Agoró to Torrent or Begur through Romanyá de la Selva, Santa Pellaia and Bisbal D'Empordá. Today's ride will take you to the hilly inland area of this part of the coast where you'll be able to ride through the small villages and historical locations and monuments scattered around this area near Santa Pellaia and Bisbal D'Empordá. From here you'll start heading south towards the coast to Torrent or to coastal hilly Begur where your hotel is located.
Hotel – Hotel El Convent Begur or Mas de Torrent ("premium" option)
Breakfast at your hotel;
Ride from Torrent to Cadaqués. Today will be your longest ride of the tour, with the climbing mostly at the start and end if you're coming from Torrent, or only at the end if you start from Begur. This ride will lead you north along the flat area of the Baix Empordá, riding through small villages and vast areas of farmland right up to Roses, where the roads starts to go up through the hilly area of the peninsula, a very scenic road that will then get flat and head downhill right before you get to Cadaqués, where your hotel is located. Cadaqués is also the city where you'll find the world famous Salvador Dali House Museum.
Hotel – Hotel Playa Sol or Boutique Hotel Villa Gala ("premium" option)
Breakfast at your hotel;
Ride from Cadaqués to El Port de la Selva. Today's start of the ride will let you explore one of the gems of cycling Catalonia, the ride to Cap Creus to enjoy the great views and scenic roads of the cape. From Cap Creus you'll revert to the vicinity of Port Lligat where you'll head north to Port de la Selva riding this rugged and wild landscape all the way to this coastal town, a great place to stop and replenish before the climb to the Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes. From the monastery you'll just have to roll downhill and enjoy the scenery that will take you to Pau, where your hotel is located.
Hotel – Hotel Can Massanna or Hotel Mas Lazuli ("premium" option)
Breakfast at your hotel;
Ride from El Port de la Selva to Figueres. On the last ride of the tour, you'll cycle once again to the coastal areas and scenery of the Costa Brava, first heading downhill to Roses and then tackling the hilly but super scenic section along the coast to lovely Montjoi and reverting along the flat roads contouring the beaches and bays of this quiet and secluded area. Once back in Roses you'll head inland along the flats to the historical village of Castelló d'Empuries and then through backroads to your hotel, that sits just a few minutes outside of the town of Figueres.
Hotel – Hotel Pirineos or Hotel Mas Falgarona ("premium" option)
Breakfast at your hotel;
At the scheduled time transfer to Girona Airport.
/ Riding is a great part of my life, and I ride my bike regularly with my friends. I am comfortable with rides of 2 to 3 hours, or even more at a relatively strong pace. I like to be challenged and to surpass obstacles or just ride smoothly in a peloton.
You will get to feel different riding experiences, from tougher climbs to rolling along in great company. You’ll have time to enjoy the great landscapes, gain speed in the descents and also push yourself and climb those tough hills. You’ll enjoy the variety of terrain, riding in a peloton and pushing a little harder just before the stop at the café.
Our guides and support vans will provide you with nutrition and hydration along all our guided tours so that you can better enjoy your ride.
Ricardo "El capitán" Costa is the"roadie" in charge of designing this tour. Having ridden all over the world, from Malaysia to the USA, it is in Portugal that he found some of the best rides in the planet. Ricardo has picked some of the best roads in the region, that will introduce you to his favorite vineyards, coffee stops, viewpoints, hotels and other secret spots.
