Contrasts of Catalunya Cycling

from $1,999.00

Packed with contrast and variety, this easy 6-night cycling tour takes in the unspoiled Catalan coast, passing through olive groves, peach orchards and stunningly beautiful, pretty colored villages. All the hotels have pools, and 2 nights are spent in a luxury C14 castle.

Reviews 38 Reviews

5/5
Vacation Style Holiday Type
- Cycling
- Self Guided
Self-guided
Activity Level Easy
3/8

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All about the Contrasts of Catalunya Cycling.

Catalunya is a semi-autonomous area of Spain; steeped in culture, its traditions and festivals date back over thousands of years. Rich in mediaeval villages, highlights include prosperous Peratallada, peach-coloured Pals and fashionable Begur. The rocky coastline is dotted with pretty fishing villages, crystal clear waters and beautiful beaches which are perfect to explore.
This holiday is full of contrasts and variety and explores one of the most beautiful corners of Catalunya. It’s gentle cycling too, occasionally off-road, through olive groves, peach orchards and pine forests, and along pretty coastal paths. The landscape is gently rolling for the most part, making this an easy cycle and a relaxing holiday. The changing seasons bring white blossom in spring, sunflower yellow in summer and warm gold at harvest time. Fabulous coastal views, beautiful beaches and aquamarine waters make this an inspirational area.
You stay in a variety of hotels, all with pools, which have been hand-picked for their charm and character. The family-run Hotel Garbi in the traditional fishing village of Calella de Palafrugell, is set on the hillside overlooking the sea. The stylish Hotel Sa Punta in Platja de Pals is set in attractive gardens and is within walking distance of the beach or you can cycle to nearby Begur. Two nights of the holiday are spent at the Hotel Castell d’Emporda, a magnificently restored C14 castle perched proudly on its outcrop, just outside La Bisbal. The breathtaking views over the plain from its sun terrace are not to be missed.

The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance

What is included in this tour?Items that are included in the cost of tour price.

All breakfasts and 4 dinners
6 nights accommodation (all rooms ensuite)
All luggage transfers
Route notes and maps
GPS route navigation provided
High quality hybrid bike rental included
RidePlus route options (more challenging routes)

What is not included in this tour?

Flights
Arrival & departure transfers (available on request, inquire for supplement)
Single Accommodation (available on request, inquire for supplement)
Room upgrades and extra nights at selected hotels (inquire for prices and details)
Tandems available (inquire for supplement)
RidePlus road bike (inquire for supplement)

Highlights

Ride through beautiful villages and rural orchards
Soak up the sun on sandy beaches and beautiful bays
Spend two nights in a luxury 14th Century castle

Day 1 Day 1 Arrive in Calella de Palafrugell

You arrive at your hotel where all Headwater guests are accommodated in rooms with a private balcony and sea view. It’s less than 5 minutes’ walk to the centre of town where you have so many restaurants to choose from, we’ve left evening meals up to you. (Staying at the Hotel Garbi, Breakfast only)
Day 2 Day 2 Calella de Palafrugell to Platja de Pals 33km/21mi

Your route today passes through the pine forests behind Calella before heading off to peach-coloured Pals, a lovely mediaeval town with Romanesque church affording stunning views. After lunch, head on through the pretty hamlets of Palau-Sator (where there has been a settlement since Roman times) and Fontanilles, before looping back towards the coast and a gentle downhill ride to Platja de Pals. (Staying at Hotel Sa Punta, Half Board)
Day 3 Day 3 At Platja de Pals

We strongly recommend a visit to mediaeval Begur, a fashionable hilltop town with C11 castle and outstanding views over the coast. Alternatively, relax on the beach, follow the superb coastal walking path or simply chill out by the hotel’s semi-Olympic pool. (Staying at Hotel Sa Punta, Half Board)
Day 4 Day 4 Platja de Pals to La Bisbal 30km/19mi

You’ll begin today cycling past rice fields before following the River Ter to Torroella de Montgri with wonderful views of the Illes Medes. Visit this lovely mediaeval town with its Roman defensive wall before heading inland along wonderfully quiet roads through the village of Gualta (picturesque C16 bridge) and pretty hamlets of Fonolleres, Matajudaica and Casavells to La Bisbal. Here you’ll stay in a uniquely converted C14 Gothic castle – once reputed to have been on Dali’s shopping list but now owned by Dutchman Albert Diks. (Staying at the Hotel Castell d’Emporda, Half Board)
Day 5 Day 5 At La Bisbal

Laze by the pool (there’s a fabulous sun terrace and bar area) or follow our suggested cycling circuit linking the pretty mediaeval villages of Corca, Monells (pretty square and lovely choices for lunch) and La Bisbal, a lively market town famous for antiques and pottery. Take time to explore the old quarter including the Carrer del Call, formerly a Jewish ghetto, whose intricate arches are still intact today. (Staying at the Hotel Castell d’Emporda, Half Board)
Day 6 Day 6 La Bisbal to Calella de Palafrugell 33km/21mi

Today offers lovely gentle cycling, stopping first at the walled village of Ullastret. The vast archaeological site here contains the remains of one of the oldest Iberian villages in Spain. Continue your journey through beautifully preserved Peratallada to the bustling market town of Palafrugell. Then back to Calella de Palafrugell for a final swim in the pool. (Staying at the Hotel Garbi, Breakfast only)
Day 7 Day 7 Leave Calella de Palafrugell

Please note that cycling helmets are a legal requirement in Spain. As we cannot provide these, we strongly recommend you bring your own. Please see our Planning your holiday page for full details.

Where you stay

Hotel Garbi

The Hotel Garbi is located on the hillside overlooking the fishing village of Calella de Palafrugell with its own extensive gardens, shaded by pines. The Hotel is family-run and has a warm welcoming atmosphere where its friendly staff will do their utmost to ensure your stay is as comfortable as possible. The hotel also has a car park-for anyone who would like to drive to this hotel.

Hotel Sa Punta

The Hotel Sa Punta, just a five minute walk to the beach is set in beautiful grounds with a lovely terrace area for afternoon drinks. There is also a semi-olympic size swimming pool with spa pool. Rooms are spacious and modern with balcony or terrace. Evening meals are taken either in the hotel restaurant or on the terrace.

Hotel Castell d’Emporda

The Castell d’Emporda could not be in a better location, perched on a rocky outcrop with breathtaking views from its sun terrace. The building is a superbly restored 700-year-old castle, that is now owned by Albert and Margo, who are both very friendly and speak excellent English. Each of the hotel rooms has been individually decorated by furniture collected by the owners while they were on their travels around China, India and Morocco. All of the rooms have spectacular hill-top views, featuring air conditioning and heating, fully equipped bathroom, flat-screen TV, in-room CD/DVD player, telephone and mini bar.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts and 4 evening meals included.

Traditional Spanish food such as paella, chorizo and albondigas (meatballs) can be found on just about every menu in Catalunya, but there are plenty of tasty local specialties too. Local cuisine features plenty of fish, including world renowned anchovies from L’Escala, and botifarras (black pudding) from the mountains. A delicious starter is Pan Catalan, which is lightly toasted bread, drizzled with olive oil and topped with tomatoes and garlic. The geography of the area has developed regional cuisine mixing ‘surf and turf’; combinations such as chicken and lobster, or rabbit with prawns. Fruits also feature strongly with dishes combining chicken with figs, or pheasant and grapes. Dishes tend to be rich and hearty but there are also plenty of vegetable options for vegetarians. Catalan foods also feature sauces in many dishes, which are usually rich in flavor.

The region is also renowned for the production of Cava, around the town of San Sadurni de Noya. There is a herby, smoky, grassy flavor to some of these as a result of the grape varieties and climate. The region also produces some of Spain’s best wines. Though we do not cycle through San Sadurni de Noya, try the wine from this region if you spot it on a menu.

Is this trip for you?

Activity Level: 2 (Leisurely/Moderate)
Average daily distance: 31km (19 miles).
No. of days cycling: 5 (including 2 optional rides)
Terrain and route: The suggested cycling mainly follows quiet tarmac roads with a few sections on dirt roads. The terrain is gentle throughout.
Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to cycle independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodation, provide you with a map and route notes so that you can cycle at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next. The maps and route notes are provided in a link and can be downloaded to your phone via an app, RidewithGPS. A representative will be there to meet you, make sure the bikes are all set up and will be on call throughout the trip should you need.

It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked. Where possible we stick to cycle tracks and quiet roads to make the journeys as pleasant as possible, however, on occasion we have to use busier routes.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There may be others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The route notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the local representative is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

Overall Rating

5/5

Reviewed On 04/10/2019

5/5

Mr Jones

Great location. Easy quiet cycling excellent food plenty of interesting places to visit

Reviewed On 21/09/2018

4/5

Mr Crawley

A mixture of excellent (hotels) and fair (cycling). The cycling was only spoilt by really rough tracks, demanding too much concentration on the riding hence missing the surrounding landscape and features.

Reviewed On 18/09/2018

4/5

Mrs Hayden

The hotels were in general well located. We particularly liked Sa Punta and the food here was very good. The cycling tracks were mainly gravel or sandy and a bit rutted and could be quite tricky in places and one had to keep one's eye on the track rather than the scenery but that may be because we are not used to cycling off road. The route takes you through some lovely old towns and villages the highlight of which was probably Pals. Despite our initial reluctance, we were pleased that we used the GPS route guide as it would have been difficult without it to navigate the tracks. The area is spectacular and we would definitely consider re-visiting Catalan.

Reviewed On 11/09/2018

5/5

Mrs Lucas

Lovely cycling through varied terrain; but be prepared for a good few sharp climbs. The hotels were well appointed and the food was generally delicious. Although the location and development of the Castell D' Emporda was unique, for us the better hotel was the Sa Punta where we spent two lovely relaxed evenings.

Reviewed On 20/07/2018

4/5

Mr Nicholson

An excellent introduction into cycling holidays that we will be certain to repeat.

Show More Reviews - 5 Reviews

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