Cycling holiday in Spain
| country: | Spain |
| trip type: | Self guided, introductory cycling holidays |
| departures: | Departs twice a week, April - October |
| price: | From £599 - £629 (8 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. Bike hire if required £55. Single supplement £90 |
read 1 travellers review
the amazing things you'll be doing
A gentle self-guided cycle tour in northern Spain. Green Pyrenees foothills, vibrant Barcelona and the Mediterranean coast.
Starting from the small town of Ripoll, surrounded by mountains up to 2100m, our route leads through Pyrenean foothills and lush forests, and takes us into beautiful, atmospheric mediaeval villages and towns. Catalunya has the highest density of well-preserved Romanesque architecture in the world: the monasteries in Ripoll and Sant Joan de les Abadesses are two fine examples. Part of the route is along a former railway line, the Bici Carril, which is now a graded cycling route taking us all the way to the sea at San Feliu de Guixols. The route follows many valleys, and goes through some mountainous landscapes and tunnels.
A couple of days are set aside to swim in the Mediterranean, explore Girona and, of course, Barcelona, a cosmopolitan city with something for everyone, whether they are looking for architecture, history, vibrant night life or good food.
Average daily distance: 40km (25 miles). Please note - places on this holiday are 'on request' and we will need to check spaces with our suppliers before confirming your booking. Our aim is to confirm all bookings within 48 hours.
Starting from the small town of Ripoll, surrounded by mountains up to 2100m, our route leads through Pyrenean foothills and lush forests, and takes us into beautiful, atmospheric mediaeval villages and towns. Catalunya has the highest density of well-preserved Romanesque architecture in the world: the monasteries in Ripoll and Sant Joan de les Abadesses are two fine examples. Part of the route is along a former railway line, the Bici Carril, which is now a graded cycling route taking us all the way to the sea at San Feliu de Guixols. The route follows many valleys, and goes through some mountainous landscapes and tunnels.
A couple of days are set aside to swim in the Mediterranean, explore Girona and, of course, Barcelona, a cosmopolitan city with something for everyone, whether they are looking for architecture, history, vibrant night life or good food.
Average daily distance: 40km (25 miles). Please note - places on this holiday are 'on request' and we will need to check spaces with our suppliers before confirming your booking. Our aim is to confirm all bookings within 48 hours.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Start Ripoll. Make your own way to Ripoll by bus to the railway station and then a direct train (approx. 2 hours). Collect bikes. |
| Day 2: | Cycle to Olot. There is time to visit the Romanesque monastery before joining the Bici Carril to Olot in the Parc Natural de la Zona Volcanica de la Garroxta. |
| Day 3: | Circular route. Ride into the extinct volcanoes of Garrotxa to see the Croscat Volcano and Santa Pau, one of the best of Catalunya's mediaeval villages. Optional longer ride into Bas valley, a serene area with picturesque villages. |
| Day 4: | Cycle to Girona. There is a gentle incline today along the Bici Carril, but it is mostly downhill. |
| Day 5: | Free day. Visit Girona, an ancient walled town with a magnificent Cathedral and Arabic baths; or take a short train ride to Figueres for its spectacular Dali Museum. |
| Day 6: | Cycle to San Feliu de Guixols. Following the Bici Carril this is the last day of riding and brings you to the edge of the Mediterranean. |
| Day 7: | Bus to Barcelona (fare to be paid locally). Visit the city's highlights - Antonio Gaudi’s unique buildings, the Barrio Gotico with its beautiful Cathedral, the Jewish Quarter and the Picasso Museum. |
| Day 8: | Make your own way to Barcelona airport. |
travellers' tales
The most memorable part of the holiday was the environment of Andalucia itself. The main thing that contributed to the success of the trip was the group leader, Shaun Allan, who I cannot recommend highly enough. (more)
award winner
This tourism business won an award in our 2004 Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical, Magazine of the Royal Geographical Societyhow this holiday makes a difference
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Following the route of a disused railway that has been specifically converted for cyclists through the wilds between Barcelona and the Pyrenees. Bicycling is obviously a low impact form of transport, which allows you to cover plenty of ground while still being able to stop at will to admire the scenery, wildlife and local wine. We stay in local small locally owned hotels and eat in local cafes and restaurants so the only high impact part of this tour is on the local economy.
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Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |