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Explore the Catalan countryside with its historic castles, hilltop fortresses and ancient wine villages
Arrive in Calella and head to the local 'blue flag' beaches or relax by the hotel pool before dinner. We provide plenty of recommendations in Calella for dinner. *(Staying at Hotel Garbi)*
*/Option: 1/* Today's 'warm-up' ride takes you inland through Palafrugell, then on to Begur with its hilltop mediaeval castle remains and its colonial Cuban-influenced villas, built by locals who emigrated to Cuba and returned once they had made their fortunes. Visit the fabulous sweep of beach at Platja de Pals then continue on to Torroella de Montgri for two nights. *(Staying at Hotel Moli del Mig)* */Option: 2/* /https://www.exodus.co.uk/sites/exod/files/styles/panopoly_image_original... alt="" width="127" height="38" class="media-element file-default panopoly-image-original" data-delta="1">/
Distance in Km: 34
Distance in Miles: 22
Cycle into Torroella and explore the medieval centre and walls, originally the Royal Port for the Kings of Aragon, before the River Ter silted up and the port was moved to nearby L'Estartit. You could cycle here for some great beaches or walk up to the 13th century fortress, Montgri Castle, set on the top of the Montgri Massif, overlooking the town and the Emporda plain beyond. *(Staying at Hotel Moli del Mig)*
Follow flat country lanes to the coast at L'Escala and explore the ancient Greek and Roman Empuries ruins. The town was founded in 575 BC by Greek colonists, later occupied by the Romans, then abandoned in the Middle Ages due to its exposed coastal position leaving it open to attack. Cycle on to Castello d'Empuries, with its 1,000-year-old church, Santa Maria de Castello, before continuing on to Figueres. *(Staying at Hotel Pirineos)*
Distance in Km: 49
Distance in Miles: 31
Explore Figueres today. Stroll along La Rambla and discover the old town's mediaeval squares and arches. As the birthplace of Salvador Dali, the Teatre-Museu Gala Salvador Dali, designed by the artist himself, is a must-see. Also visit the 18th century Sant Ferran Castle, a large military fortress (the largest monument in Catalonia), built with a pentagonal plan and sophisticated construction techniques for the time. *(Staying at Hotel Pirineos)*
Heading further inland, we follow an undulating route through deep green meadows, cork forests and tiny charming hamlets. Then follow the Rivers Ter and Onyar into the region's capital Girona. *(Staying at Hotel Ciutat de Girona)*
Distance in Km: 48
Distance in Miles: 30
Explore this stunning city, dating back to pre-Roman times. Walk the city walls for a different perspective of the sights: discover the Placa de la Independencia, the impressive cathedral, the Jewish Quarter and the Onyar River's picturesque bridges and painted houses. A regular fast train can take you to Barcelona for a day in the Catalan capital. Or cycle to Catalonia's largest natural lake 'Estany de Banyoles' the venue for 1992 Olympic rowing events. *(Staying at Hotel Ciutat de Girona)*
Ride out of Girona on the Via Verde, an old narrow-gauge railway line that heads, mostly downhill, all the way to the coast. Continue around the coast past Platja d'Aro and Calonge to the seafront town of Calella de Palafrugell. *(Staying at Hotel Garbi)*
Distance in Km: 61
Distance in Miles: 38
* 8 Nights, Hotel-to-hotel
* 4 days cycling
* Headwater wine service
* GPS route navigation provided
* RidePlus route options
* High quality bikes provided
* Luggage transfers between hotels
All breakfasts and 2 evening meals included
Traditional Spanish food such as /paella/, /chorizo/ and /albondigas/
(meatballs) can be found on just about every menu in Catalunya, but don’t
forget to try the regional specialities too. Local cuisine features plenty of
fish, including world-renowned anchovies from L’Escala, and /botifarras/
(black pudding) from the mountains. A good starter might be /Pan
Catal//á//n/ /(pa amb tom//à//quet),/ this is lightly toasted bread,
drizzled with olive oil and topped with tomatoes and garlic. Thanks to its
geography, the region has developed “Sea and Mountain” - /mar y muntana/
cuisine, combining chicken with lobster, or rabbit with prawns. Fruits are
used as well, such as roasted chicken and figs, or pheasant and grapes.
Dishes are rich and hearty, however, it is not just a meat-based cuisine,
there are plenty of vegetable options. Catalan dishes also rely heavily on
sauces: /Sofrito/ is an onion and tomato sauce, /Picada/ is made from dried
fruits, nuts and herbs, /Sanfaina/ is a sauce of fried peppers, aubergines,
onions and tomatoes and /Romesco/ is made with tomatoes, peppers, nuts and
garlic. Most menus are written in both Castilian and Catalan and sometimes in
English too, but you may find a pocket dictionary useful in the more remote
places.
* 8 Nights, Hotel-to-hotel
* 4 days cycling
* Headwater wine service
* GPS route navigation provided
* RidePlus route options
* High quality bikes provided
* Luggage transfers between hotels
Cycling Conditions
Classification: Self-Guided
Activity Level: 2 (Leisurely/moderate)
Average daily distance on move on days: 48km (30.1 miles).
No. of days cycling: 4
Terrain and route: The suggested cycling mainly follows traffic-free routes,
with a mixture of quiet roads and coastal paths.
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 accommodations, provide you with a
map and route notes so that you can cycle at your own pace. 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.
As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There maybe
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
This holiday is packed with stunning scenery and a wealth of fascinating
historical and cultural discoveries that date back to Greek and Roman times.
Your holiday starts and ends in the pretty seafront town of Calella de
Palafrugell. From here, you'll head north, via Begur, to Torroella de Montgri
and its hilltop 13th century castle with panoramic views across the Emporda
plain. You'll continue via the coast and Empuries, where you can visit the
Greek and Roman ruins, on to Figueres, the famous birthplace of Salvador
Dali. Heading west, we follow undulating roads through deep green meadows and
cork forests to the city of Girona with its impressive architecture and great
dining choices. Your final stretch takes you along an old narrow gauge
railway line, now a Via Verde, which heads down to the coast. Continue on
past Platja d'Aro and Calonge to Calella de Palafrugell.
Hotels
The hotels on this holiday are as varied as the scenery, and include the
Hotel Garbi, overlooking the fishing village of Calella de Palafrugell; the
contemporary Hotel Moli del Mig; a converted 15th century mill in Torroella
de Montgri and two chic town hotels one which has a small pool.
As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. A local
representative is on hand to assist you and will meet you at the beginning of
the week to go through the route notes and point out particular places of
interest. Your luggage is transferred and route notes and maps are provided.
Please note: the walking and luggage transfers included in this tour are
subject to a minimum of 2 people (in total) booked on the departure. A
supplement (payable in advance) to cover these transfers and sole occupancy
of a room will apply if only 1 person travelling on a departure date.
All breakfasts and 2 evening meals included
Traditional Spanish food such as /paella/, /chorizo/ and /albondigas/
(meatballs) can be found on just about every menu in Catalunya, but don’t
forget to try the regional specialities too. Local cuisine features plenty of
fish, including world-renowned anchovies from L’Escala, and /botifarras/
(black pudding) from the mountains. A good starter might be /Pan
Catal//á//n/ /(pa amb tom//à//quet),/ this is lightly toasted bread,
drizzled with olive oil and topped with tomatoes and garlic. Thanks to its
geography, the region has developed “Sea and Mountain” - /mar y muntana/
cuisine, combining chicken with lobster, or rabbit with prawns. Fruits are
used as well, such as roasted chicken and figs, or pheasant and grapes.
Dishes are rich and hearty, however, it is not just a meat-based cuisine,
there are plenty of vegetable options. Catalan dishes also rely heavily on
sauces: /Sofrito/ is an onion and tomato sauce, /Picada/ is made from dried
fruits, nuts and herbs, /Sanfaina/ is a sauce of fried peppers, aubergines,
onions and tomatoes and /Romesco/ is made with tomatoes, peppers, nuts and
garlic. Most menus are written in both Castilian and Catalan and sometimes in
English too, but you may find a pocket dictionary useful in the more remote
places.
Your trip normally starts at our hotel in Calella De Palafrugell on the
afternoon of Day 1 of the itinerary.
*Air-rail prices include our standard flights*
British Airways Heathrow to Barcelona 09:35/12:45 then rail Barcelona Sants
to Girona 15:40/16:15 then transfer to hotel 50 minutes. Return: Transfer to
station 50 minutes then rail Girona to Barcelona Sants 12:56/13:34 British
Airways Barcelona to Heathrow 18:15/19:35.
Business/club/first class seats are available on request.
The trips runs from April through to October (except 5-23 Aug) with the early
and later part of the season experiencing cooler temperatures, highs
averaging 18-20°C and lows averaging 11-15°C. In the height of July
temperatures will reach highs of 28-30°C so it is important to be prepared
for this. There is always a chance of rain throughout the year, so it is
always best to be prepared.
Waterproofs
Warm jumper/fleece
Suncream
Water bottle (1 litre) you will be able to refill each day at the
accommodation.
*Please note that cycling helmets are a legal requirement in Spain. As we
cannot provide these, we strongly recommend you bring your own.*
You will need money for six dinners, all lunches, snacks and drinks and entry
for any sites you wish to visit. Depending on your choice of restaurant
dinners will range in price, we suggest allowing approximately €15-35.
Lunches can be inexpensive if you buy produce from local markets or shops and
make up a picnic. However, if you stop at a café you can easily spend €15.
We would recommend budgeting for €5-15 for lunches and allow an additional
€10 a day for any extras.
* Travel insurance
* Visas & vaccinations
* Single accommodation (available on request - compulsory supplement).
Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.