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Spain Road Bike Tour for Stronger Cyclists: A self-guided Spain bike tour for roadies who like to climb, this experience in the backcountry of Catalonia of some of the Costa Brava’s quiet secondary roads takes you from Barcelona to Girona. While the distances in km are not substantial, there is always climbing, and we offer loop rides so you don’t have to change hotels every day. The trip finishes in that well-known roadie bike town of Girona, also well-known for its contribution to Game of Thrones. While this is a road bike tour, it is still a vacation so you can be challenged and have something left to enjoy the medieval towns and villages you cross. Not to mention, the nice hotels and delicious dining options that await you! Catalonia is a wine and food lovers paradise – just saying – every rider needs to refuel. This Spain self-guided road bike tour ticks all of the boxes for strong cyclists!
Tour starts in Barcelona and finishes in Girona; return transfer to Barcelona is included.
Not Included: Choice of Bike Rental
Included Standard Hotels:
About: 6 nights in excellent 4-star hotels. All lodging offers a private bathroom and a variety of other amenities. Rooms are standard double category, with breakfast daily.
Local Experts: Angel, Nora, and Anna will be your logistics and back up support from the home base bike shop in the classy Eixample district in Barcelona. All of them have made bikes and bike touring a profession, and they will all enjoy sharing their passion and local knowledge with visitors. Our team knows all of the best places, hidden gems, restaurants and local traditions; and we are delighted to welcome you to Catalonia and to Barcelona!
Need to Know:
This morning you will meet at our local bike shop at 10:00 AM. This day can be any day, Tuesday-Satruday. After your tour briefing and bike set-up, you will begin your cycling! A short climb will take you to the Collserola Natural Park, which is the city’s largest natural park and has thousands of plant species including Aleppo pines, evergreen oaklands, riverside copses, grasslands and more. When you reach the top, you can enjoy great views of the majestic city of Barcelona. Then it’s all downhill unti you arrive to the city of Sant Cugat del Valles and onto Cerdanyola. From there you have rolling hills as you ride through the villages surrounding Barcelona. Finally, you will reach your destination for the night – Caldes de Montbui. This Thermal Village has many natural hot springs and is surrounded by a stunning setting, located at the foot of the Farrel mountain and in the Riera de Caldes valley.
Distance: 42 km / 26 mi, +870m
Highlights: Collserola Natural Park, Caldes de Montbui
Overnight: Caldes de Montbui
Today’s ride is a spectacular loop ride on secondary roads, with very little to no traffic whatsoever. While riding through rolling hills, you will experience breathtaking views over the valley of “Vallès.” Pass through many charming villages, such as St. Llorenc Saval – which is known for the best seafood in the area – seems like a good spot for a break! Gallifa is another tiny village you will come across and enjoy passing by, as well Sant Feliu de Codines and El Farell, which offer fantastic vantage points as they are situated as some of the highest points in Vallès. Return to your same hotel and enjoy a relaxing evening as you please.
Meals: breakfast
Distance: 57 km / 35 mi, +982m; optional El Farell climb +20km
Highlights: St. Llorenc Saval, Gallifa, Saint Feliu de Codines, El Farrell
Overnight: Caldes de Montbui
Today’s ride takes you through the forest of Sant Miquel and Centelles to reach the valley of Vic. Ride along rolling hills through “La plane del Vic.” In Sant Miquel del Fai, visit the extraordinary medieval abbey of Sant Miquel del Fai. This Romanesque chapel has been built inside a grotto and is nestled among the rocks, surrounded by forest, steep cliffs and a rushing waterall that is over 100 meters high. Your home for tonight is the small town of Vic, which is located on the banks of the Meder River, situated on the beautiful plain of Plane del Vic and set among lush green hills. Enjoy the authentic small town Spanish lifestyle and the majestic beauty of the highest peaks of the Pyrenees.
Meals: breakfast
Distance: 65 km / 40 mi, +1,200m; option to extend to Sau Lake
Highlights: Optional ride : Ride to Sau Lake
Overnight: Vic
Today you are doing a loop ride from your home base of Vic, so you can start the day at your leisure. Riding through the quiet roads of the Llucanes, relax and enjoy the gently rolling hills, passing by farming houses and large forested area.
Meals: breakfast
Distance: 58 km / 36 mi, +850m
Highlights: Vic exploration
Overnight: Vic
From Vic we make our way to the famous city of Girona. Head to Sant Hillari Sacalm, a town known for its many hot springs and medicinal waters. The landscape here is stunning and boasts caves, mountains and valleys, well known to outdoor enthusiasts – especially cyclists! Be sure to stop and visit the 10th century Gothic and Romanesque chapel, if you have time! Ride through the Natural Area of Les Guilleries-Savassona, which has over 9,000 hectares of natural landscape and boasts numerous types of flora and fauna. Truly a beautiful area!
Meals: breakfast
Distance: 83 km / 52 mi, +1400m
Highlights: Sant Hillari Sacalm, Guillerires
Overnight: Girona
Today, your last riding day in Costa Brava, you can chose one of 2 routes:
– Take the day to ride the secondary roads of Emporda and visit the medieval villages
– Ride through the famous Costa Brava secondary roads along the Mediterranean Sea
Meals: breakfast
Distance: 63 km / 39 mi, +870m or 115 km / 71 mi, +1,800m
Highlights: La Bisbal d’Emporda Madremanya, Sant Feliu de Guixols, Sant Antoni de Calange, Les Gavarees
Overnight: Girona
Today is your departure day, and your Costa Brava cycling tour has come to an end, so you can take your time in the morning, breakfast is included. At 10:30am we include your return transfer to Barcelona. We are happy to arrange stays in Barcelona and additional activities if booked in advance; our experts have the best tips and suggestions for you! Please inquire at time of booking and we will take care of everything!
Meals: breakfast
2024 Tour Rates: (based on double occupancy)
Superior Three & Four Star Hotels:
Custom Groups & Routes – please inquire about route ideas and rates
New! Travel Insurance is now required to participate in this tour. You can book through our preferred vendors or your own. Proof of coverage will be required.
Make it Custom: Do you like the Catalonia Culinary Cycling Tour itinerary but want to make some changes? Tell us your wishes & we will quote them!
From the planning experience, to the logistics of working with Pure Adventures to the actual riding, this was one of the best bicycling experiences of my many years of peddling. We rode many of the same rodes as the great cyclists of our time. The lodging was amazing and the transportation of our equipment was exceptional. There is absolutely nothing that they could have done better. The riding around Girona and from Vic to Girona was quite possibly the best riding of my life. The roads were not busy, were very narrow, and, if you did see a car, they were the utmost of bicycle friendly. Thank you so much for bringing me some of the best riding of my very long riding career! Sign up today…you will not regret any of the experience. You all could not have done anything better!
We highly recommend the Barcelona to Girona Road Bike Tour! It was perfect for us, great scenery on backroads, lovely hotels and interesting medieval towns. This was our second tour with Pure Adventures and will do more in the future!
Brian and I booked this pretty much at the last minute and Pure Adventures made it all happen. This was honestly the highlight of our entire trip to Europe. We would book again with Pure Adventures and we would go back to Spain in a heartbeat.
Our Girona trip went really well and your Barcelona partners do a really great job. You clearly have vetted every aspect of the tour. We were very pleased with the bikes, the routes were very beautiful and the hotels good. Definitely a memorable experience! Thanks, Mar, for all your help, from start to finish! Besos from Chile!
Fun trip for a couple of crazy couples that like to eat, drink, and ride bikes! Thank you to Loren and Pure Adventures for the excellent arrangements, we will be back!