Gravel Bike Tour of the Empordà Self-Guided

Enjoy some time at leisure in the beautiful city of Girona. The city is famous for having one of the best-preserved Jewish Quarters in the world, and the Cathedral boasts one of the widest vaulted naves in Gothic architecture. We highly recommend that you climb up to the ancient city walls to enjoy the spectacular views all the way to the snowy peaks of the Pyrenees. Make sure that you take a walk along the Onyar river, where you can enjoy a picturesque view of the brightly-coloured houses that line the riverbanks.

Heading west, you’ll pass through the small town of Anglès, whose Gothic old quarter is one of the oldest and most significant in the region, before crossing the River Ter in the town of Bonmatí. From here, you’ll climb up to the hilltop village of Mas Llunès, before enjoying a winding descent through beautiful countryside  back to Girona.

The route begins with one of Spain’s famous vías verdes (greenways) – a historic railway line converted into a traffic-free cycle path. From Llambilles, you’ll pedal through the golden corn fields of the Llagostera plain, passing by historic farmhouses and churches. Once in Llagostera, you’ll follow the vía verde all the way to Sant Feliu de Guíxols, where you will stay near the charming Sant Pol beach.

The route begins with a pleasant cruise along the seafront from Sant Feliu northwards to Calonge. From here, you’ll turn inland and tackle a challenging 10km climb into the Gavarres massif, up to the Romanesque church of Santa Coloma de Fitor.

Afterwards, enjoy a sweeping descent to the beautifully preserved medieval towns of Peratallada and Pals, where we highly recommend stopping to explore. Continue through fields and countryside to Torroella de Montgrí, finishing at the foot of Montgrí Castle.

You’ll start the day’s cycle route with a visit to La Gola del Ter, a magnificent virgin beach at the mouth of the River Ter. From here, you’ll continue northwards along the coast to the port of Estertit, before turning inland to climb up to Punta del Milà, set in the Montgrí Natural Park, from where you’ll be able to enjoy spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea.

The route then continues north, finishing in the village of Castelló d’Empúries, which boasts a rich architectural heritage: a gothic church, a palace, an old market building and a well-preserved Jewish quarter.

You’ll begin with a visit to Empuriabrava, the Empordà’s answer to Venice with its network of navigable canals. From here, enjoy a beautiful ride along the sweeping Bay of Roses, before climbing to Torre del Sastre, a well-preserved 16th-century farmhouse, and continuing up to Puig Alt.

Optional extension: Ride to Cadaqués, the whitewashed fishing village closely associated with Dalí, and continue through the dramatic Cap de Creus Natural Park. (This extension is paved.)

Returning inland, you’ll enjoy a sweeping descent through the Alt Empordà vineyards via Vilamaniscle and Rabós, home to some of the region’s oldest groves, before reaching Peralada, renowned for its cava and wine heritage.

From Peralada, the route rolls downhill to your final destination: Figueres, birthplace of Salvador Dalí.

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The route begins with a flat, relaxed ride through countryside, pine forests, farmland and picturesque villages. From Sant Martí Vell, you’ll start climbing the Gavarres massif until you reach the Sanctuary of Els Àngels, where spectacular views await. Your route then descends back into Girona, where you can celebrate with a well-earned dinner in one of the city’s many fabulous restaurants.

Direct flights to Barcelona are widely available from many international destinations, and direct flights to Girona are available from a number of destinations within Europe.

From Barcelona Airport, you can take a taxi or the local Rodalies urban train to Barcelona Sants train station (approx. 20 minutes). From here, you can travel by high-speed train to Girona. You can purchase your train tickets online. By booking online, you can ensure that you are booking the direct train (40 minutes) rather than the local train (up to 2 hours!) which can only be booked locally at the train station.

At the end of your tour, you can take a high-speed train from Girona back to Barcelona (approx. 40 minutes).

Please consult with your Bike Spain Tours travel coordinator if you wish to book extra nights in Barcelona before or after your tour. Some of our favourite hotels are:

• Casa Bonay****: Boutique design hotel and cultural centre located in the upmarket Eixample district.
• Ofelias Hotel****+: Boutique art hotel conveniently located clost to Plaça de Espanya and Montjuic.