The trip starts in Barcelona. At 10 in the morning, our staff will welcome you at the meeting point, Estación de Francia. We will then head to our destination, located in Girona (the journey time is 1 hour and a half). Once at the hotel, and after check-in is done, the routes and other activities will be presented.

Easy ride in the afternoon:

Distance: 30 km
Elevation: +200 m
Difficulty: easy

After having prepared the bicycles, we will carry out a first ride to get the legs in shape.

Distance: 79 km
Elevation: +930 m
Difficulty: medium

After breakfast, we go west on La Bisbal road. After a few kilometers, in Quart, we begin the first climb of the day. It is the ascent to the sanctuary of the Mare de Déu dels Àngels, a classic one through which the Volta a Catalunya has passed. The slope which we ascend is 11 km and has with an average of 3.5% (maximum slope of 8% and a couple of breaks). From the second kilometer we enter the forest zone. The sanctuary is on 485 meters height, and from there, on clear days, we can see the Pyrenees in the north, the Montseny massif in the south, and the sea in the east.

The descent by the east side which has some sections of steep slope. We pass through Madremanya and Monells, a town of medieval origin, from where we take the road that goes to Sant Sadurní de l’Heura, at km 27 of our route. There, in the middle of the Gavarres massif, we begin the climb to the top of Santa Pellaia, on a road that climbs with a smooth and continuous slope, between oak forests and cork oaks, to the hermitage that has given its name to the pass. It is 11 km with an average slope of an achievable 2% (this was one of the favorite sections of Hincapie and Armstrong when they trained in Girona). Then, a 6 km descent to Cassà de la Selva and a 40 km easy-ride to our hotel in Girona.

In the afternoon we go to Figueres, the capital of Alt Empordà, 45 km from Girona, to visit the Dalí Museum, one of the greatest exponents of surrealism. Dinner at the hotel.

Distance: 114 km
Elevation: +1500 m
Difficulty: medium / high

This route takes us to the Pla de l´Estany region. The first objective of the day is the ascent to Rocacorba, a mythical pass where the greatest cyclers residing in Girona usually train. It is a road of 13.8 km, a grade of 881 meters with an average of 6.5% slope. It must be taken into account that the first 5 km are smooth and that in the second part of the ascent there are kilometers that range from 8 to 10%: the altimetry indicators are there to show us the margins of the road, with some ramps and winding curves with even higher slopes.

The arrival at the Rocacorba sanctuary will reward us with the satisfaction of having reached and important achievement and will offer magnificent views over the Gironès, Pla de l’Estany and l’Empordà regions.

From there we will also see Lake Banyoles, our next destination. After going down the same road (it is the only possibility) we arrive at the lake and take an internal road that takes us back to Girona through charming villages, such as Galliners, Bàscara, Vilamur.

The afternoon will be relaxing, with wine tasting at a local winery and dinner at the hotel.

Distance: 135 km
Elevation: +1180 m
Difficulty: medium / high

Today’s stage takes us southbound, towards the Costa Brava. It is the typical “leg-breaker” route through the regions of Girona, with an infinite variety of landscapes and, without exceeding at any time the 200 meters of altitude, accumulates more than 1,000 of slope. We start biking about 30 km along peaceful and relatively flat roads. Once arrived in Llagostera, we take the road from Tossa de Mar, which passes the Serra de Llobatera (200 m) and leads us with a rapid descent to the coast. There, next to the sea, begins one of the most beautiful roads of the Costa Brava: the one that goes from Tossa to Sant Feliu de Guíxols. It is a stretch of 22 km by the sea, made on the steep slope of the mountain, at an altitude between 50 and 100 meters, which offers the cyclist a panoramic view dominated by the majesty and the particular brightness of the Mediterranean Sea (mandatory stop at one of the viewpoints). From a technical point of view, it is a fun, undulated road, with curves of all kinds.

A few quiet kilometers to Santa Cristina d’Aro gets us at the foot of the Romanyà high (3rd category, distance 4.5 km, average slope 5.8%), in the protected natural area of ​​the Maritime Gavarres. Romanyà de la Selva has a very remarkable archaeological historical heritage, such as its megalithic combination with menhirs and dolmens, or the church of Sant Martí, which dates back to the 10^th century.

We go down towards Llagostera, then heading to Riudellots, we cross the neighborhoods of Aiguaviva, all on small roads, and we reach the end of the route.

In the afternoon we visit the old quarter of Girona and the Jewish quarter, one of the best preserved Jewish quarter in the world. Dinner at the Mimolet restaurant.

Distance: 98 km
Elevation: +790 m
Difficulty: easy

Today’s route takes us at the start of the Medinyà road to the small towns of the Alt Empordà de Llampaies, Camallera, Vilopriu, etc. When passing through Verges we will have a look at the parts that are still preserved from the walls and defense towers of the castle of medieval origin.

The next town is Ultramort, located on an elongated hill oriented from north to south, on the right bank of the river Ter, and which dominates a wide area of ​​farmland, due to the marshes that formerly occupied the area.

15 km further, still riding on a secondary road, we arrive at Peratallada, a historical-artistic declared town, where we will be amazed by its medieval architecture. The town retains its old feudal aspect, with narrow alleys and stone pavement. In the center of the walled town stands the castle, build on a rock which was cut in order to construct the castle on top of it (hence the name Peratallada, which means “cut stone”).

The return to Girona passes through the Bisbal d’Empordà, Cruïlles, and continues on a slightly uphill road to Sant Sadurní de l’Heura. From there we go to Monells (which we visited on the second day) and return to Madremanya and Celrà.

Relax, free afternoon and gourmet dinner at the Cal Ros restaurant.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS