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Catalonia cycling short break
- Easy cycling on quiet country roads and rural tracks through beech woods and picturesque landscapes
- La Garrotxa Natural Park and its fascinating volcanic rock formations
- Accommodation in charming hotels with excellent Catalan restaurants nearby
- Family rooms and rental bikes for children available
- Medieval town centre Jewish quarter and cathedral in Girona
From: 300 €
Tripcode: ESSB055
3 Comfort
Level 1 - EN:
Simple accommodation, often with multiple rooms like huts, cottages or guesthouses. Sometimes with bunk beds and often with shared bathrooms. All camping trips fall into this category.
Level 1 - EN:
Simple accommodation, often with multiple rooms like huts, cottages or guesthouses. Sometimes with bunk beds and often with shared bathrooms. All camping trips fall into this category.
Level 2:
Simple to good inns, small family hotels, B&Bs and agriturismo (farmsteads), generaly with private bathroom. Often chosen for their excellent location in relation to the itinerary.
Level 2:
Simple to good inns, small family hotels, B&Bs and agriturismo (farmsteads), generaly with private bathroom. Often chosen for their excellent location in relation to the itinerary.
Level 2:
Simple to good inns, small family hotels, B&Bs and agriturismo (farmsteads), generaly with private bathroom. Often chosen for their excellent location in relation to the itinerary.
Level 3:
Good hotels, inns, B&B, agriturismo (farmstead) with ensuite private bathroom, often wel located and serving good meals
Level 3:
Good hotels, inns, B&B, agriturismo (farmstead) with ensuite private bathroom, often wel located and serving good meals
Level 3:
Good hotels, inns, B&B, agriturismo (farmstead) with ensuite private bathroom, often wel located and serving good meals
Level 4:
Special hotel with excellent food, ambiance and service. Accommodations with a special touch.
Level 4:
Special hotel with excellent food, ambiance and service. Accommodations with a special touch.
Level 4:
Special hotel with excellent food, ambiance and service. Accommodations with a special touch.
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3 Difficulty
Level 1:
Walking levels:
Trips with short walks of generally three to four hours (excluding breaks) and/or optional day excursions; flat or slightly hilly terrain using well kept paths.
Cycling levels:
Easy biking in nearly flat landscape; also possible for people with little or no bicycle experience. The daily distances are approximately 30-50 km in general. Bicycles with up to 3 gears can do the job. All our adult rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 1:
Walking levels:
Trips with short walks of generally three to four hours (excluding breaks) and/or optional day excursions; flat or slightly hilly terrain using well kept paths.
Cycling levels:
Easy biking in nearly flat landscape; also possible for people with little or no bicycle experience. The daily distances are approximately 30-50 km in general. Bicycles with up to 3 gears can do the job. All our adult rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 2:
Walking levels:
Moderate day walks, 4-5 hours per day (excluding breaks) on hilly to mountainous areas using well kept, sometimes stony paths.
Cycling levels:
Biking on gently undulating terrain, you may encounter short climbs from time to time. The daily distances vary between 30 and 65 km. A bicycle with minimum 7 gears will do. All our rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 2:
Walking levels:
Moderate day walks, 4-5 hours per day (excluding breaks) on hilly to mountainous areas using well kept, sometimes stony paths.
Cycling levels:
Biking on gently undulating terrain, you may encounter short climbs from time to time. The daily distances vary between 30 and 65 km. A bicycle with minimum 7 gears will do. All our rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 2:
Walking levels:
Moderate day walks, 4-5 hours per day (excluding breaks) on hilly to mountainous areas using well kept, sometimes stony paths.
Cycling levels:
Biking on gently undulating terrain, you may encounter short climbs from time to time. The daily distances vary between 30 and 65 km. A bicycle with minimum 7 gears will do. All our rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 3:
Walking levels:
Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. 5 to 7 hours walking maximum per day, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for one night; height differences between 500 & 1000 m. per day
Cycling levels:
Strenuous biking trips in areas where you cannot avoid steep slopes. Some bicycle experience in short trips is needed. The daily distances range from 30 up to 75 km.
Level 3:
Walking levels:
Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. 5 to 7 hours walking maximum per day, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for one night; height differences between 500 & 1000 m. per day
Cycling levels:
Strenuous biking trips in areas where you cannot avoid steep slopes. Some bicycle experience in short trips is needed. The daily distances range from 30 up to 75 km.
Level 3:
Walking levels:
Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. 5 to 7 hours walking maximum per day, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for one night; height differences between 500 & 1000 m. per day
Cycling levels:
Strenuous biking trips in areas where you cannot avoid steep slopes. Some bicycle experience in short trips is needed. The daily distances range from 30 up to 75 km.
Level 4:
Walking levels:
Trips with heavy excursions in high mountains, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for several nights. 6 to 8 hours maximum per day; height differences up to 1200 meters per day; only for participants with an excellent condition and without fear of heights.
Cycling levels:
Serious and strenuous biking trips in mountainous area, the slopes are longer and/or steeper than at the previous category. Requires a good physical condition, a broad cycling experience and adequate mountain climbing bicycle. The daily distances range between 30 and 80 km.
Level 4:
Walking levels:
Trips with heavy excursions in high mountains, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for several nights. 6 to 8 hours maximum per day; height differences up to 1200 meters per day; only for participants with an excellent condition and without fear of heights.
Cycling levels:
Serious and strenuous biking trips in mountainous area, the slopes are longer and/or steeper than at the previous category. Requires a good physical condition, a broad cycling experience and adequate mountain climbing bicycle. The daily distances range between 30 and 80 km.
Level 4:
Walking levels:
Trips with heavy excursions in high mountains, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for several nights. 6 to 8 hours maximum per day; height differences up to 1200 meters per day; only for participants with an excellent condition and without fear of heights.
Cycling levels:
Serious and strenuous biking trips in mountainous area, the slopes are longer and/or steeper than at the previous category. Requires a good physical condition, a broad cycling experience and adequate mountain climbing bicycle. The daily distances range between 30 and 80 km.
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Duration: 5 days
Details
Catalonia cycling trip
The ancient volcanic landscapes of La Garrotxa Natural Park and the gently rolling hills of the Old Catalonian countryside. The same beautiful area where world-class cyclists train in winter.
Accommodation in Olot, at a comfortable rural hotel with private swimming pool just a few steps away from one of the best restaurants in La Garrotxa. The perfect base for some excellent cycling. Then you follow the Via Verde, a converted railway cycling path, to reach the Medieval town centre in Gerona, with its impressive cathedral and colourful houses along the river.
Itinerary
Expand itinerary Collapse itineraryDay 1: Arrival in Olot
Arrival at your lovely rural accommodation with private swimming pool. The perfect base for your cycling routes in the next few days. And just steps away from the hotel, one of the best restaurants in all of La Garrotxa.
Challenge: Travel to Cataluña and arrival in Olot.
Day 2-3: Cycling routes from Olot
Cycling routes from Olot: today and tomorrow, you'll choose two cycling routes out of the three tours available. Explore intriguing landscapes, while riding through gorgeous beech woods, past agricultural fields and among ancient lava flows, then on to enchanting villages. Optional walking routes to visit natural and historical monuments.
Challenge: Min. 24km/270m in ascent OR 32km/150m in ascent. Max. 48km/350m in ascent.
Villages along the way: Olot, Sta. Margarida, Sant Privat d'en Bas
Day 4: From Olot to Girona
Today you'll do some truly pleasurable cycling along a converted railway bike path, the Via Verde, from Olot to the medieval town centre of Girona. Enjoy the green rural scenery which gives way to a lovely city with its imposing cathedral and colourful houses along the river.
Challenge: 58km/200m in ascent.
Day 5: End of arrangement
Today after breakfast, your arrangement comes to an end, leaving you with a wonderful sensation and plans to one day return.
Challenge: Travel from Girona.
Villages along the way: Girona
Practical info
Included:
- 2 good family-run hotels, rooms with en-suite bathrooms, on a bed & breakfast basis
- Luggage transport on day 4
- 24-hour telephone assistance
- Detailed maps and route descriptions in English
Not Included:
- Lunches and dinners: there are excellent restaurants in walking distance from accommodations.
- Bicycle rental
- Personal expenses such as drinks, entrance fees, gratuities, etc.
- Transport to the first and from the last accommodation
Optional Services:
- Bicycle hire: Comfortable mountain bikes (Conor) with 18 gears, lugagge carrier, repair kit, pump and lock. Basic Price: 125,- per bike (5 days; min 2 persons; 30,- suppl. for solo traveller)
- Child seats and children's bikes available on request
Extra Nights:
Extra nights can be booked at either of the accommodations. We recommend the rural accommodation in Olot for those who want to extend their cycling experience or spend a day resting by the swimming pool. The hotel in Girona makes a perfect base for exploring the city of Girona or making an excursion to Barcelona by train.
Getting there and back:
The airports nearest to the Garrotxa are: Girona and Barcelona.
From Girona airport there is a good bus connection to the town centre, and from there you continue your trip by bus (company Teixa, see time tables at www.teisa-bus.com ) to Olot. Direct bus service with departures every 2 hours (starting at 9.15hrs, and last bus at 21.15hrs; duration of bus trip is 1hr and 15min.)
From Barcelona airport, there is a direct bus service operated by the company Teisa (www.teisa-bus.com), with departures from from a small bus station in Calle Pau Claris, 117. Time table: Monday to Friday 9:00, 14:00, 17:00 and 19:00hrs (duration 2 hours). On Saturdays and Sundays only at 9:30, 19:00 and 21:00 hrs.
Or you can travel first by train to Girona (via Barcelona Sants - Central Station) and then continue by bus (see above).
At the end of your trip, you take a train from Girona to Barcelona (www.renfe.es)
Reviews
Start: Olot
Finish: Girona
Dates & prices
Trip availability: Mid-March to Late October
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| in triple room: | 300 €/person |
| in double room: | 320 €/person |
| in single room: | 415 €/person |
| solo traveller: | 460 €/person |
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| in triple room: | 320 €/person |
| in double room: | 340 €/person |
| solo traveller: | 485 €/person |
| in single room: | 485 €/person |
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| in triple room: | 300 €/person |
| in double room: | 320 €/person |
| in single room: | 415 €/person |
| solo traveller: | 460 €/person |