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Catalan Coast & Villages

Pretty coves & golden villages
 
Cycle self-guided through pretty medieval villages to the coast, while your luggage is transported from one quality hotel to the next. There’s plenty of time for sightseeing, dips in the sea and a visit to the Dalí Museum in Púbol, as well as to savour the excellent local cuisine.
Catalan Coast & Villages. 6 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Catalan Coast & Villages. 6 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A cycling holiday in Catalonia

The contrasting charms of unspoiled Catalonia are impossible to resist. The coastline reveals hidden coves and sandy beaches where you can relax and cycle well away from the crowds, while inland, the Empordà Plain, south of the River Ter, is a beguiling patchwork of medieval farms, ancient villages, fields of sunflowers and vineyards.

The peaceful bays of the Costa Brava are small arcs of inviting sand enclosed by rocky outcrops and wooded hills; inland, quiet, undulating lanes lead past tiny vineyards, cornfields and olive groves to medieval villages and bustling market towns. This is perfect cycling country, with plenty of time to pause for a dip in the sea, to visit a Romanesque church, or to linger over a seafood lunch.
The warm, sunny climate ensures a long season, and much of life here is lived outdoors.

Cycling chiefly on quiet back roads, with parts on farm tracks and some short sections on forest tracks through woodland, this journey takes you from the gently rolling plain, rich in biscuit-coloured, medieval villages to the tranquil coves and pine-clad headlands of the Catalan Coast.
 

Book with confidence

At present, we are only accepting bookings for Spain for travel from 1 June onwards. Our flexible booking arrangements, commitment to safety and financial protection mean that you can book with confidence, despite the current travel restrictions in place.

What we’re doing so you can book and travel with confidence >
Check the destination entry requirements >

We will contact customers who have a holiday booking with us in spring nearer the date of departure.
 
Gallery
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 13 14 15 17 21 25 29 28 25 21 16 14
    mm 51 47 63 57 57 42 26 48 67 106 64 60
  • Arrival in Madremanya
    Night 1: at Hotel La Plaça (the first of two nights here).
    As your first night's accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of cycling.
  • Circular route from Madremanya: 28.5km
    Enjoy a lazy day by the pool or explore the undulating countryside north of Madremanya, stopping to visit the fascinating Dalí museum in Púbol (pay locally; closed Mondays). Other picturesque villages along the route include La Pera, with a pretty church, and Sant Jordi Desvalls, around which there are some lovely picnic spots.
    Around Madremanya
    Circular route from Madremanya: 28.5km
  • Madremanya to Peratallada: 20.5km 
    The initial stretch of today’s cycle is a pleasant, downhill ride through wonderful scenery heading for flatter trails, with views of the rugged Gavarres hills to the south and to the Pyrenees to the north in clear weather. You pass through the honey-coloured villages of Monells and La Bisbal, the provincial capital famed for its pottery, before continuing to gastronomic Peratallada and the Hostal Blau, located in the centre of the medieval village, where you stay two nights.
    Peratallada
    Madremanya to Peratallada: 20.5km
  • Circular route from Peratallada: 24.5km
    Our suggested circular ride for your day at Peratallada leads north along quiet country roads to visit the ruins of an old Iberian (pre-Roman) settlement near Ullastret, passing ancient farmsteads, sleepy hamlets, vineyards and fields of sunflowers. Those feeling energetic can extend the route through the villages of Ultramort and Sant Iscle d’Empordà.
    Around Peratallada
    Circular route from Peratallada: 24.5km
  • Peratallada to Llafranc: 20km 
    Cycle south across the inland plain via hill-top Pals, where you can spend some time exploring the ancient ramparts and the cobbled streets of houses built from the peach-coloured local stone. Seek out, too, the various Romanesque monuments and the viewpoint overlooking the Mediterranean, the Medes Islands and the Montgri Mountains. There are various good restaurants, making this a good point to stop for lunch. The terrain is mostly flat, and you eventually cruise into the quiet and delightful bay of Llafranc, where you spend your last two nights at the Hotel Terramar.
    Pals
    Peratallada to Llafranc: 20km
  • Circular route from Llafranc: 29.5km
    You could simply spend the day on the beach, but we recommend a pleasant circular route south of Llafranc to Palamós. You have the option to explore the beautiful botanical gardens at Cap Roig, well worth a visit, as well as many coves and beaches where you could relax by the sea. There is also a lovely stretch on the via verde (greenway), a designated traffic-free cycle track along a disused railway line.
    Cycling along the via verde
    Circular route from Llafranc: 29.5km
 

Accommodation

This journey to the sea features accommodation of character. 

Occasionally, due to availability, we may offer an alternative hotel, as shown below. You will be informed of any change to the usual hotel (along with any price implication) prior to us confirming your holiday to you. Wherever you stay in Llafranc, we recommend adding extra nights so that you can enjoy more time on the coast at the end of your holiday.
 

Options to extend or shorten your stay

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
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  • 6 nights: 01 May 2021 - 21 July 2021 & 21 August 2021 - 31 October 2021

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 21 May 2021 £945 £265
    22 May - 25 Jun 2021 £995 £290
    26 Jun - 15 Jul 2021 £1095 £340
    21 - 31 Aug 2021 £1095 £340
    1 - 30 Sep 2021 £1045 £305
    1 - 25 Oct 2021 £945 £265
    3rd & 4th person discount -£35
    Single traveller supplement £35

    Includes accommodation, meals, bike hire, luggage transfers and any other services integral to the holiday as described, plus cycling notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Electric bikes available: add £65 per person

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

    6 nights: 01 May 2021 - 21 July 2021 & 21 August 2021 - 31 October 2021

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 21 May 2021 £1395 £265
    22 May - 25 Jun 2021 £1465 £290
    26 Jun - 15 Jul 2021 £1575 £340
    21 - 31 Aug 2021 £1575 £340
    1 - 30 Sep 2021 £1520 £305
    1 - 25 Oct 2021 £1395 £265
    3rd & 4th person discount -£100
    Single traveller supplement £100

    Includes all elements in the 'cycle price', plus standard-class travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras or Ebbsfleet International to Lille or Paris, with onward travel as described below.

    Electric bikes available: add £65 per person

    Included travel: UK–Paris (Eurostar), Paris–Girona out and Figueres Vilafant–Paris home (TGV), approx duration 9h30 out/10h30 home & transfer (out 0h30/home 1h30).
    > More about 'by rail' prices
    > The 'rail experience': what to expect

    If you book your holiday less than 6 months in advance of your travel date, seats may no longer be available at the tariffs on which our prices are based, but we may be able to offer you seats on the same services at a supplement.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Hotel La Plaça, Madremanya
    Terrace: 01 May - 21 Jul 2021 £16
    Terrace: 21 Aug - 31 Oct 2021 £16
    Hostal Blau, Peratallada
    Terrace: 01 May - 21 Jul 2021 £14
    Terrace: 21 Aug - 31 Oct 2021 £14

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Prices include an extra day’s hire of a standard bike. If you are upgrading to an e-bike, add a further £8pp per day.
    Hotel Terramar, Llafranc (with dinner) Double room Single room
    01 May - 31 May 2021 £122 £158
    01 Jun - 30 Jun 2021 £142 £188
    01 Jul - 21 Jul 2021 £168 £230
    21 Aug - 30 Sep 2021 £142 £188
    01 Oct - 31 Oct 2021 £122 £158
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Barcelona or Girona
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Barcelona. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Belfast Intl. - Barcelona easyJet,  jet2 
    Belfast Intl. - Girona jet2 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Barcelona Ryanair,  Vueling 
    Birmingham - Girona jet2,  Ryanair,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Bournemouth - Girona Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Barcelona easyJet 
    Bristol - Girona Ryanair,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Nottingham East Midlands - Barcelona Ryanair 
    Nottingham East Midlands - Girona jet2,  Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Barcelona Ryanair,  Vueling 
    Edinburgh - Barcelona (via Paris) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Barcelona jet2 
    Glasgow - Girona jet2 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow Prestwick - Barcelona Ryanair 
    Glasgow Prestwick - Girona Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Girona Ryanair 
    Leeds Bradford - Barcelona jet2,  Vueling 
    Leeds Bradford - Barcelona (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Leeds Bradford - Girona jet2 
    Outward route Airline
    Liverpool - Barcelona easyJet,  Ryanair,  Vueling 
    Liverpool - Girona Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Barcelona British Airways,  easyJet,  Vueling 
    Gatwick - Girona TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Barcelona British Airways 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Barcelona easyJet,  Ryanair,  Vueling 
    Luton - Girona Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    London Southend - Barcelona easyJet 
    London Southend - Girona Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Barcelona Ryanair 
    Stansted - Girona jet2,  Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Barcelona easyJet,  jet2,  Ryanair,  Vueling 
    Manchester - Girona jet2,  Ryanair,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Barcelona easyJet 
    Newcastle - Girona jet2,  Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Southampton - Barcelona (via Paris) Air France 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Barcelona. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service (£60 for India and Nepal). Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Unless otherwise stated, connecting travel by rail or bus tends to be from the city centre station, rather than from its airport, and connections between the two should be paid for locally.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Barcelona

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    rail Barcelona Sants to Girona (0h40), taxi Girona to hotel (0h30) £45 1900
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Girona (1h30), rail Girona to Barcelona Sants (0h40) £65 1200 (1300 Sun)
    taxi hotel to Palafrugell (0h15), bus Palafrugell to Barcelona Airport (3h, pay locally) £10 1130

    Connecting travel options - flying via Girona

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    direct taxi Girona airport to hotel (1h) £48 flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    direct taxi hotel to Girona airport (1h) £48 flexible
What is included
  • 6 nights
  • 4 dinners
    6 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • route notes and maps
  • high-quality bicycle
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 10 reviews
  • Anon
    17 May 2019

    Excellent holiday. the booklet sent from you beforehand was detailed and informative and gave us all a chance to study the area , history and routes beforehand. None of us had been to Catalonia and we all agreed it is a gem and perfect in May as not busy. However in the booklet it indicated we would be having city trek bikes for the standard option and Freel bikes for the electric ones. We looked them up on the internet and didn't think they were suitable at all and so were worried! when the Cicles JK guy came to the hotel (he came very rushed in the middle of our breakfast) the electrics were nice and new Scott bikes with Bosch electric which were excellent. My standard bike however was a rather heavy city trekker. I did however think it maybe OK and so accepted it. What a mistake - the hills are gradual but the bike is too heavy for this type of touring along paths and roads. I am fit and have a hybrid bike here at home - this bike was clearly not similar and struggled with the inclines. so I called Inntravel at lunchtime and you arranged for an electric one to be delivered the following morning which happened. I was so glad I changed. 

    The routes on the whole were good to follow with a few amends due to roads being closed (around Platja de Castell). Loved the hotels particularly La Placa. We found the Mas Rabiol a bit dark and my bedroom (no 1) small so not worth the extra supplemement. We chose this hotel for the pool which looked nice but too cold in May we discovered. The hospitality was good, the food nice but overall we probably should have opted for the hotel in the town. 

    Llafranc lovely and Hotel Terramar clean, fresh and good food and service. In all 3 cases the food was v good although portions probably too large for us.

    Would definitely recommend to other cyclists. The routes are probably not for the beginner.   

     

  • Mrs SM Beck
    Gosport
    24 April 2019

    This was yet another superb Inntravel holiday with exceptional and varied hotels in lovely medieval villages. Our final hotel on the coast was a pleasant contrast and we loved the nearby botanic gardens. Madremanya was such a treat with great views from our room and delicious meals. We had a suite of rooms in Hostal Blau with a complimentary bottle of cava and an open fire! Much appreciated as it was chilly there!  We were so glad that we had read other reviews as we changed our booking to e bikes! They were very good quality bikes and we would have struggled on hills and in headwinds without them. We were celebrating our 70th birthdays!

  • Mrs M Brass
    Blairgowrie
    20 October 2018

    We enjoyed the whole holiday, the meals at La Placa were fantastic. Hostal Blau was quaint, the owners were very friendly and fun. We thoroughly enjoyed arriving at the coast and having a lovely room with sea view at Hotel Terramar, we reccomend an extra night here as a walk along the coast at the end of the holiday is great, as is the chance for a swim!

  • Mr P Steele
    Appleby-in-westmorland
    08 October 2018

    Another good holiday with Inntravel.  Well thought out and well organised which is why we often choose Inntravel. 

  • Mr P Roe
    Isles Of Scilly
    10 September 2018

    Overall, an outstanding holiday which exceeded our expectations. We will not hesitate to make Inntravel our go to holiday company in the future.

  • Mrs C Green
    Durham
    09 September 2018

    This is a wonderful cycling holiday for those who enjoy a biking holiday but want something less strenuous. It is advisable to have food through the day as restaurants tend to open later in the evening.

  • Anon
    29 August 2018

    We enjoyed all the places we visited. The views from our hotel balcony in Madremanya were lovely as was the food and the unusual saltwater swimming pool which was refreshing. We enjoyed the atmosphere of Peratallada and your restuarant reccommendations Bonay and El Borinot. The old fashioned resort of Llafranc was picturesque and charming. The sea was gorgeous. We walked to the lighthouse which was quite an achievement but a doddle if you like hills. Calella de Palafrugell was beautiful. Also glad we had a few hours in Girona which is an interesting city.

  • anon
    03 August 2018

    We loved the holiday but would recommend upgrading from Hostal Blau especially if cycling in summer as a pool would have been great. Llafranc was fantastic and we would recommend an extra day spent here.

    The cycling was not as scenic as the countryside in France.

  • Professor A Whyte
    Australia
    22 June 2018

    I would strongly recommend Inntravel and I really enjoyed the holiday. The holiday I chose was described as of "moderate difficulty". Overall, this was accurate but I think you should suggest that some cycling prior to the holiday would be beneficial; both myself and my cycling partner are fit for our age (mid -60s) but as a doctor, I would suggest that the 5km ascent to Madremanya at the end of Day 1, especially when it is 32 degrees with no shade, is more of a coronary stress test than a holiday. We spoke to an American couple in their mid-30s who had done the reverse trip (coast to Madremaya)  and they said that the 5km ascent was the hardest ride of their trip and they were doing it on Day 5 not Day 1 !

  • Mr D Stewart
    Otley
    30 March 2018

    Absolutely brilliant holiday, very relaxing.  Very well planned to give a variety of accommodation and terrain.
 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help.
  • We sincerely hope that your holiday experience will be as enjoyable as it would have been before the pandemic – cycling holidays are ideal in these times of social distancing, and we’re not operating holidays if the key highlights can no longer be delivered – but, naturally, there will be some changes to ensure your and other people’s safety.
    Your holiday experience: what to expect >
    Safety measures being taken by hoteliers & others >
  • Our chosen bike rental shop will provide you with a city trekking bike with 21 gears (grip shift system); a waterproof map case on handlebars (one between two bikes); odometer (one between two bikes); panniers/saddlebags; puncture-proof tyres; and a lock. Electric bikes are available as an upgrade (see price panel), subject to availability, and must be requested at the time of booking. The bike shop also has a limited number of tandems.
  • Helmets are a legal requirement on public roads in Spain, and as such are included free of charge with your bike.
  • Yes, we will provide GPX tracks for this holiday prior to departure so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. (We also provide maps and our tried-and-tested route notes.)
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from hotel to hotel, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. On mornings when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation so that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.
  • Bike insurance is not included in the price of our cycling holidays, and unfortunately we can't supply such insurance. Some general travel insurance policies can or do provide cover for rented bikes, so it's worth seeing if your policy is one of these. The most important thing is to ensure that you take good care of your bike (you are responsible for damage to or loss of it while it is hired to you), always being careful to lock it up, ideally to an immovable object, and removing all easy-to-steal accessories whenever you leave it unattended.
  • We can book a wide range of airlines and routes from the UK. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. For Europe, there’s a £35 booking fee per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). For India and Nepal, the booking fee is £60 per person. More information on flights >
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to take out our recommended travel insurance policy (if you live outside the UK you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    We'll ask you for the details of your policy (insurer, policy number and medical emergency phone number) so that we can help out if the worst happens while you are on holiday. It's up to you, though, to check that your policy covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs; we don't check alternative policies.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Spain, but not a visa. If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • (Castilian) Spanish is one of several official languages; in Catalonia, for example, Catalan has equal status. The currency is the Euro. Spanish time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-europe-1-january-2021.

    At Inntravel we work in close partnership with our hoteliers, taxi drivers and other local suppliers to provide our self-guided holidays directly to you. We are entirely confident that you will continue to receive the usual warm welcome from them, regardless of what is happening in the European political sphere.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.
    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
Last fetch time is : 3/5/2021 4:39:54 AM