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Catalonia Discovery

The Costa Brava’s quiet side
 
Walking, sightseeing and swimming on ‘stay put’ days, combined with self-guided hotel-to-hotel cycling, with luggage transfers, is the ideal way to discover captivating Catalonia. Discover secluded coves, charming villages and the Dalí Museum in Púbol, and indulge in the excellent seafood.
Catalonia Discovery. 6 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Catalonia Discovery. 6 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A discovery holiday in Catalonia

The contrasting charms of unspoiled Catalonia are impossible to resist, from the beguiling patchwork of sunflowers and poppy fields of the interior to the secluded coves and sandy beaches of the pine-clad Costa Brava. What’s more, the terrain is easy-going, lending itself perfectly to leisurely exploration, with plenty of time for visits to historic villages and dips in the sea at the end of the week.
On this holiday, days of cycling from one charming place to stay to the next alternate with ‘free’ days when you can choose how (or if – you can simply relax and enjoy your surroundings if you prefer!) you explore. You can head out on your bikes if you like, but, for a break from the saddle, you may prefer to amble along the inviting paths or tracks on foot, following our detailed walking notes to pretty villages.
 

Book with confidence

What we’re doing so you can book and travel with confidence >
Our flexible booking policies >
Check the destination entry requirements >
 
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 walking or cycling.
  • Choice of walking or cycling from Madremanya

    Circular walk from Madremanya: 12.5km, 4.5hrs
    Our suggested walk is an undemanding route heading south from the village into the Gavarres hills which form the backdrop to this region of the Baix Empordà. You first walk to Font Picant before heading back through open meadows and farms, with birdsong usually the only sound.

    Circular cycle from Madremanya: 28.5km
    If you choose to cycle, we have a delightful circuit that takes you north to Púbol, a hamlet which is famous for the fascinating Gala Dalí museum, housed in the 11th-century castle he bought for his wife (pay locally; closed Mondays). Continue through a number of other small villages (including La Pera, with a pretty church, and Sant Llorenç, around which there are some lovely picnic spots) before returning to Madremanya.
    Circular walk from Madremanya: 12.5km
    Circular cycle from Madremanya: 28.5km
  • Cycle from 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 of the Pyrenees to the north in clear weather. You pass through a series of honey-coloured villages and also La Bisbal, the provincial capital famed for its pottery, before continuing on your way to Peratallada and the Hostal Blau, in the centre of the village, where you stay two nights. 
    Peratallada
    Cycle from Madremanya to Peratallada: 20.5km
  • Choice of walking or cycling from Peratallada

    Circular walk from Peratallada via Ullastret: 10.5km, 4hrs
    Our first easy circular walk takes you north from the village on quiet back lanes to the Iberic ruins at Puig Sant Andreu and then on to visit the walled village of Ullastret with its fine Romanesque church.

    Circular walk from Peratallada via Palau Sator: 8.5km, 3hrs
    A second option takes you east through more of the beautiful medieval villages that pepper this region, including Palau Sator and Sant Julià de Boada, with its tiny gem of a church.

    Circular cycle from Peratallada: 24.5km 
    Our suggested cycle route, meanwhile, is a delightful circuit that takes you north-west of Peratallada, through open farmland and fields of sunflowers, passing beautiful Ullastret, where you can detour to visit the Iberic ruins at Puig Sant Andreu.
    Ullastret
    Circular walk from Peratallada via Ullastret: 10.5km
    Circular walk from Peratallada via Palau Sator: 8.5km
    Circular cycle from Peratallada: 24.5km
  • Cycle from 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
    Cycle from Peratallada to Llafranc: 20km
  • Choice of walking or cycling from Llafranc

    Circular cycle from Llafranc: 29.5km
    The outward leg of this ride is initially through woodland to reach a coastal track which offers lovely views of the coastline. You pass 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. You return by an inland cycle trail.

    Circular walk via Cap Roig: up to 18km, 6.5hrs
    This circular walk takes you south along the coast to the botanical gardens at Cap Roig before turning inland to reach the market town of Palafrugell where there is a market every morning except Mondays. Choose to return to Llafranc on foot or by bus (pay locally).

    Linear walk to Palamos: 9km, 2.5hrs each way
    This linear walk takes you south along the coast to the beach at La Fosca and the town of Palamos. You can retrace your steps to Llafranc, although you may prefer to arrange a taxi (pay locally).  

    Relax in Llafranc
    Alternatively, for an easier day, you may decide to remain in Llafranc and relax by the sea, or perhaps stroll to nearby Calella (half an hour away on the coastal path). 
    Circular cycle from Llafranc: 29.5km
    Circular walk via Cap Roig: up to 18km
 

Accommodation

It’s charming accommodation all the way on this leisurely journey to the sea!

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 by the coast. 
 

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.
Currency converter
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  • 6 nights: 01 April 2022 - 21 July 2022 & 21 August 2022 - 31 October 2022

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

    Starting Price Single room
    1 Apr - 21 May 2022 £995 £280
    22 May - 25 Jun 2022 £1045 £305
    26 Jun - 15 Jul 2022 £1145 £360
    21 - 31 Aug 2022 £1145 £360
    1 - 30 Sep 2022 £1095 £325
    1 - 25 Oct 2022 £995 £280
    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 £70 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 April 2022 - 21 July 2022 & 21 August 2022 - 31 October 2022

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

    Starting Price Single room
    1 Apr - 21 May 2022 £1465 £280
    22 May - 25 Jun 2022 £1540 £305
    26 Jun - 15 Jul 2022 £1645 £360
    21 - 31 Aug 2022 £1645 £360
    1 - 30 Sep 2022 £1595 £325
    1 - 25 Oct 2022 £1465 £280
    3rd & 4th person discount -£105
    Single traveller supplement £105

    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 £70 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 10 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 Apr - 21 Jul 2022 £18
    Terrace: 21 Aug - 31 Oct 2022 £18
    Hostal Blau, Peratallada
    Terrace: 01 Apr - 21 Jul 2022 £15
    Terrace: 21 Aug - 31 Oct 2022 £15

    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 £10pp per day.
    Hotel La Plaça, Madremanya (with dinner) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 21 Jul 2022 £184 £242
    21 Aug - 31 Oct 2022 £184 £242
    Hotel Terramar, Llafranc (with dinner) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 31 May 2022 £130 £168
    01 Jun - 30 Jun 2022 £150 £200
    01 Jul - 21 Jul 2022 £178 £244
    21 Aug - 30 Sep 2022 £150 £200
    01 Oct - 31 Oct 2022 £130 £168
  • 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 - Barcelona (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    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
    London City - Barcelona British Airways 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Barcelona British Airways,  easyJet,  Iberia,  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,  TUI 
    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 for any of the options listed above except those operated by Ryanair. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. 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 station to hotel (0h30) £48 1900
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Palafrugell (0h15), bus Palafrugell to Barcelona Airport (3h, pay locally) £12 1130
    taxi hotel to Girona station (1h30), rail Girona to Barcelona Sants (0h40) £70 1200 (1300 Sun)

    Connecting travel options - flying via Girona

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    taxi Girona airport to hotel (1h) £50 flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    direct taxi hotel to Girona airport (1h) £50 flexible
What is included
  • 6 nights
  • 4 dinners
    6 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • high-quality bicycle
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation for cycle routes
 
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 >

 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • If your holiday plans go awry because of Coronavirus, rest assured that we’ll do right by you. Since the start of the pandemic, our flexible booking policy and prompt issuing of refunds to customers who prefer not to defer their holiday have earned us high praise in the national press.
  • 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, not least proving your vaccination status or taking a test in order to travel.
    Your holiday experience: what to expect >
    Safety measures being taken by hoteliers & others >
    Entry requirements for non-UK destinations & for re-entering the UK >
  • 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 the cycling trails on 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 for all of the cycling and walking routes that we recommend.)
  • 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.
  • You are responsible for damage to or loss of the rental bike while it is hired to you. Always be careful to lock it up, ideally to an immovable object, and remove all easy-to-steal accessories whenever you leave it unattended.
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines (but not, currently, with Ryanair). 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. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). 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 a policy with our recommended provider (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; Catalan, Basque and Gallego have equal status in Catalonia, the Basque Country and Galicia, respectively. 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-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.

    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 : 7/2/2022 11:37:07 PM