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Flavours of Catalonia

Idyllic scenery, terrific food & wine
 
Discover the many flavours of Catalonia on this self-guided walk, with luggage transported. The relaxed and leisurely routes allow plenty of time for visits to historic villages and dips in the sea, as well as indulging in excellent cuisine at each of the high-quality hotels.
Flavours of Catalonia. 7 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Flavours of Catalonia. 7 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A walking holiday in northern Catalonia

Catalonia may be renowned for its dramatic coastline, where turquoise waters caress whitewashed fishing villages, and for the honey-coloured medieval villages that crown the rolling inland hills, but what is perhaps more of a revelation is the highly innovative gastronomy for which the region is increasingly famed. Our holiday reveals all aspects of this idyllic corner of Catalonia, with the chance to discover the region’s culinary secrets while staying in some truly exceptional hotels.
This most leisurely of walking holidays leads you gently across the inland plain and its ancient villages before winding through scented pine woods to the pretty bays of the Costa Brava. There is plenty of time to discover the ancient villages, stumble upon a tiny courtyard restaurant, browse the craft shops brimming with hand-painted ceramics and to swim in some of the prettiest coves of the Mediterranean.
 

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 almost any day of the week, 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.

    Pleasant sea breezes ensure that summers do not seem excessively hot.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 13 14 16 18 21 25 29 28 26 21 16 14
    mm 46 45 59 54 52 41 25 44 68 101 58 56
  • Arrival in Madremanya
    Night 1: at Hotel Restaurant 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.
  • Choice of walks from Madremanya: 13km or 13.5km

    Circular walk via Púbol: 13.5km, 5hrs
    We suggest a lovely walk that explores the undulating countryside to the north of Madremanya which leads to the medieval village of Púbol, famous for the 14th-century castle that Salvador Dalí bought for his wife and which is now a fascinating museum devoted to his works.

    Circular walk via Font Picant: 13km, 5hrs
    Alternatively, head south into the Gavarres hills. You first walk to Font Picant before looping back through open meadows and farms, with birdsong usually the only sound.

    Spend a leisurely day in Madremanya
    Yet another option is to take a quiet wander through the narrow cobbled streets of Madremanya, or spend time lazing by the pool or amid the hotel's aromatic herb gardens.
    Circular walk via Púbol: 13.5km
    Circular walk via Font Picant: 13km
  • Madremanya to Es Portal: 13km, 4.5hrs
    After a short transfer, you walk along farm tracks between fields of corn and sunflowers that lead initially to the walled village of Peratallada. Take time to explore the crumbling castle and arcaded streets lined with beautiful medieval houses of this typically Catalan village, before continuing eastwards across the plain, rising gently for a wonderful view of the sea as you approach your next destination, Es Portal, on the outskirts of hill-top Pals. You have two nights here.
    Madremanya to Es Portal: 13km
    The walled village of Peratallada
  • Circular walk from Es Portal: 15.5km, 5.5hrs
    Choose to enjoy a pleasant circuit across the plain, passing a number of pretty villages, including walled Palau-Sator, and Fontclara and Sant Julià. For many, the highlight of the walk is the visit to the beautifully restored medieval town of Pals. Take time to explore its cobbled streets and climb to El Pedró viewpoint from where there are excellent views to the sea, the Medes Islands and the Montgri Mountains, or take a stroll around the town's ramparts, with their six rectangular towers.
    Circular walk from Es Portal: 15.5km
    Medieval town of Pals
  • Es Portal to Aiguablava: 11.5km, 4.5hrs
    Briefly heading off back through Pals, today's route follows sandy tracks and wide trails through pinewoods to reach ancient Begur, which has several pavement cafés in the Old Town, before meandering down to the coast and the highly acclaimed Hotel Aigua Blava (for two nights), set in an enviable position above a secluded cove at Aiguablava.
    Es Portal to Aiguablava: 11.5km
    Hotel Aigua Blava
  • Circular walk from Aiguablava: 7.5km, 2.5hrs; longer option: 9.5km, 3.5hrs
    Spend the day relaxing by the pool, or explore the Begur headland and some of its most picturesque coves and beaches, including Aiguafreda and Sa Riera. There is also the option to walk on to Sa Tuna, which has been voted 'the most beautiful place in Catalonia'. There is ample time to stop for a dip in the sea and for a delicious seafood lunch, before heading to Begur to explore the village itself using our self-guided town trail – in particular, we recommend climbing to the castle ruins for far-reaching views along the coast.
    Circular walk from Aiguablava: 7.5km
    The bay of Sa Tuna
  • Aiguablava to Llafranc: 9.5km, 4hrs
    Offering a mix of inland and coastal trails, this is a wonderful walk with which to end your holiday. Although more demanding than previous days, with several ascents and descents as you progress from cove to cove, it is nevertheless a real highlight. You start by descending through pine-clad hills to the sandy bay at Tamariu, a lovely spot for a break. From here, you head across the rocks and along the coastal path, passing the rocky headland of La Musclera to reach the secret, idyllic bay of Cala Pedrosa. After pausing for a swim, perhaps, you climb through scented pinewoods to the San Sebastian lighthouse. This is a fine viewpoint overlooking your destination, the pretty village of Llafranc, where your final night is spent at the Hotel Terramar.
    Aiguablava to Llafranc: 9.5km
    The idyllic bay of Cala Pedrosa
 

Accommodation

All the hotels offer excellent standards of service and accommodation – and wonderful dining.

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. Whichever hotel you stay at in Llafranc, it is worth spending an extra night in this attractive fishing village for more time to relax by the sea.
 

Extend your stay

 

2023

We are currently unable to take bookings for this holiday for 2023. There are, however, many other holidays for which we are taking advance bookings, so why not browse our site some more?
 
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

We can only accept payment in GBP, but you can use this converter to find out how much the holiday equates to in your own currency.

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NB: this should be used as a guide only. Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in significant variation by the time you come to pay.

  • 7 nights: 01 April 2022 - 30 June 2022 & 01 September 2022 - 31 October 2022

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

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 30 Apr 2022 £1345 £385
    1 - 26 May 2022 £1395 £395
    27 May - 23 Jun 2022 £1465 £415
    1 - 27 Sep 2022 £1465 £415
    28 Sep - 24 Oct 2022 £1345 £385
    3rd & 4th person discount -£45
    Single traveller supplement £45

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

    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.

    7 nights: 01 April 2022 - 30 June 2022 & 01 September 2022 - 31 October 2022

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

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 30 Apr 2022 £1870 £385
    1 - 26 May 2022 £1895 £395
    27 May - 23 Jun 2022 £1990 £415
    1 - 27 Sep 2022 £1990 £415
    28 Sep - 24 Oct 2022 £1870 £385
    3rd & 4th person discount -£150
    Single traveller supplement £150

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

    Included travel from the UK: Out: UK–Girona via Paris (Eurostar/TGV), approx. duration 9h30, plus 0h30 taxi. Home: Figueres Vilafant–UK via Paris (TGV/Eurostar), approx. duration 10h40, plus 1h40 taxi.
    > 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 - 30 Jun 2022 £16
    Terrace: 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2022 £16
    Hotel Aigua Blava, Aiguablava
    Junior suite with lounge & terrace: 01 Apr - 31 May 2022 £18
    Junior suite with lounge & terrace: 01 Jun - 30 Jun 2022 £28
    Junior suite with lounge & terrace: 01 Sep - 30 Sep 2022 £28
    Junior suite with lounge & terrace: 01 Oct - 31 Oct 2022 £18

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

    Hotel Aigua Blava, Aiguablava (with dinner) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 31 May 2022 £156 £216
    01 Jun - 30 Jun 2022 £188 £258
    01 Sep - 30 Sep 2022 £188 £258
    01 Oct - 31 Oct 2022 £156 £216
    Hotel Terramar, Llafranc (with dinner) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 13 Apr 2022 £96 £120
    14 Apr - 18 Apr 2022 £120 £154
    19 Apr - 31 May 2022 £96 £120
    01 Jun - 30 Jun 2022 £120 £154
    01 Sep - 30 Sep 2022 £120 £154
    01 Oct - 31 Oct 2022 £96 £120
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Girona or Barcelona
    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) £50 1900
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Palafrugell (0h15), bus Palafrugell to Barcelona airport T1/ T2 (3h, pay locally) £10 1130
    taxi hotel to Girona station (1h30), rail Girona to Barcelona Sants (0h40) £72 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
    taxi hotel to Girona airport (1h) £50 flexible
What is included
  • 7 nights
  • 7 dinners
    7 breakfasts
  • route notes and maps
  • luggage transported
  • transfer on day 2
 
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 8 reviews
  • Mrs S Shepherd
    Brighton
    06 May 2022

    Do not hesitate to book this fantastic walking holiday. The routes, countryside, villages and unspoilt coast were wonderful. The hotels and meals were outstanding!

  • Anon
    27 April 2022

    This was a lovely walking holiday and we were pleased to have walked at this time of year as the wild flowers were delightful. Walking through pine forests that were full of wild cistus, rosemary, lavender, honeysuckle and penstemon was memorable. The walks weren't too demanding, with plenty of interesting stopping points and lots of opportunities for a coffee or lunch without compromising the quality of the walking. Each hotel offered very friendly service and delicious food - our favourite stop off was Hotel Aiguiblava but the staff at La Placa made us feel very welcome and we really enjoyed their home produced rose wine!

  • Mrs J Mant
    Oxford
    27 April 2022

    Overall excellent holiday. We particularly liked the first hotel. Lovely walks, and we would recommend this time of year (end of April) for all the fantastic wild flowers everywhere.  

  • Mr C Claxton
    Netherlands
    26 April 2022

    It was a great walking holiday - the walking, the varied scenery, the food, the people ....

    The only problem now is how to find another walking holiday that will ever come close to this!

  • Mr D Brierley
    Holmfirth
    05 October 2019

    We have had numerous holidays with Inntravel and this walk must rank as one of the best we have undertaken. The wonderful villages en route full of charm and character, the hotels all had a unique appeal which includes their positions and settings. The Dali Museum in Pubol I would highly recommend.

  • anon
    12 September 2019

    Liked rural charm of La Plaça and the little tapas bar in the centre of Madremanya. Excellent lunch at Can Bosch, Púbol which was very good value for 12.50e. Found the hilltop villages very attractive and not too busy. Thought the seaside villages idyllic with wonderful views of harbours and coves.

  • Dr P Hailstone
    London
    10 September 2019

    This was the first specifically walking holiday we'd done, and proved to be a good choice. There was very little repetition of routes in the walks, and it was good to get alternatives on occasion. The notes/map directions were very detailed, making it virtually impossible to get lost. With the exception of one hotel, the accommodation and food was excellent. Hard to say which was best - but it's certainly not a trip on which you lose weight! If I had one key recommendation, it would be to stay an extra night at Llafranc, as its a lovely place and great to relax in at the end of a trip.

  • Ms A Tonge
    Bath
    09 September 2019

    Pleasant rural walking with the coast walking being the most scenic. Highlight of the holiday was undoubtedly the gastronomic meals!
 

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 – walking 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 >
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from A to B, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. If/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, meaning that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.

    For more detailed information, see our walking holidays in Europe page.
  • 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.
  • You are the best judge of your child’s/children’s capabilities. We are happy to take bookings for families of older children/teenagers if they walk regularly, love the outdoors and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved. Please note that the bedrooms at most of the accommodation we use will normally only sleep a maximum of 3 people, and sometimes only 2.
Last fetch time is : 6/26/2022 8:59:10 PM