Guided Bike Tour of Costa Brava Spain
This tour will be accompanied by Chuck & Judy Nichols
This cycling tour takes us on an amazing route from the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean Sea. The riding starts in the mountain town of Ripoll cycling along the ‘Ruta del Ferro’ to the village of Sant Joan de les Abadesses. Once we have passed through the town we climb up and over the beautiful mountain pass of the ‘Col de Santigosa’ before descending into Olot, which is the capital city of the volcanic region of ‘La Garrotxa”. You will cycle through stunning mountain villages surrounded by peaks that are picture perfect to stop for a photo. From Olot to we will ride to the Medieval center of Girona where we will spend the night. We will depart Girona up and over the classic “Els Angels” Monastery climb and then descend to timeless ‘medieval villages’ of the Baix Emporda region where we spend the next 2 nights in a beautifully restored 4-star hotel. The final portion of ride follows stunning scenery to our final couple nights in a lodging near the Mediterranean Sea.
This tour really captures this region that is so well loved by cyclists for its beautiful scenery, splendid curvy roads, timeless medieval villages and classic ride along the sea.
2025 Tour Cost: €3,000 Euros per person / Double Occupancy, Single Supplement: €500 Euros
Price Includes:
- 7 nights’ hotel
- 7 breakfasts and 7 dinners
- luggage transfers
- map with route directions
- Local English speaking guide
Price Does Not Include:
International flights, lunches, beverages, Bike Rentals
Tour Difficulty
This tour is has it all – lovely scenery, fun riding, great food and fun places to stay!
- Difficulty: moderate distances with rolling hills
- Road Conditions: Mostly Paved
- Recommended Bike: Road, Hybrid and E bikes
Tour Highlights
- Quaint Villages
- Stunning Landscapes
- Quiet Roads
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Ripoll
Arrival to hotel in the late afternoon. There is train service from Barcelona. Ripoll lies in the foothills of the Pyrenees, 40 miles from the French border, and is best known for the Romanesque monastery Santa Maria de Ripoll. We’ll meet in the late afternoon followed by a welcome dinner.
Day 2 – Cycle to Olot 45 km, 550 meters elevation gain
Morning tour briefing and bike setup. The riding starts in the mountain town of Ripoll and we cycle along the ‘Ruta del Ferro’ to the village of Sant Joan de les Abadesses. Once we have passed through the town we climb up and over the beautiful mountain pass of the ‘Col de Santigosa’ before descending into Olot, which is the capital city of the volcanic region of ‘La Garrotxa”.
Day 3 - Olot to Girona Olot to Girona 57 km, 425 meters elevation gain
Today’s ride leaves the La Garrotxa region and enters the Girona region. Our route follows one of the lovely ‘hidden’ valleys with its rolling hills and rocky outcrops surrounding you as you ride all the way to the Medieval center of Girona city.
Day 4 Morning in Girona, afternoon ride to Monells – 30 km, 425 meters elevation gain
You will have a morning with leisure time to wander the town of Girona. After lunch, we will meet for a classic ride up and over the classic climb up and over ‘Els Angels’ monastery with exceptional views into the Girona valley and beyond to the Pyrenees. We’ll descend to the timeless ‘medieval villages’ of the Baix Emporda region where we will spend 2 nights in a beautifully restored 4 star hotel.
(Our final morning of the tour ends with a transfer back to Girona, so if you would like to spend more time in this lovely city, you might choose to arrange a hotel for a couple of nights after the tour.)
Day 5 – Medieval Villages Loop Ride – 70 km, Elevation gain – 753 meters
Today we head out on a beautiful and more relaxing ride that takes us through the plains of the Baix Emporda, stopping off at the timeless medieval villages that are dotted throughout this area. We then make our way back to our restored 4 star hotel in one of the most charming medieval villages of the area.
Day 6 – Cycle to the Sea 68 km, 550 meters elevation gain
We cycle through the rolling countryside before heading to the coast with a short climb before a lovely descent towards Sant Feliu de Guixols, where we are based for the next two nights.
Day 7 – Cycling the Coastline to Tossa de Mar 55 km, 1,000 meters elevation gain
Our final ride is the most beautiful in the region. This ride is just over 50 km in length riding along the famous Tossa de Mar coastal road that was part of the ‘2009 Tour de France’ stage from Girona to Barcelona. The turnaround point is the seaside town of Tossa de Mar with its stunning Citadel overlooking the blue waters of the Mediterranean sea – a great place to have lunch before returning back to Sant Feliu de Guixols.
Day 8 Transfer to Girona
Our tour ends with a transfer to Girona where there is easy train service to Barcelona. You might also choose to spend a couple extra nights enjoying the beautiful medieval city.