Note
This
is an 8 night, 9 day tour. However, for those with less time we can reduce
the time spent in Barcelona to one night making it a 7 night tour.
Season
Mid
April – Late November (except
between 30 July and 22 August). Starting is possible on any
day, but travel on Sundays can be slower.
Level of Difficulty
Grade:
Easy - Moderate. Day stages are 25 to 63km. The terrain is
mixed, but there is very little uphill pedaling. A quarter of the tour is
on small roads with good tarmac, the rest is on the ‘Bici Carril’ a
type of good quality forest trail with no cars to disturb you. This makes
the cycling easy and enjoyable. (This is a good option for family groups.)
The Bikes
On
this tour bike hire is included in the price. The bikes are 24-speed hybrid bikes equipped with front suspension, a
pannier and a repair kit. You must bring a helmet as it is compulsory to
wear one when cycling in Spain.
Maps & Route Notes
We
provide all the maps you need and also a specially researched route
descriptions.
Accommodation & Meals
All
hotels are normally equipped with en suite shower and WC. Dinner, bed and
breakfast on 3 nights, and B&B only on 5 nights. Picnic lunches are
not included in the tour price but are available from hotels or local
shops.
Night
1: In the center of Ripoll,
our hotel is a simple 2 star medium sized family run hotel in the town,
renovated in 2001. Dinner is included, usually to be taken in the hotel
restaurant.
Nights
2 & 3: We have two nights in Olot in a modern 3 star hotel
with most rooms in an apartment style. It is approximately 2km from the
old town center, but does good dinners and serves a breakfast buffet. The
first night here is on half board and the second is on Breakfast only.
Nights
4 & 5: In Girona our standard hotel is a comfortable 1 star
centrally located, and has been welcoming clients for 150 years! However
it has been renovated and offers ensuite, sound insulated bedrooms with
T.V and has a bar and spacious lounges. Bed and breakfast only.
Night
6: In Sant Feliu de Guixols we stay at a good 3 star hotel
close to the old centre of town, high up on a cliff and overlooking the
Mediterranean. There is a breakfast and dinner buffet and the hotel has a
swimming pool. Dinner is included.
Nights
7 & 8: Finally in Barcelona our accommodation is a modern
two star hotel, only ten minutes walking distance from the famous Sagrada
Familia church. Breakfast only is included.
Arrival
Most
people will fly into Barcelona Prats airport for this tour. The starting
point of the tour is at Ripoll, which is reached by a taking a train from
Barcelona Plaza Catalunya station and it takes 2 hours (not included in
price). It is also possible, but slightly more time consuming
, to use Ryan Air flights into Girona and then use airport bus to
Barcelona and rail connections from there.
Relevant
Spanish National Railway timetables can be obtained from the Internet,
either at www.renfe.es (text in Spanish
or English), or at www.bahn.de (text in
German or English). Alternatively you can check out the links from our
website at www.sherpaexpeditions.com
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Itinerary
Guide
q
Day 1: Arrive
at Barcelona Prats airport and make your way to Barcelona Plaza Catalunya
station, from here take a direct train to Ripoll (approx 2 hours). Check
into your hotel and collect your bike. You will then be able to spend time
looking around the stunning Romanesque monastery in the town. You may also
fly into Girona Airport (also known as Girona- Barcelona) – only 70
minutes bus transfer from central Barcelona. Then proceed with train to
Ripoll as above (in this case get on train already at Arc de Triumf
station – only 200m from bus terminal).
q
Day 2: Ripoll
to Olot (36km & 395 m of ascent and 670m of descent). Join the
“Bici Carril” bike trail to Olot. Or if your feeling fit, you can
extend the tour and cycle into d’en Bas valley around Olot (5-20km
extra). Overnight in Olot.
q
Day 3: The Garrotxa (25km+/-250m ascent/descent).
Cycle into the Garrotxa National Park, a fascinating ex volcanic region of
conical hills and forests, with kites and eagles wheeling their way around
the sky. Don’t miss out the picturesque medieval village Santa Pau.
Return to Olot.
q
Day 4: Olot to Girona (63km & 140m of ascent
and 550m of descent). Cycle once again on the Bici Carril from Olot to
the splendid city of Girona, and to your hotel.
q
Day 5: Free day for visiting Girona or nearby
Figueres with its Dali Museum, or just have a rest. You stay in the same
hotel in Girona. The town was founded by the Romans and later inhabited by the Moors. It
also withstood three invasions by Napoleon’s troops. Because of this
Girona is known as ‘The city of a thousand sieges’. It is split by the Onyar River, which is best viewed from the ancient
footbridge. Many tourists head here on day trips in the summer from the
coast. The only way to see Girona is by foot and the best part to see is
the Call, the old quarter with it’s narrow streets and steep alleyways.
Explore the cathedral free of
charge or once inside you could pay 3 Euro to see the cloisters and
museum. The way to the cathedral is up a 17th century staircase
of 90 steps.
The
museum of art is worthy of a visit, located within a Gothic palace, next
to the cathedral. In Girona you will discover 12th century
Arabic baths which, although restored, give a good impression on how the
ancient baths would have looked. On Carrer
Santa Clara, a very busy shopping street, there is a good selection of
restaurants.
Girona
offers pleasant nightlife with tapas bars and cafes in the centre and
scattered along La Rambla on the outskirts. Many people spend the evening
hopping from one bar to another – on weekends mainly.
q
Day 6: Girona to San Feliu de Guixols (40km &
80 m of ascent, 95m descent). Today you follow the Cycle path to San
Feliu de Guixols. The city is
situated in the middle of the Costa Brava and has a large sea-promenade
surrounded by pine trees and palms. There is an open market place where
fresh vegetables and fruits are sold and an indoor fish market –fish are
caught the previous night by the small fishing fleet.
The town officially dates from the 12C and stands on the site of
the Benedictine Monastery of Sant Feliu. From the observation platform of
Sant Elm, the whole bay can be overlooked. It had a lot of maritime
traffic and cork industries, which made it important in the 14C. The
church and other elements of the old Romanesque monastery are worth a
look, with the famous Porta Ferrada, a beautifu, perhaps Arab portico from
the 11C. There should be enough time for a relaxing swim, a rest on the
beach, or maybe just a walk. There is also a pool at the hotel where you
stay for the night.
q
Days 7& 8: Drop
off the hired bikes and catch the local bus to Barcelona - a great
Mediterranean urban center, cosmopolitan and full of contrasts. Founded by
the Romans, elements of its past live side by side with the most beautiful
examples of contemporary architecture inside the city. You are free to
roam the city. The chance you have been waiting for to see those
‘wonderful’ buildings by Gaudi, including the Sagrada Familia. Or just
soak up the atmosphere of this exciting city. Two nights are spent in the
Catalan capital giving you time to ramble down the Ramblas and make use of
the citie’s extensive metro system to see all of the sites.
q
Day 9:
Depart from Barcelona. There are trains every 30 minutes from
Barcelona Plaza Catalunya station to the airport; journey time 25 minutes.
There are also buses, which connect with Girona Airport, which take a bit
over an hour in reasonable traffic.
Included
Information
pack with route notes and detailed maps for the tour; 8 nights
accommodation in: Ripoll (1 night), Olot (2 nights), Girona (2nights),
Sant Feliu (1night) and Barcelona (2nights). Eight breakfasts and three
dinners. Luggage transfers from Hotel to Hotel (Ripoll – Olot, Olot –Girona,
Girona - Sant Feliu). Note
that from S. Feliu, you will need to travel with your baggage from that
point on into Barcelona.
Not Included
All
lunches and dinners other than those specified.
Transfers on public transport: Barcelona –Ripoll (approx 8 Euros) and Sant Feliu
– Barcelona (approx. 10 Euros).
Entrance fees.
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