Overview
Get on a cycling adventure through La Garrotxa Natural Park’s ancient volcanic landscapes and the Catalan countryside’s gently rolling hills, loved by both amateur and professional cyclists training there in the winter. You will spend most of the overnights in Olot, at a comfortable rural hotel with a private swimming pool just a few steps away from one of the best restaurants in La Garrotxa. The perfect base for some excellent cycling. Then you follow the Via Verde, a converted railway cycling path, to reach Girona’s medieval town centre, with its impressive cathedral and colourful houses along the river. Going mostly on quiet country roads with less traffic with a limited elevation gain, the routes are accessible and suitable for beginner cyclists and family vacations.
- Easy cycling on quiet country roads and rural tracks through beech woods and picturesque landscapes
- La Garrotxa Natural Park and its fascinating volcanic rock formations
- Charming hotels and authentic Catalan restaurants
- Family rooms and rental bikes for children available
- Girona’s medieval centre, Jewish quarter and cathedral
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Olot
Arrive at your lovely rural accommodation with a private swimming pool. The perfect base for your cycling routes in the next few days. And just steps away from the hotel, you will find one of the best restaurants in all of La Garrotxa.
- Accommodation: Mas Can Blanc or similar in Olot
Day 2: Cycling around Olot | 24km
Today you will cycle through the Natural Park of La Garrotxa. Explore beautiful landscapes while riding through gorgeous beech woods, past agricultural fields and among ancient lava flows, then on to enchanting villages. Optional walking routes to visit natural and historical monuments.
- Accommodation: Mas Can Blanc or similar in Olot
- Cycling for the day: 24km, ↑↓270m
Day 3: Cycling around Olot | 8km, 32km or 48km
Today you can choose between three routes in the Natural Park. Explore beautiful landscapes while riding through gorgeous beech woods, past agricultural fields and among ancient lava flows, then on to enchanting villages.
- Accommodation: Mas Can Blanc or similar in Olot
- Cycling for the day: 8km, 32km or 48km, ↑↓150m, ↑↓120m or ↑↓350m
Day 4: From Olot to Girona | 60km
Today you’ll do some truly pleasurable cycling along a converted railway bike path, the Via Verde, from Olot to the medieval town centre of Girona. Enjoy the green rural scenery, which gives way to the lovely city with its imposing cathedral and colourful houses along the river.
- Accommodation: Hotel Historic or similar in Girona
- Cycling for the day: 60 km, ↑150m ↓500m
Day 5: Departure
Your tour ends after breakfast, departure on your own or extension (upon request).
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this trip is in small family-owned hotels, all with en-suite rooms. We have carefully hand-picked all places and regularly monitor their quality. We have tried to choose accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour.
Click to view default hotels
- Mas Can Blanc in Olot
Can Blanc is a 19th-century masía (traditional cottage house). It was completely restored to provide maximum comfort. It has a wide terrace, a private swimming pool, a garden area of 8,000 sq m and a private parking area.
- Hotel Historic in Girona
Located in the very heart of Girona´s old town, next to the cathedral and near Sant Domènec square. This hotel is a mix between history and modernity; the building has foundations from Roman times and 11th-century walls and has been renovated, preserving the spirit of the time and adding the comfort and elegance of modern times.
Hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel is fully booked for your desired dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal or higher value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
All breakfasts are included in the programme. When no restaurant location is available en route lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops, or you can pre-order a packed lunch at your hotel. Dinner is available either from the restaurant in your accommodation or from the restaurants in the town where you stay for overnight.
Difficulty and terrain
The daily distances range between 25 and 40km, on day 4 the stage is 60km, but on almost entirely flat terrain (read more about difficulty grades). The trip is suitable for both beginner and intermediate cyclists in good physical shape. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime.
When to go
The tour can depart on any day of the week from the beginning of March until the end of October. The weather is most pleasant in the spring and autumn months; July and August can be quite hot.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airports for this tour are Girona (GRO) and Barcelona (BCN)
By train or bus
Arrival in Olot
- From Girona airport (GRO) there is a good bus connection to Girona bus station (Line 607, 30min trip), and from there you continue your trip by bus to Olot (see time tables at www.teisa-bus.com).
- From Barcelona airport El Prat (BCN) you can take the airport shuttle bus to Barcelona city centre, from where you can travel first by train to Girona and then continue by bus to Olot. There is also a bus service from Barcelona airport via Girona airport to Girona city centre (Line 602, check www.sagales.com)
Departure from Girona
- To Girona airport (GRO) you can go by bus from Girona bus station (city centre) (line 607, check www.sagales.com)
- To get to Barcelona airport El Prat (BCN) you can go from Girona by bus (line 602 vía Girona airport) or by train from Girona to Barcelona Sants station (1,5 hrs). Check timetables at www.renfe.com
Private taxi transfers from/to Barcelona airport or Girona airport can be booked through us on request.
Inclusions
Included
- 4 overnights in good family-run hotels, en-suite rooms
- 4 breakfasts
- Luggage transport on day 4 (1 piece per person up to 20kg)
- Detailed digital holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps. Please note that the info pack is emailed to you prior to departure, and no printed documents are mailed or provided on-site.
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Flights and airport transfers
- Lunches and dinners, drinks and snacks
- Additional transfers
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Personal expenses
- Any items not specifically mentioned as ‘included’ in the programme
Options, extras and supplements
- A supplement applies to members of a group who require a single room
- This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
- Hybrid bike and e-bike rental in 4 days; option for extra days of rental at a supplement
- Extra nights
Bike Rental
We offer the rental of hybrid bicycles – Connor with 18 gears, luggage carrier, repair kit, pump and lock. E-bikes are also available for rent on request.
Hybrid Bikes
- Bike model: Connor Malibú
- Bike type: Hybrid
- Front fork: SUNTOUR CR-8V
- Frame: Aluminum 6061 TB
- Gears: SHIMANO ALTUS M310 7V
- Chainwheel: SHIMANO M171 170MM 28/38/48T
- Brakes: TEKTRO ALUMINIO
- Suspension: Front
- Tires: SCHWALBE SILENTO
- Frame sizes: M, L, XL (Leyton Conor )
E-bikes
- Bike model: Eco bike elegance
- Bike Type: E-bike
- Autonomy: 50-60 km
- Motor: 250W Brushless
- Battery: Lithium Polymer 36V-10Ah (3.5 Kg)
- Charging time: 4-6 hours
- Gear change: Shimano Tourney Revoshift 6-speed gear change
- Brakes: Shimano Alivio
- Weight: 23 kg
Gallery
