Overview
A five day, self-guided cycling holiday along La Ruta del Cister, a circular pilgrimage route linking three of Catalonia’s most iconic Cistercian monasteries: Poblet, Vallbona de les Monges and Santes Creus. Starting and ending in the medieval town of l’Espluga de Francolí, just 40km from Tarragona on the coast, this is a cycling trail through some of Catalonia’s most sacred and sublime landscapes. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay overnight in or near medieval towns and villages en route. E-bikes are available on this tour, which is also accessible by train.
- Ruta del Cister GR175
- Historic regions of Alt Camp, Conca de Barberà and Urgell
- Medieval towns of l’Espluga de Francolí, Rocafort de Queralt and Montblanc
- Santa Maria de Poblet Monastery
- Santes Creus Monastery
- Vallbona de les Monges Monastery
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in l’Espluga de Francolí
Arrive in l’Espluga de Francolí, located in the Conca de Barberà region, is known for its medieval heritage, rich wine culture and its prehistoric caves. Coves de l’Espluga are one of Europe’s longest karst cave networks which you can visit with a guided tour. The town also hosts Museu Terra (Museum of Rural Life), showcasing rural Mediterranean life before modern farming equipment became widespread. Your bikes are delivered to the hotel by the end of the day.
- Accommodation: Hostal del Senglar or similar in l’Espluga de Francolí
Day 2: L’Espluga de Francolí – Rocallaura | 35.7km
Cycle from L’Espluga de Francolí to Rocallaura, traversing the landscapes of the Ruta del Cister, and passing the historic villages of Blancafort and Solivella. The route continues through farmland and rural hamlets, with gentle climbs and wide views across open countryside. Arrive at the Monastery of Vallbona de les Monges, an active cistercian convent still home to a community of nuns, and spend the night in nearby Rocallaura.
- Cycling for the day: 3.5-4h, 35.7km, ↑731m ↓585m
- Accommodation: IBERIK Rocallaura or similar in Rocallaura
Day 3: Rocallaura – Santes Creus | 40.3km
Leave Rocallaura following undulating country tracks as far as Rocafort de Queralt, a traditional wine village which is known for its watchtower and local cava production. Continue cycling through changing rural landscapes and passing a string of villages including El Pont d’Armentera and its stone bridge over the Gaia River. The route then gently climbs towards the magnificent monastery complex of Santes Creus, where several Aragonese kings are buried and its cloisters and chapter house are open to visitors. Spend the night in Santes Creus.
- Cycling for the day: 4.5h, 40.3km, ↑857m ↓1,131m
- Accommodation: Hostal Grau or similar in Santes Creus
Day 4: Santes Creus – l’Espluga de Francolí | 38.3km
Today’s ride heads to the medieval walled town of Montblanc, a well-preserved example of inland Catalonia’s fortified heritage. Explore its narrow streets lined with romanesque and gothic architecture, and visit the Church of Santa Maria which also has a panoramic viewpoint. Continue cycling on rural terrain to Santa Maria Monastery of Poblet, a 12th-century complex and UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the largest monasteries in Europe, which is still home to a Cistercian community. One last cycling stretch will close the tour back in l’Espluga de Francolí.
- Cycling for the day: 4h, 38.3km, ↑827m ↓715m
- Accommodation: Hostal del Senglar or similar in l’Espluga de Francolí
Day 5: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned B&Bs and pilgrim’s guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view sample hotels
- Hostal del Senglar (L’Espluga de Francolí)
- IBERIK Rocallaura (Rocallaura)
- Hostal Grau (Santes Creus)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide you with the exact accommodation details upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from some hotels the night before. Dinner is available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This trip is graded moderate, with cycling distances between 35-41km per day on a mixture of asphalt, dirt roads, gravel trails and forest paths. Unless you are well-trained, we recommend an electric MTB. We also recommend that you have some previous cycling experience, including off-road cycling (MTB or gravel), and have a good level of physical fitness (read more about difficulty grades).
We strongly advise you only to follow marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed digital route notes and maps and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from March to November. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date within the season.
The best time to cycle La Ruta del Cister is spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October). During these months, temperatures are mild (averaging 15°C to 22°C) and the trail sees fewer crowds.
The three monasteries can be crowded during major Catholic holidays such as Easter, when large numbers of pilgrims visit, making it less suitable for a peaceful experience.
The climate in this region of Catalonia is Mediterranean, characterised by hot, dry summers and mild winters. To find out more about when to go, take a look at our blogs, Best time to go to Catalonia and Best time to go to Spain.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airports for this tour are Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) and Reus Airport (REU).
By train or bus
- If you are able to travel to Spain without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail, with a railway station in l’Espluga de Francolí. For more details, see the national rail operator Renfe or use the Omio planner above.
- From Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport take the R2N train (direction Sant Celoni) to Barcelona Sants (20mins), and then take the Regional Express train (direction Lleida-Pirineus) to l’Espluga de Francolí (2h 50mins). From l’Espluga de Francolí train station you can walk directly to the accommodation (1.4km) or take a local taxi. A taxi from Barcelona airport would take approximately 1h 20mins to reach l’Espluga de Francolí.
- From Reus Airport take the L50 bus to Reus train station (25mins) or take a taxi to Reus train station (15mins). Then take the R14 train (direction Lleida-Pirineus) to reach l’Espluga de Francolí (47mins). From l’Espluga de Francolí train station you can walk directly to the accommodation (1.4km) or take a local taxi. A taxi from Reus Airport would take approximately 30mins to reach l’Espluga de Francolí.
- Private transfers to and from either of the airports or the railway station of l’Espluga de Francolí can be arranged on request.
Inclusions
Included
- 4 nights accommodation
- 4 breakfasts
- Daily luggage transfers (one piece per person, max 15kg)
- 6T card and 6T diploma that certifies that the Cistercian Route has been completed
- Digital Tour materials: detailed roadbook including maps (digital format), a navigation app for smartphones, GPS tracks. Please note that no printed documents will be provided on-site
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- International flights and land transfers
- Lunches and dinners, drinks and snacks
- Tourist tax
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Optional bike insurance if available
- Additional travel-related changes in the programme due to bad weather
- Entrance fees for attractions including monasteries and museums
- Personal expenses
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own.
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Extra nights.
- Mountain bike or e-bike rental.
Bike rental
Choose from mountain bike rental or e-bike rental. All bikes come with helmet, flat pedals, multi-tool, extra inner tube, hand pump, tyre levers, one bottle cage holder and one complimentary bottle. It is highly recommended that you bring a phone holder specific to your device, as this will be crucial for your tour.
CANNONDALE Scalpel HT CRB 4
- Model: MTB with front suspension 100mm
- Frame: Carbon frame
- Brakes: hydraulic disc brakes
- Transmission: Shimano XT with 12-speed system
- Wheel/tyre: 29-inch tires
CANNONDALE MOTERRA 4 + 2026
- Model: E-bike MTB with front suspension 150mm and Bosch engine
- Frame: Aluminum frame
- Brakes: hydraulic disc brakes
- Bosch Performance Line CX motor and a battery up to 800 Wh
- Wheel/tyre: 29-inch tyres
Sample pictures shown above, please note that the exact models may differ depending on availability, but the standard will be the same. Note that the standard rental only includes basic flat pedals. Travellers can request different pedals upon booking, although this may carry a small supplement depending on days, pedal type and number of bikes.
Spain’s legal requirement for personal information
Please note: in December 2024, the Spanish government introduced a new law making it a legal obligation for all visitors to Spain to share personal details with their accommodations and car rental companies. Consequently, as we book your accommodation for you, we are obliged to pass these on to our local partners on the ground. After booking your holiday, we will send you a form to complete requesting all the legally-required information, including: name, nationality, gender, passport number, DOB, address, phone numbers and email address. This applies to all travellers aged 14 and over. If you are travelling with people under 14 years old, you need to declare your relationship to them. We apologise for any inconvenience. For more information, see here.
