Overview
An eight day cycling pilgrimage, whether you seek solace in wine, wilderness, or ancient wisdom. Because this Catalan cycling holiday not only takes you through the Penedès Wine Region but also along the ancient Ruta del Cister and, finally, to the much revered Montserrat Monastery and mountainous environs. There’s a lot of gorgeousness going on here, following a circuit that starts and ends in Vilafranca del Penedès and takes in not only the above greats, but also the medieval town of Montblanc. As this is an e-bike holiday, you can traverse the fine mix of rural landscapes, vineyards and mountainous terrain with ease.
- Penedès Wine Region
- Three Cistercian monasteries of Santes Creus, Poblet and Vallbona de les Monges
- Medieval town of Montblanc
- Historic town of Tàrrega
- Montserrat Monastery
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Vilafranca del Penedès
Arrive in Vilafranca del Penedès, the capital of the Penedès Wine Region, famous for its cava production. The town boasts a well preserved medieval quarter, which includes the gothic Basilica of Santa Maria, built in the 14th century on the site of an earlier romanesque church. Take time to stroll through the historic centre, visit the Vinseum (Wine Museum), or tour a local winery such as Família Torres as you prepare for the journey ahead.
- Accommodation: Mercer Casa Torner i Güell or similar in Vilafranca del Penedès
Day 2: Vilafranca del Penedès – Montblanc | 65.5km
Today’s cycle takes you from Vilafranca del Penedès toward Montblanc, passing through the heart of the Penedès Wine Region. As well as its vineyards and olive groves, other highlights include Sa Roca monumental complex and the Cistercian Monastery of Santes Creus, a key stop on the Cistercian Route. Following the historic Ruta del Cister route continue towards the medieval town of Montblanc, where you can spend the evening exploring its medieval walls, churches and cobbled streets.
- Cycling for the day: 65.5km, ↑1221m ↓1099m
- Accommodation: Cal Blasi Hotel or similar in Montblanc
Day 3: Montblanc – Tàrrega | 59km
Cycle from Montblanc to Tàrrega, traversing the landscapes of the Ruta del Cister, and passing the UNESCO-listed Monastery of Poblet and the Monastery of Vallbona de les Monges, an active Cistercian convent still home to a community of nuns. The route continues through farmland and rural hamlets, with gentle climbs and wide views across open countryside, before arriving in the inland town of Tàrrega, home to cultural landmarks such as the baroque Church of Santa Maria del Alba. Tàrrega also has a traditional theatrical heritage, which is reflected in its local venues and festivals.
- Cycling for the day: 59km, ↑948m ↓906m
- Accommodation: Hotel Pintor Marsà or similar in Tàrrega
Day 4: Tàrrega – Igualada | 51km
Cycle across the plains of inland Catalonia, with views of farmland and distant hills between the Segarra and Anoia regions. The route passes through the medieval and cultural town of Cervera and a collection of small villages and rural landscapes before arriving in Igualada, a town with a history of leather production and a well-preserved historic centre.
- Cycling for the day: 51km, ↑715m ↓778m
- Accommodation: Moli Blanc Hotel or similar in Igualada
Day 5: Igualada – Montserrat | 27km
Today’s route gradually ascends through rural terrain toward the Montserrat mountain range. Once gravel trails are over, prepare to ride the last 10km on a paved road to the monastery via a scenic mountain climb to arrive directly at the monastic complex.
- Cycling for the day: 27km, ↑817m ↓415m
- Accommodation: Hostal Abat Cisneros or similar in Montserrat
Day 6: Rest day in Montserrat
Today can be used as a rest day to explore the Montserrat Monastery, surrounded by the mountain’s dramatic rock formations and panoramic viewpoints. Montserrat Monastery, founded in the 11th century, is famous for its basilica, which houses the statue of the Black Madonna (La Moreneta), a significant religious icon on this pilgrimage destination. The site also features a museum with works by artists such as El Greco and Picasso, along with archaeological and religious artefacts.
- Accommodation: Hostal Abat Cisneros or similar in Montserrat
Day 7: Montserrat – Vilafranca del Penedès | 60km
Descend from Montserrat through the rural landscapes of inland Catalonia, heading back to Vilafranca del Penedès. This stretch provides a gentle transition from mountainous terrain back to the heart of the Penedès Wine Region, where you can reward yourself with a glass of local Cava at Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, capital of the world-renowned sparkling wine. Ride through the historic Via Augusta Penedès, a Roman route 2,000 years old, and return to Vilafranca del Penedès for a final evening of enjoying regional cuisine and wines.
- Cycling for the day: 60km, ↑909m ↓1387m
- Accommodation: Mercer Casa Torner i Güell or similar in Vilafranca del Penedès
Day 8: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and pilgrims’ 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
- Mercer Casa Torner i Güell (Vilafranca del Penedès)
- Cal Blasi Hotel (Montblanc)
- Hotel Pintor Marsà (Tàrrega)
- Moli Blanc Hotel (Igualada)
- Hostal Abat Cisneros (Montserrat)
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 from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This trip is graded moderate, with average distances of over 50km per day and an average daily elevation of over 700m. E-bike is the default bicycle type included in this tour, making the journey more accessible and enjoyable for a broader range of riders. The route is on a mixture of asphalt, dirt, and gravel roads, with paved roads being minimized throughout the tour, and some sections of forest paths. We recommend that you have previous cycling experience, including off-road cycling (MTB or gravel), and have at least a good level of physical fitness (read more about difficulty grades).
We also recommend that you have basic bike repair skills, such as fixing a flat tire. 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 April 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.
Montserrat can be busy during weekends and exceptionally crowded during major religious holidays such as Easter, when many pilgrims visit, making it less suitable for a peaceful experience.
The best time to cycle in the Penedès region is spring (green landscape, flowers) and autumn (mild weather, grape harvest). During spring, April to June, the vineyard awakens, the landscape changes rapidly and the colours are vibrant. During autumn, September to November, it coincides with the harvest and wine festivals, offering a complete wine tourism experience.
The climate in this region of Catalonia is Mediterranean, characterised by hot, dry summers and mild winters. The most comfortable conditions for cycling are typically found in spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October), when temperatures are moderate. During summer, particularly in July and certainly August, daytime highs often exceed 30C, so it’s advisable to begin rides early in the day to avoid the peak heat. 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
The advised airport to fly into and out of is Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN).
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 Vilafranca del Penedès, which is where the tour begins and ends. 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 (Sant Celoni) train (20mins), before changing in Barcelona Sants to take the R4 train to Vilafranca del Penedès (1h). From here you can walk directly to the accommodation or take a taxi.
- Private transfers to and from the airport or the railway station of Vilafranca del Penedès can be arranged on request.
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights accommodation
- 7 breakfasts
- Daily luggage transfers (one piece per person, max 15kg)
- 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 wineries 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.
- E-bike rental
- Extra nights
E-bike rental
All bikes come with helmet, multi-tool, bike lock, extra inner tube, hand pump. It is highly recommended that you bring a phone holder specific to your device, as this will be crucial for your tour.
Scott E-sub Cross
- Model: E-bike with Bosch Battery (9 speeds/4 levels of assistance)
- Frame: Aluminium frame
- Brakes: hydraulic disc brakes
Sample picture shown above, please note that the exact models may differ depending on availability, but the standard will be the same.
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.
