Overview
A seven day, self-guided walking holiday along the Ruta del Cister, a circular pilgrimage route that connects Catalonia’s most iconic Cistercian monasteries: Poblet, Vallbona de les Monges and Santes Creus. Starting and ending in Montblanc, the trail weaves through rolling hills, vineyards and farmland of the inland regions of Alt Camp, Conca de Barberà and Urgell. There are historical hamlets and traditional wine villages, such as Rocafort de Queralt, and the trails are varied but manageable, with daily hikes of up to 25km. Staying in a mix of small, locally-owned hotels and pilgrims’ guesthouses, this tour is also accessible by train from Barcelona.
- Ruta del Cister GR 175
- Historic regions of Alt Camp, Conca de Barberà and Urgell
- Medieval towns of Montblanc, l’Espluga de Francolí and Rocafort de Queralt
- Santa Maria de Poblet Monastery
- Santes Creus Monastery
- Vallbona de les Monges Monastery
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Montblanc
Arrive in 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 architecutre, and visit the Church of Santa Maria which also has a panoramic viewpoint.
- Accommodation: Cal Blasi Hotel or similar in Montblanc
Day 2: Montblanc – Poblet | 10.4km
Head north out of Montblanc, winding through olive groves and vineyard-covered hills that are typical of the Conca de Barberà region. The path also crosses forested paths, which are part of the Prades Mountains. Walk by Sant Joan de la Muntanya and Santíssima Trinitat hermitages and continue as far as 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.
- Hiking for the day: 10.4km, ↑550m ↓400m
- Accommodation: Hotel Hostatgeria de Poblet or similar in Poblet
Day 3: Poblet – Rocallaura | 25km
Leave the Monastery of Poblet behind and head to L’Espluga de Francolí, known for its architectural heritage and its caves, one of Europe’s longest karst cave networks. Continue walking through quiet hills and farmland up to Serra del Tallat ridge and Montblanquet before arriving in Vallbona de les Monges. This village is built around its Cistercian monastery, Santa Maria de Valbona, which is still home to a small community of nuns. Vallbona de les Monges is a small village that offers essential amenities in a tranquil setting. From Vallbona de les Monges, you are transferred to your accommodation in Rocallaura.
- Hiking for the day: 25km, ↑413m ↓432m
- Accommodation: IBERIK Rocallaura Balneari or similar in Rocallaura
Day 4: Rocallaura – Vallverd de Queralt | 25km
After a short transfer back to Vallbona, follow undulating country tracks surrounded by almond trees and low-lying hills. This stage connects the monastery Santa Maria de Vallbona with the historic town of Rocafort de Queralt, walking through hilltop villages that offer sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. Rocafort de Queralt is a traditional wine village known for its local cava production. We recommend wandering through the historic quarter to admire its narrow streets and ancient gateways, as well as the remains of the old walls, the castle, Cal Claret, and the Cooperativa’s modernist winery. From Rocafort de Queralt a 3.5km walk takes you to Vallverd de Queralt, where you spend the night.
- Hiking for the day: 25km, ↑595m ↓504m
- Accommodation: Casa Miret or similar in Vallverd de Queralt
Day 5: Vallverd de Queralt – Santes Creus | 24km
Walk to Montbrió de la Marca where you connect to the main path of the GR 175. This demanding yet rewarding stage marks the transition from Conca de Barberà to the Alt Camp region. The route climbs into the Comaverd mountain range, offering panoramic views before descending into the Gaià River valley and ending at one of the itinerary’s most important spiritual and cultural landmarks: the Santes Creus Monastery. Several Aragonese kings are buried here, and its cloisters and chapter house are open to visitors.
- Hiking for the day: 24km, ↑552m ↓805m
- Accommodation: Hostal Grau or similar in Santes Creus
Day 6: Santes Creus – Montblanc | 24.5km
Today’s walk comes with a mix of gravel paths and rural roads back toward Montblanc. Throughout this last stage, walk through the Capona Route, an open-air display of traditional dry-stone architecture that reflects the area’s cultural roots, and the towns of Pla de Santa Maria and Figuerola del Camp. Time permitting, enjoy a final evening stroll through Montblanc’s town walls and towers.
- Hiking for the day: 24.5km, ↑578m ↓549m
- Accommodation: Cal Blasi Hotel or similar in Montblanc
Day 7: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned hotels 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
- Cal Blasi Hotel (Montblanc)
- Hotel Hostatgeria de Poblet (Poblet)
- IBERIK Rocallaura Balneari (Rocallaura)
- Casa Miret (Vallverd de Queralt)
- 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. Dinner is included on day 4. Otherwise, dinner is available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area. 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.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated moderate and is suitable for experienced walkers with a good level of fitness. Daily walking distances range between 10-25km with daily elevation gains between 400 and 600 metres. The route is generally well-marked and mostly not technical. The whole itinerary follows the GR175 route (read more about difficulty grades).
We strongly advise you to only 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 walk 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. The most comfortable conditions for hiking are typically found in the spring (April to June), when temperatures are moderate. During summer, particularly in July and August, daytime highs exceed 30C, so it’s advisable to begin the hike 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
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 Montblanc. 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 R14 train (direction Lleida) to Montblanc (2h 31mins). From Montblanc train station you can walk directly to the accommodation (5mins). A taxi from the airport would take approximately 1h 10mins to reach Montblanc.
- From Reus Airport take the L50 bus to Reus train station (25mins). Then take the R14 (direction Lleida) train to reach Montblanc (40mins). From Montblanc train station you can walk directly to the accommodation (5mins). A taxi from Reus Airport would take approximately 30mins to reach Montblanc.
- Private transfers to and from either of the airports or the railway station of Montblanc can be arranged on request.
Inclusions
Included
- 6 nights accommodation
- 6 breakfasts, 1 dinner
- Daily luggage transfers (one piece per person, max 15kg)
- Return transfers from Vallbona de les Monges to Rocallaura
- 6T card and 6T diploma that certifies that the Cistercian Route has been completed
- Digital tour materials: detailed roadbook including maps, 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
- Transfers to alternate accommodation locations if needed
- Lunches and dinners, drinks and snacks
- Tourist tax
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- 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.
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.
