Catalonia by Bike

If you are arriving into the train station in Flaça, on the Barcelona - Girona - Figueras line, you will be picked up at the station and transferred to the first night's accommodation in the medieval village of Monells.

Your bike will be delivered after breakfast. The first day of cycling in Baix Empordà (Lower Ampurdan) takes you through picturesque landscapes of lovely villages, tiny vegetable gardens and Mediterranean woods. The Medieval historical centre of Madremanya is especially worth a visit, as is the castle-museum in Pubol which Dalí dedicated to his wife Gala. This cycling route may be a bit tough for a first day, but there is always the option of taking a shortcut. Overnight stay in Monells Ascent/descent: 200m or 300m/655ft or 985ft

Today you begin with a short ascent through wooded terrain, then the route takes you mainly on the flat through landscapes reminiscent of Tuscany, where small villages sit atop hills. This vast and fertile agricultural region was worked long ago by the Iberians, who introduced the cypress tree as a windbreak to protect the soil against erosion. In the evening, you'll have the challenge of selecting one of the many inviting restaurants for dinner. Overnight stay in Peratallada. Ascent: 150m/490ft, descent 175m/574ft

Today you cycle out to the Costa Brava. Follow quiet country lanes through the pretty regional capital of Pals, to Palafrugell and Llafranca then Calella de Palafrugell, one of the most beautiful fishing villages along this coast. You can stop for lunch at a restaurant on the beach. In the afternoon, visit the lovely botanical gardens in Cap Roig or venture further south through the valley of Aubi, with its well-preserved rural atmosphere. Some local farmhouses still have towers dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries, where villagers once sought refuge against pirate attacks. Overnight in Peratallada. Ascent/descent: 150m/490ft

This relatively gentle cycling route takes you through the green rice-fields of the Ter River delta, with its lovely windmills. You can continue onward to the sandy beaches on the Mediterranean coast, or if you prefer to spend the day relaxing, the village of Peratallada is also the perfect spot to enjoy a rest or a short stroll through the nearby forest. Overnight in Peratallada. Ascent/descent: 150m/490ft

Today you travel northward to the region of Alt Empordà (Upper Ampurdan). Cycle through mixed forests, open rural landscape and endless orchards. On the way, you pass Empuries, an interesting archaeological site with Greek and Roman ruins. Torroella de Montgri, with its Medieval streets and local palaces, makes a good place to pause for lunch. Your day’s journey ends in Sant Pere Pescador, just a few kilometres inland from the blue Mediterranean Sea. Ascent: 200m/656ft, descent 220m/722ft

This route takes you first to Figueres, the village whose name is synonymous with Salvador Dalí. Visit the surrealist painter’s museum (note: it is closed on some Mondays early and late in the season and should be pre-booked) and take a pleasant stroll along the Rambla. Just outside the town you pass a beautiful Augustine monastery before following the Muga River to the Medieval town of Castello d’Empuries. In the afternoon, you cycle through Aiguamolls de l’Emporda Natural Park, green and refreshing wetlands with an impressive seasonal water bird colony. Overnight in Sant Pere Pescador. Ascent/descent: 125m/410ft There is a shorter (37km/23mi), more challenging option, cycling through typical villages of the Alt Empordà. From approx 10km the route becomes more demanding, with some steep sections in the area around the River Fluvià. Ascent/descent: 225m/739ft