Self-Guided Cycling in Catalonia: Costa Brava & Empordà – 5 Days
Self-guided: three easy cycling days between Costa Brava fishing villages and medieval Empordà towns, with luggage transfers and a castle hotel.
Tour overview
This 5-day self-guided cycling holiday explores the Costa Brava and the Empordà, the green countryside behind Catalonia's most beautiful stretch of coast. There is no group or tour leader: you ride at your own pace on hybrid bikes provided for you, following GPS routes and notes on a navigation app, while your luggage is moved between hotels. A local representative meets you at the start, sets up your bike and is on call throughout. You stay in four characterful hotels, all with pools, including a night in a restored 14th-century castle. Breakfast is included daily, with one dinner. You can book the holiday on its own or with flights from UK airports.
Your base at the start and end is Calella de Palafrugell, a traditional fishing village of whitewashed houses and small coves, where your hotel looks out over the sea. The first day's ride runs through pine forests behind the coast to Pals, a peach-coloured medieval town with a Romanesque church and wide views, then through quiet hamlets to the beach at Platja de Pals. Evenings are free to enjoy fresh seafood and Catalan wine in the harbourside restaurants.
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On the second day you cycle past rice fields and along the River Ter to Torroella de Montgrí, a walled medieval town looking out to the Medes Islands, cross the 16th-century bridge at Gualta and head inland to La Bisbal, known for its ceramics. Tonight you stay at Castell d'Empordà, a castle hotel above the plain, with dinner included.
The last cycling day is the gentlest, visiting the walled village of Ullastret and its Iberian settlement, one of the oldest in Spain, and the beautifully preserved stone village of Peratallada before returning through the market town of Palafrugell to the coast. Palau-sator and Fontanilles are along the way.
The cycling is rated easy, on quiet country roads and tracks over gently rolling terrain, around 70% tarmac and 30% dirt tracks, with three days of riding. Electric bikes are available for a supplement. This holiday suits first-time or cautious cyclists, couples and families who want to explore Catalonia at their own pace, with the logistics taken care of.
Trip highlights
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The fishing village of Calella de Palafrugell (Day 1)
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Medieval Pals and the beach at Platja de Pals (Day 2)
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The Ter valley and walled Torroella de Montgrí (Day 3)
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A night in the 14th-century Castell d'Empordà (Day 3)
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The Iberian site of Ullastret and the stone village of Peratallada (Day 4)
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Hotels with pools, and luggage moved for you every day
Your route
7 stops from Calella de Palafrugell to Peratallada
- Calella de Palafrugell Days 1 & 4–5
- Pals Day 2
- Platja de Pals Day 2
- Torroella de Montgrí Day 3
- La Bisbal d'Empordà Day 3
- Ullastret Day 4
- Peratallada Day 4
Why choose this tour
Explore Catalonia at your own pace, with bikes, routes, hotels and luggage transfers arranged. Gentle, mostly flat riding that suits first-time cyclists and families.
Best suited to
- Independent travellers who prefer no group
- First-time or cautious cyclists
- Couples and families with children aged 12 and over
- Food and wine lovers keen on Catalan villages
Day-by-day itinerary
5 days from Calella de Palafrugell, Spain to Calella de Palafrugell, Spain
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Day 1 · Calella de Palafrugell Arrive in Calella de Palafrugell
Arrive at your hotel on the hillside above the fishing village of Calella de Palafrugell, with a sea-view balcony. A local representative sets up your bike. The village has plenty of restaurants for dinner.
- Hotel
- Hotel Garbí or similar
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Day 2 · Pals, Platja de Pals Calella to Platja de Pals
Cycle through pine forests behind Calella to Pals, a medieval town with a Romanesque church and fine views, then continue through quiet hamlets to your hotel at Platja de Pals.
- Hotel
- Hotel Sa Punta or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 3 · Torroella de Montgrí, Gualta, La Bisbal d'Empordà Platja de Pals to La Bisbal
Ride past rice fields and along the River Ter to the walled town of Torroella de Montgrí, with views of the Medes Islands. Cross the 16th-century bridge at Gualta and head inland to La Bisbal for a night in a 14th-century castle, with dinner.
- Hotel
- Hotel Castell d'Empordà
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 4 · Ullastret, Peratallada, Palafrugell Ullastret and Peratallada to Calella
An easy day's ride via the walled village of Ullastret and its ancient Iberian settlement, and the stone village of Peratallada, returning through Palafrugell to the coast.
- Hotel
- Hotel Garbí or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 5 · Calella de Palafrugell Holiday ends
The holiday ends after breakfast. Extra nights on the Costa Brava can be arranged when you book.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Calella de Palafrugell (1 night) Hotel Garbí or similar
- Platja de Pals (1 night) Hotel Sa Punta or similar
- La Bisbal d'Empordà (1 night) Hotel Castell d'Empordà
- Calella de Palafrugell (1 night) Hotel Garbí or similar
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 4 nights in hand-picked hotels with pools, including a castle hotel
- Meals 4 breakfasts and 1 dinner
- Hybrid bikes for the three cycling days
- GPS routes and notes on a navigation app
- Daily luggage transfers between hotels
- Flights from UK airports, if you book the flight-inclusive option
- A local representative on call throughout
Not included
- Flights, unless you book the flight-inclusive option
- Airport transfers, available on request
- Meals not listed
- E-bike supplement
- Travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want a tour leader or group — this is self-guided
- You want a challenging cycling trip — the riding is easy
- You want all meals included — breakfasts and one dinner
- You want to see Barcelona — this holiday is on the Costa Brava
Good to know
Departures & prices
From £909 per person, twin share, tour only. With flights from £969 per person. 9 upcoming departures.
Flights from UK airports.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
What does self-guided mean?
There is no tour leader or group. You ride on your own or with your travel companions, following GPS routes on a navigation app, and a local representative meets you at the start and is on call throughout.
How hard is the cycling?
Easy, on gently rolling terrain at low altitude, with three days of riding on quiet roads and tracks, about 70% tarmac. It suits first-time cyclists.
Are bikes included?
Yes, hybrid bikes are included. Electric bikes are available for a supplement, and children's bikes from about age 8 can be requested.
Can I book with flights?
Yes. The holiday can be booked on its own or with flights from UK airports, with transfers available on request.
Who moves my luggage?
Your luggage is transferred between hotels every day, so you only carry what you need for the ride.
Is this suitable for families?
Yes. The routes are gentle, and the minimum age is 12. Child seats and children's bikes can be requested.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary