Tastes of the Mediterranean

girona tastes of the mediterraneanquick facts tastes of the med cycle tourCatalunya is nothing short of a paradise for any kind of foodie! With your first glance at the colourful, endless variety of products, you’ll easily understand what makes it one of the most amazing Gastronomic destinations in the world. During the tour riders will stay in a variety of hand-picked accommodations, riding between hotels whilst we take the bags!

 

 

 

 

tastes of the med bike tourEmpordà and Girones counties are excellent examples, taking from the Mediterranean sea and fertile lands of Catalonia, for a remarkable range of produce and crops.

Bike Breaks offers with this holiday the chance to tour this interesting and beautiful region by bike. Each day and evening enjoy some of the local specialities cooked by some of the best local cooks all in authentic Mediterranean surroundings.

We have carefully selected a variety of local produce, each a speciality of the area in which our guests are, on that day. So guests actually get to see the crop growing in the field then later to enjoy the dish as fresh as is possible.

 

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tastes of the med cycling tourIncluded

Accommodation: 7 nights in hotel and farmhouse accommodation.
Breakfast
Meal at the farmhouse
Evening meal in Girona
Paella by the sea
Cooking class
Picnic lunch

 


tastes of the med bike tourWine tasting
Visit to the fishing museum
Route books and maps
Welcome meeting and bike fitting
Luggage transfer from one accommodation to the next
Cycling jersey and water bottle 
Required fitness: Medium to High
Rides:
20 to 85km
Minimum group size:
2 People
Start& finish:
Girona
Visited sights:
Girona old town, Castle Gala, Empordà county, Costa Brava, Figueres
Price: Please contact us for pricing.

 

 

 

 


tastes of the med cycling tripExtras

Additional evening meals
Support vehicle
Sports massage
Transfers
Bike Hire

 

 

 

 

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tastes of the med mapGirona countryside · Road bike

Day 1

Arrival in Girona
Welcome meeting in the hotel and bike fitting.

Guest have an opportunity to explore this fascinating city, famous for many reasons not least the incredible number and variety of restaurants within the historic centre. Our guests will enjoy a traditional and generous Catalan meal including the famous ‘Pan tomaquet’ in a hidden local restaurant.

Day 2
Route
: Girona to Monells
girona to monellsDifficulty:
Medium
Length:
85 km
Description:
Day two on the bike takes riders over the famous mountain of Els Angels at 484m altitude before descending into Empordá county a stunning and unbelievably picturesque area snuggled beneath the Las Gavarres Mountains, this ride explores the county before finishing the tiny village of Monells. Els Angels monastery is a 15th century mountain top retreat loved by riders from all over the world but perhaps most famous for being the location of Salvador Dali’s 1958 wedding to his wife Gala. It is one of the most famous road bike hills in Spain. Riders stay in a fully refurbished 14th century hospital famous for its restaurant where they specialize in traditional and elaborate cuisine based on local products.

 

Day 3
Route
: Monells to Sant Marti d’Empúries
cycling tour monell to sant martiDifficulty:
Medium
Length:
45km
Description:
For day two on the bike, riders follow the route north through rolling hills dotted with olive groves and vines visiting the walled village of Verges, and the hilltop hamlet of Sant Iscle d’Empordà. A stunning ride on quiet country roads with no long climbs but some small hills to test you. Arriving in the village next to the Roman city of Emporion from where the region takes its name and most importantly the point on the Spanish peninsular where the Romans introduced grape growing for wine production. The village specializes in the freshest of sea food and guests will enjoy the locally caught local delicacy of anchovies, truly the taste of the Mediterranean. Guests will stay in a sea front hotel located 10m from its own secluded beach.

 

Day 4
Route
: Sant Marti d’Empúries to Calella de Palafrugell.
Sant marti to Calella Difficulty:
Medium
Length:
65km
Description:
Today’s route runs south along the coast before cutting inland and crossing the Les Gavarres mountains’ southern most tip, a diverse ride with some of the most perfect twisty mountain roads on the planet! Riders will cross the Rice growing area surrounding the historic village of Pals before tackling the climb over the mountains to the Costa Brava seaside town of Calonge. Then the route runs along the coast to the village of Calella de Palafrugell.
This route takes in the landscape associated with each traditional crop including the rice growing fields, a rare and unique area of the Costa Brava coast. Guests will also visit a small traditional wine producer and after a tour of the vines and winery will sample the wines over lunch in our ‘vine to bottle’ tour. Guests will stay in the exclusive and fashionable sea side town of Calella de Palafrugell.

  

Day 5
Route
: Calella de Palafrugell to Llagostera
Calella to llagostera Difficulty:
Hard
Length:
55km
Description:
This ride takes riders past the principle town of the region famous for its ceramic production, Bisbal d’Empordá before crossing over the Gavarres mountains to the coastal town of Calonge and after glimpsing the sea the route takes riders over the Gavarres again passing the hilltop village of Romanya de la selva then riders will descend directly into the village of Llagostera. Guests will visit the fishing museum in one of the most important villages on the Costa Brava, Palamos and sample the Spanish Mediterranean national dish of fresh Paella next to the harbor where the catch of the day comes ashore. Guests will stay in an idyllic and traditional Catalan farm house.

  

Day 6
Route
: Llagostera to Girona.
Llagostera to gironaDifficulty:
Medium
Length:
70km
After a hearty Catalan farm house breakfast guest undertake the toughest ride of the week running south again following the Costa Brava coast before passing over the renowned Sant Grau pass at 600m, after passing through the fishing village of Sant Feliu de Guixols, one of the most difficult climbs in the area, and part of the route of the Girona to Barcelona stage of the 2009 Tour de France, this route returns our guests to the city of Girona. The final ride completes the experience riding back towards the city of Girona passing the market villages of Cassà de la Selva and Quart as the landscape begins to change as we come closer to the Pyrenees. The final meal in Girona allows guests to enjoy the very best traditional Catalan food served as tapas with modern flare in a lively riverside restaurant. Riders will return to the same Girona hotels as the first night for the final night of the tour

  

Day 7
Departure