Please plan your travel to arrive at the Hotel Peninsular in Girona by 3:30 PM to meet your guides and check-in. Transatlantic flights from the U.S. will depart on Friday night and arrive Barcelona (BCN) Terminal 1 sometime in the morning. After collecting luggage, we recommend taking a taxi to the Barcelona Sants train station (takes 20-30 minutes and costs ~€35) and then taking the train to Girona (the trip on a high-speed train only takes 39 minutes). The Hotel Peninsular is a 15-minute walk from the Girona Train Station. Participants will receive additional guidance on getting from BCN to the hotel in Girona after registering for the tour. If four or more participants will arrive BCN on the same flight, we may arrange a van transfer from the airport directly to Girona at a reasonable price per person. Participants that arrive the hotel before 3:30 PM can check-in if their rooms are ready, or they can leave their luggage with the hotel bellman and explore the city.

At 4:00 PM we will meet for our bike fitting, and while the rental bikes should have been dialed into the measurements/specifications you will have provided in advance, some minor adjustments are typically needed. Please bring your computer mount, pedals and saddle (if you are particular about saddles and brought your own) to the fitting. At 5:00 PM we will gather in the hotel’s Novara meeting room for introductions and to review the schedule for the week and other tour details.

After a short break, we will gather in the hotel lobby to walk to a welcome dinner.

The Ride:
Banyoles Loop | 40 miles (65 km) | 2,900 ft (875 m) elevation

Route Difficulty: 2.5/5

What to Expect:
Since this is your first day in Girona, and many in our group – if not all – will be a bit jet-lagged, we will start our day an hour later than we will the rest of the week (please see description of a typical day’s schedule in the FAQs), and our optional inspirational morning devotions will begin at 8:30 AM, breakfast at 9:00 AM, and the ride start at 10:00 AM.

Today’s ride will be the shortest of the week, designed to introduce you to the various types of gravel roads, tracks and paths you will encounter throughout the week, including a few short, punchy climbs. Only about half of this route is on gravel, the rest on paved roads, but some of those are quiet rural backroads used by farmers. After a fun roll out through the old city and its ancient cobbled streets, past the Cathedral made famous in the Game of Thrones, we will ride north from Girona in a counter-clockwise loop that takes us to Lake Banyoles, a charming lake next to the town of the same name. Banyoles has been developing a vibrant triathlete community, who combine swims in the largest natural lake in Catalonia with their rides and runs. Our ride out of the city starts with a packed gravel bike path and some paved roads, but before long we will be riding loose gravel backroads onto a ridge that offers stunning views of the Pyrenees. After 20 miles (32 km) of cycling we will reach the northern end of the lake, and ride a lakeside bike path south to a lunch/coffee stop at the cyclist-friendly Café Aquarium, run by a former pro continental cyclist from South Africa. Weather permitting, we will sit outside and enjoy the lake views.

After the break, our return to Girona will include peaceful back country roads and gravel tracks, one section that includes a 2 kilometer long climb. The final segment into town will be on farming roads that will suddenly drop us into the city, right by the Cellar de Can Roca, the amazing 3-star Michelin restaurant featured in the Netflix Chef’s Table series. [Unfortunately, our Ride Camp price point does not permit us to dine there this week, but if you wish to try it while you are in Girona, we recommend booking well in advanced.] We should arrive back at the hotel by 3:00 PM, and after dropping your bikes at the storage room, you will be treated to our daily post-ride feed table with many culinary delights. The rest of the afternoon will be free to explore the city. At 7:30 PM we will meet for dinner.

The Ride:
Gravel Paths to the Coast | 50 miles (85 km) | 2,500 ft (750 m) elevation

Route Difficulty: 2/5

What to Expect:
Today’s ride is designed to show off the beauty of the Mediterranean coast. We will get there by cycling 24 miles (40 km) of mostly-flat bike path (packed gravel with some pavement) through farmland south and then east of the city, ending at a captivating and serene beach, the Platja de Sant Pol. After arriving, our group will have the opportunity to leave their bikes with our support team and go explore the enchanting Camí de Ronda, a walking path carved between the rocky coast and developments north of Sant Pol, or just relax on the beach. Then we will enjoy a traditional Catalan lunch at a beachside restaurant.

After our coastal break, we will start back to Girona on the same bike path we cycled to the coast, which climbs at a gentle grade for about 7 miles. When the path turns north, we will leave the trail and cycle quieter gravel tracks much of the way back to town, which makes the ride back a few miles longer than the way out. We are confident everyone will arrive at the post-ride feed table with smiles on their faces and perhaps wishing they had put on a bit more sunscreen during the day.

The Plan:
Either (i) a rest day to explore Girona, with a Food Tour of the city or (ii) cycle a challenging gravel route to the coast.

Route Difficulty: 4/5 (for those that cycle)

What to Expect:
A comment often heard from those that come to Girona on cycling holidays is that they wished “we had cycled a bit less and taken more time to explore the charming city and its culture.”

That remark will not be made by those who choose our first option. At 10:15 AM our group will meet for a special 3+ hour private Food Tour of Girona - led by a passionate foodie guide - who will also explain the history of the city and describe Catalan culture as he takes us on a progressive lunch of delicious local tastings. Among the food you will sample is Jamón Ibérico and local wines, and you will also visit the local food market.

Afterwards, you will be free to explore Girona on your own, perhaps walking the Roman wall, visiting the Cathedral, doing a bit of shopping, sampling coffee at some of the 12 excellent specialty coffee shops within walking distance from the hotel, or hiking up to the Castell de Sant Miquel (which we will cycle to via a different route on Thursday), the ruins of an 11 century defensive fortress/military outpost that sits on a mountain just outside the city (~2.5 hours round trip from the hotel).

For those that would rather cycle than enjoy a day in the city, we have an amazing, but challenging, route to the coast: 67 miles (108 km) with 4,400 ft (1,300 m) elevation.

The Ride:
Farmlands and Single Track | 50 miles (80 km) | 3,300 ft (1,000 m) elevation

Route Difficulty: 2.5/5

What to Expect:
After our rest day in Girona on Tuesday, today we will re-engage our legs with a meandering route that provides a great variety of terrain, with only moderate elevation. We should be back at the hotel no later than 3:00 PM.

The first 9 miles (15 km) out of town has more pavement than gravel, but then we start a gravel path alongside the Volcà de la Crosa (Volcano of the Cross), which has the widest crater on the Iberian Peninsula and is the largest in Europe. At that point members of the group who don’t wish to cycle the full route have the option to ride a modified loop back to Girona with one of our guides, which would make the total ride a little over 25 miles (40 km). The rest of the group will continue on amazing backroad tracks through vibrant forest and lush fields to the town Santa Coloma de Farners, where we will have a picnic or restaurant lunch, depending on the weather. Our 22 mile (37 km) return to Girona includes a delightful variety of terrain, some past rolling farmlands, some in the woods, and even some sweet rolling single track.

The Ride:
Santa Pellaia, Els Angels and Sant Miquel Loop | 40 miles (65 km) | 4,100 ft (1,200 m) elevation

Route Difficulty: 3.5/5

What to Expect:
Although not long, today’s ride will be the most challenging of the week for those that don’t cycle on our option day, and you to three well-known summits near Girona. Santa Pellaia and Els Angels are climbs also accessible to road cyclists; Sant Miquel is only reached on mountain or gravel bikes. Only stronger, more experienced gravel cyclists should participate. We will offer an alternate program for those who choose not to cycle.

After 11 miles (18 km) of riding south of Girona on bike path and farm roads, we turn east and begin the backroads climb to the monastery of Sant Mateu de Montenegro, a modest 4% grade, but beware the short, steep pitches that will require power and bike handling skills. Your effort will have earned you a rolling descent with moderate technical challenge to the Santa Pellaia summit, which is known to local road cyclists as the Hincapie climb. Our gravel road drops us in front of the 13th-century church with panoramic views from its 1,200 ft (350 m) elevation, and as we enjoy a feed stop, you will likely see numerous road cyclists rolling past on the pavement, perhaps even a pro team moving at speeds most of us can only dream of.

After refilling our water bottles we will join road cyclists on the pavement for a 4 mile (6 km) descent to our next gravel segment, and begin climbing the opposite side of Sant Mateu de Montnegre. From there we roll along the side of the mountain on a fast, groomed dirt road to the popular Els Angels climb from Girona, where we will jump on the road for about a mile (1.5 km) to the Els Angels summit.

At the top we will enjoy a coffee and picnic lunch, and you can explore the iconic chapel, its rich history, surrounding grounds, and views of the coast to the east and the Pyrenees to the north. From the summit we descend 5 km on the paved road back toward Girona, then exit onto our next gravel segment, a track that traverses the ridge and begins the climb to the Castell de Sant Miquel, the ruins of a defensive fortress/military outpost that dates to the 11th century. The steep gravel ride up (with sections >12% grade) will reward those who make it with stunning 360 degree views of the region from the top of the still-standing fortress tower. The descent to Girona is initially steep and technical, but soon opens up and eventually drops us into the San Daniel neighborhood of Girona, and we ride on cobblestones past the Roman walls as we enter the Barri Vell (“old neighborhood”) and make our way to our hotel and our post-ride feed table.

For the non-riding guests today, we plan an excursion to the charming fisherman’s village of Cadaqués on the Costa Brava, considered one of the most beautiful in Spain. An ancient medieval town that was once circled by walls, Cadaqués became an important cultural center in the early 20th century, as the village and its surrounding wild landscape attracted artists such as Picasso, Chagall, and Salvador Dalì.

The Ride Options:
Empordà Loop with Medieval Villages and a Winery | 65 miles (105 km) | 2,000 ft (600 m) elevation

Route Difficulty: 2.5/5

What to Expect:
Today’s ride is long - just over a metric century - but with flat roads and a few scheduled stops, most will not consider it a difficult ride, but rather a leisurely, joyful day exploring Catalan backroads and medieval villages on a gravel bike.

The Baix Empordà is a comarques or county to the east of Girona, between Girona and the Mediterranean coast. Relatively flat countryside, it has a rich history that dates to the 6th century B.C., when it was first settled by the Greeks. The Empordà is dotted with ancient villages, and we will pass many and explore a few.

After a few miles of pavement to get out of town, we head east for over 30 miles (50 km) following the Riu Ter on a variety of gravel roads and paths, some past tree farms, some through forest, some through farmland. At our easternmost point we have the option of stopping for coffee at the cycling friendly Rustik Empordà, but the group might want to press on, since it is only another 12 miles (20 km) south to the excellent Cellar Mas Geli winery, where we will enjoy a tour, tasting and picnic in the vineyards.

After lunch we cycle a few kilometers to the remarkably well preserved medieval hilltop village of Pals, which dates to the 9th century. As we cycle up the cobbled lanes of the village you will feel like you’ve travelled back in time, with buildings made from stone, picturesque arches, and a tower that is all that remains of a castle built between the 11th and 13th century. At the top of the village you can visit the Església de Sant Pere, a church more than 1.000 years old!

From Pals we cycle 4 miles (6 km) of peaceful countryside on a mix of gravel and tarmac to another remarkable medieval village, Peretallada. The town’s name is from two words, pedra + tallada, which literally means stone + engraved, and you will quickly understand how Peratallada was considered one of the most fortified walled villages in the region. Highlights in the town are the fortified castle with its tribute tower dating to the 11th-14th centuries, the moat - excavated into rock - that surrounds the town, and the church of Sant Esteve (Romanesque, early 13th century). As we ride the cobbled, narrow lanes of the village, you will notice many inhabitants maintain beautiful flowering plants throughout.

From there it is about 25 miles (40 km) back to Girona, again on a mix of gravel farm roads and pavement. On the way you will find the only meaningful elevation of the day, a 2.5 mile (4 km) climb on paved road at a modest 2% grade.

When we approach Girona, stronger and more experienced riders may want to consider two alternate, spicy options to end the ride (all others will return to the hotel with one or more of our guides on a combination of paved roads and bike-paths). The first is to return to Girona via a challenging gravel ascent to Sant Miquel, a different route, longer and steeper than we will have ridden the day before. The second is to return to Girona on a little-known, narrow, steep, two-way-but-one-lane road of rough pavement to the hillside community of Montjuic (“Mountain of the Jews” in medieval Catalan), now one of the higher-end neighborhoods of Girona and home to a number of pro cyclists. From there we have a fairly steep, serpentine descent on well-maintained paved roads to the Barri Vell and our hotel. The only disappointment on the day will be when we roll through the city at the end of our ride, realizing our Gravel Ride Camp has come to an end.

This evening we will gather for a special dinner at the hotel, celebrating our week of exploring the gravel roads of Girona together.

Sadly, our Gravel Ride Camp will have come to an end, and we will need to wish one another Godspeed. Since many of the group will be leaving the hotel early to take a fast train to Barcelona to catch morning flights back to the U.S., we will not gather for morning devotions. Nevertheless, for those whose schedule permits, the hotel breakfast buffet will be available starting at 7:30 AM. If we have four or more participants who are departing on the same flight or who are willing to arrive BCN at the same time, we will arrange a van transfer directly from the hotel to the airport at a reasonable price per person. Of course, if you wish to extend your stay in Girona longer, you are welcome to do so. We have a number of more challenging gravel routes that we can share with you if you want to rent a bike and venture out on your own.