Via Verde el Carrilet: Volcanoes, Forest & Girona (4d)

Today, you arrive in Olot and have the opportunity to get to know this capital of La Garrotxa. A walk through the old town will take you past the Church of Esteve, the modernist buildings from the time of Gaudi, and especially the beautiful Carme Monastery. If you have time, you can also visit the Volcano Museum. Here, everything revolves around nature, including the famous paintings displayed here.

Today, you’ll take a circular ride through the La Garrotxa Nature Park. You’ll cycle along paths through a stunning landscape of forests, lakes, and volcanoes. The highlight is the extinct Croscat volcano, from which you’ll have a beautiful view of the surroundings. There’s no need to worry about an eruption—the last one was more than 10,000 years ago. Today, you’ll truly be cycling through nature, in an area with a wide variety of plants and animals. The route today is short, but it does include some climbs.

If you’d prefer not to climb, choose the travel option with two cycling days and two nights. In that case, you’ll skip the ride through the volcanoes.

Today, you’ll cycle to Girona along the first section of the Via Verde, also known as Carrilet 1. Once again, the volcanoes of La Garrotxa set the tone for the day. This is a quiet and green area where people live off agriculture and livestock farming—a region where Catalans from the cities love to spend their weekends. The towns along the way are centuries old and well worth a visit.

After 61 kilometers, you’ll enter the city of Girona. Girona will surprise you. The city has a very compact center, but there is so much to see that you’ll wish you could stay longer. The cathedral (with a world-famous tapestry), the Jewish Quarter, the squares and terraces, the colorful hanging houses along the Onyar River… What will also stand out to you: Girona is a city with a very vibrant cycling culture.

You’ve left La Garrotxa and Girona behind and are back on the Via Verde for the second part of your bike tour. The landscape is different from yesterday. You’ll cycle through forests, fields, and valleys in an increasingly Mediterranean setting. Along the way, you’ll pass through several villages such as Cassà de la Selva and Llangostera. Before you know it, you’ll reach the coast at Sant Feliu de Guíxols. The last thing you’ll see of the Via Verde is a large buffer stop, reminding you once again that you’ve spent two days cycling on an old railway line. Now it’s time to enjoy the beach and the little harbor of this charming coastal town on the Costa Brava.

Difficulty level 3 for trekking tours are cycling vacations that are manageable for the average recreational cyclist. The routes are not too long but may include some elevation changes. The route may cover longer stretches of unpaved terrain (gravel), but it is always easily rideable. There may be 1 or 2 days where the ride is a bit longer and more challenging. On average, the distances range between 30 and 50 kilometers per day, with elevation gains between 200 to 400 meters per day.

Want to return from St. Feliu de Guíxols to Girona? You can do so by public bus on the weekend or by using a transfer service. Mention this in your travel proposal request, and we will include it in the proposal.

The hotels on this cycling route from Olot to the Mediterranean Sea have been selected based on their quality and location. They are 3-4 star establishments with private bathrooms and good food.

Girona is located in the north of Spain, just across the border with France. Girona has its own airport and is only 1 hour away from the larger international airport in Barcelona. Also connected by train.