Spain Family Biking
From Barcelona to the Pyrénées & Costa Brava
Melting pocket-watches? Elephants with spider legs? In Catalonia, the very same landscape that inspired surrealist Salvador Dali is sure to inspire your gang's real spirit of adventure. From Barcelona, venture into the majestic Pyrénées, where kids can practice their Spanish and learn the art of pottery-making. Adults hug the border to France, pedaling roads the pro cyclists use to train for that famous French race. Medieval villages and a far-out castle are yours to discover en route to the heavenly beaches of the Costa Brava. Seem surreal? You're not dreaming - you're in Catalonia!
- Kick off the journey in vibrant Barcelona
- Ride scenic routes in the Pyrénées foothills
- A kid-friendly ceramics class in Catalonia's pottery capital
- The white-sand beaches of Costa Brava
- Get surreal and admire the artistic genius of Salvador Dalí
The Day-to-Day Itinerary
Day 1 Kick off the journey in vibrant Barcelona, Catalonia's effervescent capital 
Head into the mountains, pedaling past alpine villages, herds of cows and goats, and farmers tending their crops Sample cava, Spain's version of bubbly.
Day 2 Pedal scenic routes in the French Pyrénées foothills, testing your legs on a stretch that's seen action during the world's greatest bike race Know how to make butter? You can learn today at a historic farm! Gaze in awe at the limestone massif of Cadí-Moixeró Nature Reserve.
Day 3 Acclaimed Catalan fusion cuisine and fresh seafood 
Pine and chestnut trees give way to oaks and olive groves en route to the coast Spin past deep valleys and rugged rock walls in La Garrotxa, a remote volcanic area rarely visited by tourists.
Day 4 Kids create their own pottery masterpiece in La Bisbal, Catalonia's ceramics capital Spin past fields of sunflowers and wheat to the beautiful Baix Empordà, the "region of coves," stopping to explore hamlets with cobbled town squares, Baroque-style churches and ancient fortresses A winery invites you in to taste Catalan vintages.
Days 5-6 Bike along the bays of the Costa Brava, where the Mediterranean laps against white-sand beaches, and villages cling to forested hills The Gavarres Nature Reserve offers up a pass to climb Wiggle your toes in the sand during some well-deserved beach time while the kids discover a hidden cove Glorious sea views greet you from the Sant Sebastià lighthouse.
Adult Route Rating What's this?
- Premiere Inns: These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.
- Casual Inns: These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the area with such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.
- Deluxe Family Camping: We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.
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Look at what other guests are saying about this trip!
Once again, Backroads provided a most wonderful vacation and family experience. We learned so much about Catalunya and ourselves through this extraordinary trip that took us from the mountains to the sea. Since coming home, much of my day is spent reliving 420 pictures of a most beautiful experience. Everyone says a memory is worth more than things. Backroads has put together a most magical formula to make that happen....We enjoyed the beauty of Spanish culture, the magic of new friendships, the exuberance from athletic challenge (the Lance climb), the growth that comes from laughter, and the love of family. Backroads allows you to just "be" - to experience the joy of all our senses in a given day, and to appreciate the uniqueness of each one (smell, touch, see, hear and taste). I am forever grateful for all the time and attention that Backroads has given to me and my family. There is no greater thrill than to see your child grow in experience, family and friendship.- Prospect, KY More about this Trip All Guest Reviews
For 32 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the tour experts. To see all our biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning walking and hiking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning multisport tours click here.
Spain Family Biking
Premiere Inns
Torre del Remei
Bolvir de Cerdanya (2 nights) Set amid acres of lush manicured gardens, this modernist château from the early 1900s was designed by a disciple of Antoni Gaudí. A Relais & Chateâux member. (pool)
Mas Falgarona
Figueres (1 night) Owners Brigitta and Severino warmly welcome us into their renovated 15th-century stone farmhouse, tucked into the countryside between the Pyrénées and Costa Brava.
Mas de Torrent Hotel & Spa
Torrent (2 nights) A beautifully restored 18th-century manor house in the Empordà region, where Salvador Dalí was born. A Relais & Châteaux member. (pool, spa)
Spain Family Biking
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Biking Average | Walking Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 miles | 2-5 miles |
| 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
Kid-Friendly Routes
The route options below are for adults and older kids with more biking experience who are up for longer rides or hikes. For all other kids (and adults who choose), we make it easy to do even less than the shortest option mentioned below, usually by taking a short lift in one of our support vehicles. We are here to make sure everyone has a great time so there's no need for you to worry about whether your child will be able to "keep up."
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Levels 1 to 3 2 Route Options Available
- 12, 31 miles
- 660 - 2460 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 1 to 3 5 Route Options Available
- 12, 21, 34, 37, 38 miles
- 550 - 3940 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Levels 2 to 4 3 Route Options Available
- 28, 38, 41 miles
- 990 - 2950 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Levels 2 to 5 4 Route Options Available
- 23, 49, 56, 63 miles
- 660 - 2130 feet elevation gain
Day 5
- Levels 1 to 4 3 Route Options Available
- 17, 28, 47 miles
- 990 - 1970 feet elevation gain
Day 6
- Level 1 2 Route Options Available
- 12, 17 miles
- 400 - 560 feet elevation gain