Put one foot in front of the other. Feel the crunch of pine needles beneath your shoes. The sun's warmth on your face. Repeat. The perfect rhythm to another perfect day. It's simple to settle into this pace. To amble amid high cliffs, heavenly Costa Brava beaches and immense Pyrenees massifs as if there's no separation between the landscape and your leisurely swinging limbs. Medieval towns unsullied by time. Whitewashed fishing villages. Curvaceous calas (coves) and an azure sea. Walking in Catalonia. One of travel's most perfect pleasures.
Day 1 Relais & Châteaux luxury each night,
starting at the incomparable Mas de Torrent 
Explore the Gothic Quarter of Pals, an enchanting mix of stone arches, square towers and cobbled streets 
Amble through bucolic countryside past farmers tending their crops in the Baix Empordà, a region whose vast network of trails is known to seduce hikers.
Day 2 Walk the Costa Brava's ancient footpaths
from cliffs to secluded coves Half-moons of white sand and crystal clear water cupped by forested hillsides - these beaches are simply sublime Linger over a seafood lunch in a sleepy fishing village.
Days 3-4 Gaze in awe at the rugged peaks and shimmering lakes
of the high Pyrenees Visit Montgrony sanctuary, set on a dramatic cliff Cross the border into France for a hike that leads over stone bridges to the scenic Bouillouses Lake Savor acclaimed sun-kissed Catalan wines.
Days 5-6 Trek through Cadí-Moixeró Nature Park
along pine-clad slopes and enjoy far-reaching vistas of the Cadí Valley Relax over a gourmet Backroads picnic in the Bastanist Valley Up for one last hike? Set out early for a ramble across the rolling terrain of the Segre River Valley to a pair of atmospheric villages.
Trip Highlights
- Relais & Châteaux luxury each and every night
- Walk the Costa Brava's ancient footpaths from cliffs to secluded coves
- Sun-kissed Catalan wines and authentic Pyrenees cuisine
- Gaze in awe at rugged peaks and shimmering lakes
- Breathtaking limestone cliffs and verdant meadows in Cadí-Moixeró Nature Park
Premiere Inns
Mas de Torrent Hotel & Spa (2 nights): A beautifully restored 18th-century manor house with stylish rooms and historic country charm. A Relais & Châteaux member. (pool, spa, tennis)
Torre del Remei (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 & Châteaux member. (pool)
El Castell de Ciutat (1 night): Hideaway Report calls it an "unpretentious and hospitable inn set on a ridge in the Catalan Pyrenees overlooking the picturesque Cerdanya valley." A Relais & Châteaux member. (pool, spa)
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.
| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 2.4* | 200 | 4.5 | 200 | 6.7 | 300 | ||||
| 2 | 4.8 | 1000 | 8.4 | 2500 | ||||||
| 3 | 5.0* | 1400 | 6.8 | 2900 | ||||||
| 4 | 4.3* | 1100 | 10.4 | 1400 | ||||||
| 5 | 4.3 | 1300 | 7.3 | 2600 | ||||||
| 6 | 3.7 | 600 | ||||||||
* Includes a shuttle
2013 Dates & Pricing*
CLASSIC TRIPS
- 6/2-7 Price: $4698 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1160 for sgl. occ.)
- 6/23-28 Price: $4598 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1160 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/7-12 Price: $4498 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1160 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/21-26 Price: $4498 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1160 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/25-30 Price: $4498 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1160 for sgl. occ.)
- 9/1-6 Price: $4598 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1160 for sgl. occ.)
- 9/22-27 Price: $4598 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1160 for sgl. occ.)
- 10/6-11 Price: $4598 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1160 for sgl. occ.)
*Prices may change. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.
Guest Trip Reviews
The variety of hiking scenery and difficulty, in addition to the amazing food two incredible leaders, and a fun group of people made this trip especially wonderful. Thank you!- New York, NY
All of our Backroads' experiences have been wonderful and unique. What stands out the most for this one is that each of the days' hikes are quite distinct from one another. Having wonderful weather, great leaders, and a good group certainly helped as well.- La Jolla, CA
This was a lovely trip - the hikes were well planned and all offered different scenic vistas of Catalunya. The introduction to the culture was exceptional.- Pleasanton, CA
This was our first Backroads trip and we couldn't have been more pleased with the experience. The hikes were the perfect combination of diverse conditions and environments as well as challenging.- Pasadena, CA
This was our first Backroads trip and we were blown away! It was the perfect combination of walking/hiking, beautiful scenery, delicious food and wine, and fabulous people! We're hooked!- Atlanta, GA
Great itinerary with beaches, mountains, and lots of food, wine, and history!- Dallas, TX