Coastal Walks of Catalunya

Name: Coastal Walks of Catalunya
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.5 (2 reviews)

2 reviews

Activity

Walking & Trekking

Overview

Track the magnificent Wild Coast on a picturesque walking week in Spain

Spanning an untamed stretch of northeastern Spain, the Costa Brava is a golden sweep of hidden coves, peaceful fishing villages and some of the best beaches in the country. In short, the ideal destination for a week of coastal walking. With our expert tour leader guiding the way, we set out on foot to discover the highlights – medieval towns, pretty fishing communities and a showreel of coastal vistas – while also stopping at a vineyard for a wine tasting and Salvador Dalí’s summer house. Starting and ending in the electric seaside city of Barcelona also allows us to enjoy a touch of culture without getting too swept up in the bustle.

Key Information

Trip Code: TSC
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Spain
Carbon Footprint: 11.7kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All accommodation: 6 Classic nights (hotels)
All breakfasts and one dinner
Immersive itinerary with all transport (private air-conditioned minibus) and listed activities
Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure
Group arrival and departure transfers available

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations. On this trip local taxes are not included.

5 days of Walking & Trekking

Pace:

Five walking days
Approximately three to five hours walking per day

Terrain:

Low altitude throughout. Well marked trails and paths with some steep ascents and the occasional rocky but short scramble

Day 2: 14 km / 8.7 miles
Day 3: 8 km / 5 miles
Day 4: 9 km / 5.6 miles
Day 5: 16 km / 9.9 miles
Day 6: 11 km / 6.8 miles

Highlights

Marvel at the highlights of Barcelona
Enjoy picturesque views from the Sant Pere church in Pals
Sip the local produce at Finca Bell Lloc, an idyllic vineyard and winery
Visit Salvador Dalí's quirky summer house

Itinerary

First Destination: Barcelona
Next Destination: Barcelona

Accommodation:Catalonia Sagrada Familia/Hotel Ronda House (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Accommodation:Hotel Octavia (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Hotel Octavia (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Hotel Rosa (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Hotel Rosa (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Hotel Rosa (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Barcelona
Next Destination: Barcelona

Begin your adventure in Barcelona, a captivating city of quirky landmarks and excellent cuisine.

Say hola to your tour leader and fellow travellers as we gather for a guided walking tour. Stops include La Rambla, Barcelona Cathedral and the Gothic Quarter. Around 6pm, we come together to learn more about the adventures ahead.

Your tour leader then ensures a big Spanish welcome by arranging a group dinner.

Want to explore Barcelona further? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Accommodation:Catalonia Sagrada Familia/Hotel Ronda House (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Transfer to Port de La Selva after breakfast, a pretty coastal town with a fishing heritage. After a coffee, we begin our first walk, following the GR11 through Cap de Creus Natural Park, starting with a gentle 2mi (3km) climb.

Halfway, we pause in the isolated cove of Cala Tavellera to relax and take our first dip in the Mediterranean, if the weather is nice.

After, we have another gentle climb and walk 4mi (7km) to Cadaques, one of the most charming towns in Catalunya with its seafront promenade, cobblestone streets, and white houses.

Accommodation:Hotel Octavia (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

This morning, we walk directly from our hotel to Cap de Creus and its lighthouse. On our way, we discover more pristine coves and wander around the narrow streets and picturesque waterfront of Cadaqués.

From Cap de Creus Natural Park, we either take a public shuttle bus back to Cadaqués (around €4 – fare not included) or taxis (around €15-€20 per person – fare not included).

Back in Cadaqués, we visit the summer house of artist Salvador Dalí, a fascinating building decorated with surrealist artwork and furniture. From here, we can enjoy the olive gardens and fantastic Mediterranean Sea views.

Accommodation:Hotel Octavia (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

After breakfast, take a private transfer to Begur, a medieval town crowned by a hilltop stone castle. On arrival, we have lunch at one of the many great restaurants near our hotel.

Afterwards, we begin our walking with a circular route – a fantastic introduction to the dramatic local landscapes of secluded coves, fishing villages and rugged cliffs.

Accommodation:Hotel Rosa (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

This morning, we walk directly from our hotel to the picturesque town of Pals, where we can admire the restored gothic architecture and the Torre de les Hores, a 50ft (15m) tall stone tower that was once attached to a castle but has now become a symbol of the city.

From here, we wander through the winding narrow streets to the small gothic church of Sant Pere (which was built using stones from the old Pals castle) for breathtaking panoramic views. We also have lunch in Pals, a good chance to sample the local paella recipe.

There will be free time this afternoon and we recommend exploring the old quarter in Begur, visiting the medieval castle, the church, the 16^th-century defensive towers and the cultural centre.

Accommodation:Hotel Rosa (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

From Begur, we walk south following the coast, taking in the stunning landscape and wandering through the coastal towns of Tamariu and Llafranc. We are greeted by fantastic views of the shore, with turquoise waters and wild scenery. The route today is mostly on rolling coastal paths.

From Llafranc, we take a private transfer to Finca Bell Lloc, an idyllic vineyard and winery where we enjoy a wine tasting. Relaxed, we take a private transfer back to Begur.

Accommodation:Hotel Rosa (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Our adventure ends with a transfer from Begur to Barcelona Airport. If you’ve still got the appetite for a bit more exploration, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

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Accommodation

Three-star hotels in Barcelona, Begur and Cadaqués

We spend six nights in three-star hotels, each chosen for their comfort and location. Below are the hotels we typically use:

Barcelona: Catalonia Sagrada Familia or Hotel Ronda House (night 1)

Coastal Walks of Catalunya

Our adventure begins at either Catalonia Sagrada Familia or Hotel Ronda House. The former has a lounger-lined dipping pool, plus a snack bar serving tapas and a selection of cocktails – the perfect spot to mingle with the group. The latter has an excellent location near Sant Antoni Market, plus a stylish bar.

Cadaqués: Hotel Octavia (nights 2-3)

Coastal Walks of Catalunya

Hotel Octavia places us moments from the harbour and galleries. Bright rooms, friendly staff and a generous breakfast create an easy, relaxed base, letting us step straight from coastal paths into village life each evening.

Begur: Hotel Rosa (nights 4-6)

Coastal Walks of Catalunya

Enjoy views of Begur Castle from the terrace or mingle in the games room at this 21-room hotel. A town centre location makes this retreat perfect for exploring the best of Begur.

Essential Information

This trip is rated Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

There are five days of walking. The terrain and path type will vary but most are good-quality coastal paths and gravel tracks. The walks are not technically difficult; however, you need to cover distances of up to 10mi (16km) so a basic level of fitness is required. Anyone with a reasonable level of fitness should be comfortable with the daily distances and height gained.

Key information

Recommended arrival time: We have a walking tour in the afternoon and there will be a welcome briefing around 6pm.
Airport: Barcelona Airport (BCN)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately 30 minutes’ drive from the airport. We provide one group transfer from the airport to the hotel, which you can join at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.

Catching your return flight

There’s one group transfer to the airport, which you can join at no extra cost. Please speak to your sales representative for the time of the transfer. If the group transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative.

Spain

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Spain. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/spain
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/spain
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Spain.html

Breakfasts will be continental with cold cheese, meats and bread, plus pastries, tea and coffee.

Vegetarians: While a meat-and-fish diet is the norm in Spain, many vegetarians have not experienced any problems here. However, the choice of vegetarian and vegan meals may not be as extensive as you are used to.

Mealtimes in Spain are later than in many other countries; dinner is usually taken between 9pm and 9.30pm.

The climate in Catalonia is Mediterranean with mild temperatures and most rain falling in winter, but possible throughout the year. Seasons are marked, with pleasant temperatures in the spring, summer and autumn. Heatwaves can hit between mid-June and September. For this reason, we avoid departures during the hottest months of July and August. In April and October, expect temperatures around 5C-25C (41F-77F). May, June and September are typically sunny and warm with temperatures of 10C-30C (50F-86F).

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

Reviews

Add new review

Caroline Gibbs

Added September 2025

Catalunya

This is shown in the brochure as category 2 (easy and moderate). However, having been on four Exodus holidays previously of varying levels we hadn’t anticipated how challenging much of the terrain would be (acknowledging it is coastal). This is because much of the terrain was quite steep, of mostly loose gravel, slate and in places rocky. This is OK for a category higher, but in some instances here concentrating on your footing becomes your world, subsequently missing out on enjoying more of the surroundings. There also turned out to be little free time to explore or chill in Cadeques and Bergur. Despite some unanticipated walking challenges this was a very much enjoyable week that provided a great experience of this part of Spain – lovely hotels, great restaurants, the winery and Dali’s house among others - with a lovely group of fellow travellers. Overall, a great week, but it’s a Cat3!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide Alex was simply superb! Affable, helpful, nothing was too much trouble for him and very importantly he cared about everyone’s wellbeing.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Anticipate the walks to be a little more challenging than indicated.

Kasia Morgan

Added October 2024

Stunning Catalan coastlines

Stunning coastal paths, delicious Catalan food and wine and a fantastic tour leader who was brilliant at tailoring the experiences to our various preferences. Our trip included a variety of different experiences - from hiking beautiful coastal paths, to spotting exotic birds in a nature reserve, to wine tasting at an architecturally-renowned winery, to exploring Dali's weird and wonderful summer house.

Most Inspirational Moment

Swimming in a beautiful secluded little bay at the end of a memorable day of walking to Spain's most North-Easterly point.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fantastic - he was from the area so knew the hiking paths and local wildlife like the back of his hand and was able to recommend a number of brilliant local restaurants. He was also great at adjusting the plan each day to suit our various needs and preferences.

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