Aireal view from the Costa Brava beaches between Palamos and Calella de Palafrugell. Just after Playa Castell you will climb in the woods where you can find some nice places to spend some time and rest on the beach
La Gironabrava Bikepacker.
This page is not finished yet some more updates will be made on the route and info about the trip so please check back in the following weeks.
The Girona Brava is a 530 kilometer bikepacing loop out of Girona in Catalunya visiting some of the highlights of the Costa Brava. Beautifull beaches, mountains, rocky coasts, tourist centers, nature parks, mediaval villages all are part of this route.
The route is best made with a MTB, dropbar MTB or gravel bike with at least 42mm tires. Most of the route are easy gravelroads, about 10% is singletrack (sometimes with sharp rocks but never technical or with a lot of roots) there are also asphalt stretches, but these are a divine stretches coastal riding or climbing. Highest point of the route is just below 1000 meters so no high altitude riding or superlong climbs on this trip.
Most restaurants offer good menus at lunch for the price of 10/15 euros. it is not necesaary to take a stove if you want to travel light. Often shops might be closed during siesta hours. You never need to take along a lot of water, almost all of the villages have resuply points although in the stretch between port de La Selva and Besalu the resuply points become fewer. For lodging in major villages you might even find hotels in wintertime. Some campings will open in April and others in June, almost all of them close for the winter. Wild camping is possible along the route, at your own risk and feeling of course. But often not officially allowed in the natural parks.
Watch out for animals. I have already encountered some wild boar on the route and you will bump into some horses, cows or sheep occasionally. And in autumn, winter and spring you might run into a hunting party, so be ready to take a detour if necesary and have some coourfull clothing. Please respect farmers fencing of their cattle or land and one-way streets if the route might pass.. taking a detour might be best.
If you have any questions do not hesitate to send me a mail: mike@mikesteegmans.com
Girona to Tossa de Mar
The ride starts in the beautifull town of Girona, by now this place is most known to be one of the decors from Game of Thrones but also as one of the cycling hubs in Europe. You take of on easy gravel roads (following the Pirinexus bike touring route) and after Llagostera you enter the Cadiretes massif. Where some of the most rocky terrain from the trip awaits. Steep Climbs and some very steep downhils are part of the route here. The rain often drains out all the sand from the rocks and you will have to do some fine tire placement to find a route between all the rocky ruts. Finally you will get to the beach town of Tossa de Mar. Known for it’s beautifull beach with it’s castle. When you have the luck to visit a Correfoc in one of the Villages, buy some earplugs and enjoy this great event.
Lodging in Girona and Tossa de Mar
Resupply in Girona, Casa De La Selva, Llagostera and Tossa. Some gas stations also along the route.
Tossa De Mar to Sant-Feliu de Guixols
Leaving the town of Tossa we start a steep climb climb into the Cadiretes, pass close the Sant Grau and then go down to coastal road to Sant-Feliu. If the previous day the downhill where to rocky, there is the possibility to continu to Sant Grau once you cross the road just after the top of the climb and then ride down on the asphalt to the coastal road.
Lodging in Tossa de Mar and Sant Feliu de Guixols.
No resuply and almost no restaurants on this part of the route. (There is a cafe in Sant Grau and a restaurant with unclear opening hours on the coastal route.
Sant-Feliu de Guixols to Palamos
The ride trough the Gavarres. The Gavarres are the hills between Girona and and the beaches of the Costa Brava. We pass next to the super touristy place of Platja d’Aro before a steep climb into the Gavarres followed by some nice inland and coastal views followed by some sweet fast gravel descending and then after the village of Calonge another short climb and downhill before hitting the fishermans town of Palamos. If you would decide to ride to the beach of Calonge, and find a campig or hotel you can go for a walk among the beautifull beaches between Sant Antoni de Calonge and Platja d’Aro.
Sleeping in Sant Feliu, Platja D’Aro, Calonge, Sant Antoni de Calonge, Palamos. Resuply also in all of the villages.
Palamos to Pals
Here you get to ride among the beaches from the Costa Brava. even some camping is possible, or good time to escape the hot sun if you decide to ride the route in the summer heat.After the Gavarres the route rejoins the coast at La Fosca where you can find the old fishermans village of Cala S’alguer.. Once you passed Playa Castell the route goes into the Espai natural de Platja de Castell where you get treated to nice single track and great beaches. Best beaches here are Cala Canyers (the route passes here) and Cala Estreta (short walk of the route, best take your bike along. this is a pefect place to rest in summer there are even a lot of people camping out in Cala Estreta. After the Cabo Roig it’s back downhill to the fishermans village of Calella de Palafrugell and then to Pals.
Sleeping and resupply in Palamos, La Fosca, Calella de Palagrugell, Llafranc, Palafrugell, Pals.
Pals to Roses
Almostflat section between the Villages Pals and Roses. The road passes trough some beautifull medieval villages, rice fields, the Montgri massif, the Aiguamolls d’Emporda and the superweird place of Empuriabrava with it’s channels. Here we are in the hart of the Emporda region. Nice mostly easy riding, just one steep climb on asphalt in the Montgri and a rocky downhill. When in Bellcaire D’Emporda before 2 PM bring a visit to Rustik a great café/backery. If you decide to stay in Torroella de Montgri the 40 minute walk up the castle for sunset is always a good idea, you can even walk up the walls. No entry and the castle is always open.
Sleeping and Resupply in most of the Villages along the route.
Roses to Port de La Selva
My favorite riding of the whole trip. Nice easy climbs and some cool singletrack. Plus the Cap de Creus. You can even hop into Dali’s hous when in Cadaques. Best not to wildcamp in the National Park over here.
Sleeping in Roses, Cadaques and Port de La Selva. Resupply best in Roses and Cadaques.
Port de La Selva to Besalu
Climbing out of Port de La Selva on asphalt untill just after the summit and the Sant Pere de Rodes montastery brings us in the border region between french and spanish Catalunya. Mostly cool double track and some Menhirs before rejoining the village of Capmany. On this stretch you will also find the high-point of the route at almost 1000 metres.
Sleeping and Resupply in Port de La Selva. Some villages with small shops and restaurants along the route. La Jonquera is also a possibility if a hotel is needed in wintertime.
Besalu to Girona
Last stretch down. After leaving the beautiful medieval village of Besalu all that rests is a nice ride to Girona. If you feel like adding some extra climbing before going back home the asphlt climb to the top of the Santuari de Deu Del Mont brings you to some nice views over the Emporda Valley and the Garrotxa mountains.
Sleeping and resuply in Besalu.
