Medieval Villages & La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Hiking. Small Group Tour | La Vacanza Travel

Medieval Villages & La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Hiking. Small Group Tour

Duration: 9 hours
Destination: Spain, Catalunya, Barcelona
from
170.2

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  • 9 hours
  • Barcelona
  • E-Voucher
  • Lowest Price
  • Not-Cancellable

Overview

We will start the day with a soft hike and a visit at Castellfollit de la Roca, one of the most scenic medieval villages in Catalonia dramatically perched atop a cliffside at the meeting point of two rivers.

We will continue to Sant Joan les Fonts where we will see the romanesque church and medieval bridge from XII century before , we start hiking across one of my favourite paths following 3 lava flows that have shaped the lanscapes of this region. Here we'll learn about the rural way of life of La Garrotxa. The area is simply beautiful and will put you in a zen-like mood.

After the hike we will head to Besalú, the best preserved medieval village in Catalonia, where first we will have some free time to have lunch (we can book a local restaurant for you).

Before comming back to Barcelona, we'll have a guided visit to Besalú where I'll show you the most unique spots of this beautiful medieval town; an authentic trip back in time!

After about one and a half hour drive on a comfortable AC Minivan, we will arrive at La Garrotxa volcanic zone Natural Parc.

We will get ready and start hiking across the Fageda d’en Jordà,  a unique beech forest growing at low altitude (550 m) upon the rugged undulating lava flow emitted by the Croscat volcano. This place is magic and full of peace and if visiting in autumn you will have the chance to see the spectacle of the colors of nature.

After leaving the Fageda, the path will take us into the volcanic area, starting with Santa Margarida, a volcano, whose explosion opened up a wide circular crater in whose midst stands today the eponymous Romanesque church. We will continue hiking through Croscat volcano which with its 160 m in height make it the highest volcanic cone in the Iberian Peninsula. For many years one of its flanks was quarried and today an impressive scar remains as a reminder of the once active quarry.

After about  3,5 hour pleasant hike we will arrive back to the starting point and we will go straight to our selected traditional local restaurant to enjoy a well deserved 3-course meal.

After lunch we will have the chance to see the picturesque town of Castellfollit de la Roca, rising up on a spectacular basalt crag formed by the superimposition of two lava flows, 50 metres high and nearly a kilometre long that has been shaped by the river Fluvià.

Before coming back to Barcelona we will head to Besalú, one of the best preserved catalan medieval towns, where you will feel travelling back in time. There we will enjoy a guided tour across its magical streets and have some free time.

Inclusions
  • Transport by air-conditioned minivan
  • Professional English/Spanish-speaking local guide
  • Bottle of water
  • Small-group tour maximum capacity 8 people per tour
  • Hiking poles, personal insurance
  • Hike & visit to Castellfollit de la Roca
  • Visit to Sant Joan les Fonts & hike at La Garrotxa Volcanic Area
  • Besalú guided visit

Exclusions
  • Tips (optional)
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Please wear hiking / sport shoes and comfortable clothes
  • This is a rain or shine tour, please dress appropriately to the weather (La Garrotxa gets colder than Barcelona in winter!)
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • This is an active experience and includes a hike
  • Small Group maximum capacity 8 people per tour
  • A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
  • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • Remember to bring snacks for the hike. Lunch is not included but we can book a traditional local restaurant for you.
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Departure Point

Pg. de Gràcia, 26, L'Eixample, 08007 Barcelona, Spain


Departure Time

08:30 AM


Return Details

Returns to original departure point

Voucher info

You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.

Duration

9 hours


User's Reviews

Susan_H

03 Apr, 2022

Ramon is an excellent guide - personable, knowledgeable, and flexible - and made this an excellent day trip. We had a nice hike around the volcano park (easy hiking, moderate pace), stopping along the way to enjoy cheese & sausage snacks he provided, then drove to see some lovely examples of medieval villages after enjoying an excellent (optional) fixed-price lunch at a small restaurant just outside the volcano park. Highly recommend Catalan Trails guide service, and Ramon, who do this and many other day trips. This trip is suitable for all ages, and Ramon catered everything to our interests to make our trip most enjoyable. Thanks Catalan Trails!

RachelOng

24 Nov, 2021

We loved our tour with Ramon. He’s so friendly and knowledgeable, and kept the tour and conversation engaging the whole time. La Garrotxa is so beautiful this time of year with the autumn colours, and the hike was easy enough even for amateur hikers. Besalu is so quaint and unique too. All in all, a really memorable day.

HippoSlippers

15 Aug, 2020

Our special trip with Ramon truly represents our return to freedom after the very intense lockdown in Barcelona. The fresh air and beautiful views were our reward. Ramon is an outstanding guide. He is so knowledgeable about the area and added a lot of details and context about the geology and history that we wouldn't have gotten on our own. At the same time, he didn't force conversation on the drive, which I think shows a level of comfort with silence that is uncommon in the industry, but also probably appreciated by many clients. All three stops were gorgeous and special. Besalu is definitely a must-see. We opted for the restaurant lunch, and it was really nice. Overall, wonderful tour.

Ali_A

04 Mar, 2020

I had an absolutely SPLENDID time on this tour! Ramon is highly knowledgeable and a truly excellent travel guide. I very much appreciated his input and explanations to the historical contexts and undertones that explain the existence of specific architectural structures in the medieval towns, not to mention all of the fantastic photo shots. The nature hikes were particularly my favorite part of the whole experience because of the limited exposure to nature in downtown Barcelona. Ramon is also an excellent conversationalist; we chatted for hours on all sorts of topics ranging from travel, to history, to politics. I most appreciate Ramon's help and advice on finalizing my last tourist attraction visits prior to the end of my vacation, as well as for the great restaurant tips. FYI Ramon: I went to La Fonda del Port Olimpic, as you suggested for seafood, and the food was amazing! Thanks again for such a great time!

Caligal328

29 Oct, 2019

We were lucky to have Ramón as our guide. He was very friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. We had a lovely hike followed by a delicious lunch and then tour of the picturesque village of Besalú. Ramón’s knowledge of history and culture made the day much more interesting than if we had done this on our own.

User's Picture Gallery

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Great guide service and enjoyable day!

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Highly recommended, such an enjoyable day!

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Amazing!

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El mejor tour de trails con el mejor guía

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