Around Catalonia: Drive & Explore Vacation

This trip can start on a date to suit you from March through June and September through November.

The warmest and driest months are May to October. You can expect the temperatures to be pleasantly warm most of the year in the mid-20°s during the day on average, cooler at night up in the mountains of course. May and June are beautifully green. In October and early November, the autumnal colours are a true sight to behold in the forests of Aigüestortes. We have had people visit over Christmas and enjoy lovely sunny weather, albeit rather cooler, it's lovely walking weather.

Peak season is from mid July to end of August as as the area is busier with summer vacation makers from Spain.

If you have a limited travel window and specific dates we suggest you book around nine months ahead. If you are flexible with dates, then three – four months ahead should be fine.

This vacation is designed to begin in Barcelona and end in Girona, so they are the two most logical choices. Equally, given that they are very close by high speed train and not too far by road, it's easy enough to begin and end at one or the other. It's also possible to fly into Madrid, stay there for a few days, and then connect to Catalonia via fast train. Please do let us know if you're interested in that option, or if we can help decide which are the best flights for you.

Most of the costs of this vacation are fixed so going solo will usually mean you pay nearly the same for one person as you would for two. If you enjoy time to yourself then the experience itself will be absolutely lovely, and safe.

In many ways this is a walking trip wrapped up in a self-drive adventure. A major advantage of having your own car is that the walks can be adapted to your needs completely and overall you have complete control over how much or how little you do on any given day. If you don't feel like walking, you don't have to.

Although this is an independent self-drive vacation, we are always on hand to help and advise should you need us. You will be given a local support number before you travel - we are always on hand 24/7.

The hotels on this trip tend towards the premium end of the scale, which is to say that they are the perfect places to rest up and relax on what is an active vacation with a strong focus on walking. In the countryside you should expect small rural guesthouses, with a warm welcome, characterful and comfortable rooms and often a delicious homecooked meal made with local ingredients.

In Cadaqués your hotel overlooks the old town, a 5-minute amble down to the water. Understated elegance and calming minimalism are the order of the day. Your Girona hotel is in the very heart of the city, on a peaceful street, with a (small) swimming pool.

Absolutely. The shared pride in the Catalan identity is expressed in myriad ways. The most striking is the Catalan nationalist movement and its statements of liberty and the right for self-determination. It underscores much of your trip in Girona and the small villages of La Garrotxa.

But the identity runs much deeper, free from political viewpoints. Throughout this trip you will hear that Catalan is the lingua franca, not Spanish. The food is an absolute delight, as is the wine. Out on the coast, the modern world, and tourism in particular, has encroached on the Costa Brava more than is apparent inland but these coastal communities retain their personality and charm.

The vehicle will be suitable for the destination, the distances you are expected to cover, roads, and number of people travelling. For two people travelling to Spain you can expect a medium-sized vehicle such as a VW Golf or Seat Ibiza. We can’t guarantee the make and model. Speak to us if you prefer a larger vehicle.

If you need an automatic car, that's no problem, though we do need to know in advance as most are manual transmission. Cost of automatic cars tends to be higher.

Generally the hire cars include one named driver. You can add drivers locally and pay locally. Charges vary depending on the location but it is usually no more than Euro 10 per day.

The roads are all paved and in a good to excellent state of repair. You can expect some narrow winding mountain roads but nothing extreme.

Absolutely. This trip can be tailored to suit you so speak to us if you would like to include more activities or extend your stay to include other parts of Spain.

We take a 15% deposit to secure your vacation, with the remainder due eight weeks before your departure.

Your money is 100% protected through our ATOL licence if your trip includes a flight booked through us, or through our ABTOT bond if it does not. Either way, this protection provides a cast-iron financial guarantee and helps you book with complete peace of mind. Because the contract between us exists here in the UK, you get this protection regardless of where you live.