Discover Northern Catalonia CT3
Barcelona - Pyrenees - Costa Brava
Based on 14 nights self-drive, independent tour of North Catalonia
Circular tour of north Catalonia – Barcelona, the Catalan Pyrenees and the Costa Brava – all in one marvellous trip!
Crystalline Mediterranean coves, spectacular 3000m+ mountains combine with a city break in the region’s capital to make a spectacular itinerary in northern Catalonia.
Lesser known highlights include the volcanic park of La Garrotxa, the magnificent castle of Cardona (where you’ll stay), medieval Girona, Santa Pau and Besalú and the fascinating Romanesque churches of Vall de Boí and Val d’Aran.
Fly into Barcelona or Girona, or combine the two, the trip normally takes two weeks but you can do as much or as little as you like.
- Tour Highlights:
- Barcelona - start the trip with a world-class city break
- Stay in the magnificent Castle of Cardona
- Hiking in the spectacular Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park
- Romanesque churches of the valleys of Boí and Aran
- La Garrotxa Volcanic Park
- Visit the unique Dalí museum in Figueras
- Finish in style on the glittering Mediterranean bays of the Costa Brava
£1850 p/p
* Indicative mid-season price for 14 nights (including car hire – flights not included) in our suggested hotels.
Day 1 to 3 - Barcelona City
- Sagrada Familia - Gaudi's Cathedral, now near completion
- Parque Güell - Gaudí again with great views to the city
- Cable car to Montjuic - Olympic installations, Joan Miró gallery and fantastic views
- Las Ramblas and La Boquería market
- Stroll around the Gothic Quarter, get lost in Born
Day 4 - Barcelona Province - Cardona, Solsona & Montserrat
- Magnificent Cardona Castle - now the Parador
- Cardona salt mountain & mine - source of vast medieval wealth
- Solsona, famous for its carnival traditions
- Visit Monserrat with its famous monastery
- Try the local Pla de Bages wines
Day 5 to 7 - Val d'Aran, Boí and Aneu
- Gateway to the Parc Nacional d’ Aiguestortes i Estany
- Unique culture, architecture in the Val d’Aran
- Parc Nacional del Alt Pirineu with the highest peaks
- Churches – Romanesque, Renaissance and Baroque
- Mountain gastronomy with local cheeses, honey and even local caviar!
Day 8 & 9 - Vall de Nuria
- Take the Rack Railway to Vall de Nuria
- Discover the Sanctuary of Nuria
- Take the cable car and have a picnic with the nicest views
- Visit nearby Queralbs and its early Romanesque church
- Explore Ribes de Freser and the numerous hiking trails around
Day 10 & 11 - La Garrotxa Volcanic Park
- Medieval Santa Pau and Besalú’s Jewish quarter
- Cuina Volcanica, ingredients grown in the volcanic soil
- Visit Santa Margarida – the chapel in the crater
- Dali museum in Figueras or hop down to the coast
- Cycle, Segway, trek or balloon ride over the Volcanoes
Day 12 to 14 - Costa Brava
- Fishing villages and beach hopping
- Walk the Camí de Ronda, all along the Costa Brava
- Historic Girona with its profound Jewish Heritage
- Dali museum in Figueras
- Watersports, cycling & wonderful diving
& why not?
- Fly into Girona and reverse the direction of the tour
- Add a stop in Ainsa or Zaragoza, further west
- Skip Barcelona if you've been before - maybe try the Penedés wine region just to the south
- Ask about superior rooms or a larger car
- or more economical options if you're on a budget...
- Call us to talk through all the options - we'd love to hear from you!
The itinerary includes the following:
- Accommodation in our listed hotels – 2 sharing 1 std. double ensuite, B&B
- Economy 4-door car hire
- Regional guide book
- Personal Travel App including highlights, weather forecast and restaurant suggestions for all areas en-route
- Instructions to find all accommodation
Not included:
- Flights – but we are able to advise
- One-way car hire charges, where applicable (see your quote email)
- The following car hire extras – these can be added at pick-up point
- extra driver
- child seats
- GPS
- Garage parking where applicable (mostly city stops) – please ask us about parking charges
Getting there
This circular tour of north Catalonia is extremely well served with flights from most UK and Ireland airports to Girona (Costa Brava / Pyrenees) and Barcelona.
This circular trip can be adapted to suit any of those airports as a start point.
See your options in the table below:
| English airports | Girona connections | Barcelona connections |
| London Gatwick | TUI | Easyjet, Vueling |
| London Stansted | Jet2, Ryanair | Ryanair |
| London Heathrow | – | B.A., Vueling |
| London Luton | – | Easyjet, Ryanair |
| London City | – | B.A. |
| Manchester | Jet2, TUI, Ryanair | Easyjet, Jet2, Ryanair, Vueling |
| Birmingham | Jet2, TUI, Ryanair | Jet2, Vueling, Ryanair |
| Bristol | Jet2, Ryanair | Easyjet, Ryanair |
| Newcastle | Jet2 | Ryanair |
| Leeds Bradford | Jet2, Ryanair | Jet2 |
| Liverpool | – | Easyjet, Ryanair |
| Nottingham | Jet2, Ryanair | – |
| Bournemouth | Ryanair | – |
| Irish airports | Girona connections | Barcelona connections |
| Dublin | Ryanair | Aerlingus, Ryanair, Vueling |
| Cork | Ryanair | Ryanair |
| Shannon | Ryanair | – |
| Knock | Ryanair | – |
| Belfast | – | Easyjet |
| Scottish airports | Girona connections | Barcelona connections |
| Glasgow | Jet2 | Easyjet, Ryanair (Prestwick) |
| Edinburgh | – | Ryanair |
PLEASE NOTE some flights are seasonal.
NB: Flights are not included
Getting around
As part of your package we will include a hire car. Normally we include a 4 door economy class car but please let us know if you would
Circular tour of north Catalonia - New for 2025
Circular Tour of North Catalonia
