Headwater - Catalunya Self-Guided Activities

8 days
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£1,239
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Trip code: 
M07CL
Way to Travel:
Self-Guided
Activity:
Mixed-Activity
Min age:
8

Combine a stay at the beach with a choice of gentle walking and cycling routes for an active family holiday. 

You stay in the fishing village of Calella de Palafrugell, where the rocky coastline has a number of small coves, nearby, to explore. We provide a range of fully researched, self-guided walking and cycling routes, typically at Activity Level 1. A complimentary Headwater bike for your exclusive use throughout your stay is included to give you total flexibility.

Highlights

  • Golden, sandy beaches with crystal-clear waters and traditional fishing villages
  • Gentle walking and cycling on breathtaking coastal paths and through beautiful Spanish countryside
  • Mediaeval villages with fascinating castles, interesting churches and quaint cobbled streets

Key information

  • 7 Nights, hotel-to-hotel
  • 6 Days of activities
  • Departs Every Saturday from 13 Apr '19 to 09 Nov '19 (excluding 11-18 Aug '19)
  • Headwater wine service 
  • GPS route navigation provided 
  • High quality bikes provided
  • Route notes and maps provided

What's included

  • All breakfasts and 3 evening meals (which can be taken on the nights of your choosing)
  • All accommodation
  • Headwater wine service 
  • GPS route navigation provided 
  • High quality bikes provided
  • Route notes and maps provided

What's not included

  • Travel insurance
  • Visas or vaccinations
  • Single accommodation (available on request)
Call for general departures:
020 8772 3936
Call for tailormade trips:
020 8772 3874
Email us >
Request a brochure >
Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes
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6

Days of Walking & Trekking
Terrain:

The walks are on a varied mix of path, track and country lane. Sometimes along cliff tops on paved walkways or coastal paths offering fabulous seascapes; other times in leafy woodlands or pine forest, there’s some lovely terrain to explore.

For the cycling, although in some cases we do need to use larger roads, the rides are usually on smaller, quieter roads joining the villages and hamlets – ideal for cycling. The region has a vast network of cycling routes, and our suggestions are often marked with cycling signs.

Day by day breakdown
Day 25.0km/3.0miles
Day 311.0km/7.0miles
Day 411.0km/7.0miles
Day 529.0km/19.0miles
Day 616.0km/10.0miles
Day 727.0km/17.0miles

Responsible Travel

At Exodus we believe in the power of Responsible Travel.

Every time we travel, we are part of a global movement that creates jobs, builds more sustainable societies, encourages cultural understanding and safeguards common natural and cultural heritage. To learn more about what Responsible Travel means to Exodus click here… 

Itinerary

Include flights Expand all
London
to
London

  • Day 1

    Arrive in Calella De Palafrugell

    Arrive at your hotel where your room has a private balcony and sea view. We have included three evening meals at the hotel, which can be taken on the nights of your choosing, and there's a great choice of restaurants nearby for the remaining evenings. Below is our suggested itinerary, however, as you're based at the same hotel for the week, you're free to pick and choose your activities for each day.

    Meals included: Dinner

  • Day 2

    Ermedas Walk

    Stroll through the woods and countryside near your hotel, passing through the sleepy hamlet of Ermedas. A short walk to get started, leaving plenty of time to explore Calella de Palafrugell and its lovely sandy beach.

    Meals included: Breakfast

  • Day 3

    Cycle to Palafrugell

    There are morning street food markets every day as well as a full market, on Sundays, in Palafrugell. The town made its name as a centre for cork production, which brought wealth and prosperity to the area and the Museo del Suro (cork museum) is well worth a visit. In addition, there are plenty of lively bars and restaurants to stop for refreshments. From Palafrugell you can take the bus on to regional capital Girona where you can explore the city walls and the impressive cathedral.

    Meals included: Breakfast Dinner

  • Day 4

    Botanical Gardens and Platja Castell Walk

    Walk via delightful Platja El Golfet to visit Calella's Botanical Gardens at Cap Roig (optional). Head south to unspoilt Platja Castell with superb views from Puig del Terme. Return on a lovely inland route across farmland and through forest, or on the rugged coastal trail via Cala Estreta.

    Meals included: Breakfast

  • Day 5

    Cycle to Pals

    This leisurely circuit takes you to the lovely mediaeval town of Pals - make sure you go through the arch, from the Placa Major, signed 'el Pedro', to visit the Gothic Quarter and the famous Torre de les Hores - part of the C10 Pals Castle. There are a few shops and lots of cafes, making it the perfect stop for lunch.

    Meals included: Breakfast

  • Day 6

    Sant Sebastia and Tamariu Walk

    There are several options for this walk - something for everyone. For an easy stroll along the Cam� de Ronda, walk to Llafranc (4km return, level 1). Extend the walk up to the lighthouse and viewpoint of Sant Sebastia (level 1+). Extend it even more for a full day out with a visit to the little resort of Tamariu in a beautiful cove, returning along the coast with stunning scenery (low level 2). For lunch you're spoilt for choice, depending which walk you do. There are bars and restaurants in Calella, Llafranc and Tamariu, and two at Sant Sebastia. In Tamariu there is also a small shop. Alternatively, take a picnic to enjoy on the beach at Llafranc or Tamariu.

    Meals included: Breakfast Dinner

  • Day 7

    Cycle to Palamos

    An enjoyable circular route that takes you on part of the former 'Tren Petit' via verde. The route continues through woods and fields to Palamos, a lively commercial harbour town, with its old quarter and many shops on one side and new marinas filled with luxury yachts and a wealth of bars and restaurants on the other. An ideal place to stop for a leisurely lunch.

    Meals included: Breakfast

  • Day 8

    Leave Calella De Palafrugell

    Meals included: Breakfast
Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes
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Essential Info

Visas

Spain

No visa required for British passport holders.

Vaccinations

Spain

There are no specific health risks.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts and 3 evening meals included.

Traditional Spanish food such as paella, chorizo and albondigas (meatballs) can be found on just about every menu in Catalunya, but don’t forget to try the regional specialities too. Local cuisine features plenty of fish, including world-renowned anchovies from L’Escala, and botifarras (black pudding) from the mountains. A good starter might be Pan Catalán (pa amb tomàquet), this is lightly toasted bread, drizzled with olive oil and topped with tomatoes and garlic. Thanks to its geography, the region has developed “Sea and Mountain” - mar y muntana cuisine, combining chicken with lobster, or rabbit with prawns. Fruits are used as well, such as roasted chicken and figs, or pheasant and grapes.

 

Dishes are rich and hearty, however, it is not just a meat-based cuisine, there are plenty of vegetable options. Catalan dishes also rely heavily on sauces: Sofrito is an onion and tomato sauce, Picada is made from dried fruits, nuts and herbs, Sanfaina is a sauce of fried peppers, aubergines, onions and tomatoes and Romesco is made with tomatoes, peppers, nuts and garlic. Most menus are written in both Castilian and Catalan and sometimes in English too, but you may find a pocket dictionary useful in the more remote places.

 

Weather

The trips runs from April through to October (except 5-23 Aug) with the early and later part of the season experiencing cooler temperatures, highs averaging 18-20°C and lows averaging 11-15°C. In the height of July temperatures will reach highs of 28-30°C so it is important to be prepared for this. There is always a chance of rain throughout the year, so it is always best to be prepared.

Is this trip for you?


Activity Level: 1 (Leisurely) 
No. of days activity: 6 
Terrain and route: 

The walks are on a varied mix of path, track and country lane. Sometimes along cliff tops on paved walkways or coastal paths offering fabulous seascapes; other times in leafy woodlands or pine forest, there’s some lovely terrain to explore.

For the cycling, although in some cases we do need to use larger roads, the rides are usually on smaller, quieter roads joining the villages and hamlets – ideal for cycling. The region has a vast network of cycling routes, and our suggestions are often marked with cycling signs.


Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to cycle independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodations, provide you with a map and route notes so that you can cycle at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next. A representative will be there to meet you, make sure the bikes are all set up and will be on call throughout the trip should you need. 

It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked. Where possible we stick to cycle tracks and quiet roads to make the journeys as pleasant as possible, however, on occasion we have to use busier routes.

From the nearby town of Palafrugell there is also an excellent bus service (payable locally) giving access to some of the pretty mediaeval villages that surround the area as well as the cities of Girona and Figueres. A full range of water sports can be booked and paid for locally, from Calella de Palafrugell or one of the nearby resorts. The nearby Cap Roig Botanical Gardens are also worth a visit and concerts are held here annually, in July and August. Previous performers include Woody Allen and his New Orleans Jazz Band, Anastacia, and Jason Derulo.

Call for general departures:
020 8772 3936
Call for tailormade trips:
020 8772 3874
Email us >
Request a brochure >
Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

Accommodation

Hotel Garbi , Calella De Palafrugell

Your base for the week is the Hotel Garbi, a family-run hotel located on the hillside overlooking Calella de Palafrugell with its own extensive gardens, shaded by pines. The freshwater pool is a great place to relax after a day exploring. We have included three evening meals at the hotel, which can be taken on the nights of your choosing. There is also a great selection of restaurants nearby to dine in on your remaining evenings.

Call for general departures:
020 8772 3936
Call for tailormade trips:
020 8772 3874
Email us >
Request a brochure >
Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

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Dates & Prices

An overview of flight options

Exodus is committed to making joining our tours as easy as possible, wherever you live. We generally only block book seats from London, but this certainly does not mean that you need to fly from there. Depending on the route and airlines available, there will usually be various options available for those who want to fly from their local airport.

This page aims to provide a useful overview of the options available to our clients. However, the best flight arrangements should be tailored to your personal requirements, so please contact our Sales team for expert advice.

 

What kind of options do I have ?

1. We can book for you: Flights from anywhere in the world - not via London  

Depending on the route, this may be direct or via an overseas hub like Amsterdam, the Middle East or elsewhere. On short haul routes there may be direct flights with low cost airlines, charter flights or scheduled airlines. Exodus can book most, but not all, of these for you. The most appropriate airline may be different to that which we use for the group flight from London, but many people now travel on different airlines and meet up with their fellow passengers at the destination.

Pros Cons
  • May be the most direct route
  • Often the extra fare compared to the London flight is minimal.
  • As you will be in the hands a single airline for your entire journey, the airline will be responsible for your bags and your connections.
  • You may not be able to join the group transfers. However, we can usually arrange private transfers, or book your flights to try and coincide with the group transfers. See notes on transfer arrangements below.

 

2. We can book for you: Connecting flights from your local airport to London

Exodus can book connecting flights to London so you can join the group flight there. Connecting times will be followed according to airline advice, or as requested by clients. There are two types of fares we can use for this option: a 'through-fare' or a 'published fare'.
 
a) A 'through-fare' is where you will be in the main airline's care throughout. You change planes, but your bags are checked all the way through to your final destination. 

b) A 'published fare' ticket is completely seperate from your onward ticket from London. It is usually cheaper than a through-fare but will need to be paid for and issued as soon as it is booked. This can be a problem if your tour has not yet reached minimum numbers. On 'published fares' neither airline is aware that you have connecting flights, so Exodus is responsible for timing your connection, not the airlines involved. The tickets are also usually non changeable and non refundable.

Pros Cons
  • Depending on the fare type, Exodus or the airline is responsible for flight connections.
  • Through fare tickets can be expensive.
  • On a published fare, tickets must be issued immediately; tickets on published fares can be very difficult to change if onward flight times change; bags are not checked though to your final destination.
  • Published fares are non-refundable.

 

3. Booking some or all of the flights yourself

You can also book connecting air travel yourself, either to London, or all the way to the start point. There may be certain airlines or routes we don't have access to, so this is always an option. However, if you make your own travel arrangements you become liable for any delays, cancellations or missed connections, and Exodus is not required to offer refunds if you have trouble reaching the start of your trip.

Pros Cons
  • You might find cheaper fares, or routes not available to Exodus.
  • You are responsible for any delays or missed connections, and the cost of the tour is not protected should you miss your flight be cancelled.

 

 Notes on transfer arrangements

Sometimes it is possible to travel on a different airline to the group flight from London. Where this is the case, we need to think about ensuring you meet up with the group with minimum extra cost and hassle.

  • On certain trips, it is easy to arrive on a different flight and still meet the group at the hotel with time in hand. We can usually arrange private transfers (at extra cost) or offer advice on taking a taxi to the start hotel.
  • On other trips (especially in Europe), the transfer meets the group flight and then travels some distance to the first night's accommodation. Where this is the case, our Sales team will try to arrange flights that arrive before (and depart after) the group. However, we do have to make it clear in your final documentation that if your flights are delayed, the transfer cannot wait for you. While Exodus or our local operators will do what we can to help you reach the start point of the tour, any additional costs must be paid by the client. 

 

Next steps? 

Call our Sales team on: 0203 733 0698

Email your query: [email protected]

Call us on 020 8772 3936
Chat with us online