Self guided cycling in Catalonia, electric bike

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

This self-guided cycling tour in Catalonia starts and ends in Vilafranca del Penedès, following a circuit through the Penedès Wine Region, the Ruta del Cister and Montserrat. It is, by its very nature, slow and sustainable, with guests cycling between 27-66km per day through vineyards, rural landscapes, monasteries and mountainous terrain.

With all of our tours, we encourage our guests to travel to and around Spain using buses and trains whenever possible. This itinerary is reachable by rail, and daily luggage transfers are provided by a local provider, while guests complete the cycling route itself by bike. E-bike rental is included on this tour, making the route more accessible, especially given the distance and elevation involved.


ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

This cycling tour takes guests through the rural and mountainous landscapes of Catalonia, including the Penedès Wine Region, inland farmland, forest paths and the Montserrat mountain range. The route also follows sections of the historic Ruta del Cister and passes through vineyards, olive groves, rural hamlets and open countryside.
We remind guests to practise Leave No Trace throughout their trip, especially when cycling through vineyards, rural landscapes, forest paths and mountain areas around Montserrat.
With regards to drinking water, we ask guests to bring refillable water bottles as well as a reusable shopping bag to avoid single-use plastic during their trip. We also ask guests to take any packaging away with them and be mindful of not dropping litter.
We have an in-house responsible tourism expert, who shares tips and advice with our guests in trip notes, blogs and newsletters. For example, on how to reduce their impact on the environment and wildlife, support responsible travel practices and respect the places and communities they pass through.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and pilgrims’ guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, good local food and connection to the area.
The itinerary takes guests through places such as Vilafranca del Penedès, Montblanc, Tàrrega, Igualada, Montserrat and Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, helping tourism spend reach local businesses, hosts and families along the route. Breakfast is included every day, and guests are encouraged to buy lunches and snacks in local shops, pre-order packed lunches from some hotels where needed, and dine in restaurants in the local area. The route also gives guests opportunities to support local wine producers in the Penedès region.


EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

All of our partners in Spain are locally employed and play an important role in contributing to the local economy. At home, we have a strict policy to pay all our own employees and team members a living wage and fair wage, with vacation entitlement. In the hiring process, we prioritise experience, qualifications and passion, emphasising that race, gender, sexual orientation, or nationality are not factors of consideration. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace based on skills and expertise. We also endeavour to support any guests with visible and non-visible disabilities or any special requirements, when possible.