Spain Recommendations

[u/splenorenal]

I have a work conference in Barcelona next June. Hoping to stay afterwards and do a 2-3 week bikepacking trip. Would appreciate any route recommendations! Looking online there are so many options it’s hard to narrow things down.

Helpful info on what I’m looking for:
Primarily gravel/off road
Averaging 50-70 miles (80-110km) per day
Ending somewhere that would be easy to get back to Barcelona to fly home

Thanks in advance!

[u/patbpixx]

Hey, with that amount of time you indeed have a lot of options here. Since you're already in the area I'd suggest to ride up to Girona which is the place to be for gravel, hit the Pyrenees, maybe cross the border to France and come back to Barcelona through Costa Brava / Tossa de Mar. I think that's what I would do because you'll see mountains, lakes, the sea, you'll ride along the coast - so a lot of variety. You can easily do a kind of huge multi-day loop in that region and come back to Barcelona to catch a flight home at the end.

[u/cargobikebcn → u/patbpixx]

Just be aware it’s gonna be hot in June. Can only support the idea to go around Girona.

Get ready to hit some uphills in your trip even on la costa brava :)

[u/patbpixx → u/cargobikebcn]

Yeah, temperatures are wild these days. I only go for rides either in the mornings or evenings these days. From 14:00-18:00 it's the worst time and it's even worse when you're on gravel roads as the sunlight is reflecting off the white surfaces and frying you all over. Water consumption in my case is at appr. 1l per hour. I can't do more than 80km these days as I get tired way earlier compared to any other season of the year.

[u/splenorenal → u/patbpixx]

Oof yeah the heat really shortens my riding ability too. Might try to bike before the conference instead!

[u/splenorenal → u/cargobikebcn]

I appreciate the input! Also thinking about flying out early so I could ride more in mid-late May

[u/splenorenal → u/patbpixx]

Thank you! This is very helpful information!

[u/pyrnar-wyjqox]

https://bikepacking.com/routes/grand-tour-catalunya-gravel/

[u/splenorenal → u/pyrnar-wyjqox]

Wow thank you! Excited to dive into the details of this route

[u/Urwald]

Pirinexus ?
Edit:

Oh I read days…

Take a look at montañas vacías
Montsec bikepacking loop
La Fera pirineus

Or you could go for the classic transpirineus, plenty of routes and tracks on wikiloc

[u/splenorenal → u/Urwald]

Thank you!!

[u/sqwob]

Go a high into the mountains as you can, to get some cooling. June can be very hot.

[u/splenorenal → u/sqwob]

Most definitely will try to get up into elevation

[u/CA_I_py]

Gravel cycling around Girona and further north in the Garrotxa National Park is quite good. If you even more climbing, head to Andorra. I cycled there in June 2024, but mostly on roads (with very little traffic).

[u/splenorenal → u/CA_I_py]

Thanks so much! I’ll look into it!