Toulouse to Girona Cycle 2023 Picture 1
Toulouse to Girona Cycle 2023 Picture 1

Next departure:  Please Call for Details

Best Time of Year: Feb - October

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Bike Adventure

Get ready for a classic European bike adventure - crossing borders, enjoying the best continental cuisine, riding through historic towns and cities and crossing over the edge of the Pyrenees! Riding through southern France, you’ll journey down the Iberian Peninsula and into Catalonia for the finish in Girona. We’ll greet you at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, Toulouse. Whisking you off to one of our favourite Toulouse hotels to set up our bikes and prepare for our departure the following day. Our route starts out from Toulouse before following the Canal du Midi all the way to the walled city of Carcassonne. Day 2 will lead us away from the canals and up into the foothills of the Pyrenees over the Col de Couise and into Perpignan. Our final day will see us climbing over the Spanish border and descending to Figueres - Salvador Dali’s birthplace, before we continue onto the cycling mecca Girona.


 


Itinerary

 

Toulouse – Carcassonne (D1)

We will exit the pink city via the Canal du Midi and head south to Montgiscard for our first coffee stop.  At approximately 50km we leave the canal path and have our lunch in the beautiful green haven of Avignonent-Lauragais. Our journey continues with a slight ascent to 243m as we make our way to the beautiful medieval city of Carcassonne.

 

Approx 115km / 570m+

 

 

Carcassonne – Perpignan (D2)

We say goodbye to Carcassonne as we head deeper into southern France, weaving our way through idyllic French villages; Lagrasse, Tuchan and

Cases-de-Pene, before entering the Pyrénées-Orientales and completing our day in the Gothic medieval city of Perpignan.

 

Approx 120km / 1350m+

 

 

 

Perpignan – Girona (D3)

 

We’ll climb up to the Spanish boarder at Le Perthus. From here we’ll descend into Spain and to the town of Figueres for lunch – the birthplace of Salvador Dali – From here we will continue on to the cycling mecca Girona for some well deserved celebrations!

 

 

Approx 120km / 1000m+

 

 

Route Map


Accommodation

 

Toulouse

The Palladia is a luxury 4 star hotel located only 10 minutes from the international airport Toulouse-Blagnac.

Carcassonne

Whilst residing in this beautiful hilltop medieval city,  we will stay in 4* single occupancy accommodation.

Perpignan

 

 

The Mercure, a 4 star hotel in the centre of Perpignan is just a short walk from our restaurant in the heart of the city.

Girona

 

Our accommodation on our final night will be in a 4 star hotel in the heart of the city near the historic city centre. 

 

 

What is a Level 3.5 Cycling Challenge Like?

These challenge rides are either longer, with more ascent, or span several days. In the case of single day events, you can expect up to 10 hours cycling. In the case of a multi day ride, you can expect lower daily durations - but of course - the effort is sustained over a longer period. You need to be a keen cyclist for these events, and to enjoy training, and to ride regularly. If the ride is outside the EU, it is likely to be easier in terms of the physical riding, however, you will need to be more resilient - due to more basic living conditions (in the case of Asia / Africa especially)

 

How Fit Do I need to be to join a Level 3.5 ‘Bike Ride’?

You need to have good endurance for these events. You must be used to doing long rides in the countryside - 6 hours + . You should be doing regular exercise - with some serious cycle training. Your typical comfortable cycling speed will be at least 22-24 km/hr, and you should be able to cycle at high speed for up to 1 hour or 25 km. You may also be concentrating on other types of exercise - but for longer periods of time (ie sessions in excess of 1.5 hrs.) - however cycling is the best preparation (obviously!)

 

Included In Trip

 

 

Pre-event Planning & Communications
4 Nights Hotel Accommodation

  (Single Occupancy, breakfast included)

(Toulouse, Carcassonne, Perpignan, Girona)

 

Support Vehicle(s) & Driver

 

Ride Leader(s)

 

Ride Snacks

(Bannanas & Bars)

 

Airport Transfers

(Toulouse & Girona)

 

 

Excluded From Trip

 

Bike Hire

  (Girona Hire price tbc)

 

 

Equipment Required

Kit lists specific to your trip dates and location will be issued upon enquiry...below is our guide advice to give an idea of what you should bring on a multi--day ride in Europe

Bike Items
Road Bike / Hybrid Bike (with puncture resistant tyres) - please call us for guidance on type of bike on a trip by trip basis
2 X Water Bottles (bladder system/cycle water bottles)
Cycling Gloves, Bike Lock, Neck Scarf, Inner Tubes*, Multi-Tool (with allen keys)*
Day Bag for support vehicle, Small Holdall (for overnight gear)
Bike Lights (front and rear, head torch can be worn)
Saddle Bag (recommended - can be used to carry asterisk* items)
Puncture Repair Kit*, Spare parts for your bike (specialist parts and spokes), Pump (suitable for your valve type)

Helmet (compulsory)
Personal Medikit  Suncream, Plasters, Vaseline, Painkillers, Sunbloc, Insect Repellant

Washkit

Warm Clothing Medium Weight Softshell, Long sleeve Jersey / insulating layer Lightweight Gloves.

Cycle  Clothing
Padded Lycra Cycling Shorts, Cotton Shorts, or Long Cycling Trousers (Tights/Tracksuit Bottoms)
Short Sleeve Cycling T-Shirts (wicking type material) or Cycle Top with rear pockets
Cycling Shoes (approach shoes or sturdy traners suitable), 

Spare Shoes/Sandals for after ride

Casual Evening Wear - tracksuits, jeans, T shirts, fleece ...

Waterproof Clothing
1 Outer Fully Waterproof Jacket (gore-tex, e-vent) - comfortable to cycle in

Other
Travel Documents, EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) Credit Cards, Cash, Local Currency, Mobile Phone, chargers, EU plug adaptor, Sunglasses
Snacks for Cycling Days (dried fruits, nuts, flapjacks, cereal bars etc)
Travel insurance (not included), Passport

Important
Make sure you do not ‘over pack’ - bring only what is essential for the trip. It is advisable to check that your travel insurance covers the value of any expensive items of kit that you chose to bring along with you. 

A final kit list will be provided in your ‘Final Joining Instructions’ pre-departure

 

Notes on Cycling Events

This is our standard range of Cycling Challenges in the UK, Europe and further afield. However, we offer completely tailormade itineraries to your specification. Call us to discuss! Please note that for overseas point to point cycling challenges we can transport soft cases for bike transport - but not hard cases, due to space limitations on board our support vehicles. On all our cycling events, please pack sensibly and bring a reasonably sized soft holdall type bag. To participate in an overseas Adventure Cafe challenge - you must carry Travel Insurance (to be for the activity you are participating in, and to include repatriation to the UK). Please also note that you should have a good level of cycling experience and be competent to handle your bike. We ride on roads shared with other vehicles - and you need to be able to deal with this safely.

 

Adventure Cafe Booking Terms and Conditions

By booking an event with Adventure Cafe, you agree to these standard terms of booking. Please ensure that you read the appropriate document for your type of event carefully.

Adventure Cafe Terms & Conditions - For all types of event


To Reserve Your Space on this Challenge

You should fill in the Google Form - linked here below, and then please call us on 01823 444 246 to advise of your payment method. We can accept card payments over the phone, or Bank Transfer. Please note that your space is not confirmed until you have received your booking receipt.

CLICK HERE: Adventure Cafe Challenge Booking Form - For Challenge Events

 

 

Guide price

£Price on enquiry

Difficulty
Info

 

This Challenge is for exclusive group departures – please call us for more information


Event Location


Toulouse to Girona Cycle 2023 Picture 2
Toulouse to Girona Cycle 2023 Picture 2

Toulouse to Girona Cycle 2023 Picture 3
Toulouse to Girona Cycle 2023 Picture 3