Guilleries hills E-Bike Safari

The Guilleries hills rise abruptly from the flat plains of the Empordà, a crumpled green massif that has always looked, from the tiled rooftops of Girona, like a challenge. On the E-Bike Safari, that challenge becomes a conversation. We meet at the grand, plane-tree-lined entrance of Parc de la Devesa, where the Onyar River slips quietly past, and after a brief fitting of your assisted steed, we point our handlebars east and begin to climb. This is a hard ride, make no mistake—the 2,224 metres of elevation gain demand respect, even with a motor—but the pedal-assist system is the great equaliser. It doesn’t remove the effort; it makes the effort heroic. Every steep ramp, every switchback through cork oak and holm oak, is flattened into a steady, satisfying rhythm that leaves you breathless but never broken. This tour is for riders with solid fitness who want to cover serious ground without the nagging fear of the next hill.

Our first true summit is the Turó de Montgrí, a rocky outcrop where the tarmac gives way to a wide, sweeping viewpoint. Here, the entire Gironès and Baix Empordà unroll below like a patchwork quilt of ochre fields and silver olive groves, and the distant Pyrenees hang on the horizon like a rumour of snow. We stop long enough for the wind to cool your jersey and for the obligatory photograph, then we drop into the descent—a fast, flowing ribbon of smooth tarmac that carves through the forest before spilling out into the quiet, sun-bleached village of Rupià. This is where the ride changes texture. We slow to a walking pace and thread our e-bikes through medieval streets, past stone arches and a square shaded by a solitary lime tree. The village is unpretentious, lived-in, and its silence is a welcome counterpoint to the earlier speed.

From Rupià, we join the Onyar Riverside Path, a paved greenway that follows the river’s lazy meanders through poplar groves and reed beds. This stretch is wide, traffic-free, and gloriously flat, a chance to catch your breath and simply glide, the hum of the electric motor a quiet companion to the burble of shallow water over stones. The light here is particular—filtered through leaves, it dapples the path in shifting patterns, and the reflections of the riverbank flicker like liquid gold. We make several photo stops at the best viewpoints, where the water bends and the hills fold into themselves, each frame more cinematic than the last. It is on this section that riders of all fitness levels can find their own pace; the assisted climbs have done their work, and now the reward is pure, uncomplicated movement.

We climb away from the river one final time, a long, steady gradient that the motor makes merciful, and arrive at La Xicra, a roadside café that has become a pilgrimage site for cyclists in these parts. The coffee is dark and strong, served in thick ceramic cups, and the pastry counter holds a rotating selection of ensaimadas, croissants, and the local favourite, xuixo—a sugar-dusted, cream-filled pastry that crumbles with every bite. We sit on the terrace, bikes propped against the wall, and watch the hills we’ve conquered recede into the haze. The final run back to Girona is a gentle, rolling descent that brings us to the city’s edge just as the afternoon light begins to soften. By the time we roll back through Parc de la Devesa, legs tired but spirits light, you’ll understand that the Guilleries are not a barrier—they are a playground, and with an e-bike, you’ve earned every metre of it.

Ride highlights

• Photo stops at the best viewpoints over Onyar Riverside Path
• The medieval streets and squares of Rupià
• Wide, traffic-free stretches suitable for all fitness levels
• Assisted climbs that flatten every hill in Guilleries hills
• A coffee and pastry stop at La Xicra

How the day unfolds

1. 08:30

   Bike fit and coffee

   Meet your guide at Parc de la Devesa entrance, Girona, fit the bike and take on a coffee before rolling out.

2. 09:15

   Into Guilleries hills

   The first stretch warms the legs on quiet roads towards Guilleries hills.

3. 10:45

   The Turó de Montgrí section

   The main effort of the day, with the guide setting a steady, sustainable pace.

4. 12:30

   Lunch near Rupià

   A relaxed stop for food in or near Rupià, with the bikes in view.

5. 14:30

   Past Onyar Riverside Path

   An easier afternoon section taking in Onyar Riverside Path.

6. 16:30

   Return to Girona

   A final flowing stretch back into the city with a drink waiting on arrival.

What is included

On the road

Good to know