Mare de Déu del Mont Ascent

The day begins beside the slow green water of the River Ter in Salt, where the morning light is still soft and the only sound is the whir of your wheels on the promenade. Within twenty minutes, the suburban streets dissolve into the quiet lanes of the Guilleries hills, and the world changes tempo. This is a landscape of cork oaks and low stone walls, of narrow tarmac that folds around contours and climbs without drama, yet with a persistent purpose. There is almost no traffic here—just the occasional tractor or a farmer’s van—and the air carries the scent of wild fennel and dry grass. The road rises and falls in long, rhythmic sweeps, never rude, always inviting you to settle into a gear and find your rhythm.

The centrepiece arrives as the road tilts up towards the Mare de Déu del Mont. This is not a brutal, lung-burning ascent, but a steady, honest climb on clean tarmac that rewards patience over power. The gradient holds its nerve, never lurching into the absurd, and the switchbacks open up views that grow wider with every turn: the flat green chessboard of the Empordà rice fields stretching towards the sea, the distant blue smudge of the Mediterranean, and the Pyrenees rising sharp on the northern horizon. At the top, the small sanctuary sits quiet and wind-scoured, a place where pilgrims and cyclists alike pause to look down at the world they have climbed above. The effort feels earned, and the silence is complete.

The descent is a gift. The tarmac is smooth and fast, the corners are visible and well-surfaced, and you can let the bike run, banking through bends with the confidence that comes from clean roads and empty horizons. The temperature rises as you drop back towards the plain, and the landscape shifts from wooded hillside to open farmland. By the time you reach the medieval streets of Rupià, the pace has slowed to a gentle cruise. The village is compact and stone-built, with a square that seems to hold the afternoon heat, and it is here that the ride pauses for coffee at the Terrassa del Call. The terrace looks out over the surrounding fields, and the espresso arrives strong and short, a small ceremony of rest before the final stretch.

This is a ride for those who want the essence of Girona’s cycling country without the full-day commitment. It suits a rider who is comfortable holding a steady tempo for two hours, who finds joy in a long, consistent climb rather than a steep sprint, and who appreciates the quiet craft of a well-planned route. The difficulty is moderate—a word that here means you will feel the ascent in your legs, but you will never be out of breath for long. The surface is pure tarmac from start to finish, so road bikes are the natural choice, and the guided premium service means the route is handled, the coffee is ordered, and you are free to focus on the riding itself. By the time you roll back into Salt, the legs are pleasantly tired, the mind is clear, and the day still holds enough hours for a long lunch and a siesta.

Ride highlights

• Almost zero traffic on the Guilleries hills back roads
• A coffee stop at Terrassa del Call in Rupià
• The Mare de Déu del Mont climb with clean tarmac and steady gradients
• A fast, well-surfaced descent back towards Girona
• The medieval streets of Rupià on the way home

How the day unfolds

1. start

   Bike fit and briefing

   Meet your guide at Salt riverside promenade, dial in saddle height and run through the route for the day.

2. +30m

   Out through Guilleries hills

   A steady warm-up along quiet lanes into Guilleries hills.

3. midpoint

   Terrassa del Call stop in Rupià

   Coffee and a snack at Terrassa del Call in the heart of Rupià.

4. final

   Back to Girona

   A gentle return leg with the best light of the day behind you.

What is included

On the road

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