Onyar Riverside Path Leisure Traverse

There is a gentler way to cross the Empordà plain, and it begins not with a climb but with a quiet crossing of the stone bridge at Sarrià de Ter. From here, the Onyar Riverside Path unfolds like a ribbon of calm, its flat tarmac lanes tracing the river as it meanders toward the sea. This is a ride for those who want the rhythm of the road without the burn in the legs—an easy, multi-day traverse where the only pressure is the soft pull of the next coffee stop. Over 140 kilometres, with just 1,860 metres of elevation gain spread across days, the terrain stays forgivingly level, making it a natural fit for families with children, first-time tourers, or anyone who prefers to feel the breeze rather than fight it.

The route slips between the green veins of the plain, where the landscape opens into rice paddies and sunflower fields that shimmer with the light of the Costa Brava’s hinterland. The tarmac is smooth and almost entirely car-free, a luxury that lets you drift into the kind of unhurried pace that cycling holidays promise but rarely deliver. There is no regrouping pressure here, no anxious glances over the shoulder for the stragglers; instead, the group moves as a loose, easy current, stopping when the moment feels right. The guided premium service means someone else has already thought about the logistics, the route markers, and the midday shade, leaving you free to simply pedal and notice.

The first real landmark is the Coll de Malla, a name that sounds like a pass but behaves like a gentle swell, rising just enough to give you a sense of achievement without demanding anything in return. From its crest, the view drops toward Pals, a medieval hilltop village whose stone walls and narrow streets seem to hover above the flat farmland. This is where the day’s real reward waits: an ice-cream break in the shadow of the Romanesque bell tower, cones in hand as the afternoon sun softens the stone. The sweetness is not just in the gelato but in the ease of the moment—no rush to move on, no itinerary ticking in the background.

Further along, the Onyar Riverside Path itself becomes the destination. The river, narrow and green, runs alongside you like a quiet companion, its banks lined with poplars and reeds that rustle with unseen birds. The flatness of the route is its quiet genius, allowing you to take in the textures of the Empordà—the ochre of the farmhouses, the silver of the olive groves, the distant blue line of the Pyrenees on the horizon. When the legs need a rest, the coffee stop at La Fàbrica offers a reprieve in a converted industrial space, where the espresso is strong and the pastries are still warm, a perfect punctuation mark before the final stretch of the day’s riding.

This is a tour that understands that ease is not the absence of adventure but the presence of space—space to talk, to linger, to let the kilometres pass without counting them. It suits the curious beginner finding their confidence, the parent wanting to share a holiday with kids who can still feel the joy of a bike, or the seasoned rider who simply wants a few days of uncomplicated motion. The Empordà plain, with its flat horizons and open skies, rewards those who take it slowly, and the Onyar Riverside Path Leisure Traverse is built for exactly that.

Ride highlights

• An ice-cream break in Pals
• Gentle gradients suitable for children and beginners
• A relaxed pace with no regrouping pressure
• A flat, car-free greenway through Empordà plain

How the day unfolds

1. Day 1

   Welcome and shakedown ride

   Bike fit, a short loop into Empordà plain to test the legs, and a welcome dinner in Girona.

2. Day 2

   The big day: Coll de Malla

   The toughest stage of the week, taking in Coll de Malla and the villages around Empordà plain.

3. Day 3

   Villages of Empordà plain

   A varied day linking Pals and the surrounding countryside at a comfortable pace.

4. Day 4

   Rest day or optional ride

   A free day in Girona, or an easy optional spin for anyone who wants to keep the legs moving.

5. Day 5

   The big day: Coll de Malla

   The toughest stage of the week, taking in Coll de Malla and the villages around Empordà plain.

6. Day 6

   Villages of Empordà plain

   A varied day linking Pals and the surrounding countryside at a comfortable pace.

7. Day 7

   Farewell ride

   A short final loop near Onyar Riverside Path followed by a long lunch before transfers home.

What is included

On the road

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