Ripollès valleys Dirt Adventure

The Ripollès valleys unfold in a rhythm of cork oak shade and open sky, and this gravel route is our way of showing you that rhythm at a human pace. Over the course of a few unhurried days, you’ll spin out of Girona’s Plaça de la Independència and leave the city’s hum behind within the first hour. This is a ride for those who want the feeling of a wilder Catalonia without the lung-burning climbs—a gentle, rolling adventure that suits confident beginners and seasoned riders alike who prefer conversation to suffering. The pedaling is easy, the surfaces forgiving, and the support van never far, so you can focus on the small wonders: the way the light filters through the cork bark, the scent of thyme crushed under your tires, the sudden cool of a forest corridor after a sun-baked lane.

The route’s 100 kilometers are a masterclass in variety, with three-quarters of the riding on hardpacked gravel and the rest on quiet, almost car-free tarmac. You’ll climb gradually toward Els Àngels, where the dry riverbed sectors below the ridge demand a little extra attention—loose stones and baked earth that reward a steady, patient cadence. There’s a dusty singletrack link near the Gavarres Cork Forest that feels like a secret, a narrow ribbon threading through gnarled trunks where the only sound is the crunch of your tires and the occasional jay’s alarm call. These long forest descents are the ride’s soul: sinuous, shaded, and fast enough to make you grin, but never technical enough to intimidate. A tubeless setup is your friend here, absorbing the chatter of roots and pebbles while you lean into the curves.

Mid-morning, you’ll roll into Rupià, a medieval square that seems to have paused for a century or two. This is where we stop for coffee, and it’s worth the wait—the espresso is dark and strong, served at a terraced café under a stone arcade while locals nod at you from their newspapers. From there, the route softens into a patchwork of cork oak woodland and quiet farm tracks, the elevation gain of just over 400 meters spread so gently across the day that you’ll barely notice the climbs. Instead, you’ll notice the textures: the pale dust that settles on your frame, the occasional patch of wildflowers, the distant blue of the Pyrenees on a clear day.

Each day’s riding ends at a different valley town, where your bags are already waiting and dinner is a slow, wine-soaked affair. Fully supported means you can carry nothing but a water bottle and a camera—mechanicals, snacks, and navigation are all handled. By the final day, as you roll back toward Girona’s river and the familiar arches of the Plaça, you’ll feel that particular satisfaction of a journey that was both easy and profound. The Ripollès doesn’t shout; it whispers, and this ride is how you learn to listen.

Ride highlights

• A dusty singletrack link near Gavarres Cork Forest
• Dry riverbed sectors below Els Àngels
• The medieval square of Rupià for a coffee break
• Long forest descents through cork oak woodland
• A tubeless-friendly mix of hardpack and quiet lanes

How the day unfolds

1. Day 1

   Welcome and shakedown ride

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

2. Day 2

   The big day: Els Àngels

   The toughest stage of the week, taking in Els Àngels and the villages around Ripollès valleys.

3. Day 3

   Villages of Ripollès valleys

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

4. Day 4

   Farewell ride

   A short final loop near Gavarres Cork Forest followed by a long lunch before transfers home.

What is included

On the road

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