Sunrise Empordà plain Explorer

The Sunrise Empordà Plain Explorer is a full-day road cycling adventure through the heart of Catalonia’s most rugged and remote countryside. This hard ride is for experienced riders seeking a challenging but deeply rewarding journey, with 65 kilometres of rolling tarmac and 3047 metres of elevation gain. The route unfolds across the quiet backroads of the Empordà plain, where the air carries the scent of wild herbs and the only sounds are the whir of your wheels and the distant call of crickets. You’ll start at the Sarrià de Ter bridge, where the morning light spills across the landscape, setting the stage for a day of intense effort and breathtaking vistas.

The climb to Coll de la Creueta is the first true test of the day, a steep ascent that rewards you with sweeping views of the plains below. From there, the ride winds through the medieval village of Peratallada, where stone houses cluster around a central square, their walls worn smooth by centuries of wind and rain. The route then cuts through the Empordà Rice Fields, a landscape of shimmering green that stretches to the horizon, dotted with irrigation canals and the occasional heron standing sentinel in the shallows. A well-earned coffee stop at Espresso Mafía offers a chance to refuel before the final push back towards Girona, where the fast, well-surfaced descent lets you ride with abandon, the wind rushing past as the landscape blurs into a thrilling blur of motion.

This is a ride for those who thrive on challenge and solitude, where the lack of traffic on the Empordà plain’s backroads means you’ll feel utterly alone with the landscape. The medieval streets of Peratallada, with their uneven cobblestones and shadowed arches, provide a fitting finale, a reminder of the history that pulses beneath the surface of this land. Every turn in the road reveals something new—whether it’s the golden light of early morning, the sharp tang of wild thyme, or the sheer exhilaration of descending at speed. It’s a journey that demands endurance but repays it in full, with memories etched as deeply as the tire tracks in the dust.

Ride highlights

• The medieval streets of Peratallada on the way home
• Quiet farm lanes through Empordà plain
• Almost zero traffic on the Empordà plain back roads
• A fast, well-surfaced descent back towards Girona

How the day unfolds

1. 08:30

   Bike fit and coffee

   Meet your guide at Sarrià de Ter bridge, fit the bike and take on a coffee before rolling out.

2. 09:15

   Into Empordà plain

   The first stretch warms the legs on quiet roads towards Empordà plain.

3. 10:45

   The Coll de la Creueta section

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

4. 12:30

   Lunch near Peratallada

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

5. 14:30

   Past Empordà Rice Fields

   An easier afternoon section taking in Empordà Rice Fields.

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