Catalonia to France walking holiday
Description of Catalonia to France walking holiday
Follow the sublime Mediterranean coast from Catalonia into France on this self-guided, tailormade walking tour through a landscape that has inspired artists including Matisse, Picasso and Dali.
Explore the unique and intoxicating Catalan culture as you walk from the whitewashed coastal town of Cadaqués to Cap de Creus, mainland Spain’s most easterly point, and through the national park. Idyllic rural trails abound, with distinctive geological landscapes, incredible views of the Pyrenees, and historic landmarks such as the Sant Pere de Rodes cloister, one of the most important monasteries in Spain.
This is point-to-point, self-guided walking, so you’ll stay in a succession of pleasant, rural accommodations with plenty of places nearby to sample the fresh seafood of the Vermillion Coast. Naturally you’ll be provided with comprehensive maps and route notes, and 24/7 support should you need it. Your luggage will also be transported between accommodations so that you can get by with a daypack.
Your first stop in France is the stunning resort of Banyules Sur Mer, an old fishing village now surrounded by prestigious vineyards – handy, for toasting your efforts on day five. From here you’ll follow quiet lanes and cliff-top paths around the rugged Cap Béar headland, before finishing in the salmon-coloured Catalan port of Collioure, which inspired Matisse. Here there are sandy and pebble beaches, creeks for swimming, and a waterfront castle by the bay – the perfect spot to end your walking tour.
There are more challenging self-guided walking tours in Spain and France, longer routes as well. We think you would struggle however, to find one as picturesque as this. It’s a real breathtaker.
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1 Reviews of Catalonia to France walking holiday
Reviewed on 18 Sep 2024 by eleanor Love
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
the beautiful, unspoilt, rugged scenery and lovely coastal towns to stop in with lovely beaches and clear seas to swim in.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
proper walking shoes with proper gripping soles- there was more rocky scrambling than I expected -not unmanagable but trainers would be no good. Also better to have an ok head for heights in places. Carry a swimming costume at all times if you enjoy swimming in the sea. Be prepared for it to be quite windy at times. definitely visit Salvador Dali's house
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I dont know that we reduced environmental impact as we were walking on some paths that are bound to be getting a bit more eroded by us being there though at least we were on foot not using fuel to get around. we definitely made use of local hospitality/shops every day and hopefully at least some of that benefits the conservation area we were in.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We had a brilliant time! Maria who met us at the start was very friendly and helpful. All written instructions on the whole were very clear and easy to follow. the hotels were well located for the walks and the staff there were all friendly.
It was the perfect tonic for my friend and I!
Responsible Travel
Planet
With regards to the environmental impact, all our guests are encourage to respect the local flora, fauna and wildlife and to act responsibly. We share our knowledge of local plants, animals, geology, and local history to promote a greater love of the countryside here and hopefully give them a desire to protect it. This is covered during the “welcome meeting”, also our guest are given a detailed information sheet on this on arrival They walk on designated paths and make sure no litter is left behind. All of our business waste is recycled where possible through a local community initiative. All communication via fax is done electronically where possible, saving on paper. On arrival our guests are given information on recycling in this part of Spain. They are also given information in the form of a leaflet on how to minimize waste. All the information giving to customers, maps, routes notes and information packs are returned at the end of the holiday and recycled.People
Our self guided walking holidays in Catalonia and tourism in general has benefited the local community here immensely, without tourism many of the local restaurants, hotels, guest houses and craft shops would not exist, all of which employ local staff. Many of the younger generation have also stayed due to the employment tourism brings to the community.All of our accommodation is family owned and staffed by locals with their food being sourced locally. As our holidays run out of season they are particularly grateful of our custom.
We also believe our guests give a positive impact on the community. We encourage all our guests to interact with the local community, this gives both the guests and locals the change to interact and embrace each other’s cultural differences. In order to limit the social impact of tourism all are guests are sent information packs about the local customs, religion, politics and history. We encourage our guests to visit local craft shops and to buy any provisions locally.
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