Self-guided · Spain to France
From Dalí's coast
to Matisse's
harbour.
Six nights along the coast where the Pyrenees meet the sea, from the white town of Cadaqués in Spain to the pink harbour of Collioure in France. Cap de Creus, a clifftop monastery, wild coves and a train ride over the border.
- Days
- 7
- Distance
- 81 km
- Ascent
- 2,200 m
- Grade
- Moderate
Trip Essentials
Across the border on foot
You walk out of Spain and into France along the coast, from Dalí's Cadaqués to Matisse's Collioure.
Walking solo?
You can walk this one on your own, with your own room in every hotel along the way.
Read the solo detailsThe walk
Where the mountains
run into the sea.
At the far eastern end of the Pyrenees the mountains fall straight into the Mediterranean, and the coast is all headlands, coves and small harbour towns. Dalí lived in Port Lligat outside Cadaqués; Picasso visited; Matisse and Derain came to paint in Collioure. It's easy to see why.
You start with two nights in Cadaqués and a walk out to Cap de Creus, the most easterly point of mainland Spain, where the wind has carved the rocks into strange shapes. Then you head north: across the national park to El Port de la Selva, up to the great monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes, along the wild coves of Cap Ras to the border at Portbou, and a short train ride into France.
The last two days are on the Côte Vermeille, through vineyards that tumble down to the sea, finishing in Collioure.
The route, day by day.
A fixed self-guided package: every stage, every night's accommodation and every luggage transfer is arranged before you set off.
- 01
Arrive in Cadaqués
You're met at Figueres-Vilafant station or Girona airport and taken to Cadaqués, the white town Dalí loved. It's a great place to eat: fresh fish, tapas, and a bottle of cold Catalan white. Night at Hotel Octavia, 50 m from the beach in the heart of town.
- 02
Circular walk to Cap de Creus
5.5 h · 21 kmOut to Cap de Creus, the most easterly point of mainland Spain, where wind and sea have shaped the rocks into lions, dragons and eagles if you look long enough. There's a lovely restaurant out on the cape for lunch. Second night at Hotel Octavia.
- 03
Cadaqués → El Port de la Selva
4.5 h · 13 kmNorth through the heart of the Cap de Creus natural park on a quiet rural path, with views of the Pyrenees and the French border, down to the fishing village of El Port de la Selva. Night at Hotel Spa Porto Cristo, a 19th-century manor house a block from the beach.
- 04
El Port de la Selva → Sant Pere de Rodes → Llançà
5.5 h · 19 kmUp to the monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes, one of the most important in Spain, then to the ruined castle of Sant Salvador for a view over the whole Bay of Roses and into the Pyrenees. Down to the seaside town of Llançà. Night at Hotel Grifeu, right on the beach.
- 05
Llançà → Portbou → train to Banyuls-sur-Mer
4 h · 11 kmA wild stretch of coves and clear water past Cap Ras, Platja del Borró and Platja de Garbet, inland through Colera and back up onto the GR92 with views into France. Down to the border town of Portbou and a short train ride to Banyuls-sur-Mer. Night at Hotel Le Catalan, high above the town, with two pools.
- 06
Banyuls-sur-Mer → Cap Béar → Collioure
5.5 h · 17 kmQuiet lanes and clifftop paths round the Cap Béar headland, a swim or two if you like, and then through the vineyards to Collioure, the star of the Côte Vermeille. Dinner is included tonight. Night at Hotel Madeloc, with a rooftop pool and jacuzzi.
- 07
Departure
Breakfast, and the trip ends. Trains run from Collioure along the coast and back into Spain.
Solo walkers
Walking solo
This is a good trip to walk alone. You're in a lively town or village every night, the path is well marked, and the local team is on the phone 24 hours a day.
You have your own room in every hotel and your bags are moved for you. The price for a solo walker is £2,345.
Runs on any date from 1 March to 28 June and 1 September to 21 October 2027.
Where you'll stay
A good bed at the end of every day.
Six nights in five hotels: Hotel Octavia in the middle of Cadaqués, Hotel Spa Porto Cristo in El Port de la Selva, Hotel Grifeu on the beach at Llançà, Hotel Le Catalan above Banyuls-sur-Mer and the 4-star Hotel Madeloc in Collioure. You can upgrade your two nights in Cadaqués to Llané Petit, on the beach with a sea-view terrace.
Getting there
Fly to Barcelona or Girona, or take the high-speed train to Figueres-Vilafant. Your transfer to Cadaqués is included. From Collioure, trains run back into Spain via Portbou.
What's included?
A fixed self-guided package — accommodation, luggage transfer and route notes all taken care of before you arrive.
Six nights in 3- and 4-star hotels, two sharing a room
Six breakfasts and one dinner
Your bags moved between hotels every day
Arrival transfer from Figueres-Vilafant station or Girona airport
Route notes, maps, GPX files and a phone app with built-in navigation
Local phone and WhatsApp support, and an out-of-hours number
All planning and booking by Big Trail Adventures
Not included
- Flights and trains (including the short train from Portbou to Banyuls)
- Lunches, most dinners and drinks
- Travel insurance (we recommend it)
- Transport if you skip a walk
- Entry fees and personal expenses
This route. These nights.
One clear price.
You are booking the itinerary above: your walking days, your overnight stays and the support that carries you between them.
Organising this trail for friends? Build a group trip with individual payments
- Full refund if unhappy with any changes
- Confirmation within a few days
- ABTOT financially protected
We'll start planning your trip right away. Not happy with anything? We'll adjust it or refund you — no questions asked.
The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for Big Trail Adventures (member 5690). Protection is provided for non-flight packages. Full details in our booking conditions.
Things walkers ask us.
How hard is it?
Moderate. Days are four to five and a half hours on coastal and hill paths, with a few steady climbs, notably up to Sant Pere de Rodes on day 4.
Can I walk it on my own?
Yes. You have your own room every night, and the solo price is £2,345 per person. If two of you want separate rooms, it's £535 extra for the single room.
Do I need my passport?
Yes. You cross from Spain into France on day 5, so bring your passport or ID card.
Can I start on any date?
Yes, any date within the season, as long as it's at least six weeks away.
Who do I book with?
You book with Big Trail Adventures and pay us. We arrange everything with our local team in Catalonia, who look after you on the ground.
Is the Cadaqués to Collioure tour self-guided?
Yes. This is a self-guided trip: you walk the 81 km route independently, with no guide and no group. Accommodation for all 6 nights is booked for you, route notes and maps are provided, and there is local support in the region if anything goes wrong.
Do I need a guide or can I walk it alone?
No guide is needed. The route is walked on marked paths with the notes and mapping supplied in your pack. You choose your own start date within the season (1 March to 28 June and 1 September to 21 October) and walk each day at your own pace.
Who arranges the accommodation?
We do. Six nights in five hotels: Hotel Octavia in the middle of Cadaqués, Hotel Spa Porto Cristo in El Port de la Selva, Hotel Grifeu on the beach at Llançà, Hotel Le Catalan above Banyuls-sur-Mer and the 4-star Hotel Madeloc in Collioure. You can upgrade your two nights in Cadaqués to Llané Petit, on the beach with a sea-view terrace.
