Self-guided · Costa Brava, Spain
Beaches, wetlands
and the white
town of Cadaqués.
A gentle week through the Empordà, from L'Escala's Roman ruins round the Bay of Roses to Cadaqués and the hills of Cap de Creus. Bird-filled wetlands, a medieval town, two nights in Dalí's Cadaqués, and transfers at both ends.
- Days
- 8
- Distance
- 76 km
- Ascent
- 1,500 m
- Grade
- Easy to moderate
Trip Essentials
Roman ruins to Dalí's house
Greek and Roman Empúries, the wetlands of Aiguamolls, a free day in Cadaqués and the monastery at Sant Pere de Rodes, all in one week.
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
A little of everything
the Costa Brava does well.
This is the most varied of our Catalan walks. It starts by the sea at L'Escala and the Greek and Roman city of Empúries, follows the long curve of the Bay of Roses, and crosses the Aiguamolls wetlands, where you might see flamingos, herons and spoonbills in spring and autumn.
From the medieval town of Castelló d'Empúries you're driven to the start of the wild coastal path to Cadaqués, and then have a free day there: walk out to Dalí's house at Port Lligat or to the lighthouse at Cap de Creus. The last two days cross the national park to El Port de la Selva and climb to the monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes before finishing in the village of Palau-Saverdera.
The walking is mostly three and a half to four and a half hours a day, and the transfers at both ends are included.
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 L'Escala
You're met at Figueres-Vilafant station or Girona airport and taken to L'Escala, a working seaside town with two small beaches in the old centre. Night at Hotel Rallye, steps from the seafront, with a rooftop terrace.
- 02
L'Escala → Empúries → Sant Pere Pescador
3.5 h · 13.8 kmOnto the coast path past the walled village of Sant Martí d'Empúries and the Greek and Roman ruins at Empúries (pay to enter), then along the southern Bay of Roses with beaches to stop and swim at. Night at Hotel el Molí, a family-run hotel with a pool, a big garden and hammocks in the pines.
- 03
Sant Pere Pescador → Aiguamolls → Castelló d'Empúries
3.5 h · 15.6 kmAlong the River Fluvià to its mouth and through the Aiguamolls natural park, dotted with bird hides, to the medieval town of Castelló d'Empúries, whose huge church is known as the 'cathedral of the Empordà'. Night at Hotel Canet, dating from 1924, with a pool in an old convent.
- 04
Coastal path to Cadaqués
5.5 h · 15.5 kmA transfer to the start, then a spectacular coastal path past secluded coves with clear water for swimming, and inland through old olive terraces into Cadaqués. Night at Hotel Octavia, 50 m from the beach.
- 05
Free day in Cadaqués
Optional · up to 6 h · 19.9 kmExplore the white alleys and the 17th-century church, walk to Dalí's house at Port Lligat (book ahead), or go all the way out to the lighthouse at Cap de Creus for lunch with a view. Second night at Hotel Octavia.
- 06
Cadaqués → El Port de la Selva
3.75 h · 13.4 kmNorth through the Cap de Creus national park on a quiet rural path to the fishing village of El Port de la Selva. Night at Hotel Spa Porto Cristo, a 19th-century manor house with a spa, a block from the beach.
- 07
El Port de la Selva → Sant Pere de Rodes → Palau-Saverdera
4.5 h · 14.8 kmUp to the monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes and the ruined Sant Salvador castle, with views over the Bay of Roses and into the Pyrenees, then down past the white chapel of Sant Onofre to the medieval village of Palau-Saverdera. Night at Hotel Boutique Niu de Sol, with a roof terrace and a fireplace.
- 08
Departure
After breakfast you're taken back to Figueres-Vilafant station or Girona airport.
Solo walkers
Walking solo
This trip suits a solo walker well. The days are gentle, the transfers at each end are included, and there's plenty to see in every town you stop in.
You have your own room every night, your bags are moved for you, and the local team is on the phone if you need anything. The price for a solo walker is £2,450.
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.
Seven nights in six hotels: Hotel Rallye in L'Escala, Hotel el Molí in Sant Pere Pescador, Hotel Canet in Castelló d'Empúries, Hotel Octavia in Cadaqués, Hotel Spa Porto Cristo in El Port de la Selva and Hotel Boutique Niu de Sol in Palau-Saverdera. You can upgrade your two nights in Cadaqués to Llané Petit, on the beach with a sea-view balcony and pool.
Getting there
Fly to Barcelona or Girona, or take the high-speed train to Figueres-Vilafant. Transfers from and back to Figueres-Vilafant or Girona airport are included.
What's included?
A fixed self-guided package — accommodation, luggage transfer and route notes all taken care of before you arrive.
Seven nights in 3- and 4-star hotels, two sharing a room
Seven breakfasts
Your bags moved between hotels every day
Arrival and departure transfers from Figueres-Vilafant station or Girona airport
Transfer to the start of the walk on day 4
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
- Lunches, dinners and drinks
- Travel insurance (we recommend it)
- Transport if you skip a walk
- Entry fees (Empúries, Dalí's house) 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?
Easy to moderate. Most days are three and a half to four and a half hours, mainly flat to rolling. Day 4 into Cadaqués and day 7 over Sant Pere de Rodes are the hilliest.
Can I walk it on my own?
Yes. You have your own room every night, and the solo price is £2,450 per person. If two of you want separate rooms, it's £465 extra for the single room.
Is it good for birdwatching?
Yes, especially in spring and autumn when birds are migrating through the Aiguamolls wetlands. Bring binoculars on day 3.
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 Catalan Coast & Mountain tour self-guided?
Yes. This is a self-guided trip: you walk the 76 km route independently, with no guide and no group. Accommodation for all 7 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. Seven nights in six hotels: Hotel Rallye in L'Escala, Hotel el Molí in Sant Pere Pescador, Hotel Canet in Castelló d'Empúries, Hotel Octavia in Cadaqués, Hotel Spa Porto Cristo in El Port de la Selva and Hotel Boutique Niu de Sol in Palau-Saverdera. You can upgrade your two nights in Cadaqués to Llané Petit, on the beach with a sea-view balcony and pool.
