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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted Walking Tour

Walk & Tour: Catalonia's Coast & Culture

Eight-day escorted walking tour of Catalonia's coast from London via Eurostar and rail

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Great Rail Journeys' eight-day escorted walking tour combines rail travel, coastal hikes, and cultural exploration across Catalonia. You depart London St Pancras on Eurostar Plus, cross Paris by coach, and board First Class rail to Figueres in northeastern Spain. Based in the fishing villages of Roses and Calella de Palafrugell, you walk sections of the Cami de Ronda coastal path, hike from a 10th-century monastery to a seaside harbour, sail past towering cliffs to the whitewashed village of Cadaqués, and explore medieval towns such as Besalú and Pals. A guided tour of the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres and an afternoon at Cap Roig Botanical Gardens round out the cultural offerings. Each walking day offers two route options, allowing you to choose your daily distance. Expert local guides lead the walks, and a UK Tour Manager oversees the entire journey. The tour concludes with a return journey via First Class rail to Paris and Eurostar Plus back to London, making it ideal for rail enthusiasts and active walkers seeking a guided, comfort-focused European escape.

What to know before you look closer

  • The single supplement of £400 (approximately $535 USD) is a substantial 20 percent above half the double price; solo travellers should factor this in.
  • Each of the four walking days offers a choice of two routes; you select your pace each morning, but the group reconvenes for coach transport and meals.
  • The group is capped at 24 people, which is a relatively large escorted tour; if smaller groups are important to you, confirm the actual booking size with Great Rail Journeys.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Roses

    By First Class rail to the Catalan coast

    Meet the Tour Manager and group at London St Pancras for a Eurostar journey to Paris in Plus class, enjoying a light meal en route. Transfer between Parisian stations and continue in First Class through France to Figueres in Catalonia. Transfer by coach to the hotel in Roses, arriving late evening. Three-course dinner on arrival.

    Meals: Eurostar Light Meal, Dinner

  2. Day 2overnight: Roses

    Exploring a hilltop monastery and harbour town

    After breakfast, transfer by coach to Sant Pere de Rodes monastery, a 10th-century Romanesque monastery on a ridge with great coastal views. Choose from Option A (2.6mi/4.2km circular hillside walk with panoramic views) or Option B (4.4mi/7.1km walk from the monastery to El Port de la Selva with panoramic views of the Bay of Roses). Both options feature time in El Port de la Selva. Return by coach to Roses for a three-course dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  3. Day 3overnight: Roses

    Salvador Dalí's Figueres and medieval Besalú

    After breakfast, travel to Figueres for a guided tour of the flamboyant pink-and-gold Dalí Theatre-Museum, containing the largest collection of his works in the world, along with pieces by El Greco and Marcel Duchamp. This afternoon, visit the medieval town of Besalú at the foot of the Garrotxa Natural Park, accessed by a stunning 12th-century bridge. Free time to explore cobbled streets and ancient buildings before returning to Roses for dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  4. Day 4overnight: Roses

    Cadaqués and Cap de Creus walks

    Short transfer to the jetty for a boat trip around the coast, cruising past the Cap de Creus peninsula of towering cliffs and secluded coves to the whitewashed village of Cadaqués. Choose from Option A (3mi/4.8km flat path along the water's edge from Cadaqués harbour) or Option B (4.5mi/7km hike ascending through town to view Salvador Dalí's house at Port Lligat and continuing across the peninsula to the famous lighthouse at Spain's most easterly point). Return to Roses by coach for dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  5. Day 5overnight: Calella de Palafrugell

    Exploring Girona en route to Calella

    Leave Roses after breakfast and travel by coach to Girona for a guided tour of the Old Town, including the labyrinthine Jewish Quarter, the Cathedral of Saint Mary (with the second-widest nave in the world), and the colourful riverside buildings. Free time for lunch. Continue to Calella de Palafrugell, a traditional fishing village with whitewashed buildings. Check in to the hotel with sea views and superior rooms with terraces. Dinner at the hotel.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  6. Day 6overnight: Calella de Palafrugell

    Walking the Catalan coast on the Cami de Ronda

    Transfer by coach to La Fosca after breakfast. Begin the final walk of the holiday with two options featuring sections of the Cami de Ronda coastal path. Option A (4.9mi/7.8km): follow the waterside trail to castle ruins above town and continue on the paved coastal path. Option B (4.9mi/7.8km): follow the waterside trail past the cove of s'Alguer to Platja de... Both walks conclude back in Calella. Rest of the day at leisure to enjoy the hotel or explore the town.

    Meals: Breakfast

  7. Day 7overnight: Calella de Palafrugell

    Medieval Pals and Catalan wine-tasting

    Guided tour of Cap Roig Botanical Gardens after breakfast, featuring more than 8,000 varieties of plants surrounding a medieval-style castle built in 1931. Travel by coach to the medieval village of Pals for free time to explore its 9th-century church and the Hours Tower. Visit a traditional Catalan vineyard, a renovated 17th-century farmhouse family-run since the 1970s, for a guided tour and wine-tasting with a light lunch. Return to Calella for dinner at the hotel.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  8. Day 8rail

    Homeward bound

    After breakfast, return by coach to Figueres and board a First Class train to Paris. Transfer stations and board the Eurostar in Plus class, enjoying a light meal en route back to London St Pancras, where the walking tour concludes.

    Meals: Breakfast, Eurostar Light Meal

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Depart London St Pancras on Eurostar Plus, cross to Paris, then continue in First Class rail through France to Figueres in Catalonia, arriving in Roses by evening.
  • Day 2Choose between a 2.6-mile circular walk from the 10th-century Sant Pere de Rodes monastery or a 4.4-mile hike down to the harbour town of El Port de la Selva with views of the Bay of Roses.
  • Day 4Take a boat trip along the Cap de Creus peninsula's towering cliffs and secluded coves to Cadaqués, then walk either a flat 3-mile waterside path or a 4.5-mile hike ascending to Salvador Dalí's former house at Port Lligat.
  • Day 6Walk sections of the Cami de Ronda coastal path between La Fosca and Calella, following the waterside trail past coves and golden beaches for nearly 5 miles.
  • Day 7Tour the Cap Roig Botanical Gardens with over 8,000 plant varieties, explore medieval Pals, and taste wine at a traditional Catalan vineyard housed in a renovated 17th-century farmhouse.

Included

  • Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 7 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
  • Eurostar Plus class travel (London St Pancras to Paris and return)
  • First Class rail travel throughout
  • All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Expert local walking guides with recognised walking, leading and first-aid qualifications
  • Carefully planned walking routes with choice of two options each walking day
  • 2.6–4.9 miles (4.2–7.8 km) walking per day
  • Eurostar light meals (outbound and return)
  • Breakfast each day
  • 1 lunch (wine-tasting with light lunch at Catalan vineyard)
  • 6 dinners
  • All walks with local guides, guided tours and excursions
  • Guided tour of Dalí Theatre-Museum, Figueres
  • Guided tour of Girona
  • Guided tour of Cap Roig Botanical Gardens
  • Boat trip from Roses to Cadaqués
  • Transfers by coach throughout

Not included

  • Cancellation and travel insurance

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. The package includes Eurostar Plus class from London St Pancras to Paris on the outbound and return journey, and First Class rail from Paris to Figueres and back.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
It is fully escorted. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from London throughout the eight days. Local walking guides lead each daily walk, and a boat captain guides the coastal cruise.
What is the daily walking distance?
Walking routes range from 2.6 to 4.9 miles per day. Each day offers two options; you choose your preferred distance each morning.
What meals are included?
Breakfast every day, Eurostar light meals on Days 1 and 8, six dinners, and one lunch with wine-tasting at a Catalan vineyard on Day 7.
When does the tour run?
Great Rail Journeys offers six departures: September 2026, October 2026, April 2027, May 2027, September 2027, and October 2027.
What is not included?
Cancellation and travel insurance are not included. Optional extras such as London hotel stays before or after the tour and UK rail connections can be booked separately.

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