Hello Travelers!
We are planning a 4 week trip in the South of France and North of Spain. We want to do a loop beginning and ending in Barcelona. This will probably be the last time we will get a chance to see this area so we want to fit in as much as possible without being overwhelmed. We will rent a car when leaving Barcelona and will return it there at the end of our loop. We love to hike, photography and enjoy the romance of the region. Please look over this itinerary and let me know if there is anything we should change.
Barcelona: 3 nights
Alet le Bains: 3 nights (Cathar Trail, Castles)
St. Remy: 4 nights (hiking, abby, pont de gard, Gordes, Drome, Roussillion)
LaLinde: 4 nights (markets, canoe, Font de Gaum, gardens Eyrignac and Marqueyssac, Grotte du Grand Roc)
LeBourg: 3 nights (hiking Gedre, canyoning Pau, Bayonne, Biarritz, St. Jean de Luz)
Geteria Spain: 3 nights (San Sebastian, coastal paths)
Llanes Spain: 3 nights (hiking Picos de Europa, beach scenery, caves if time)
Drive back to Barcelona: We have 3 nights to get back to Barcelona. I thought we would stop half way and spend 2 nights and then stay close to the airport for our last night. Any suggestions on where to stay on the way back would be greatly appreciated. Some ideas I had were: Nacedero del Urederra for the hiking or Pamplona to see Running of the Bulls. Any other ideas? Is it worth it to see the Running of the Bulls or is it just a lot of drinking and chaos?
Thank you in advance for any help/advice you might have. You have really helped me in the past to have the best travel experience of my life!
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7942 posts
Hi Lori-on your return towards Barcelona, consider visiting and/or staying in Girona, just an hour to the north. The high, old town has atmospheric narrow passageways, and the newer low town is also charming. The tight streets in the upper town make driving more challenging.
Later in the trip, we were in Barcelona for 3 nights, so we went to the airport by taxi from our downtown hotel (Hotel Denit, recommended by Rick Steves). However, on a trip to Italy the previous year, we were in Rome for a week, toured other parts of the country, then came back our last night before flying home. Although we had an apartment in Rome that first week, we opted for a room at the Rome Airport Hilton (literally on the airport grounds, just steps from the terminal) that last night, which made our early fight much, much easier. Depending on when & where you turn in your rental car, being close to the airport isn't a bad thing, but some would argue for having one last night in Barcelona itself.
Posted by
stevens point, wi, usa
1194 posts
Hi from a snowy Wisconsin,
My wife and I did this in two trips. First we did southern France. Really only Cathar southern France. The castles are spectacular. You need a car to reach them and good lungs. Map out where they are carefully as they aren't near major roads. The roads are fine, but rural. You know tractors and cows/sheep. Cacassone is a Disney land tourist economy. If you have kids they will love it. As an adult, just how many t-shirt shops do you want to visit? "Oh, Look fudge in the castle? And plastic swords." East of Carcassone are some lovely historic villages. (If you haven't read Labyrinth by Moss? It is fiction of the Dan Browne sort, with Cathar woven into it. Fun.)
Our next trip was along the entire northern border of Spain, Barcelona to Santiago de Compostella. If you want to see the beauty of northern Spain, the splendid mountains and green forests, you have to travel close to the Pyrennes. And that is a slow go. If you want speed you head inland to the flatter, drier lands and the four-lane highways. San Sebastian has a reputation of tourists, and it is full. It is a lovely city if only the tourists went home. There are great smaller towns inland a bit. Santestaban comes to mind. It has three villages linked by a walking trail (hiking for those who need macho in your walk). Each town is prettier than the previous. Pretty much no tourists. Santesteban is south west from San Sebastian and has a nice selection of restaurants that are very local.
Not so far from Barcelona is Trempe. It is NE from BCN. You can stay in a hill town castle and tour the great old churches in the area.
You will love the whole territory you have outlined.
wayne iNWI
Posted by
OP
Spokane Valley, WA
201 posts
Thank you for your suggestions Wayne! This was exactly the information I was looking for. Thanks for the heads up about Carcossone. We will spend our time looking at other castles and small villages. We look forward to spending some time on the Cathar Trail. And I love to read so I appreciate the tip about the book as well!
Do you have any suggestions on where to stay half way between Llanes and Barcelona close to the Pyranees? We would love to see the scenery along there and maybe fit in a day hike.
Thank you!