Itinerary
(All Race Days entail 5K-12K trail runs)
- days
- hours
- minutes
- seconds
Welcome to Spain! You’ll most likely be dealing with a bit of jet lag so be smart, get your rest on the way over, and ease your way into Europe, with a stroll through the streets of Barcelona. Between La Rambla, the Picasso Museum, Sagrada Familia, and the Gothic Quarter, there is way too much to see and do.
We’ll all unite that evening at the hotel. Some will reunite and the newcomer contingent will tiptoe into the group, wondering what to expect. No matter who you are, rest assured, you will be welcomed with open arms and the adventure begins for all of us at once! Registration will include the distribution of SWAG and race bibs. Announcements, Q&A, and introductions ensue, while everyone enjoys dinner.
No time to waste! Let’s get up early, jump on the buses, and prep for RACE DAY 1, which in full disclosure, is more of a trek to warm up the legs. No timed event today in Ribes de Freser. We will have made our way from one of the coolest cities in the world to one of the most gorgeous mountain ranges in the world – The Pyrenees! The only thing seperating you from France will be some gigantic slabs of rocks.
And what better way to explore the Pyrenees than by cheating (just a little bit) with a ride on a funicular, up to the ‘Nuria Sanctuary’. Only then will it be time for that first adventure. There may be some traces of snow in May, so get ready for a challenge. We’re certain this is the single-best way to kick off Race2Adventure 2018 with a 6K mountainous trek. After that, we’ll descend, thanks to the help of the funicular, and continue on to Vic.
Halfway between the sea and the Pyrenees lies Vic. Its rich heritage reflects in the culture and art that will surround you. This is where dinner is served and a bed awaits.
Rise and shine! After a hearty breakfast, we’re back on the buses for a one hour ride to Tavertet. Have you ever run, hiked, or walked through a small town located above cliffs, 900m above sea level? Well, after today, YOU HAVE!
After one of the more scenic treks of your life that include canyoning sections at the end, it’s time for lunch followed by a trip to the local winery. And…if you’re so inclined, they’re happy to ship wine back to your primary residence, wherever that may be. That or maybe just a bottle for the road in Rupit. A town best known for its medieval feel, stone houses, and cobble stoned streets. Don’t worry – we’ll find you a soft place to sleep. It’s been a long day and the wine is taking effect.
After lunch we’ll take a short bus ride to our home for the night – Olot. The city is known for its natural landscape, including four volcanoes scattered around the city center.
Let’s cover some ground this morning! After a nice breakfast and a little time to digest, we’ll drive to the Gavarres forest ready to traverse its mountains to arrive to a scene – The ancient city of Girona. If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, let’s not geek out TOO much here, but the facts are the facts. Girona is THE city where the mass majority of season six was filmed. Yes, Dubrovnik Croatia had Game of Thrones fame too, but season six is all about Girona! The steps of “shame”, Westeros, the Chapel, etc. Be true to your medieval/fantasy self and explore this afternoon. Game of Thrones fan or not, the number one show in the world picked this city for a reason – it is absolutely breathtaking.
Tonight we have a very special dinner planned for Race2Adventure. Without getting into too much detail, and because things can change, we’ll just ask you to think outdoors with a feast!
Wake up! There’s more! Board the buses from Girona to Peratallada. This very difficult name to write and pronounce is easily translated into “carved stone”, where the centerpiece is the Peratallada Castle, built in 1065 AD. have breakfast in Monells and then….TO THE BEACH! La Fosca Beach to be exact. We won’t be tanning and building sand castles here, but it’s our first taste of “Costa Brava” – much more to come along the coast from here on in!
We’ll be covering 8K from La Fosca to Calella de Palafrugell. This awesome seaside town is a hot spot for the Dutch, English, and French all summer long. We’re going to beat the crowds and christen the town about a month before things start to heat up there. Dinner in Calella de Palafrugell that night.
After breakfast in Callela de Palafrugell, load your luggage on the buses to Wake up! There’s more! Board the buses from Girona to Montserrat mountains. Incredible rock formations, Montserrat quite literally means ‘saw mountain’ in Catalan and never could a name be more apt. Lines of serrated mountains stretched across the horizon and yet, as we got closer, their rounded, weather worn faces made them look less like a saw and more like fingers stretched up, grasping at the sky.
We will be traversing the whole area, we know the trails that will take us smoothly by these beautiful mountains all the way to the Monastery of Montserrat where we’ll spend the night.
Did you get your sleep? Are you well rested? Hope so. Because today is arguably the biggest day in R2A history.
We’ll be boarding the buses in Tamariu and going straight to the Barcelona airport. We’ve got one more race and one BIG final celebration, so we’ve decided to make all of that happen in IBIZA! Board the plane and we’re flying south, to this famed island, known for its beaches coupled with unbeatable nightlife.
We’ll be brought to our hotel, check-in, and embark and the last of six races for the week, with another 5K run along the beach. After that, CONGRATULATIONS! It will be your first (definitely not your last), or one of the many, Race2Adventure experiences under your belt. You’ve done it! So get down to the beach, lay out, relax, take a nap, grab a drink, or do whatever you want to do. But please rest, because the final party and medal ceremony is tonight! And after that…well…it’s Ibiza…so you tell us! Some of the most outrageous bars and dance clubs on planet Earth call this place home, so we all might have to cap this week off with a lot of dancing.
That or retire, because after a week like this, and 40K+ on foot, there really is no wrong answer. If after a big day and a fun dinner celebration, if it’s time to go to bed, it’s time to go to bed. But…IF…you can find it in you to experience Ibiza for all that it is, you might not need a bed that night, as the dance floor will be yours until the sun rises!
Good morning! Rise and shine R2A’ers! But not that early. Don’t worry, we know. You’re tired. And you deserve some rest. We’ll be flying back to Barcelona early that afternoon. No need to set an alarm. Ahhhhhhhhh.
When we return to Barcelona, we’ll be transported back to our hotel for the night, right back to the place where it all began a week ago. The rest of the day (and vacation) is yours. Trust us when we tell you, you will have forged friendships that may last the rest of your lives. You will have seen more than most could inside of one week. You will have experienced something that very few have, while fitting in a good bit of exercise along the way. You will be an R2A’er. And that…is special.
Time to head back, everyone. At least for some of us. For those with the time and energy, it’s time to explore more of Spain, cross the borders into Portugal, traverse the mountains into France, or jump on a train along the coast to Italy. But your time with Race2Adventure is done…for now.
Adios? No. Hasta la proxima!!!
(please note, itineraries are always subject to change for any possible reason under the sun)
