Sun-kissed Catalonia
The best of Catalonia’s vineyards, historical attractions, unique hotels, and culinary experiences.
Individual Trip
Travel Route
Barcelona – Montserrat – Priorat – Penedés – Costa Brava (Optional) – Barcelona
1 day — Penedés
We will dive deeper into the sparkling wines of Spain! Penedés is the region where 90% of Spanish Cava is produced.
You’ll learn a new type of Cava (which is called Corpinnat), understand the key differences, and why just 11 winemakers are working under the Corpinnat brand.
4 days — Emporda
Experience the beauty of the coastal Emporda region and reveal the secrets of natural wine.
Enjoy the most beautiful Spanish coast — and dive to rescue an underwater aged wine bottle!
Barcelona
See the beauty of Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, and Tibidabo landscapes.
Priorat
We will see the breathtaking slopes of Priorat, which consist of beautiful “Licorella” soil.
Priorat is a region primarily known for red wines, but we will also try unique whites, learn about winemaking practices, and understand the geology and microclimate of the region.
Montserrat & the Catalan Pre-Coastal Range
Discover the local history, marvel at beautiful views, and escape into nature.
Cartuja de Escaladei
We will learn the history of the Priorat region and Scala Dei monastery.
The emergence of Priorat as a wine region can be traced back to the defeat of the Moors, who were pushed south across the Ebro River. In 1194, the Carolingian monarchs enlisted the Carthusian monks to establish a monastery to promote Christianity in response to Islam. Choosing a location just beneath the Monsant mountains, the monks founded the monastery known as Scala Dei. The name was inspired by a shepherd's tale of witnessing a ladder to God near the monastery grounds.
Itinerary Details
Place: Spain, Catalonia
Type of holidays: Vineyards, Hikes, Mediterranean Sea, comfortable and authentic hotels.
Group: Individual
Dates: Open
Difficulty: Medium. Be ready for short hikes through vineyards and mountains, and hot weather if you choose to travel in August.
Guide: Nastia Riabokul
Accommodation: In top-rated boutique hotels and designer apartments located in beautiful natural settings, where you will have the opportunity to explore nature and local vineyards.
Meals: Foodies will be delighted! Catalonian cuisine is characterized by meat-based dishes, mushrooms, and rivers of wine. We plan to visit well-known restaurants, as well as small and atmospheric national dining establishments. ; there will be an opportunity to try both traditional and authentic cuisine. A meal in a restaurant in Catalonia will cost from 40 to 100 USD. For the whole trip (11 days), you should plan to budget 1000 – 1400 USD for lunches and dinners.
Airfare: We can take care of tickets, or you could organize by yourself! The destination is Barcelona International Airport (El Prat) — from there, we will start and end our holidays.
Currency: As Spain is part of the European Union, the local currency is Euros. You can pay with cards everywhere or bring cash.
Weather: April – July and September – October are the most comfortable months to travel, as the daytime temperature is 68 - 86F. August is the hottest month when daily temperatures can rise to 95 - 104F; that’s when we suggest enjoying the sea in Costa Brava!
Daily program
Day 1 — Arrive in Barcelona.
Day 2 — We will spend the whole day getting to know Barcelona in the company of a local guide. We will walk along the streets of historical houses of the Raval district; we will imagine how life was in Barcelona a hundred years ago; we will look at the classic sights of the capital, Sagrada Familia and Casa Batllo.
Day 3 — We will visit one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world in Montjuic, hike on Tibidabo mountain, and watch beautiful sunsets. We will enjoy the first wine tasting together with Catalan charcuterie.
Day 4 — It’s time to explore Montserrat! We will commute by car and enjoy the nature of the mountain range. Later, we will have lunch and commute further to Priorat.
Day 5 — We explore two vineyards of Priorat, observing local winemaking practices and traditions and visiting the oldest winery in the region. During the same day, we will visit the Scala Day monastery. Following the defeat of the Moors, who were pushed south across the Ebro River, Priorat transformed into a wine region. In 1194, the Carolingian monarchs enlisted the Carthusian monks to establish a monastery in the area, aiming to propagate Christianity in response to Islam. Choosing a site just beneath the Monsant mountains, the monks founded the monastery named Scala Dei. The inspiration for the name came from a shepherd's account of encountering a ladder to God near the current monastery grounds.
Day 6 — We will drive to the Monsant wine region, which forms a circular shape around the Priorat. We see the differences in soil and compare how they impact the wines. In the evening we are driving to Penedes, the heart of Cava production.
Day 7 — Avoiding big mass-produced wineries, we will go directly to the finest sparkling wines of Catalonia, which are producing wines under the Corpinnat brand. We will make a field trip outside of Sant Sadurni city to see how the vines are growing and how people work on the next wine vintage during the growing season. Be ready to spit, as we are going to try lots of wines! And not only sparkling ones. At the end of the day and following dinner, we will commute to Costa Brava.
Day 8 — We will rest in a local boutique hotel in Costa Brava, enjoy the sea, and snorkel (optionally diving) during the day.
Day 9 — This day will be full of special activities. First, you’ll learn more about underwater wine aging and how this process influences the flavor of the wines, comparing terrestrial wines with underwater ones. After that, you’ll have an opportunity to dive and rescue one of the bottles from the sea bet. Diving licenses are not required.
Day 10 — We round up the experience by investigating natural wines of the Emporda region. Unveiling the secrets of winemaking and why the tastes differ a lot from conventional winemaking.
Day 11 — We will go back to Barcelona, where you will have a free day to explore the city with our recommendations.
Day 12 — Fly back home.
This can be your experience if
You are ready for a maximum of experiences every day
You are ready for lots of traveling and activities.
Your greatest pleasure in traveling is to experience and commune with nature.
You are ready to pack your suitcase and entrust the care of your holiday to us!
You are ready to look deeper into the cultures rather than just see the main highlights.
You want the maximum comfort that you can get on a personalized trip.