Unknown Catalonia – Escorted
Discover this remote area of Catalonia from the comfort of an exceptional 4* country hotel, spectacularly situated and renowned for its cuisine. It's area of small remote farms, stone-walled meadows, high rocky pastures and scrub-covered mountains with widely spaced villages – and fine, often isolated Romanesque churches and small monasteries, a legacy from when this area was the heartland of Catalonian culture.
The walking is full of interest with spectacular views, unusual and variant flower species, a wide range of birds including several species of falcon, griffon and bearded vultures and golden eagles. Excursions include the tiny cliff-top Romanesque church of Santa Fe with its extensive views of the Segre valley, and La Seu d’Urgell with its picturesque streets, colourful market and superb Romanesque cathedral of Santa Maria d’Urgell… returning each evening to the welcoming comfort of our hotel and another gastronomic treat.
Duration: 8 days
Trip dates:
12-19 May 2026
26 Sep - 3 Oct 2026
Itinerary
Transfer from Barcelona airport to the spectacular our hotel near Peramola in the picturesque Segre Valley (2 hours). Optional late afternoon walk to the nearby village of Peramola (3 miles, 1.5 hours).
A small farming village nestling in the Segre valley beneath the cliffs of the Sierra del Corb.
Boutique, country-house hotel with excellent restaurant and pool, in spectacular setting
We follow paths behind the hotel up into the Sierra del Corb, and visit a Romanesque church with extensive views of the Segre Valley (7.5 miles, 3.5 hours).
Boutique, country-house hotel with excellent restaurant and pool, in spectacular setting
From the unusual Romanesque church at Coll de Nargó we follow an easy track through a low pass, then continue, enjoying extensive views, to the old fortified village of Montanissell (3.3 miles/1.5 hours). Optional afternoon walk – returning by a different route (4 miles, 2 hours).
On the Segre valley floor, Coll de Nargó developed as an important link between the villages in the sierras. Most notable is the Romanesque church of Sant Climent.
Boutique, country-house hotel with excellent restaurant and pool, in spectacular setting
We travel by road (35 mins) to La Seu d'Urgell to visit the fine Romanesque church, picturesque streets and colourful local market. Optional afternoon walk to a point with excellent views of the Pyrenees (5 miles, 2.5 hours).
La Seu means ‘Episcopal seat’, actually that of Wilfred the Hairy and his descendants. Urgell originates from the Basque, meaning 'place of water'. It possesses a fine 12th century Romanesque cathedral and medieval town centre.
Boutique, country-house hotel with excellent restaurant and pool, in spectacular setting
We travel by road to the picturesque Val d'Arques, and follow tracks to a fine Romanesque church (an ATG Trust restoration project). Opportunities for swimming in an idyllic natural pool in the river (6.5 miles, 3 hours).
Boutique, country-house hotel with excellent restaurant and pool, in spectacular setting
We visit the spectacular Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria at Montserrat ('serrated mountain'), with its black Madonna and famous boys' choir, the oldest in Europe. Time-permitting, optional late afternoon walk to explore the excellent walking to the west of Peramola.
Catalonia's most important religious retreat is a Benedictine abbey nestling in the towers and crags of ‘the serrated mountain’, approximately 30 miles west of Barcelona. It houses a black virgin that is Catalonia's favourite saint. It is home, too, to one of the world’s oldest printing presses, which published its first book in 1499. The Basilica houses a museum with works of art by many prominent painters and sculptors.
Boutique, country-house hotel with excellent restaurant and pool, in spectacular setting
We drive to Organyà and follow an ancient pilgrim path up to a remote, dramatically situated Romanesque sanctuary church with panoramic views, returning by the same route. There have been some impressive bird sightings on this walk, including two species of eagles and vultures (4 miles, 2 hours).
Charming little farming village full of the fig trees it is named after, adjacent to the market town of Organyà.
Boutique, country-house hotel with excellent restaurant and pool, in spectacular setting
Return by road to Barcelona airport (2 hours).
Trip Planner
Walking & Terrain
Easy to moderate walking. This is an 8-day trip, with walking offered on 7 days. The length of each day varies from 1.5 hours to a maximum of 3.5 hours walking. Hours of walking, which may vary from group to group, means hours of actual walking and does not include stops for lunch, sightseeing, rests or siestas.
The scenery is very dramatic and mountainous, with alpine meadows and unusual rock formations. The paths are varied, but are mostly farm and forest tracks through mountain scenery with some rocky sections — please make sure that your footwear provides sufficient foot and ankle support.
Notwithstanding, it is a relaxed trip with a certain amount of free time built in to enjoy the hotel facilities. Some of our walks are weather sensitive. If it is not possible to do a walk due to inclement weather, an alternative will be organised. Any such decision is at the discretion of the Tour Leader.
Walking & Terrain
Easy to moderate walking. This is an 8-day trip, with walking offered on 7 days. The length of each day varies from 1.5 hours to a maximum of 3.5 hours walking. Hours of walking, which may vary from group to group, means hours of actual walking and does not include stops for lunch, sightseeing, rests or siestas.
The scenery is very dramatic and mountainous, with alpine meadows and unusual rock formations. The paths are varied, but are mostly farm and forest tracks through mountain scenery with some rocky sections — please make sure that your footwear provides sufficient foot and ankle support.
Notwithstanding, it is a relaxed trip with a certain amount of free time built in to enjoy the hotel facilities. Some of our walks are weather sensitive. If it is not possible to do a walk due to inclement weather, an alternative will be organised. Any such decision is at the discretion of the Tour Leader.
Your Personal ATG Route Manager
Route Book
The ATG Route Book is a detailed, day-to-day guide. The book anticipates your needs with easy-to-follow instructions, maps, plans and other information that will guide you to discover the best that the area has to offer and is the key to the success of an independent holiday with us.
Walking App
Your Route Manager can provide you with a link to download an app to your smartphone. This app provides the GPS track for your route on your phone. You can use this digital support to find your position and navigate the route, even without an internet connection or mobile phone reception.
Accommodation & Meals
We stay in Can Boix for the duration of the trip. Our hotel, in a spectacular setting at the base of dramatic cliffs, is a converted country house, run in style by the 10th generation of the same family, with pool, tennis court, sauna and jacuzzi. The hotel prides itself on its extensive cellars, and gastronomy is a high priority — the kitchen has entertained Heads of State!
All evening meals are included. The restaurant at Can Boix is superb. The dress code is smart/casual. At dinner, the Tour Manager will tell you about each evening’s menu and if there is anything else that you would prefer, you only have to ask.
Each day the Tour Manager will meet you with one of ATG’s celebrated picnic lunches. You will be greeted with mineral water and a starter followed by wine and an abundant lunch of local organic produce and specialities. Picnics are colourful, varied and nutritious. Buffet-style, there is a choice of meats, cheeses, substantial salads, bread and fruit…and pudding. If it is cold there will be a hot dish.
Food & Wine
Catalunya boasts an excellent and varied cuisine which owes as much to its history as to the influence of the many cultures that have passed through its lands. The Greeks and the Romans brought with them many new crops and being a coastal region, fish is enthusiastically eaten. The region’s many almond and hazelnut groves inspire delicious pastries while the rich game hunted in the sierras give rise to a varied assortment of meat dishes, and rich and wholesome stews. Catalunya also prides itself on innovative and imaginative variations on previous traditions and has an exciting ‘new’ cuisine. There are many Catalan wines of note, in particular those of the Penedés region to the south and several from the Segre area itself. Vi rosat — rosé, is often drunk very chilled with richer fish dishes.
History
A small Catalan state existed as early as the 9C and grew over a period of some 600 years into a powerful nation before being absorbed eventually into a united Spain. It has rarely been a willing subject and has maintained its individuality in many ways, not least in its history, culture, food and folklore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Escorted trips are accompanied by two of ATG’s fully trained Tour Consultants, from the moment they welcome you at the airport, through to the end-of trip airport transfer. The Tour Manager looks after the practical side of the trip – luggage transport, hotels, food and drink. The Tour Leader will lead each day’s walk, and after dinner each evening will tell you about the following day’s itinerary. Both Tour Consultants will explain their role, and how the trip will run, on the first evening at dinner.
Please let us know about any dietary restrictions or allergies in advance so that our Tour Consultants can ensure that you are catered for during your holiday. Most dietary restrictions do not present a problem on our trips and the Tour Manager can discuss your requirements in more detail with you at the start of your trip.
The walks are graded according to difficulty but you can walk as much or as little as you like.
Easy: walking along well-established paths and tracks with some short ascents/descents. These trips are suitable for most people who enjoy occasional exercise.
Easy to Moderate: walking along well-established paths and tracks. Occasional loose (gravel) surfaces. Ascents/descents up to 1 hour. These trips are suitable for most people who have a reasonable level of fitness.
Moderate: walking along a variety of paths and tracks. Occasional uneven areas. Ascents/descents 1-2 hours. These trips are suitable for those who have a reasonable to good level of fitness.
Moderate to Challenging: walking along varied paths and surfaces, occasionally challenging, with ascents/descents of 2-3 hours. These trips are suitable for more experienced walkers who have a good level of fitness.
Single travellers will be booked into a double room which will carry a single occupancy supplement.
Flights are not included in the price of your ATG holiday and should be booked independently. We will advise you of the group meeting time at the destination airport and return transfer time to the airport at the end of your trip to enable you to book compatible flights.
Yes. All of our escorted trips can be booked privately, you can book a set departure or a date to suit you (subject to availability). In most instances if the group is 13-16 clients we will offer the trip at the published price. For 12 or fewer clients we would provide a bespoke costing.
On escorted trips everything is included (per the published itinerary) apart from items of a personal nature and snacks or drinks outside of the set meals.
We are delighted to book extensions for you at either end of your trip. We only book hotels with which we have an established relationship and where we can ensure a high level of service and enjoyment. If you would like an extension hotel booking please indicate this during the booking process and we will contact you with pricing information.
ATG does not provide any form of insurance cover. However, it is a condition of booking that you have fully comprehensive insurance cover, including:
Cancellation/curtailment up to the cost of the holiday (preferably including flights)
Medical emergencies and repatriation
Travel delay / missed departure
Lost or stolen personal belongings
Personal liability
Legal expenses
Natural Disasters
Although most credit card companies offer travel insurance as something that is included when paying the balance with the card, it may be advisable to check that the cover offered is what you expect it to be. Very few companies include cancellation and curtailment or medical expenses. Whatever the insurance policy you have taken out, please read the documentation carefully. Please ensure also that you take it with you on your trip and refer to it in the case of any claim or emergency.
Yes, please click here for what to bring. A packing checklist is also included with your booking confirmation.
Sustainability
ATG was founded on principles of conservation and sustainable development. It was the first company to win the tourism industry’s two top awards: Tourism for Tomorrow (UK) and the World Legacy Award (National Geographic and Conservation International USA) and also the first to have an accredited Environmental Management System.
Everyone who walks with ATG contributes to the ATG Trust, which funds projects that benefit local communities in the regions visited. By supporting these initiatives, ATG promotes sustainable tourism. Past projects have included heritage restoration projects, environmental conservation and educational projects.
Your Tour Leader will be able to tell you about the ATG Trust project on this route involving the restoration of the Romanesque church of Santa Roma – an architectural gem, restored to full usage to attract travellers to benefit the local tourist economy.
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