Guided Hike – Empordà's Fitor Dolmens Hike and Picnic

• Tour Duration: Approximately 9 hours
• Walking Duration: Approximately 2.5 hours
• Activity level: Easy-Medium
• Price: From €230 per person

Itinerary

Morning

Tour leader Killian Driscoll and your chauffeur will pick you up for your forest hike in the Gavarres Mountains from your chosen location, and you’ll start your tour driving out of the city with Killian introducing the day ahead, and answering any questions you may have. Throughout the day, Killian will share with you his knowledge of the region, and the places you visit.

You'll drive deep into the oak and pine forests of the Gavarres Mountain range, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The Gavarres Mountains here are part of a nature reserve and the dense forest is dominated by cork oak, holm oak, and pine. The hikes starts at the 1,000 year old Romanesque church of Església de Santa Coloma de Fitor. Along the hike you'll walk along the medieval roads going across the mountain, and see the ancient cart ruts engraved in the bedrock.

You'll also explore a medieval ice house where ice was collected to be sold to the fisherman on the Costa Brava coast, as well as see the old farmhouses, the 'masias', on the plateau. Some of these are ruins, and they are a testament to the once thriving medieval rural communities that lived high up in these isolated mountains.

Prehistoric Megalithic Monuments - Dolmens and cists

Further uphill along the hike, by the summit overlooking the snow-capped Pyrenees and the Mediterranean Sea, you'll move back in time some thousands of years to the prehistoric period and visit a number of prehistoric megalithic monuments including dolmens and cists. These megaliths are from up to 6,000 years ago, dating to the Neolithic (Stone Age) and Bronze Age. They are different types of megalithic (meaning 'large stone') constructions, and were used by the prehistoric communities for as burial places and ritual activities.

Lunch

After your guided hike you will refresh yourself with a a specially prepared, gourmet picnic of traditional Catalan fare at a secluded woodland picnic spot. Alternatively, you can choose to have lunch at local restaurant that Killian can recommend.

Afternoon

After lunch you will drive through the wine country of Empordà to the stunning medieval village of Peratallada. There, you will explore the beautiful medieval walled town, and learn about the fascinating history of the town and area. The name 'Peratallada' comes from 'pedra' meaning stone and 'tallada' meaning cut. Peratallada is a beautifully preserved medieval town, with stunning stone buildings, medieval town walls, and large moat cut out of the bedrock. In fact, the town's history goes back about 2,500 years, with its roots as an Iron Age village and later a Roman settlement. Therefore, you'll see how this small town evolved over the centuries, in the rich agricultural landscape north of Barcelona.

• Activity level: Easy-Medium
• Walking Duration: Approximately 2.5 hours
• Walking Length: 9.4 km (5.8 miles)

• Elevation max: 273 m (896 ft)
• Elevation min: 130 m (427 ft)
• Total Uphill: 307 m (1007 ft)