Ian J. Whitmore’s latest video documents a three-day fastpacking trip around beautiful Catalonia, where he soaked up the local sights, trails, and flavors. Join him on a relaxed 200-kilometer journey in the 15-minute video here…

Words, photos, and video by Ian J. Whitmore

In July of 2025, at the tail end of a heatwave, I made a 130-mile trip through the central part of Catalonia on my gravel bike. No camping this time; fastpacking instead of bikepacking in Europe often makes a lot of sense with the affordability of lodging. I started my trip by taking a train from Barcelona to Girona. From there, I made my way along the northern part of the El Carrilet, a lovely via verde (greenway) to Olot, where I stayed with friends and visited Camping Con Coromines for dinner.

The next day, I headed east toward Costa Brava and the town of Castelló d’Empúries. I stayed at a quiet farmhouse/bed and breakfast near the coast. Enjoying the backroads that reminded me a lot of the landscape in Nebraska, where I grew up. On the final day, I cycled along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea before heading inland, making my way back to the train station in Girona to complete a very fun three days out on the bike.

I love the gravel riding in Catalonia and throughout Spain. There are endless options, lovely landscapes, delicious food, and excellent hospitality. I hope you enjoy the short video documenting my ride. You can find a few of my other videos below, too.

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