The Pirinexus is a circular cycling route of around 350 km that crosses the eastern Pyrenees and links Catalonia with the French Pyrénées-Orientales. Mixing greenways built on old railway lines, forest tracks, gravel roads and quiet lanes, it has become one of the most popular multi-day gravel rides in southern Europe.
The route at a glance
- Distance: around 350 km as a loop (our tour covers 380 km including a warm-up ride).
- Countries: Spain and France.
- Surface: greenway gravel, forest and farm tracks, plus short paved sections.
- Typical duration: 4 to 6 riding days.
Stage by stage
A classic way to ride it is to start in Girona, head west through forests and farmland into the Pyrenean foothills and spend the night in Sant Joan de les Abadesses. The next stage is the most adventurous: longer climbs and flowing descents across the border to the French town of Céret, known for its art heritage. From there the route drops towards the Mediterranean through vineyards and olive groves to the Costa Brava around L’Escala, before following the coast and the Carrilet greenway back to Girona.
What bike do you need?
A gravel bike with tyres of around 38 to 45 mm is ideal. The route is also rideable on a trekking bike or an e-bike, and some stretches can be ridden on a road bike, but the full loop is most enjoyable on gravel. Our tour offers both gravel and road options.
How hard is it?
Daily stages are typically 75 to 90 km with 500 to 1,200 m of climbing, so a reasonable base fitness is enough. The mountain stage between Sant Joan de les Abadesses and Céret is the toughest; the rest is rolling and very enjoyable.
Best time to ride
March to June and September to November offer the best conditions. Summer can be hot in the lowlands, while the mountain sections may be cold early in spring.
Ride the Pirinexus with us
Our Pirinexus Gravel tour covers the loop in 6 days and 5 nights with hotels, luggage transfers and route support. Prefer something more relaxed? The Via Verde: Pyrenees, Girona & Costa Brava tour follows the traffic-free greenways from Camprodon to the sea in 5 days. For more ideas in the area, read our guide to cycling in Girona.
