Hiking the Vermillion Coast Tour with 2 Reviews by Walkers' Britain

8 daysDuration

Private TourPrivate experience, no group joining

20 peopleMaximum group size

18 - 99 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Moderate

Involves sustained activity requiring a reasonable level of fitness and endurance.

Starts

Collioure, France

Ends

Cadaqués, Spain

Highlights

Walk from Collioure in France to Cadaques in Spain

Enjoy Mediterranean coastal & Pyrenean mountain hikes

Linger in the whitewashed towns of the Catalan Coast

Indulge in Banyuls Wine and delicous fresh seafood

Bathe in the clear blue waters off the Cap de Creus National Park

A Walkers' Britain Classic Trip - benefit from 20 years of experience

Itinerary

Let coastal France and Spain enchant you on the Hiking the Vermillion Coast tour, an 8-day self-guided walking trip for experienced and senior travelers. Journey from Collioure to Cadaqués along the Côte Vermeille, where the Pyrenees meet the Mediterranean. Traverse vineyard-clad hills, aromatic maquis, and picturesque fishing ports like Banyuls and Port de la Selva. Cross into Spanish Catalonia, explore the Cap de Creus Natural Park, and end your adventure in the artistic haven of Cadaqués, near Salvador Dalí’s former home. Along the way, savor Catalan cuisine and local wines. The tour’s unique feature is its cross-border blend of culture, cuisine, and natural beauty, making it a walker’s paradise.

day 1 - Arrive Collioure

Flower decked Collioure is a very pretty little town set against the foothills of the Alberes Range. It has an idyllic setting with sun, sea and sky attracting many tourists each year. The town consists of two little fishing ports separated by the mediaeval castle on a spur. This former fishing port was the birthplace of the Fauve movement of painters in the early 20th century.

Accommodation:For two nights stay in a comfortable 2* hotel, furnished Catalan style. All rooms are ensuite. The hotel overlooks the harbour and citadel of this port which has long attracted artists.

day 2 - Gorges de Lavall to Collioure - 14 km/8.6 miles, 6-6.5hrs

Today you will travel inland (transfer included) to La Vall from where you make the scenic hike back towards the sea at Collioure enjoying views of the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean Sea. The journey to La Vall takes around 25 minutes. Hike up to the Tour de Massane - a great spot for lunch at 793m/2600ft with birds eye views over the coastline and then descend through cork forest, vineyards and fields to return to Collioure.

Meals:Breakfast

day 3 - Collioure to Banyuls - 15.7 km/9.8 miles, 6hrs

Walk up from Collioure to Tour Madeloc (656m/2152ft), then descend to Col des Gascons and follow the GR10 long distance trail among vines down to Banyuls. Banyuls is the southernmost seaside resort in mainland France with 7000 inhabitants and a popular yachting harbour. The resort is very pleasant, backed by hillside vineyards and surrounded by tropical plants.

Accommodation:Here we use a 4* family run hotel, by the seashore with a terrace restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean. The “gastronomique” restaurant specialises in seafood. There is a sauna (free) and all rooms are ensuite.

Meals:Breakfast and Dinner

day 4 - Banyuls to Port-Bou - 14 km/8.7 miles, 5hrs

Today you will cross the border between France and Spain. Passports are no longer required! The old border post remains. Leaving Banyuls, walk up into the hills to Pic Joan (437m/1434ft), a summit with a magnificent view of the indented coastline. There is an optional ascent to the Tour de Querroig/Tour Carroig, a ruined fort on the frontier (670m/220ft). Then a steep descent on the Spanish side of the frontier to Port Bou, a small town just on the Spanish side of the border.

Accommodation:A simple but nice pension. The rooms are not en-suite. Dinner is included in a local restaurant.

Meals:Breakfast and Dinner

day 5 - Port-Bou to Llanca - 11.6 km /7.2 miles, 5hrs

Walk up to Colle de Frare (202m) for wonderful coastal views then descend to the coast at Colera and then through a chain of pretty bays and headlands to the traditional fishing port of Llanca. This is a small resort development with an attractive old town a mile inland. You must bring sandels, jellies or water shoes today as there is a short section on the trail today where you have to walk in the sea for about 150 metres around a headland. In normal conditions this can be done in walking boots, but when there is a strong wind, the terrace can be a third of a metre under water.

If we are unable to confirm accommodation here tonight, you catch the train back to Port-Bou which takes approx. 10 minutes.

Accommodation:We stay at a small family-run 2* hotel that was one of the first to appear here and has changed through the decades as the historical images show. It's located 50 metres from the beach, the marina and the fishing port. All rooms are ensuite and have air-conditioning and Wi-Fi.

Meals:Breakfast

day 6 - Llanca to Port de la Selva - 12.5km/7.8 miles, 5hrs

A steep climb from sea level to the monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes near the summit of San Salvador Peak (670m/2200ft), descending along the forested Serrat de la Guerra ridge to Port de la Selva a traditional fishing village that has largely escaped development for the mass tourism market.

Accommodation:We stay at a small 3*hotel on the sea front with a modern, Mediterranean-inspired decor. All rooms are ensuite and have air-conditioning and Wi-Fi. NB For late season departures, you may have to overnight in Cadaques tonight due to limited availability in Port de La Selva. A return taxi transfer is included.

Meals:Breakfast and Dinner

day 7 - Port de la Selva to Cadaques - 25 km/15.4 miles, 7-8hrs

Walk from Port de la Selva through rugged maquis and rocky headlands to the Cap de Creus, the easternmost point of the Spanish mainland, where the Pyrenees meet the Mediterranean. From the cape, follow coastal paths towards Cadaqués, enjoying dramatic sea views and the wild, windswept character of the peninsula. On the final approach you pass near Port Lligat, once home to Salvador Dalí, before reaching the whitewashed harbour town of Cadaqués. This is a rewarding but longer stage, covering 25km / 15.4 miles.

Accommodation:We try to book you at our normal 3* hotel overlooking the sea. The hotel has excellent facilities, including an outdoor swimming pool. All the rooms are ensuite. There are good restaurants nearby so you can sample the local local cuisine.

Meals:Breakfast

day 8 - Arrangements end after breakfast

Tour arrangements end after breakfast. You are free to continue exploring Cadaques, however note that public transport options out of the town are limited and most buses depart early in the morning to Figueras. For those who wish to visit the Dali Museum at Figueras before returning to Collioure or to the airport at Barcelona or Perpignan, an early start by bus or taxi is advisable. For those travelling direct to an airport the most convenient train station is also at Figueras.

If you would like to extend your stay, ask our team when you book about extra hotel nights.

Meals:Breakfast

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What's Included

Accommodation

1 night accommodation in a 4* hotel, 5 nights in 2-3* hotels with ensuite facilities & 1 night in a pension with shared facilities

Meals

7 breakfasts, 3 dinners

Others

Luggage transferDigital information pack including Navigational App, map and route notesEmergency hotline

What's Excluded

Customer Reviews

Read what other travelers have to say about Hiking the Vermillion Coast

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based on 2 reviews

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Sistema di prenotazione semplice e intuibile. In caso di necessità le istruzioni presenti sul sito sono risultate utili e chiare. Nessun problema riscontrato

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