Girona: Volcano Area, Besalú, and Banyoles Lake Tour

The most unusual part of this day is a walk into a dormant volcanic crater, where a medieval hermitage sits among the folds of La Garrotxa. You are not just looking at a volcano from a roadside viewpoint. You hike into one, then spend the rest of the day moving between old villages, a basalt cliff, and Catalonia’s largest lake.

I like the mix of places, especially the contrast between Besalú’s Jewish and medieval heritage and the quiet volcanic country around Santa Pau. I also like the small group of no more than six people, which gives guides such as Pau and Eduardo room to explain local history and adjust the pace. The main drawback is the walking: the climb to the crater can be hard, and lunch is not included in the $162 price.

At a glance

• Walk inside a dormant volcano crater to reach a medieval hermitage in La Garrotxa Natural Park.
• See Castellfollit de la Roca from its basalt cliff, one of the day’s best photo stops.
• Explore Besalú with a guide, including its medieval center and Jewish heritage.
• Eat in Santa Pau, with about an hour and a half for lunch before a guided village visit.
• Finish at Banyoles Lake, where you can walk along the shore or possibly sail.
• Travel in a group capped at six, with bottled water and a guide in English or Spanish.

Why this day works so well from Girona

Girona is a rewarding base, but its old quarter can take over your whole stay. This tour gives you a full day outside the city, reaching the pre-Pyrenees and the volcanic area of La Garrotxa without asking you to arrange several separate bus trips or car routes.

The day lasts about eight hours, including the return to Carrer dels Calderers, 19. The meeting point is in Plaça Sant Feliu beside The River Caffe, a useful detail to confirm before setting out. The first drive takes roughly 35 minutes, so you get into the countryside quickly.

I see this as a good choice if you want variety. You will see medieval streets, volcanic geology, rural villages, and water in one day. The tradeoff is a fairly full schedule, with several van rides between stops. This is not a slow village stay or a long nature walk. It is a broad introduction to a corner of Catalonia that is easy to miss on a first visit.

The small group matters. With six people or fewer, it should be easier to hear the guide and ask questions than on a large coach tour. The guides named in the feedback include Pau and Eduardo Raymundo. Pau is described as especially passionate about local culture, while Eduardo is praised for his cultural background and enthusiastic approach. Guide quality can vary by departure, but the experience depends heavily on having someone who can connect geology, food, religion, and village life.

Besalú and the Jewish past of Girona Province

Besalú is the first major stop, reached after about 35 minutes in the van. You have around 75 minutes here for a guided visit and local snacks, enough time to get a clear sense of the town without trying to see every corner.

The key subject is Besalú’s medieval and Jewish heritage. During the Middle Ages, it had the second most important Jewish community in Girona Province. That gives the visit more weight than a quick walk through attractive old buildings. Your guide can help you understand how Jewish life fitted into the town’s social and religious structure.

Besalú is also a place where the setting and architecture do much of the work. Its old streets and medieval remains create an easy opening to the day, before the route turns toward volcanic country. Bring a camera, but pay attention to the guide too. The value here is not only the look of the town, but the explanation of how different communities shaped it.

The local snack is a pleasant extra, though it should not be treated as a full meal. Lunch later in Santa Pau is not included, so you will want to keep that in mind when planning your appetite and spending.

Castellfollit de la Roca and the basalt cliff

A 15-minute drive brings you to Castellfollit de la Roca for about half an hour. This is mainly a photo stop with a guided explanation, rather than a long village visit.

The striking feature is the town’s position on top of a basaltic cliff. The cliff was formed from layers of volcanic rock, and the town appears to sit along a narrow ridge above it. You get a quick look and time for photographs, but the stop is short by design.

That short timing is both useful and limiting. It keeps the day moving and gives you one of the clearest visual reminders that this region was shaped by ancient volcanic activity. On the other hand, if you like lingering over viewpoints or photographing architecture from several angles, 30 minutes may feel tight.

I would keep your camera ready and wear shoes that feel secure. The tour information does not promise a long walk here, but the day as a whole includes uneven outdoor ground and a later hike.

Hiking into La Garrotxa’s volcanic zone

From Castellfollit, the van continues for about 35 minutes to La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park. This is the physical center of the experience. The area has more than 40 volcanoes, all inactive for thousands of years, and the tour includes about an hour of hiking.

The unusual goal is a medieval hermitage located in the middle of a crater. That detail makes this more than a standard countryside walk. You are looking at a place where geology and human history occupy the same small space: a volcanic hollow shaped long ago, with a religious building placed within it.

Be realistic about the effort. One person described the climb as a little hard, even though lunch helped restore energy afterward. The tour is not recommended for people with limited mobility, and it is not suitable for wheelchair users. Comfortable shoes are essential, and a sun hat is a sensible addition.

The tour data does not give a precise trail surface, elevation gain, or difficulty grade, so you should not assume the hike is gentle. If you are comfortable with a one-hour walk and a climb, it should be manageable for many active visitors. If hills are a concern, ask the provider for current trail details before booking.

The volcano stop also gives the day its strongest sense of place. Instead of rushing from one pretty village to another, you get a clear explanation of why these villages look and sit where they do. The dormant craters are not just scenery. They help explain the region’s roads, soils, cliffs, and settlements.

Santa Pau: castle, church, and a proper lunch break

Santa Pau follows the hike, with about 90 minutes set aside for lunch. Food is not included in the $162 cost, but that gives you freedom to choose what suits you. The meal is taken at a traditional restaurant or local canteen, according to the experience details and feedback, and it is described as good value by one person who took the tour.

The lunch stop is important because it breaks up an active morning. You may want a substantial meal after the crater walk, not just a quick snack. At the same time, keep extra money available, since the price covers the guide and bottled water rather than food.

After lunch, you have about 40 minutes for a guided visit to Santa Pau. The village is surrounded by volcanoes and has a large castle and a notable church. Its appeal is different from Besalú’s. Besalú is presented through its Jewish and medieval past, while Santa Pau connects a compact historic village to the volcanic country around it.

Forty minutes is enough for an introduction, a few photographs, and a walk through the central area. It is not enough for an unhurried museum visit or a long independent exploration. I like this arrangement because the guide keeps the village visit focused, but you should not book the day expecting hours of free time in each town.

Banyoles Lake closes the day gently

After Santa Pau, the van takes about 35 minutes to Banyoles Lake. You get around 30 minutes to visit and walk along the shore, with the possibility of sailing mentioned as an option.

Banyoles is the largest lake in Catalonia, so it gives the final part of the tour a quieter feel. After the morning hike and several guided stops, a short walk beside the water is a welcome change of pace. One description of the day particularly liked ending with a stroll around the lake.

Do not expect a long lakeside outing. Thirty minutes passes quickly, especially if you want photographs or hope to sail. The information does not specify whether sailing is included, how long it lasts, or whether it is available on every departure, so ask before treating it as part of the plan.

The final drive back takes about 25 minutes. This makes Banyoles a pleasant closing stop rather than another demanding activity. You finish with water, open space, and a sense that you have seen several different sides of Girona Province.

What the $162 price gets you

At $162 per person, this is not the cheapest way to leave Girona for a day. You are paying for an eight-hour outing, a small group, guided visits, transportation between five distinct areas, and bottled water. The price makes more sense if you value interpretation and do not want to rent a car.

The strongest value comes from the route. Besalú, Castellfollit de la Roca, La Garrotxa, Santa Pau, and Banyoles are spread across the region. Reaching them independently would take planning, and public transportation may not line up neatly with the short visits and rural hiking stop.

Lunch is the clear extra cost. At least one person felt it would be better included, while another found the meal good and fairly priced. I would budget for lunch rather than seeing the price as all-inclusive. You may also want to clarify the sailing option at Banyoles before departure.

The score attached to the experience is 4.9 from 35 ratings, with especially strong praise for the guides, the variety of stops, clean and comfortable transportation, and the stress-free way of seeing less familiar parts of Catalonia. The most useful takeaway is not simply the number. It is that the day works best when you want a guide to connect the stops and handle the driving.

Who should book this tour

I would choose this for an active first-time visitor to Girona who wants more than the city’s old quarter. It suits you if you enjoy short guided walks, local history, scenic viewpoints, and a moderate hike, and if you prefer a small van to a large coach.

It is also a good fit for couples, friends, or solo visitors who want company without joining a big group. Spanish and English are available, and a group limited to six should keep the day fairly personal.

I would hesitate if you want a relaxed schedule. The route covers a lot of ground, and each stop has a set time. I would also hesitate if you have limited mobility, dislike hills, or want a tour with meals and activities fully covered in the starting price.

Wear comfortable shoes and bring a sun hat. Bottled water is provided, but you should still plan for the hike and the warm conditions that can occur in exposed areas. Cancellation is flexible up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve without paying immediately, which helps if your Girona plans are still moving.

The final call

Book this tour if you want a well-filled day that combines ancient volcanic country with medieval Catalonia. The crater hike and the basalt cliff give it a stronger sense of place than a simple village-hopping trip, while Besalú and Santa Pau provide the history and food stops.

Skip it if you need wheelchair access, cannot manage a climb, or prefer to set your own pace. For everyone else, the $162 cost is reasonable when you factor in the small group, guide, van transport, and the difficulty of linking these rural stops on your own. Bring money for lunch, confirm the Banyoles sailing details, and expect a busy but rewarding day beyond Girona.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

The guide meets you at Plaça Sant Feliu beside The River Caffe.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts eight hours, including transportation from Girona and the return to Carrer dels Calderers, 19.

What languages are available?

The live guide is available in English or Spanish.

Is lunch included?

No. Food is not included in the tour price. You have about an hour and a half in Santa Pau for lunch.

Is the tour suitable for people with limited mobility?

No. The tour is not recommended for people with limited mobility and is not suitable for wheelchair users, partly because it includes a hike in the volcanic zone.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes and a sun hat. Bottled water is included.