Montserrat and Cavas Trail (for small groups)

The day starts with a 4-hour visit to Montserrat for you to explore the monastic center of Catalonia, home to the famous Black Virgin & boys' choir La Escolania. You will also have time to explore the magnificent natural park & mountains with spectacular views over Catalonian plains. After lunch you are transported through the back roads to the Cava, to the cellars of Freixenet. Here you can tour the underground caves before finally returning to Barcelona.

Itinerary/Activity Schedule
Departure is from Barcelona at 09:00, and from Barcelona we will head straight to Montserrat just over an hour and a half away. You have various options upon arrival. But a must, however, is a visit to the Sanctuary where the Moreneta is housed. For almost 1,000 years now, pilgrims and other visitors have visited and climbed this spectacular mountain. At 13:00 on weekdays there is an opportunity to hear one of Europe's oldest children's choirs, La Escolania de Montserrat.* There is also a chance to visit the fascinating Museum of Montserrat, with its five collections ranging from Archaeology to Biblical East to Modern Painting and Sculpture.

Aside from these cultural possibilities, the paths of the Montserrat parkland lead you to a number of different walks, each offering a different perspective on the stunning views over the surrounding landscape. Many of these, too, are peppered with small chapels and hermitages. There are routes to suit all tastes and energy levels, from fairly strenuous treks to gentle strolls around the park area, all of which allow you to enjoy the unspoiled beauty of this protected natural park. Another option is to take one of the two rack railways or the cable car that offer varying views of the area. The views, too, can simply be savored from the café.

At 14:30, the tour will leave Montserrat and lead down to the Cava capital Sant Sadurní d'Anoia via Gelida. Here you could visit some of the biggest underground wine cellars in Europe. Sant Sadurni d'Anoia is situated in the Penedès wine-growing region, which boasts one of the widest grape varieties any wine-growing region in the world could have. The region received a major boost in the late 19th-century when French vineyards succumbed to parasite, although Penedès itself was later struck by the same problem. Production has since recovered, and cava is now a major rival to French champagne; the main difference between cava and champagne, in fact, simply lies in the region where they are produced.

One of the most famous wine producers of the Penedès region is Freixenet, and the tour will continue with a visit to its vast wine cellars. Here they will demonstrate exactly how the famous sparkling wine is produced, from the first pressing of the grapes to the second fermentation in the vast expanse of cellars. This will be accompanied by the chance to sample the product, to see exactly why it has acquired such international fame.

From here the tour returns to Barcelona, arriving at 19:00.

Includes
- Transport in a small luxury mini-coach with full air conditioning
- Services of a professional English-speaking guide

Excludes
- Meals and drinks
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Rack railway and cable car at Montserrat

Please Note
- To ensure that you will receive our guide's undivided attention, this tour is limited to 8 participants only.
- Lunches are not included. We stop, however, in places where you have a range of lunch options to suit your budget. There are picnic options available.
- Because we believe in giving you opportunities to get off the bus and get out and about, please bring suitable clothing, footwear, and sun protection.
- All return times are approximate.
- The boys choir of Montserrat has a month of vacation during summer. They will not be singing until August 21. During this time, however, the monastery of Montserrat invites other choirs to fill in for the acclaimed boys' choir.

Your Confirmation Voucher includes full information (e.g. local telephone numbers) about the Local Operator. To ensure your peace of mind, we select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination.

You can book in 3 easy steps!
1. Select date and number of persons. You will be redirected to the Shopping Cart Page.
2. On the Shopping Cart Page, continue shopping or check out.
3. Enter basic travel, name, and payment information in the Check-out Form.

Upon booking, you will receive a voucher by email containing all details about the tour. You can check the status of your booking at anytime.

After you book
Please print the electronic voucher sent to you. It contains the operator's complete contact details and local telephone numbers. Give the voucher to the operator on the day of the activity.

What if I need to change or cancel my booking?
That's ok. We will try to be as flexible as possible. But you must inform us by email of the change or cancellation as soon as possible. The appropriate amount will be credited back to your credit card account. Contact our Customer Service for help with changes or cancellations. Or read our Cancellation Policy.