Priorat Walking Tour | Hiking & Wine in Catalonia

About this tour

Step into a land where ancient empires, royal legacies, and vineyard-covered hills come together to shape an unforgettable walking holiday. This self-guided journey takes you from the peaceful cloisters of the Cistercian monasteries to the dramatic Mediterranean coastline, all while following historic pilgrim routes and Roman roads.

Begin your path in the heart of inland Catalonia, where the Ruta del Cister links three majestic Cistercian monasteries—Poblet, Vallbona de les Monges, and Santes Creus—each a masterpiece of medieval devotion and architectural splendor. Walk through sun-drenched landscapes dotted with olive groves, vineyards, and chapels perched on cliffs.

Along the way, you’ll savor local wines, visit historic villages, and sleep in charming rural lodgings—some just steps away from centuries-old abbeys. The journey culminates at the Balcony of the Mediterranean, walking along the Roman coastal route into Tarragona, the ancient Roman capital of Hispania Citerior and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Highlights

Beautiful walks along the hilly paths through vineyards, fields and gorges of the Priorat
Learn the history of the Priorat wine and visit the Carthusian monastery with guide
Enjoy the show cooking session in Siurana, a beautiful village known as the pearl of the Priorat, located in a beautiful landscape.
Taste the world-famous Priorat wines, with a visit to different bodegas.

Included/Excluded

Transfer from L’Espluga de Francolí train station to Poblet first accomodation
Welcome meeting with a local guide speaking English, Spanish, French and German
5 nights of accommodation (rural hotels, 3* and 4* hotels, NO dinner in Tarragona)
B&B or Half-board
All the tourist information, tracks and maps through an app personalized for your trip
Assistance telephone number 24/7
The transport of belongings between overnight stays
Passport of the Cistercian Pilgrims path
A guided and tasting visit to two wineries/wine shops
Transfers 4X4 as described in the current programme

Transfers from and to the airport
Hotels touristic tax
Flights
Travel insurance
Hotel tax
Extra drinks
GPS and maps on paper: 35€ per pack
Any other activity not described in the present file

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival

Arrival at Poblet. Welcome meeting with our English-speaking guide who will introduce you to the area and will give all the documentation and things you need for your holidays. At 6 pm, enjoy a wine tasting of the wines of Conca de Barberà appellation of origin at the local shop of the monastery.

Day 2: The monastery of Poblet

10km

Distance: 10km | Total positive climb: +550m | Walking time: 3h 20min

Transfer in the morning from Poblet to Montblanc.

Walk from Montblanc to Poblet enjoying the views from Sant Joan chapel, on top of a cliff. Follow the GR (white and red paintings), walking past the Santíssima Trinitat, another chapel, and arrive at Les Masies, where your accommodation is located. From here you can decide to visit the Poblet monastery, which is about 10min away walking by the main paved road.

Day 3: Through olives and wineyards. Monastery of Vallbona.

Distance to Vallbona: 8.5km | Total positive climb: +30m | Walking time: 2h 20min
Distance from Vallbona to Balneari de Rocallaura: 7.7km | Total positive climb: +200m | Walking time: 2h 15min

You will start the day with the transfer at 9am from Les Masies to the Tallat monastery with a local guide. From El Tallat, drop gently to Vallbona village, where you will enjoy a wine tasting at l’Olivera cooperative.

After the wine tasting and/or visiting the monastery, keep on walking following the GR and, before arriving at the village of Rocallaura, leave the GR and take a path on your right to the main road and again to your right until you get to the accommodation.

Day 4: The Mediterranean landscape. Monastery of Santes Creus.

16.3km

Distance: 16.3km | Total positive climb: +100m | Walking time: 5h

Today you will use the luggage transfer at 9am to shorten your trail a bit and explore new territories away from the GR. They will leave you in the little hamlet of Vallespinosa, and you will follow several tracks crossing woods and enjoying a wild and solitary territory until you get to Pont d’Armentera village. There you will find again the GR that will lead you to Santes Creus, the last monastery of the Cistercian order.

Day 5: Walking along the coast.

15km

Distance: 15km | Total positive climb: +150m | Walking time: 4h

Departure day to Tarragona, and drop off at Punta de la Móra. Enjoy a beautiful coastal walk along the coast, the watch tower of la Móra and the beautiful coastal forest of la Marquesa. Arrive on foot at your accommodation.

Day 6: Tarraco Romana / Departure day

A chance to explore the Roman remains of Tarragona as well as exploring the maze of boutiques in the old town. There are several beaches within walking distance of the town should you want to dip your toes in the Mediterranean.

Departure day by train or private transfer