Explore Catalunya

A Barcelona day-trip company with its own vans and guides

Explore Catalunya runs its own small-group day trips from Barcelona. Its about page says it operates "a small fleet of minibuses and minivans," has "a team of over 20 professional local guides," and keeps support staff at "our headquarters in the heart of Barcelona." The homepage sums up its reach: "Travel with a local guide to Montserrat, Girona, Costa Brava, the Pyrenees, Roman Tarragona, medieval villages, the Dalí Museum, Andorra and even France." Every tour starts from Barcelona, and prices are shown in euros.

The company says it began as "practically one man and his van," a bright green VW minivan, and that "For almost 20 years" it has been running small-group tours. It calls itself "one of the leading day tour operators in Spain" and says that in 2019 it "proudly showed over 40,000 visitors the best of Catalunya." It also says it holds the Biosphere Certification for tour operators.

The day trips and their prices

The homepage lists each tour with a per-person price:

• Skip the Line: Best of Barcelona Full Day Small Group Tour, with the Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera and Park Güell, 179€.
• Explore the Costa Brava: Hidden Coves, Medieval Coastal Villages, and Stunning Gardens, 115€.
• Dali Museum, Figueres And Cadaques Small Group Day Trip, 109€.
• Food And Wine Small Group Day Tour, 199€.
• Game Of Thrones Small Group Tour, an 8-hour day in Girona including lunch, 115€.
• Girona And Costa Brava Small Group Day Trip, 99€.
• Medieval Villages Small Group Day Trip, to "three beautifully preserved medieval villages," 99€ (listed at 11 hours, approximately).
• Montserrat And Winery Visit, with a wine tour at a family-owned winery, 135€.
• Montserrat Half Day Tour With Optional Skip The Line Sagrada Familia Visit, 60€.
• Pyrenees Mountains And Medieval Villages Small Group Tour, 119€.
• Tarragona And Sitges Small Group Day Trip, 99€.
• 3 Countries In One Day: France, Andorra And Spain, 139€ (13 hours).
• Gourmet Tapas Walking Tour With Flamenco Show in Barcelona, 115€.
• A two-hour or sunset sail off Barcelona, 75€.

The short descriptions give a sense of each day. The Game of Thrones tour follows "in the footsteps of the Lannisters and the Targaryens" through Girona. The half-day Montserrat trip visits the Montserrat Monastery and Royal Basilica and can finish with skip-the-line entry to the Sagrada Familia. The Tarragona day retraces "the footsteps of Roman gladiators" before time on the coast at Sitges, and the 3 Countries tour mixes medieval villages with "authentic French mountain culture." The Montserrat and winery day ends with a tour of a family-owned winery, and the Pyrenees trip is billed as "Just a short drive from Barcelona."

The destination menu names many smaller places the tours reach, including Besalú, Blanes, Cadaqués, Port Lligat, Rupit, Santa Pau, Tavertet, Tossa de Mar, the Vall de Nuria and the Penedes wine region. The tour-type filter splits the catalog into Barcelona City Tours, Gastronomy & Wine, Historical & Cultural, Mountains & Coast, Private Tours, Sailing and VIP Tours.

How a day runs

Groups are small: the about page says "Whether you join a tour with just two people, or find yourself in a small group of around 16," and the homepage promises "guaranteed departures" and "daily departures." Each tour, the company says, "has been carefully designed to include some guided sections, as well as plenty of free time to explore by yourself," a style it sums up as "On Your Own, but Never Alone." The Girona and Costa Brava day includes seaside paella, according to its listing, and the 3 Countries tour promises "two full hours to explore" at one of its stops.

The homepage introduces several of the team, among them Rodrigo, head of guiding, with the company "for over 10 years," Enrique, head guide, "with the team for over 15 years" and a published author, and Patricia, partner and head of operations, who the page notes is "a qualified bus driver." The about page says guides are told to imagine they are showing visiting family and friends around, and gives examples of local knowledge such as "knowing where the keys are kept to a tiny mountain church" or which street vendors will let guests taste for free. Sergio, a senior guide, is described as an experienced tour and nature guide.

The company also explains its approach to responsible tourism: small groups, local guides and businesses, family-run restaurants, and a balance between famous sights and "lesser-known places" to avoid adding to the most overcrowded areas. "We believe that mass tourism can have a negative impact on both the environment and the many smaller businesses in the area," the homepage says, and it presents its small groups and village stops as its answer to that.

Booking and contact

Booking is online through each tour's "Book Now" button, and the homepage encourages travelers to "Book direct" for "clear prices, secure online booking and support from the same local team that operates your tour." The Barcelona office can be reached on +34 93 269 1154 or +616 355 996, and there is a downloadable brochure, an FAQ, a blog and guide videos. Private and VIP tours are offered alongside the shared ones.

What is left open, and who it suits

The homepage and about page do not state the cancellation window or refund terms, pick-up points and start times, guide languages, or any policy on children, fitness and accessibility; those need checking in the FAQ or at booking. The Barcelona, Girona and Tarragona destination pages carry placeholder text rather than tour information, so the tour listings are the place to look.

Explore Catalunya suits visitors based in Barcelona who want to get out of the city for a day with a local guide and a small group, whether to Montserrat, medieval inland villages, the Costa Brava, Dalí country or across the Pyrenees into Andorra and France. Its mix of guided time and free time appeals to travelers who like some independence within a tour. Travelers who want a fixed hotel pick-up or a detailed cancellation policy before choosing should ask the office first.