Secrets of Southern Catalonia

Ten nights, self-guided, through the corner of Catalonia around Tarragona, with an economy hire car and hotels arranged by Caminos. The page positions it as a short trip that has it all: gastronomy, wine, scenery and heritage, with the Mediterranean climate and the Costa Dorada never far away.

Caminos describes Tarragona as a lively regional capital that could rival Barcelona without the crowds, with spectacular Roman remains. Nearby Reus has Modernist buildings and a Gaudi museum, and wine country lies to the north and south, with hiking trails among the vines of the Priorat and the cava vineyards of the Penedes. In the south, the Ebro Delta supports rich birdlife among the rice fields.

Three nights in the Priorat and Montsant wine region start the route, with Siurana, La Cartoixa de Scala Dei and a trip to Reus for Modernist architecture and vermouth. Three nights in the Ebro Delta and Tortosa follow, with birdwatching, rice and seafood, Miravet and the Els Ports mountains. Two nights in the Alt Penedes cava country come next, with the Modernista wine cathedrals and Sitges. The final two nights are in Roman Tarraco and Reus, with a walking tour of the old town set among the Roman remains, vermouth in the city where it is made, and the beaches at Tamarit and Altafulla.

The price covers hotels on a bed and breakfast basis for two sharing a double room, an economy four-door hire car for those flying, a regional guide book and a personal travel app with restaurant suggestions and weather forecasts, and instructions for finding every hotel. Flights, one-way and cross-border car hire charges, extras such as a second driver, garage parking and local tourist taxes are not included. Caminos quotes about £1,450 per person as an indicative mid-season figure for 10 nights, and adapts the route, hotels and airports to each traveller.