Cycling the Costa Brava With ExperiencePlus!
Our Spanish production company has scouted locations all over Spain. Few places consistently capture our imagination quite like Cataluña. With a history as diverse as its spectacular landscapes, as well as its unique language and regional culture, Cataluña is full of surprises. During our productions in the region, we've filmed the world's best chefs, fished for fresh prawns in the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean, explored the bustling back streets of Barcelona, and crafted moonshine with shepherds in ancient mountain villages.
So when our client Experience Plus invited us to join them in Cataluña to film a video about their Costa Brava cycling tour, we were delighted. What better way to get under the skin of this fascinating corner of Spain than by bike, traversing the region from its rugged coastline to the rolling hills of its wine country?
Experience Plus is a family company that was founded in 1972 by husband and wife duo Rick and Paola Malpezzi-Price. The company is now run by their two daughters, Monica and Maria Elena. Since its founding, the company has become one of the world's most well-respected bicycle tour operators. Their tours combine cycling with culture and gastronomy in a way that allows their clients to sink their teeth into a destination and feel a genuine connection to the local culture and way of life. WhereNext has worked with Experience Plus on several productions, including a video biography of the company and its founders, and a promotional shoot for their Italian cycling experiences.
This time we would be shooting their 8-day Costa Brava cycling tour. The company classes this trip as one of their "Classic" tours, operated in the same point-to-point style they've sworn by since 1972. A hallmark of these Classic tours is their signature chalk arrows. Experience Plus describes these arrows as "an extension of your tour leader."
These chalk marks on the road don't just indicate the right direction; they highlight a particular viewpoint, encourage you during tough sections, welcome you to the top of a hill with a smile, and point you in the direction of a mouth-wateringly wonderful bakery. The tour leader or support van is always close by to offer assistance, but the beauty of the chalk arrows is that they allow every participant to move at their own pace and enjoy the experience in their own way.
The total cycling distance on this tour is just under 300km: a reasonably gentle itinerary, ideal for new cyclists looking for a bit of a challenge. The idea of the tour is not only to ride long distances through the beautiful landscapes of Cataluña, but for clients to have the time to immerse themselves and experience the best of the region's culture, gastronomy, and history.
There’s always time to hop off the bike and enjoy a dip in the Mediterranean during Experience Plus’ Costa Brava experience!
The video created by our Spanish production company distills the essence of the Experience Plus Costa Brava tour into a concise two-minute homage to Cataluña. A soulful guitar melody backed by delicate percussion plays as the cyclists wind along the coast roads and farm tracks, the sound of a gentle breeze rustling through the wheat and the waves lapping at the shore drifting into the background. Murmuring voices rise and fall, wine glasses lightly chime together, and gentle footsteps click-clack against the centuries-old cobblestones. Post-it note-like chalk markings are a focal point as the tour leaders daub directional arrows on the roads and even, in one memorable shot, "Coffee!" Wouldn't it be nice if we all had someone in our lives pointing us in the direction of coffee at all hours of the day?
WhereNext biking productions in Spain: “Andalucia: A Sensory Adventure - Cycling in Spain with H&I Adventures”
We mixed cycling footage with images of the other diverse activities on offer on this tour. We see the clients relaxing on a sailboat overlooking the rocky Costa Brava coastline, wandering the perfectly preserved streets of Peratallada, throwing pots with a master ceramicist in La Bisbal d'Emporda, taking in Dali's masterpieces in his hometown of Figueres, and, of course, doing plenty of eating and drinking! After all, Girona is home to more Michelin starred restaurants than anywhere else on earth, and the grapes that grow in these hills produce some of the best wine in Spain.
Our 'Experience Plus: Costa Brava' video is a visual tasting menu of the myriad joys of Cataluña. We draw people into the world of an Experience Plus tour concisely and engagingly, giving them a tantalizing glimpse of the magical experience that awaits them cycling through the splendid countryside and time-capsule towns of Spain's most complex and compelling region.
Join Us in Spain: learn more about how you can work with our Spanish production company.
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