Ronda - a town in the Andalusian province of Málaga lies at 723 meters above sea level in the mountainous landscape of the Serrania de Ronda. This Moorish-influenced town is our destination on this beautiful trail that combines nature and Andalusian culture.
From Los Barrios in the Campo de Gibraltar, the route takes you on horseback through mountains and natural parks as well as historical Moorish sites to Ronda.
Between the 8th and 15th centuries, this region was under Moorish rule, which called it Al-Andalus.
In Jimena and Castellar, as well as Ronda, there are monumental witnesses to this Arab rule.
With our partner's Iberian horses, the route goes up through valleys, streams and wooded mountain slopes. There are no obstacles for these talented horses. You can admire the typical Andalusian vegetation of cork oak forests, Spanish firs, junipers, maritime pines and holm oaks. But you can also discover the fauna with Iberian goats, roe deer, falcons and royal hawks. The landscape is varied and the differences in altitude mean there are always fantastic views into the distance.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival
Welcome to Málaga! Transfer to Los Barrios and allocation of horses. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 2: Los Barrios - Castellar
From Los Barrios, we head towards Castellar, a village on the edge of the Los Alcornocales Natural Park. In Castellar, we pass the castle, which dates back to the Moorish siege. Dinner and overnight stay. Riding time: 5 hours.

Day 3: Castellar - Jimena de la Frontera
The roads and crossroads on this route are surrounded by forests of holm oaks, cork oaks, and a dense thicket of rockroses, broom, and thyme—the ideal environment for the bandits who once inhabited these areas. We ride below the castle of Jimena de la Frontera, an important defensive structure of the Nasrid Empire that connected Castellar with Jimena.

Day 4: Jimena de la Frontera - Gaucin
The romantic legend of this area is linked to the famous bandits of the Serrania de Ronda. They were highwaymen who hid in the mountains and forests to ambush wealthy travelers on their way to Ronda. You will ride along the paths where smugglers brought tobacco and other goods from the coast to Ronda, from where they were distributed throughout Andalusia and Spain. Riding time: 5 hours.

Day 5: Gaucin - Cortes de la Frontera
This route never disappoints. It is charming, with a rugged valley that is a colorful mosaic, like a lush garden thanks to the care of its inhabitants, who have learned to use its resources without spoiling the landscape and natural beauty. Today's route follows some of the old paths used by mule drivers to transport wheat and olives, which were ground in the numerous mills on the banks of the Guadiaro River. Riding time: 5 hours.

Day 6: Cortes de la Frontera - Montejaque
The route winds through valleys and over slopes, following the historic route deep into the Serrania de Ronda. The fruit trees and irrigation systems of the Guadiaro Valley give way to steep, wooded slopes with bare rocks. You follow a beautiful path above and then climb up to where you can catch a glimpse of the old town of Ronda and its famous gorge. Riding time: 4.5 hours.

Day 7: Montejaque - Ronda
Ancient Ronda is a colorful tapestry of intertwined threads that make it one of the most interesting cities in Andalusia. The landscape, the layout of the city, its history, the romantic legend of the bandits with their meaningful names, the cradle of bullfighters and artists whose names have gone down in history: all this makes Ronda a unique city. Riding time 4 hours.

Day 8: Departure
Farewell to Andalusia - transfer to Malaga.

Accomodation
You overnight every day in a different hotel. These are good middle-class Spanish hotels. Your luggage will be transported in the support vehicle.

Saddle & Tack: Comfortable English saddles, optionally also Iberian saddle, English bridle.

Experience: Confidence in all gaits is a prerequisite, as is many years of trail experience.
The riding pace is adapted to the surroundings. According to the hilly landscape, walking phases will predominate.
The rider's weight must not exceed 90 kg.

Horses: Andalusian and Hispanic Arabian.