This ride takes you to one of the most beautiful areas of Catalonia, up to 2,000 m high in the Costabona massif. A horseback tour through breathtaking mountain landscapes, old villages, and the culinary delights of Catalan cuisine. You will experience three very different landscapes: the fertile plains along the Fluvia River, the wooded mountains of the Garrotxa, and the mighty peaks of the Pyrenees with their green meadows. This is a very varied route. Long trotting stretches and wonderful gallops await you!

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to the riding stable, where you will meet your guide and the team. Over a glass of wine, you will discuss the week's program and horse assignments. This will be followed by a convivial dinner.

Day 2: After a hearty breakfast, you will prepare the horses and leave the stable. In Bascara, you can show off your galloping skills at the horse racing track. After a picnic lunch and a short siesta, you will ride across green meadows and through Mediterranean forests to your accommodation for the night, a charming former farmhouse that has been converted into a hotel. The horses will rest in their paddocks, just a few meters away from us.

Day 3: Surrounded by the peaks of the Alta Garrotxa, enjoy the Mediterranean scent of wild herbs. After a few long gallops, you will discover the medieval town of Besalu in the distance, where you will stop for a picnic. Afterwards, you will have time to visit the town. It's well worth it! With its bridge and old town, Besalu is a jewel of the Romanesque era. Once rested, you will continue at a brisk pace. The strong horses will carry you up small paths with beautiful views of the Pyrenees. You will spend the night in a country house in the heart of nature.

Day 4: Today, you will descend into the valley of the Fluvia, the longest river in this region. Here, at the confluence with the Llierca and the Aniol gorge, begins the historic smugglers' trail between Spain and France. Under the Romanesque bridge of Sadernes are natural pools that invite you to take a dip. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the riverbank. Afterwards, you will reach one of the most beautiful nature parks in the Alta Garrotxa. Towards evening, you will leave the horses in the paddocks prepared for the night and drive to Besalu. Here, your hotel with its idyllic garden awaits you. After dinner, you can discover the nightlife of this medieval town.

Day 5: After a while, you will leave the rock formations of the gorge and climb the mountain to Talaxa, a small lost village. From up here, you will have a fantastic view of the Costabona mountain. You lead the horses downhill and stop at a small river. It's time for your picnic, and those who wish can take a dip, with or without their horse. In the evening, you will reach Beget, a small, romantic mountain village that blends idyllically into the landscape. The Romanesque church with its original tower and the black Madonna are worth seeing. Your hotel, a former bakery, is known for its nouvelle cuisine made from local dishes and for its local wines. Even Richard Gere has been here!

Day 6: After a hearty breakfast, you continue your ride towards Espinavell, a small smugglers' village. The local farms were built by the nobility and merchants of the 16th century. Espinavell, untouched by the passage of time, is located about 5 km from the French border. You will spend the night in a small mountain hotel. The specialties of this family-run establishment are veal with mushrooms, wild boar ragout, and an exquisite homemade herbal liqueur called Ratafia. Bon appétit!

Day 7: Today, the horses will carry you to the highest mountain peak of your journey. You will leave the small path that winds along the river and find yourself on the flowering rocky plateaus. Here, cows and wild horses graze all summer long while eagles circle above them. After your days in the wilderness, you can look forward to arriving in Campordon. Once frequented by the Catalan nobility, this town is now bustling with markets, garden restaurants, and shops. Your hotel, located in the center of town, is renowned for its excellent cuisine.

Day 8: Breakfast and airport transfer.

(Subject to change)

Accomodation
Selected charming riding stables, country houses, guesthouses and hotels, mostly rooms with shower/toilet.

Saddle & Tack: Trail riding saddles & English saddles. Western saddles upon request. Saddlebags for personal belongings and the lunch picnics are provided.

Experience: Confidence in all gaits and confidence on unfamiliar horses on the trails. Riding time approx. 4-6 hours daily. Occasionally the horses have to be led. Riding distance approx. 180 km in total.

Horses: Andalusian, Andalusian mix and Arabian.