Mountain and Coast Ride

Galloping through surf on unspoilt sandy beaches, riding through old villages, passing Romanesque churches on this fast exhilarating Mountain to Sea trail which begins by climbing up into the mountains of the Alta Garrotxa. Mountain riding in unspoilt wild nature, we climb up a narrow gorge of sculptured rock with glistening waterfalls, through a valley to the Bassegoda pass at 3,000 ft leaving all signs of civilization behind. We uncover hidden gems of accommodation throughout this trail ranging from an 11th century stone farm house to a modernist Spa Hotel, a heaven of peace and tranquility and a wonderful treat for tired muscles. Cantering onwards through cork oak forests to discover the river Muga and the breathtaking Lake Boadella, the undulating planes of the Ampurdán region await, fringed by the long curve of the Bay of Roses, 30 km. of beach! From here we can see the white water waves where you will experience the canter and gallop of your life - 8 km along the beach to your beautiful seafront hotel in Sant Marti d’Ampuries. Returning to the mountains through the plains of Ampurdan, every hour is scenic, with beautiful villages, castles, churches including Besalu, a medieval village and gateway to the Pyrenees. Experience the Mountain to Coast trail for a truly unforgettable journey.

PR-CJTK 
Included: Accommodations in hotels and country inns, all meals, 6 riding days
8 Days/ 7 nights $1,425
Low Season $ 1,245
Single room: +$230  if requested
-- based on € 998/ 875    Single: € 160
2008 Dates:
02/03-02/10    02/10-02/17    02/17-02/24
03/02-03/09    03/09-03/16    03/23-03/30
03/30-04/06    04/13-04/20    04/20-04/27
05/04-05/11    05/18-05/25    06/08-06/15 
06/15-06/22    09/14-09/21    09/28-10/05 
10/19-10/26    11/02-11/09    11/16-11/23  
11/23-11/30    11/30-12/07
  reservation & availability

Meeting: Sant Jaume de Llerca
Airport:  Barcelona or Girona
Transfer: Barcelona at 6:30 PM
or Girona 7:30 PM   $115  (€ 79)
Level:     Intermediate+ riding level
Tack:    English trekking,  some Spanish
             and Western
Horses:  Spanish & Andalusian cross
Pace :     Moderate with nice canters
               and gallops, 4-7 hours a day
Min/Max Riders: 6-10
Note:      Some steep mountain trails where you have to lead your horse. Some long riding days.
Non riders (accommodations, breakfast and dinners) deduct $400  (€ 280)  -  best to rent a car for all non riders.

Itinerary see Route Map
DAY1:  ARRIVAL
Pick up from the airport in Barcelona at 6:30 PM. After a 1.5 hr drive north you will be driven up a winding track to the riding centre, an 11th century Farmhouse perched high up on a ridge overlooking the Pyrenees. Here you will meet the family, the guide and the team.
At dinner the guide will go over the week’s program, you will be told about the special characteristics of our Andalusian trail horses. And after dinner you will be given an introduction to the weeks program with an opportunity for a one to one conversation designed to find every rider their perfect horse.
Finally you will discover how to play the ´Champagne rules’ which is anyone found guilty of holding up the ride at any point having to buy a bottle of local cava for the group that evening, making for lively dinners!
DAY 2:
LEAVING THE MOUNTAINS
(The Journey begins)
Today we saddle up and ride out through the mountains, during the morning we pass through the scented oak forests above beautiful ravines that so characterise this mountainous region known as the Garrotxa. Then out of the mountains and by mid morning we ride past the beautiful Mediaeval village of Besalu, the gateway to the Pyrenees. After lunch on the banks of the river Fluvia, we continue through scenery Of rolling hills and pine forests dotted with interesting little villages By now the stamina and agility of these Andalusia horses starts to become evident In the evening a delicious super awaits us, you will taste the fine regional cooking, prepared by our hosts Miquel and Magalie of Mas Torrent a charming rural Inn.
DAY 3:  MILES    (into the Empurdan)
Today we ride and ride, a long day in the saddle. With lots of gallops and long canters. The lower Empordán pine forests.
Every hour we pass another beautiful village, castles, churches, arches, tunnels, old wooden doors with wrought iron knockers, the beauty of the stone work of the past. As the afternoon draws on you can sense the proximity to the coast and at last we arrive at the Medeteranean,the beautiful gulf of Rosas stretches before  us. And our hotel for the night is right on the beach.
DAY 4:  VAMOS A LA PLAYA !!!
After an excellent breakfast and an early start, we trot our horses 1 km down to the beach. The long curve of the bay of Rosas stretches before us, 30 km of golden sand. Here we enjoy some excellent gallops and canters on the beach. We will stop every now and then to take the horses into the water, they love it!
After the beach ride we head inland again following the river Fluviá, past a bird sanctuary where we can sea flocks of migrating birds. The terrain is flat, rice-fields, apple-orchards. The pace is lively. By lunchtime we arrive at our destination Castellon d´Empurias. From here you can easily go down to the beach and have another afternoon- evening swim. Or you can explore the town and do some shopping. This is a lively cathedral town where we can enjoy some excellent tapas and the local nightlife.
DAY 5:    BOADELLA
After breakfast on the magnificent roof-top terrace of the hotel over-looking the cathedral with the Med on one side and the gentle curve of the Pyrenees on the other we saddle up again to continue our journey back to the mountains.
Today the riding is spectacular,  once more a lively pace as we trot and canter out across the planes, through fields, meadows, and Mediterranean woodland rife with the scents of wild herbs and flowers.
In the afternoon we ride through olive groves and vineyards and past the lake of Boadella, on the edge of which we find our accommodation for the night. “La central” an art nouveau palace of blue ceramic tiled towers a haven of peace and tranquillity, a tiny Spar Hotel, renound for its delicious cuisine Hydro massage pool and relaxing massages, very welcome after 4 days in the saddle.
DAY 6:  
BACK INTO THE MOUNTAINS
Now the stamina and agility of our Andalusian horses becomes evident.
The morning starts with a long ascent back up to the craggy peaks of the Alta Garrotxa. This is a region of cork oak forests where the Rioja region comes to buy its wine corks , once again we are in a different type of countryside, a beautiful mountain wilderness, Before lunch we lead our horses along a narrow winding track for 40minutes.Then a glorious picnic with a view over the varied and beautiful landscape that we have ridden through. By evening we arrive in the enchanted valley of Riu a paradise of mountain meadows surrounded by craggy peaks, where the goat herds are watched over by hungry vultures and eagles. Here we stable the horses for the night, and go back to the riding centre for another delicious dinner.
DAY 7:
HEADING FOR THE BASE CAMP
Back to the horse again
From here the view is spectacular, majestic peaks all around on every horizon. The morning is spent winding our way down into the gorge of Sadernas, above a gushing mountain river of crystalline water that has gauged out splendid forms in the rock. Once more we are down on the flood planes these we cross at a lively pace to climb once more back up to the heights and our base - the mountain lodge - where a warm welcome and a delicious supper awaits us. After six days of riding and adventure we toast to the horse our new found friends, and to life.
DAY 8:
Departure after breakfast.  Arrival at the airport in Barcelona is estimated around 11:30 AM. If you are staying for an extra few days, there is a good train connection from the airport to the center.

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