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Forget everything you think you
know about mountain riding. This trail is very
special. Discover one of the loveliest regions of
Catalonia. This is the heartland of the region where
the red and yellow flag flies proudly on this
breathtaking trail. You will discover two distinct
landscapes: the mighty peaks of the Pyrenees and the
warm wooded hills of the Garrotxa.
This trail is an interesting mixture with plenty of
gallops and at times leading your horse on foot. We
begin at the gateway of the Pyrenees, the Alta
Garrotxa region. The floodplains of the river Fluvia
offer a lively start to this awesome trail, as we
canter across the meadows up into the spectacular
gorge of Sant Aniol.
In the evening we arrive at the village of Beget, a
gem of Romanesque architecture. This region is
inundated with architectural heritage, churches,
castles and monuments aplenty. Onwards and upwards
to the mountain peaks riding through beech forests
and meadows. Gallops galore as we ride past gushing
mountain streams inviting us in for a swim or
siesta. Horses graze, herds of cows doze and eagles
circle above. We stay in Camprodon, a lively
bustling market town with shops and nightlife. The
following day the terrain is diverse, the views
immense and the pace is lively. Finally we leave the
Pyrenees and ride back out across the plains with a
final canter back to civilization.
PR-CJSP
Included: Accommodations in hotels and
country inns, all meals, 6 riding days
8 days/
7 nights $ 1,375
Single: +$230 if
requested
-- based on
€ 965 / 160
2008 Dates
04/27-05/04
05/11-05/18 05/25-06/01
06/22-06/29 07/06-07/13
09/07-09/14 09/21-09/28
10/12-10/19
check availability
HT SPECIALS
* marked date $1,125
-- based on
€
860
Meeting: Sant Jaume de Llerca
Airport: Barcelona or Girona
Transfer: Barcelona
at 6:30 PM
or Girona 7:30
PM $99 (€
78)
Level:
Good
Intermediate
Tack:
English
trekking, Spanish
and
some Western
Horses:
Spanish and
Iberian cross
Pace : Moderate with
canters,
4-6 hours /day
Min/Max Riders: 4-10
Note: Some
steep mountain trails where you have to lead your
horse. Some long riding days.
Non riders
(accommodations, breakfast and
dinners) deduct $365 (€
260) - best to rent a car for all non
riders.
Itinerary
DAY 1: 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 the mountain lodge, an 11th century
farm house 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: THE JOURNEY BEGINS
Having tacked up
we set off down into the valley of the Fluvia and
following the river Llierca we canter across the
planes and up the rock lined gauge of Sant Aniol.We
stop for our picnic next to a big river pool
excellent for swimming. This spectacular scenery is
the gateway to the region of the Alta Garrotxa and
the Pyrenees. High up in the mountains surrounded by
huge oaks, we stable the horses and return to our
mountain lodge.
Day 3 - Beget
In the morning we leave the gorge with its
sculptured rock formations and we ascend higher into
the mountains. We ride through Talaxa, a typical
mountain village with an impressive Romanesque
church. From here we have spectacular views of "La
Costa Bona", our goal for this journey, Queen of the
Pyrenean peaks that we can discern in the far
distance. After a walk down into the next valley we
eat a delicious picnic next to a little river. This
is an ideal spot to swim with your horse. In the
evening we arrive at Beget, a beautiful mountain
village, nestled amidst the gentle mountain scenery.
This village maintains all of its original charm,
famous for its Romanesque church, original tower and
its Black Madonna, a gem of Romanesque architecture
Our hotel for the night is El Forn, it was the
village bakery and now it is a famous restaurant in
the region and the local mountain wine is excellent.
Day 4 - Up to the highest peaks
Today we ride trough beach forests and meadows
carpeted in wild flowers. Along mountain passes, on
the edge of the Spanish-French border. Our
destination is Espinavell, a family run mountain
hotel with the awe inspiring presence of "La Costa
Bona" a peak of 2500m in the background. The
specialty of this restaurant is Ratafia the local
liquor.
Day 5 - Where the eagles fly
Today we will be riding up into the highest
mountains of our journey. After an early start we
begin to climb a winding track alongside a river.
Soon we leave the track as up here it is only
rolling mountain meadows and wild flowers where we
enjoy some very nice canters and gallops. The views
are immense and breathtaking, the light is that of
the Pyrenees. We pass herds of cows and horses
grazing up here for the summer. Up here it is very
common to see eagles, vultures and herds of wild
goats and deer. After days of riding in the
countryside it is nice to arrive in Camprodon, a
lively market town, favored by the Catalan
aristocracy in the past. A great opportunity to do
some shopping and visit the local bars. The hotel is
situated right in the centre and serves the best
paella you have ever eaten.
Day 6 - Medieval Village of OIX
The journey continues… we sadly leave
Camprodon with its lovely squares and art nouveau
buildings. Following a river we pass by the local
textile factories, that have seen former days of
glory, and up onto the ridges. Here we go onto
spectacular mountain plateaus, where the views are
immense and the terrain is good for galloping. On a
good day you can see miles of coast, In the evening,
we will arrive in the village of Oix, another
charming mountain village with a magnificent castle,
narrow winding streets and lovely cafes. Here we
will settle the horses for a well deserved rest
after a long and rewarding day. We drive by car back
to our mountain lodge for another delicious diner.
Day 7 - Return home
The peaks of the Alta Garrotxa are all
around us. The air is poignant with the smell of
wild herbs and Mediterranean fragrances. In the far
distance we can make out our lodge, our final
destination of this journey. Today the riding is
lively. The strong Andalusian horses are still full
of stamina. The gallops are long and steady as we
ride out across the plains, dotted with small local
villages, leaving the Pyrenees behind us. Today we
are happy to see our base, again after 6 days of
adventure and excellent riding and good company.
Finally we will have a delicious farewell diner and
toast our faithful horses and new found friends and
say ¨hasta la proxima¨
DAY 8 : BYE BYE
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.
The horses are
Spanish / Andalusian, all of which are sure footed,
fit and well adapted to the requirements of the
sometimes rough terrain.
A great deal of time
has been spent selecting and training the horses for
these routes. Not too boisterous to be difficult,
yet with enough spark to make an enjoyable ride. The
horses are carefully matched to the ability of the
rider. |
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