Catalonia Explorer Ride

Introduction
Catalonia Spain

Beautiful Andalusian horses will adeptly guide you on the Explorer Trail deep into the heart of Catalonia, Spain! The riding is as varied as the ever changing landscapes of the region, with plenty of opportunities for the adventurous to canter and gallop along the planes and meadows, over river valleys and through winding forest trails!
Catalonia is a unique place evoking the sensation of stepping back in time with the medieval villages of Besalu, St. Ferriol and Santa Pau and their Romanesque monastaries, fortified walls and stone cobbled roads. Vehicles have been banished in favour of reliable horses. The Catalonia cuisine and wines from the Ampurdan region will be sampled and savoured throughout the trail with a diverse range of eateries ranging from fine restaurants and tapas to quaint picnics. The Explorer Trail will also take you to Girona (by car), Northern Catalonia’s largest city and capital of the region steeped in rich history and culture. We ride over the immense mountain ridge of Sant Julia del Mont down to the valley of Santa Pau, exploring the villages of El Torn and El Sallent. There will be opportunities to swim or siesta by the large river pools of the area, surrounded by the stunning wilderness all around. The horseback highlight of the week's riding is a two day trail which ventures alongside the Garrotxa Volcanica, one of Europes largest volcanic regions, wild and remote! This trail was designed as the ultimate introduction to Catalonia for the equestrian enthusiast with a thirst for adventure!

Accomodation

You will stay at the17^th century country stone house, which has been lovingly restored. As the house is situated on the top of a hill, you can enjoy wonderful vistas of the surrounding countryside.

The farm draws drinking water from its own well, while electricity is generated by a solar power system and a generator.

Lunches vary, sometimes you start early and return in time for lunch or you picnic along the way.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding

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.

Daily return to the center. Varied scenery, ride to villages, swim in river pools, mini trail taster, tapas. Local culture, trip to Girona old city.

Itinerary

2009 Itinerary
DAY 1:
Transfer from Barcelona to Sant Jaume de Llerca and up a narrow winding track through thick forest and Mediterranean "jungle", perched high up on top of a ridge, we come to our destination. An 11th-century stone farm house with a commanding view over miles of forests and mountains to the snow capped peaks of the Pyrenees. Here you will meet the family, the guide, the cook and of course, the horses that are stabled here. 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 then people can discus their riding experience and the sort of horse that they would like to ride.

Day 2:  SANT FERRIOL THE NAME OF THE ROSE
Today the pace is varied and exhilarating. You will enjoy the canters and the pretty mountain tracks. Today’s destination is a beautiful monastery. This is from the 16th century, a jewel of Romanesque architecture built by Cistercian monks, that conjures up scenes and the spirit of the book” the Name of the Rose”. From here we have panoramic views over the Ampurdan region out to the Mediterranean coast. After a delicious picnic lunch, we will have a pleasant ride along the ridge and back to our comfortable mountain lodge.

Day 3   BESALU THE ANCIENT CAPITAL
Our destination is the ancient capital of the Alta Garrotxa, Besalú, a medieval fortified village. A full days ride. A jewel of Romanesque architecture set between two rivers. The squares, stone cut pillars and cool shady arched passageways are a wonder to behold. Not to mention the cut glass of its churches. Here we will stop for tapas in Besalu. Ice cold beers and rich full red wine in Manolo´s bar at the village square. We will have some time to explore the village. Today's riding is quite lively with some long canters along the banks of the river Fluviá. In the evening we will ride back along the ridge for a refreshing swim in the pool at followed by another delicious dinner.

Day 4:  SAN SYLVESTRE DE LOS MIL AMORES
Today we will ride along the valley of la Miana, where it is not unusual to disturb a resting eagle and to be able to watch it soar gracefully beneath us in the valley.
We will take a break high up on a mountain at the ruined chapel of San Silvestre, a spectacular piece of Romanesque architecture.
This morning we ride through forests that are probably trodden by as few as three people in one year, a magnificent opportunity to see wild boar and deer.
Then we arrive at Can Jou for a late Spanish lunch a delicious paella and, of course, a siesta.
After lunch we will drive you down to visit Girona. The capital of the region, this little city has wonderful shady streets, beautiful architecture, the widest cathedral in Europe and great shopping.  Or you can take it easy and relax by the pool.

Day 5:  COGULERAS, THE HIDDEN VALLEY
Our destination is Coguleras, a mountain valley that reaches almost up to the hieghts of Sant Juliá del Mont at 1.000 m. We ride quietly down through a forest alongside a mountain stream, to the flood plains by the little village of Sant Jaume de Llierca. Here there are some majestic farm houses built by the nobility in the 12th century. Today you will really appreciate the strength, agility and stamina of your horse in this varied terrain. They climb like mountain goats, and fly across the the flood planes like gazelles. For lunch we climb up to the ridge of Sant Julia. Here we eat a delicious picnic in a meadow beneath a shady tree, before riding home.

Days 6 & 7:  THE TWO DAY SMUGGLERS TRAIL RIDE – to the Sadernas gauge
This is a circular ride that covers over 60kms in two days. You will ride over the immense mountain ridge of Sant Julia del Mont down to the valley of Santa Pau, this is the heart of the Garrotxas volcanic region
From the lush forests of the lodge this is a big contrast to the gently cultivated valley, dotted with small unspoilt villages untouched by the passing of time.
We will ride through the little village of El Torn set by the meandering river Ser. Having had a wander around the little alleyways and squares and admired a few old doors and a look at the church, we continue on to the picnic site by the river where we can swim and have a siesta.
Today’s destination is, the spectacular church of Sant Frutós.
Here we take care of the horses and leave them to graze in a meadow and we are driven back for a delicious super.

The Trail Continues
The next day we cross over the mountain ridge and on to the planes of the Fluvià, one of Catalonia’s biggest rivers. We ride through the picturesque village of Tortella with its magnificent church dominating the village square. Now the landscape is large open stretches and we can enjoy some more long canters and gallops to Sadernas. This is the entrance to a rocky gorge, that leads high up into the Pyrenees, the beginning of one of the most famous smuggling routes between Spain and France, an area famous for its bandit stories. Amidst this dramatic mountain scenery there is an immense Romanesque bridge over a large river pool. This is perfect for a refreshing swim before the picnic lunch. In the evening our lodge is a welcome sight at the end of the day. Here we attend to the horses and leave them happily grazing in the meadows. Then we have a farewell dinner and the cava flows, a fitting end to a fantastic week.

Day 8:  Departure after breakfast.

2010 Itinerary

Rates and Dates for Catalonia Explorer Ride

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Sant Jaume de Llerca
Airport: Barcelona / Girona
Transfer: Barcelona airport 6:30 PM or Girona airport 7:30 PM

Climate:

Please pack your luggage in one or two soft bags rather than a cumbersome suitcase.

Laundry facilities and internet access are available at the mountain lodge.

Winter (additional to list above):
- Normal riding gear & rubber boots
- Sturdy shell for wind and rain
- Warm sweater