Transfer Option:

2010 Beach, Coast & Mountain Trail

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 riding center, 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 specialized Andalusian trail horses. After dinner you will be given an introduction to the weeks program with an opportunity for a one-on-one conversation designed to find every rider their perfect horse.
Finally you will discover how to play the ´Champagne Rules’- 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
Today after saddling the horses we are ready to leave, a 230km week ahead. The horses are fresh and ready for the adventure. During the morning we ride through the mountain valleys and the views are superb with the Pyrenees in the distance to the north and the coast to the south. A long day ride of 40 km´s. By midday we pass by Besalu, a Medieval walled village and the ancient capital of the region. We are leaving the mountains. When we reach the river Fluvia, the pace accelerates and between gallops and strong forward trots we are covering a lot of ground. We travel through sunflower fields and forests, where we may surprise a herd of wild boar! At dusk we arrive at our destination, Vilert, where we leave our horses to graze and rest. We will be driven back to the center for another amazing meal with our popular house wine.
Day 3:  COASTAL BOUND 
The day begins with a good hearty breakfast and we will go back to our horses to get them ready for another full riding day. Today we follow the river Fluvia, Catalonia´s largest river, down to the coast. There are big stands of plane trees along the river. We pass Bascara, one of the first Roman settlements with gallops along side the race course. From the hillside castle of Calabuig we can see the sea on a clear day. The horses can smell the beach today. We keep up a steady pace, we are coastal bound. Our destination is in Sant Pere Pescador: a little hotel in a stately town house, it is a jewel of Catalan décor in this lively fishing village. Juan and Maria, the owners, will await us with gorgeous fish dishes and a warm welcome to the Mediterranean, the Costa Brava (the wild coast). Tonight is special; we can go out and have a cocktail in this happy and lively village.
Day 4:  SUN, SEA, SAND AND SURF Today we make an early start. Ahead of us miles of sand and surf, not a soul, the splash of the waves, the Mediterranean sunrise, the dull thud of the hoofs on the sand, and the horses love to cool their legs in the sea. What an experience!
Now we head out parallel to the coast, across the planes, the going is good, here you feel how fit the horses really are. Onwards to the cliffs of Toroella with the Castle high on a hill always in the background, the views out to the sea are spectacular. We continue into the immense dunes and pine forests. We can have a picnic on the cliffs looking out to sea. We ride on to the old Roman town of Toroellla de Montgri to cross the bridge of the river Ter. With good gallops alongside the river we set exotic migrating birds to flight. Here we stay in a petit grand hotel, not far from the beach. Near enough to enjoy a pre-dinner swim followed by some excellent fish dishes. This is a fitting end to a lovely day.
Day 5:  MEDIEVAL EMPURDAN DALI COUNTRY
Today we go Medieval! The morning begins on the coast and we turn inland across the rice fields of Pals and on into the village, a classic medieval settlement on top of a hill surrounded by fertile agricultural land. The wealth of the area is reflected in the style of the architecture- the churches, the manor houses are all beautiful buildings of sculptured stone. This paradise was first inhabited by the ancient Iberians then the Romans. Today the riding is interesting and varied. It is easy to understand why the Romans chose to settle here. Enjoy a day of great gallops and trots, through fascinating stone villages with quaint cafes on the village squares. It all comes to a glorious end as we reach the Catalan farmhouse hotel and enjoy the hospitality of Juanna and Jordi. Here we are next to the castle of Pubol, Salvador Dali´s present to Gala. Once more the Catalan cuisine and the local wines are wonderful.
Day 6:  EL CAMINO REAL 
After a big country breakfast we saddle up and continue. Today we are following an old drovers track, a “camino real”, a royal route used to lead the livestock towards the mountains for the summer. We travel through fields and forests full of aromatic herbs and wild flowers. We are covering a big distance today and you will be proud of your horses resilience and continuous enthusiasm. The support vehicle is a welcome sight with another delicious picnic awaiting us under some shady trees. After a short but sweet siesta we ride on. The local villages are interesting, in the centres there are often small castles of the medieval feudal Barons who governed the local population. In the evening we arrive in the rural area of Plà de l'Estany. We stay in our hotel Ca ´Armengol, an 18th century farmhouse situated in the middle of hills and fields with some amazing views. 
Day 7:  HOMEWARD BOUND
Today we head back to the mountains. During the morning the going is lively following the river Ter, immense stands of plane trees, meadows, fields of sunflowers. After a welcome picnic lunch in the afternoon, we ride back into the mountains, past lakes and marshes, land of legends and giant fish. Once more the views are imperious and we can see the route that we have just ridden: six days of trail, adventure and companionship. An unforgettable experience!
Our base is a welcome sight as we arrive in the evening.
A glass or two of Cava on the terrace overlooking the mountains followed by a delicious meal is a perfect end to a marvellous journey.
Day 8:  ADIOS AMIGOS
Breakfast and departure and we hope to see each other again soon!

2011 Culture & Beaches of Catalonia

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 riding center, 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 specialized Andalusian trail horses. After dinner you will be given an introduction to the weeks program with an opportunity for a one-on-one conversation designed to find every rider their perfect horse. Finally you will discover how to play the ´Champagne Rules’- 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
Today after saddling the horses we are ready to leave, 200 km ahead. The horses are fresh and ready for the adventure. During the morning we ride through the valleys of La Miana and we pass the spectacular church of Sant Frutós. We are leaving the mountains. When we get to the river Fluvia, one of Catalonia’s biggest rivers, we travel along the south bank of the river Fluvia, where we stop for a picnic. We continue through scenery of rolling hills and pine forests where it is very likely to meet herds of sheep or wild boar. At dusk we arrive at our destination, the charming village of Vilert, where we leave our horses to graze and rest. We will be driven back to the inn for a meal with our popular house wine.
Day 3:  CATALAN ARCHITECTURE
In the morning we leave from Vilert into the forest and over the rolling hills around the village of Ollers, with its church dominating the area. Here you find some majestic farm houses built by the nobility in the 12th century. With amazing views on the Pyrenees behind us, we enter the historic village of Galliners with some fine examples of Catalan architecture. We travel through forests full of aromatic herbs and wild flowers and we stop for an excellent lunch surrounded by Rosemary bushes. After lunch we continue our journey into the Alt Empordan region and after some good canters we hit the town of Bascara, alongside the river Fluvia. We walk into the fortified centre, with its castle, and stop in one of the traditional bars for a carajillo or a glass of local fino. Back on our horses for the last part of today, a gentle ride following the river and into the village of Calabuig where we can see the 15th century Castle/church, build on a hill overlooking the Alt Empurdan 360º around us. Our destination for today is Can Sort, an old traditional Catalan country farmhouse which has been renovated and decorated with antique furniture. Here you can relax in the gardens or have a swim in the swimming pool. Jaime and Cristina will make sure that we feel at home and serve us an excellent home cooked meal.
Day 4: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE ROMANS
Today the scenery and pace is varied. Every hour we pass another beautiful village, castles, churches, chapels, arches, old wooden doors with wrought iron knockers, the beauty of the stonework of the past. We will stop for a drink in a bar in the middle of the pine forest where we can listen to the singing of the crickets. We ride along with excellent views where it is not unusual to disturb a resting eagle and to be able to watch it soar gracefully above us. We ride through the coastal mountains, with views all around us, and act in the footsteps of the Romans, following a part of the Roman road from Gerona to the important Roman settlement on the coast (sant marti d´empurias) and further into France. We enjoy our lunch near a natural well, a welcome refreshment for us and the horses. After a siesta we saddle the horses and go coastal bound. Out of nowhere we suddenly see the magnificent castle Sant Feliu de la Garriga, a 12th century fortified castle with a Romanesque church. From here we have spectacular views on the coast and we see our beach for tomorrows ride. Our destination of today is our hotel in L´escala, a lively town situated at the coast. Walk around the old town or plunge into the sea before dinner.
Day 5: VAMOS A LA PLAYA !!! and the DALI theatre museum
Today we make an early start. The long curve of the bay of Rosas stretches before us. Kilometres of sand and surf, not a soul, the splash of the waves, the Mediterranean sunrise, the dull thud of the hoofs on the sand, the horses love to cool their legs in the sea. Here we enjoy some excellent canters and gallops. What an experience!
After the beach ride we head inland again through the natural Parc Aiguamols, a bird sanctuary where we can sea flocks of migrating birds. We stop in the lively fishing village Sant Pere de Pescador for a coffee and some sightseeing.  Heading for Castellon d´Empurias, the terrain is flat with lots of pears and apple orchards and also huge rice fields. The pace today is lively. By lunchtime we arrive at our destination Castellon d´Empurias. In ancient times this was the capital of the region, a lively town dominated by its spectacular cathedral. 
Our hotel, in the historic centre, has an outdoor swimming pool where you can relax on one of the sun beds on the lovely patio or you can do some shopping, enjoy some excellent tapas with cold drinks at one of the nice terraces and explore the local nightlife. Or you can go to Figueres to visit the famous Dali-museum and amaze yourself with his art.
Day 6:  MILES INTO THE ALT EMPORDA
After an excellent breakfast on the magnificent roof-top terrace of the hotel over-looking the cathedral with the Mediterranean on one side and the gentle curve of the Pyrenees on the other, we saddle up again to continue our journey through the Alt Emporda. Today we have miles ahead of us. We ride through the village of Riumors and gallop over the planes surrounded by fields with different crops. Around lunch time we will find an excellent spot in the beautiful wild forest for our picnic. With an amazing view on the Pyrenees in the distance, we ride through walnut and olive groves before we go down to the river Fluvia where you can see the immediate change in scenery. All year around its lush and almost looks like the Amazon jungle. Our destination for today is Hostal Nou de Crespia, where Elena and Juan are the perfect hosts. The house dates back to the seventeenth century and has been carefully restored. The swimming pool and the living room are all at our disposal. In the restaurant they serve a traditional cuisine based on the finest local ingredients and on some old family recipes.
Day 7:  HOMEWARD BOUND & VISIT MEDIEVAL BESALU
Sadly we have to leave our lovely hotel and say goodbye to our hosts. We start of with a refreshing gallop and we ride through sunflower fields and walnut groves to the picturesque village of Crespia. We follow the north bank of the river Fluvia where we can enjoy the spectacular fluvial scenery with lots of different bird species. We cover many miles in a short time through sunflower fields, open meadows and forest. We stop in Besalu where we have a delicious picnic lunch by the river. Besalu, a medieval walled village, the ancient capital, is 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 stained glass of its churches. You have some time to wander around and absorb the unique atmosphere of this ancient medieval village with its spectacular bridge and Romanesque architecture. In the afternoon we ride through the scented oak forests above beautiful ravines that so characterise this mountainous region known as the Garrotxa. The views are superb with the Pyrenees in the distance to the north and the Mediterranean coast to the south.
After some long canters we see our base - a welcome sight as we arrive in the afternoon. A glass, or two, of Cava on the terrace overlooking the mountains followed by a delicious meal is a perfect end to a marvellous journey.
Day 8:  ADIOS AMIGOS
Breakfast and departure and we hope to see each other again soon!

 The climate of Catalonia is typically Mediterranean, with many hours of sunshine, mild in winter and warm in summer. The Pyrenees and the neighbouring areas have a high-altitude climate, with minimum temperatures below 0ºC, annual rainfall above 1000 mm and abundant snow during the winter. Along the coast, the climate is mild and temperate with temperatures increasing from north to south, while the rain behaves the opposite way. The hinterland, far from the sea, has a continental Mediterranean climate, with cold winters and very hot days.

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 below):

- Rubber boots

- Sturdy shell for wind and rain

- Warm sweater

On the trail you will stay at charming hotels selected for their character and comfort as well as for their delicious cuisine. The home base (for first and last nights) is at a lovely restored 11th century stone farmhouse which has been converted into a rural lodge. As the lodge is situated on the top of a beautiful hill, you can enjoy wonderful vistas of the surrounding countryside from all sides. The farm draws drinking water from its own well, while electricity is generated by a solar power system and a generator.  Catalonia produces an extraordinary variety of foodstuffs for you to enjoy: wild mushrooms and game from the Pyrenees, the trinity of olives, grapes and wheat from the hilly heartland, all manner of fruits, vegetables, and nuts from the irrigated lowlands, rice and fish from the river deltas, and a great variety of fish and shellfish from Catalonia’s 500 km of coastline. 

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

A great deal of time has been spent selecting and training the horses for these trekking routes. Not too boisterous to be difficult for lower level riders, yet with enough spark to make an enjoyable ride to experienced riders. The horses are carefully matched to the ability of the rider for maximum safety and enjoyment. The majority of the horses used are Andalusian and Andalusian crosses, interspersed with various other beautiful Spanish breeds.

Tack:		English, Spanish
Horses:		Andalusian, Andalusian Crosses and various Spanish breeds
Pace:		6 days lively and varied riding at different paces with long canters covering 18 to 22 miles in approx 5 hrs per day | Walk | Trot | Canter |
Level:		(3 to 3 out of 5)    Intermediate+
Riders:		Min 6 riders	Max 10 riders

A great deal of time has been spent selecting and training the horses for these trekking routes. Not too boisterous to be difficult for lower level riders, yet with enough spark to make an enjoyable ride to experienced riders. The horses are carefully matched to the ability of the rider for maximum safety and enjoyment. The majority of the horses used are Andalusian and Andalusian crosses, interspersed with various other beautiful Spanish breeds.

Passports
Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart except:
(a) 1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.
Note: EU nationals are only required to produce evidence of their EU nationality and identity in order to be admitted to any EU Member State. This evidence can take the form of a valid national passport or national identity card. Either is acceptable. Passports held by EU nationals need only be valid upon entry to and exit from Spain. Possession of a return ticket, any length of validity on their document, sufficient funds for the length of their proposed visit should not be imposed.
Passport Note
Spain is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement.

Visas
Not required by nationals of EU countries regardless of purpose and/or length of stay; 2. not required by nationals of other countries referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days.
Visa Note
Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements