Transfer Option:

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 and you will be  taught about the special characteristics of our Andalusian trail horses. You will have 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’ which is that when anyone is found guilty of holding up the ride at any point, they will have 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 river Fluvia, Girona´s largest river, and following a gushing stream we canter across the plains and into the spectacular gorge of Sant Aniol. This is the beginning of a historic smuggling trail between France and Spain. We stop for our picnic next to a big river pool, underneath an impressive Romanesque bridge. Excellent for a refreshing swim before lunch. This spectacular scenery is the gateway to the region of the Alta Garrotxa, one of the region's most beautiful natural parks.
High up in the mountains surrounded by huge oaks, we stable the horses and return to the inn for a delicious dinner and a well earned rest.

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 and which 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, once the village bakery it is now a well known restaurant in the region! Famous for the nouvelle cuisine of the local Catalan dishes and the local mountain wine is excellent!

DAY 4:  UP TO THE HIGHEST PEAKS
Today after the best breakfast you have ever had we continue our journey riding through  the beech forests and meadows carpeted in wild flowers. The local farmhouses are huge constructions build by the local aristocracy and wealthy Barcelona merchants in the 16th century. Again the Catalonian's Romanesque architecture is ever present in the arches, doors, windows and churches of this region, making for wonderful photography!
Our destination is the village of Espinavell, another small smugglers village untouched by the passing of time, just 5 kilometres from the French border. We stay in a family run mountain hotel with the beautiful presence of "La Costa Bona" in the background.
The speciality of this restaurant is its delicious Jamon Serrano and Ratafia, the home made 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- 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 and 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 center and the restaurant is famous for its meat and fish dishes. The best paella you have ever eaten with a wonderful mixture of mountains and sea- meat and fish together!

DAY 6:  THE 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 kilometers upon kilometers 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 will go by car to the home base for another delicious diner.

DAY 7:  RETURN
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 the inn, our final destination of this journey! Today the riding is lively! The strong Andalusian horses are still full of stamina, so 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 the home base again after 6 days of adventure and excellent riding and good company. Finally we will have a delicious farewell dinner and toast our faithful horses and new found friends and say ¨hasta la proxima¨

DAY 8:  ADIOS AMIGOS
Breakfast and departure and we hope to see each other again soon!
(Or why not continue for another week with a trail down to the sea?) 

Subject to change

The overall climate of Catalonia is similar to Southern California: hot in the summer, pleasant and moderate in the spring and fall, and fairly cool in the winter. Rain is possible anytime, but rare in summer. The main rainy season is from the end of October to the beginning of May.

The accommodation while out on the mountain trail is in charming local inns and small hotels, specially selected for their character and comfort as well as for their cuisine.

For the first and last nights of the trip you will stay at the horses' homebase property in the 11^th century stone farmhouse which has been lovingly restored into a rural  inn for international travelers from all walks of life.  It is tucked away in the Catalonian hills with breathtaking panoramic views over the Catalan Pyrenees.  It offers the warmest climate of all the Pyrenean range, an almost unknown corner of Spain, but once discovered  it is never forgotten.  Dating back to AD 1000, the farm draws drinking water from its own well, while electricity is generated by a solar power system and a generator.

The meals on this trip represent the great delights of the Catalan cuisine and include some of the spectacular local wines!  All meals each day are provided for you on and inclusive in the price.  Lunches will vary, sometimes you start early and return in time for lunch or you will picnic along the way.

CATALAN CUISINE: Catalonia produces an extraordinary variety of foodstuffs: 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 beautiful Spanish breeds.

Circular progressive trail. Pyrenean mountains up to 2000m. Family hotels, interesting food, spectacular scenery, no scary bits on cliffs! Steady, varied active, some walking on foot.

Our rides in Catalonia: Catalonia Rides Comparison

Tack:		English, Spanish some Western
Horses:		Spanish
Pace:		Moderate with canters, some steep mountain trails with occasional leading your horse on foot, 5 hrs per day - 18 miles 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 beautiful Spanish breeds.

Circular progressive trail. Pyrenean mountains up to 2000m. Family hotels, interesting food, spectacular scenery, no scary bits on cliffs! Steady, varied active, some walking on foot.

Our rides in Catalonia: Catalonia Rides Comparison

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