Gredos Escape

Introduction
Central Spain Spain
The Gredos mountains varied terrain is a delight to be discovered on the back of our equine friends. The northern side of the Sierra de Gredos is a rugged terrain and home to fast flowing rivers that run through small farming villages while the southern side offers a soft and warm landscape dotted with orchards and vineyards.
Wildlife in this area includes mountain goats (an icon of the Gredos Mountain), black and griffin vultures, and golden and imperial eagles. 

Disconnect from your daily life for a few days on this delightful riding escape!

Accomodation

Accommodations
This is a stationary with all nights spent in Navarredonda de Gredos.

Description
This small hotel is surrounded by nature and provides great views of the mountains. The bedrooms all come with Wi-Fi access, a TV and private facilities. Guests are welcome to relax in the panoramic lounge or outdoor terrace.

Room Occupancy
If we are unable to find another rider to share the room with you, the single supplement fee applies.



Meals
All meals are included on this trip.

The food is a highlight of this trip! Mamen will delight you with the tapas-breaks waiting for you with Serrano ham, Manchego cheese, olives, nuts, etc.

Lunches are taken on the trail; in the countryside (we bring tables and chairs) and always include a starter (salad, gazpacho, vegetables, etc), a main course (paella, iberian pork, fish, etc), fresh fruit, coffee and local wines. Lunchtime features delicious home cooked Spanish dishes such as Paella, Tortilla Española, Iberian pork bbq, salads, and soft cheese very typical from Extremadura “Torta del Casar”. Lunch is often followed by a siesta in the countryside.
 
After the day riding, your dinner in the evening is around 9 pm and you can choose from different dishes and courses of local Spanish recipes. Your dinner is usually taken at the accommodation and include a choice between 3-5 starters (mix salad, soup, vegetables, pasta, etc), 3-5 main course (grilled beef, pork, stews, fish, omelet, etc), a dessert (flan, rice pudding, fruit, cake, etc), local wine, bread and coffee or tea.

The following drinks are included in the package: red and white wines, beer, refreshments, coffee or tea during the meals and aperitifs. Water bottle is provided every morning.

Dietary Restrictions
Special diets (vegetarian, gluten free, allergies, etc.) can be arranged with advance notice.

This trip includes some wine with dinner and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding


Riding Schedule
On a normal day, we start riding at 10am, after a well-deserved rest and a good breakfast. Participants are encouraged in helping with the preparation of the horses. Usually, we need to catch the horses from the fields where they have spent the night, feed them, brush them and saddle them up before breakfast.
In the morning, you will ride about 4 hours with a short tapas-break (Serrano ham, Manchego cheese, olives, nuts, etc. and something to drink) in the middle of the morning (usually around noon). After the break, we ride to the lunch place. A luxury picnic is waiting for us in the quietest and most beautiful spot. The stop for lunch is about 2 hours long, with time to enjoy the pic-nic and little siesta after lunch.
In the afternoon, we ride for about 2 hours until we get to our accommodation.

Riding Experience
These trips have been designed for intermediate to experienced riders. You should be comfortable at the walk, trot and canter, in group, in open spaces and your seat should be firm. On the rides, you will be riding for between four to seven hours a day so it is important to be as riding fit as possible.

Pace
The overall pace of riding is moderate with walk, trots and canters mostly every day. Usually, when the terrain allows for a safe canter, we canter. In the mountains, in many areas the terrain does not allow for trotting or cantering so we enjoy walking with breathtaking views around.
The distance covered on the average is 25-35 km per day. We usually spend about 6 hours in the saddle every riding day.

Tack
We use fine quality English saddles and silicon seat saver. All the tack is in excellent conditions, very comfortable for horses and riders. You have small saddlebags in front of the saddles for a water bottle, sunscreen, camera, mobile, etc.

Support Vehicle
A support van follows the group during the whole week, meeting us in the morning, for tapas-breaks, lunches, at night and to move your luggage. This means you have access to your luggage at least 3 times a day.

Horses
We currently have 21 horses: 14 PRE, 4 Pure Hispano-Arab, 1 Anglo-Arab and 2 Crossed (hispano-bretón, hispano-lusitano).
Our horses are responsive, well behave, good natured and serene thanks to the natural horsemanship method used to train them.
Most of our horses were born and bred at home while others have been with us since they were foals.
They live in freedom as a herd, eating, drinking, sleeping and traveling together in the most natural way possible.
They live in a huge pine forest (500 ha) in the Gredos Mountains or in the rich pastures in the Dehesas of Extremadura. They keep fit as they can walk around 20 km every day. They live with other groups of animals including other horses, donkeys, cows and also wild animals such as wolves, roe deer, deer, wild boar, foxes.

Staff
Emilio and Mamen (both born in Gredos Mountains) will be personally escorting you on these trips. Emilio will happily guide you across the trails, while Mamen will be preparing delicious meals and pic-nics.
Emilio has been working in equestrian tourism for over 30 years and he dedicated his whole life to his horses. He speaks English and Spanish.

Age Restrictions
There is no upper age limit, as long as you are riding fit and healthy. The minimum riding age is 10 years old (competent riders only), accompanied by an adult.

Travel Insurance
It is mandatory to take a travel insurance for this trip! If you come from Europe, you should bring the European Health card, this gives you access to Spanish health care.

Itinerary



Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

This ride follows the same itinerary as the last part of the Waters of Gredos Ride.

Day 1: Arrival
Meet in Avila and transfer to Navarredonda de Gredos by car (about 1 hour). Enjoy your welcome dinner at the hotel with us.
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel in Navarredonda de Gredos

Day 2: Ride and visit of a Medieval Town
We ride along the Tormes River Valley and stop for lunch at a beautiful place, perfect for swimming.
In the afternoon we ride back to the stables. After the riding, we go visit a medieval town in the area.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel in Navarredonda de Gredos

Day 3: Full day ride and visit to the herd of horses
In the morning, we enjoy a fast paced ride to Hoyos del Espino. Lunch break and swimming.
In the afternoon, ride with canters through the pine forest. After the riding, we go visit our herd of horses in the forest.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel in Navarredonda de Gredos

Day 4: Full day ride
Riding in the morning to Cañada del Gallo lagoon with some great views of the peaks of Gredos. We have great canters in open landscape. We take our picnic in the Tormes valley and enjoy an excellent paella cooked on the spot (opportunity for swimming). After a relaxing lunch break, we ride back to the stables with some good canters.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel in Navarredonda de Gredos

Day 5: Departure
After breakfast, transfer at 10 am to be in Ávila town around 11 am.
Meals included: Breakfast

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Non-Riders
Non-riding companions are welcome to join this trip. They can travel in the support car and join in meals, dinners and others activities, or if they wish, they can rent a car and move on their own, joining the group for dinner.

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Sample Itinerary: Christmas Special - subject to changes

The following is the sample itinerary but please note that changes are possible due to weather and local conditions.

Day 1: Arrival
Transfer from Madrid to Navarredonda de Gredos (2-hour drive) with a break for a short visit to amazing walled medieval town of Ávila (World Heritage Site UNESCO).
Enjoy your welcome dinner at the hotel.
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel in Navarredonda de Gredos

Day 2: Ride to Hoyos del Collado
After matching our excellent homebred horses with each rider, we get in the saddle. Riding through the Tormes valley and pine forest, we cross open fields with great views of Gredos Mountains. We stop for lunch beside the river Tormes. In the afternoon we head back to the stables. We will ride for about 5 hours total during the day.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel in Navarredonda de Gredos

Day 3: Barbellido Gorge Ride
This morning, we ride in the direction of the highest mountains with stunning views of the Gredos range. Riding up to Puente de las Juntas and down to Barbellido gorge, we stop for an excellent lunch at a fisherman hut. After a relaxing lunch stop, we get back in the saddle and enjoy good canters along the pine woods, riding back to the stables. We will have time to relax before our Christmas eve dinner.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel in Navarredonda de Gredos

Day 4: Cañada del Gallo Ride
We start the day by riding to Cañada del Gallo lagoon with some great views of the peaks of Gredos and great canters. We then ride down to the Tormes valley for another beautiful pic-nic. After a relaxing lunch break, we ride back to the stables with some good canters. Today, we will spend about 6 hours in the saddle. 
Tonight, farewell dinner at the hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel in Navarredonda de Gredos

Day 5: Departure
After breakfast, transfer to Madrid airport.
Meals included: Breakfast

Rates and Dates for Gredos Escape

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Navarredonda de Gredos
Airport: Madrid
Transfer: Avila or Madrid Airport

Climate:
                                                Ávila‎‎ area