Sierra de la Demanda

Introduction
Central Spain Spain
A trip for nature lovers, the horse enthusiast, the gourmet who enjoys tasting the flavor of a new country, or for the curious traveler ready to experience the lifestyle and traditions of a different people! The Sierra de la Demanda Ride is a perfect extension to the El Cid - Arlanza Valley Ride.

This adventure ride crosses a mountain range that rises up to an elevation of 4,900 ft! Ride through extensive woodland, past lakes and lagoons formed long ago during the Ice Age. The area is rich in history with many remnants of dinosaurs life and fossil trees. You will visit the greatest concentration of necropolis and high-medieval hermitages in Europe. After riding in a wide arc, you will reach the town of Burgos with its famous cathedral. The countryside, where the royal cattle drive trails are still in use, is ideal for forward going riding, allowing for the riders to enjoy some canters and shorts gallops. On your last day you reach Covarrubias, where the first week's trail started, closing the full circle of the "El Cid" Discovery Ride.
 

Accomodation

Accommodation
This is a progressive ride so nights will be spent in different accommodations.

Description
Overnight accommodations on this ride are in traditional and typical small hotels and rural posada in wonderful settings. Wi-Fi connection is available in all accommodations.
There are no laundry facilities available on this trip.

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1: Hotel in Quintanar de la Sierra (2 options)
Night 2: Hotel in Neila
Night 3: Accommodation in Huerta de Arriba
Night 4: Guesthouse in Pineda de la Sierra
Night 5 & 6: Monasterio Cisterciense de San Pedro de Cardeña
Night 7: Hotel in Covarrubias (2 options)

Hotel Casa Ramón in Quintanar de la Sierra 
This small rural hotel offers 34 simply furnished bedrooms with great views over the surrounding mountains. Each room has its own temperature control, TV and private bathroom. There is free Wi-Fi available in common areas.

Posada Las Mayas in Quintanar de la Sierra 
This charming hotel located in the heart of the mountains only recently opened after enduring renovations. The interiors have been tastefully decorated and the original spirit of the house (dating from 1920) has been kept through small objects and furniture. The 11 rooms are all spacious and all come equipped with air conditioning, Wi-Fi, TV, phone and private facilities.

Hotel Villa de Neila
This accommodation is surrounded by nature. Rooms are basic but comfortable and all offer free Wi-Fi access and a private bathroom.

Accommodation in Huerta de Arriba
You will stay in a rural house with simply decorated bedrooms and shared facilities.

Casa Rural el Hayedo in Pineda de la Sierra
Tonight, you will be accommodated in an 18th century country house that has been fully renovated in order to provide comfortable accommodations. The original charm of the property has been conserved. The house only has 4 rooms and 3 bathrooms. Free Wi-Fi is available.

Monasterio Cisterciense de San Pedro de Cardeña
This beautiful monastery also offers accommodations to visitors. There are 24 rooms with heating and bathroom.

Hotel Nuevo Arlanza in Covarrubias
This charming hotel offers 45 bedrooms in the heart of Covarrubias. The rooms feature a Castilian décor with beamed ceilings and wooden furniture. All rooms come equipped with private facilities, free Wi-Fi, a TV and air conditioning.

Doña Sancha in Covarrubias
This rural hotel displays the typical architecture of the region (featuring old stones and wood) and has a small garden where guest can relax. The rooms are decorated with warm colors and all include a fan, heating, a TV, free Wi-Fi access, a private bathroom and a balcony with nice views of the surroundings. There are common areas (living room with fireplace, books and games & garden) which guests are welcome to use.

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 with this trip.
We serve mainly Spanish dishes.

The picnics are prepared fresh daily and feature local products.
Dinners are in local restaurants with delicious local specialties.

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to all dietary restrictions with prior notice.

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

Riding

Horses
We currently have around 20 horses, mainly locally Andalusian, Andalusian crosses and Spanish breeds. They average between 15hh and 16hh and are a forward going, responsive and thoroughly enjoyable ride. They are also good natured, nimble and sure-footed.
The stables where horses live are fully equipped and designed for the comfort and well-being of our horses.

Itinerary

Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

Day 1 (Saturday): Arrival
Arrival in Madrid and transfer to first nights hotel in Quintanar de la Sierra.
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight at Posada las Mays or Hotel Casa Ramón in Quintanar de la Sierra

Day 2 (Sunday): Quintanar de la Sierra to Neila
We ride uphill on steep paths, winding through the dense pine forest until we reach Neila. Visit one of the most spectacular lakes of glacial origin - the Laguna Negra. These 10,000 year-old lakes are an impressive example of the formation of landscape by ice and erosion. In Neila you find beautiful houses and a bridge from the Roman times.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hotel Villa de Neila in Neila

Day 3 (Monday): Neila to Huerta de Ariba
Between inmense wood of pines, beeches and oaks we are getting down to Monterrubio de la Demanda to begin the green route of the Mining Railroad. Impressive in autumn with the beeches bellow. Between the trees, if we are lucky, we can see the local fauna including wolf, wild boar, otter, royal eagle, goshawk and falcon. In Monterrubio de la Demanda we can observe the parochial church that represents one of the oldest works of the Romanesque Burgales.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Centro de Turismo Rural Virgen de la Vega in Huerta de Ariba

Day 4 (Tuesday): Huerta de Ariba to Pineda de la Sierra
Today we follow the 'Green Route' through valleys and trenches towards Barbadillo de Herreros. We cross the tunnel of the Ferrerias and ride towards Pineda and through the Manquillo Pass. This 'Green Route' partly follows the old railroad tacks, abandoned since the 50s, that linked the Sierra de la Demanda with the Altos Hornos of the Basque country, and served for the transport of minerals. The railroad was dismantled during the Civil War.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Casa Rural el Hayedo in Pineda de la Sierra

Day 5 (Wednesday): Pineda de la Sierra to Arlanzon
We ride along the Arlanzon's Dam and the landscape changes and becomes flatter with cultivated fields. Depending on the time of the year, we may be able to visit the prehistoric site of the Sierra de Atapuerca, which was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 2000. The archaeological treasures were discovered when the mining railroad was constructed in 1902. They played an important role in understanding the human evolution and have determined a new human species that lived 800,000 years ago: Homo Antecessor. Tonight, we lodge in a working monastery and dine with the monks.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Monasterio Cisterciense de San Pedro de Cardeña

Day 6 (Thursday): Arlanzon to Monastery de San Pedro Cardeña
We ride towards Burgos and the San Pedro Cardeña monastery - a place of great history which is connected with the life of El Cid. If we have enough time, we will visit Burgos.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Monasterio Cisterciense de San Pedro de Cardeña or Hotel in Covarrubias

Day 7 (Friday): Monastery of San Pedro Cardeña to Covarrubias
We leave the monastery behind and passing through an impressive high-road we ride across the Castilian deserts towards the Las Mamblas mountain range until we reach Covarrubias. There we say goodbye to our horses. If we have time, visit of the fortified medieval town with its historic buildings and ancient church. We then meet for a farewell dinner in a famous restaurant of Covarrubias.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hotel Nuevo Arlanza or Doña Sancha in Covarrubias

Day 8 (Saturday): Departure
Departure and transfer to Madrid after breakfast.
Meals included: Breakfast

Rates and Dates for Sierra de la Demanda

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Covarrubias or Quintanar
Airport: Madrid
Transfer: Madrid

Climate:
                                                Burgos area