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.

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: Transfer from Madrid to Quintanar de la Sierra.
Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Casa Ramón.

Day 2: Quintanar de la Sierra - 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.

Day 3: Neila - 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 and the beeches bellow. Between the fauna we make stand out the wolf, beech, 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.

Day 4: Huerta de Ariba - 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 pass the port of the Manquillo. This 'Green Route' partly follows the old railroad tacks, abandoned since the fifties, that linked the Sierra de la Demanda with the Altos Hornos of the Basque country, and served for the transport of minerals.

Day 5: Pineda de la Sierra - Arlanzon
Closer to Arlanzon, the landscape changes and becomes flatter with cultivated fields. 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. They played an important role in understanding the human evolution and have determined a new human species that lived 800,000 years ago. Dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Arlanzon - 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. You can visit the town with its famous cathedral, or just relax before dinner.

Day 7: Monastery of San Pedro Cardeña - 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. We have is time to visit the fortified medieval town with its historic buildings and ancient church. We then meet for a farewell dinner in a famous restaurant of Covarrubias.

Day 8: Transfer to Madrid after breakfast.

--subject to change--

Rates and Dates for Sierra de la Demanda

Dates Note:

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

Climate:
                                                Burgos area