Mountain Adventure Ride

Introduction
Mallorca Spain

When you think of Mallorca, the instant images of ‘beaches and sea’ first come to mind. But truthfully, there is much more countryside available to explore than one may first assume! Peaceful backcountry awaits, where the nature is still relatively untouched and the local people still have time for deep thinking and enjoyment. Here you can relax in the shady palm gardens, ride through lovely aromatic forests and over the picturesque fields on your way to the sunny beach. Once there, you will enjoy the friendly island culture and sunbathing options of this beautiful Mediterranean island.
The trail starts on the northern part of the island and is the most famous of the Balearean Islands. It is situated near the protected areas of Albufera, allowing for a chance to explore undisturbed natural beauty and a varied, beautiful landscape most tourists don't take the time to enjoy, while being only a few miles from the warm, sunshine filled, sandy beaches of Alcudia.  They are truly missing out!
You will journey through the surrounding mountains of Alcudia Bay and overnight at the famous Monastery of Lluc and then later at a remote mountain refuge which was just recently opened up to the public again.  The trails will be those of the Spanish pilgrims and their unique dry-stone paths from the 13th century which were once used to bring ice down to the villages.  They were also essential in the transportation of goods between places and people.  Along the way are stone retaining walls, fountains, shelters, "snow houses", riverbeds, villages, roman bridges.  With a little luck, sightings of the wild goats, sheep, wild cat, the weasel and the rare black vulture complete the scenery.

Accomodation

Four nights accommodation (3 nights Guest House, 2 nights in the Cloister hotel Santuari de Lluc, and 1 night in mountain refuge).

Hotel Fonda Llabrés: La Fonda Llabrés is one of the two guest houses located in Alcudia´s historical town centre, directly at the Plaza de la Constitución. Bought in 1950 by the family Llabrés, La Fonda became the first guest house in town. Ever since then, new hotels have been built and at the same time La Fonda has adapted itself to current times and was totaly renovated a few years ago. The friendly staff as well as the facilities will help wave the best of your stay. The guest house consists of 21 rooms divided in two buildings, all equiped with central heating, air conditioning and TV. In the old building, you will have an outstanding view of La Plaza de la Constitución from your window. The new building was previously the old Telephone Exchange and looks out onto "carrer del moll", the pedestrianised high street with all the main shops. This street divides the town in half and plays host to a street market twice a week (Tuesday and Sunday).

Santuari de Lluc: In the last few years the emblematic and symbolic value of the place has been emphasized and this has spread the proliferation of clichés about the most emblematic and star of all the Majorcan sanctuaries; but without doubt the Lluc Monastery enjoys a religious tradition as the centre of spirituality since the time of the arrival of the Catalonians on the island and before that as a botanical garden.
The Lluc monastery stands alone 400 meters in height surrounded by high mountains. Founded in the 13th century, it has suffered many transformations throughout the years. The Lluc monastery and its surroundings, without doubt, make up the most important cultural patrimony in the Tramutana Mountain range and has been so since a long time before it ever became a place of Christian worship. Lluc was a sacred place and a site worthy of pilgrimages in Roman times when it was a lucus or sacred forest.
In the sanctuary there are 129 rooms to sleep in, with bathrooms and heating.

Riding

Itinerary

2010 Itineraries

Six-day Mountain Adventure Ride

Day 1:  Sunday Arrival in Palma. Transfer to Alcudia and get together with your guide. Dinner and overnight.
Day 2:  We will prepare the horses for the trip ahead and then ride by road to Pollenca town. Take a break near the Roman Bridge in Pollenca, before setting off on the old road to LLuc. Soon you will be riding through dense holm oak woodland as well as more open spaces and along the river bed, as you climb steadily towards Lluc. There are many tracks with lovely and frequently changing scenery. You will stop for lunch along the way at a beautiful finca, where the owner cooks with the best of local produce and serves it to her guests in her home.At the end of your fi rst day you will see the magnificent monastery coming into view. You will take your horse to a lush fi eld, un-tack and feed them. You might fancy a drink in the bar now before fi nding your monastery cell. The rooms are simple and comfortable with private bathrooms – but be prepared to make your own bed! An excellent typically Mallorquine menu awaits you in one of the Monastery restaurants..
Day 3:  After breakfast the next day, groom your horse and tack up for the journey towards to peak of Galilea. You will fi nd more of the charcoal burning platforms which are also on the old road from Pollenca to Lluc. These are from the time when charcoal was an essential commodity on Mallorca. It was used to turn the lime stone into quick lime for farming, to make mortar and paint for buildings and as a cooking fuel. Your horse will now take you on an exhilarating journey up steep tracks to what feels like the top of the world. In fi ne weather you will see the most stunning views of the Mallorcan coast line before descending into a wide valley with views of Puig Major – Mallorca’s highest mountain. Birds of prey can frequently be seen circling in the sky. You continue towards a densely wooded landscape and then along narrow, winding and eventually steeply rising track – before descending to the Refuge at Tossals Verds.There are often charming donkeys to share the horses’ fi eld, which includes a shelter for tying up, grooming and feeding. At the refuge you can order water, wine, beers, coffees and a few spirits before being served a communal set meal shared at trestle tables with the other guests. You will sleep in a dormitory so try not to snore too much! There are toilet and shower rooms. 
Day 4:  Breakfast is again served communally, after which it’s time to saddle up for day 3, packing a picnic lunch prepared by the Refuge. Today you will retrace parts of the route of the previous day, with some differences. Notice particularly how the ground cover changes from scented pine and thick undergrowth to bare mountain side with tiny wild fl owers. Having seen many smaller ice houses along your way, today you will visit an enormous snow house close to a long abandoned building called ‘the house of Galilea. This would have fed the smaller ice houses with compacted snow from the mountain tops in winter, ready to be carried down to the towns for use in summer. Admire the astonishing views of the coastline before beginning your descent down a beautifully restored stone stairway (which is part of the recently completed Routa de Piedra en Sec) where you will need to dismount and walk because it is a little slippery under hoof for your horse. Then continue riding through the varied landscape until you return to the monastery and your horse to its green fi eld. You will be well into the routine of un-tacking and feeding your horse now. Your party may choose to dine on this second evening at Lluc in the more informal circular bar restaurant on the outer edge of the monastery site, where the food is excellent.
Day 5:  After breakfast on the final riding day groom your horse and tack up for the downward journey home and notice the horses’ sense of excitement as they return to their most familiar territory. At first you will take a different route to the one you first arrived by, through what looks like an enchanted wood, eventually returning to a familiar landscape and the shallower inclined of the Tramuntana. Stopping again in Pollenca, you will enjoy an excellent Mallorcan lunch such as paella with wine – served in a small bar frequented by local people. Now the final ride back to the stables where you will complete your second day’s riding at about 6pm.
Day 6:  Departure day and transfer to the airport.

Five-day Mountain Adventure Ride
Same itinerary as the 6-day trek - but without Day 4.

Dec 27, 2009 trip -- includes extra night Dec 31 with New Year's Eve celebration (dinner not included this day)

     Subject to change

2009 Itinerary
Day 1:  Sunday Arrival in Palma. Transfer to Alcudia and get together with your guide. Dinner and overnight.
Day 2:  We pick you up at your accommodation for a short drive to the stables. Here you will meet your “Best Friend” for the next few days. After an introductory ride to get to know your horse, you will receive your saddle bags for the trail and meet the rest of the group. The afternoon is open for some beach time or exploring the old part of Alcudia.
Day 3:  In the morning, pick up at the hostal and drive to stables. Everyone works together to groom and saddle the horses. Now we are on our way! The first part of the trail leads us through the beautiful Finca and nature reserve of Albufereta. We ride past an old Roman bridge and the town of Pollensa, reaching the mountains of Serra de Tramuntana. Following an old pilgrim path through the mountains we pass by almond, olive and carob trees. We continue to ride through aromatic pine forests and through picturesque riverbeds, fields, pastures and valleys. Slowly but surely we reach 1100m with fantastic views over the mountains of Mallorca down to the coast and ocean bays. We end our first day at the Monastery Lluc. The accommodation is simple and clean. We have dinner together in the cloister’s restaurant, which serves typical mallorquin food.
Day 4:  After a light breakfast we prepare the horses and our second day can begin! Today we see some fantastic scenery high up in the mountains, which a normal tourist hardly ever sees. Our horses will demonstrate their sturdy legs and brave temperaments! The ride crosses a wild mountain ridge “ Maçanella “ (1000m), through the forest and mountain landscape, down to a height of 540m to the fascinating refuge of Tossals Verds. The 578 hectare public estate of the same name has samples of dry stone infrastructures built for traditional purposes. We will stay overnight here and the horses will rest in a coral. With a little bit of luck in the mountains we will see sheep, wild goats, wild cats, weasel, birds and the rare black vulture of Mallorca.
Day 5:  Today we will ride back to the cloister at Lluc, making our way over the mountain of Galileo which reaches a height of over 1300m. Riding on the crest of this mountain we will see the most incredible views over the island! On our route we come upon several ‘snow houses.’ We follow paths that people used to bring ice down to the village in the past. These dry-stone paths date back to the 13th century. They were essential in assisting the transport of goods and people between towns and estates, to access towers, sanctuaries and chapels or to reach farming and grazing fields, forests, fishing piers, etc. Along the dry-stone paths you will discover built-in dry-stone structures in the Tramuntana mountain range as well as other dry-stone features such as retaining walls, fountains, shelters, snow houses, etc. Finally we arrive in Lluc after a very exciting day.
Day 6:  This is our last day and we ride down the mountains back to the stables. The trail first goes uphill to the pass "Coll Pelat", to a source where water is bottled and the farm "Binifaldó". From here we ride the old pilgrims’ path from Lluc to Pollença. After two exciting days this ride is more relaxed and easygoing. Reaching Pollensa we will have lunch and ride back to the stables through the beautiful countryside of North Mallorca.
Day 7:  Departure day and transfer to the airport.

Rates and Dates for Mountain Adventure Ride

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Alcudia
Airport: Palma de Mallorca
Transfer: Palma de Mallorca Airport

Climate:

The beautiful island of Mallorca boasts an average of 300 days of sunshine each year. Mallorca is typically Mediterranean with hot, dry summers in the high 20°s (low 80°Fs) and mild winters, with the temperatures roughly half that of summer. The sea regulates extreme temperatures and pleasant sea breezes also keep hot days from becoming too unpleasant. Mallorca experiences irregular rainfall, mostly tending to fall between autumn and winter.