Pyrennean Mountain Trail

Introduction
Catalonia Spain

Forget everything you think you know about riding in the mountains- the Pyrenean Mountain Trail is a very special trail indeed! It's a chance to discover one of the loveliest regions of Catalonia, where the red and yellow flag flies proudly. Not only is this a riding holiday for the equestrian enthusiast, but a gastronomic experience as well. The food provided in each mountain hotel is of a high culinary standard and plentiful. You will have the opportunity to taste many different and delicious Catalan dishes. During the ride, you will discover two distinct landscapes: the mighty peaks of the Pyrenees and the warm and wooded hills of the Garrotxa. This trail offers plenty of exciting gallops and at other times leading your horse on foot, so it requires riders to be fit and healthy to enjoy the trip to its fullest.
We begin at the gateway of the Pyrenees, the Alta Garrotxa region. The floodplains of the river Fluvia offer a lively start to this awesome trail, as we canter across the meadows up into the spectacular gorge of Sant Aniol. Later we arrive at the village of Beget, a gem of Romanesque architecture. This region is filled with architectural heritage, churches, castles and monuments aplenty. Onwards and upwards in the following days, to the mountain peaks. Our trail takes us through the beech forests and and we pass beautiful, clear mountain streams which invite us in for a swim or siesta nearby. Visit the old smuggler's village, Espinavell, only 5 km's off the border of France. Taste the Espinavell restaurant's home-made local liquor! We stay along the way in Camprodon, a bustling market town, where you can get some shopping done before you get a taste of their fun and lively nightlife!  This holiday was made for those who love gorgoeus horses and Mediterranean cuisine, infused with a little shopping and adventure!

Accomodation

The accommodation is in local inns and small hotels, specially selected for their character and comfort as well as for their cuisine.

 The meals represent the great delights of the Catalan cuisine and include some of the spectacular local wines!

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding

A great deal of time has been spent selecting and training the horses for these routes. Not too boisterous to be difficult, yet with enough spark to make an enjoyable ride. The horses are carefully matched to the ability of the rider through one-on-one conversations with the guide and team.

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.

Itinerary

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

Rates and Dates for Pyrennean Mountain Trail

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Sant Jaume de Llerca
Airport: Barcelona / Girona
Transfer: Barcelona airport 6:30 PM OR Girona 7:30 PM

Climate:

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.