Mountain & Coast Ride

Introduction
Catalonia Spain

Accomodation

You start and finish at Can Jou and stay in small high quality rural hotels, characteristic of the area's hotels (At one of the inns, the rooms are not all en suite). On the farm of our partner high up on the mountain and in small guesthouses during the trail with private baths.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding
The horses have been specially selected for trail riding. As well as the inherent traits of the Andalusian of stamina agility and good character these horses have been trained on the local terrain to achieve greater resistance and balance.
Riding is English style with English endurance-type saddles (Spanish saddles are available upon request for some horses). The guides speak English.

Circular progressive trail. Rolling hills, cork oak forests, beach gallops, scenic villages, large variety of scenery. Long canters. Active.

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 told all about the special characteristics of our Andalusian trail horses. After dinner you will be given an opportunity for a one to one conversation designed to find every rider their perfect horse.
Finally, you will discover how to play the ´Champagne Rules’ which is when anyone is found guilty of holding up the ride at any point they must buy a bottle of local cava for the group that evening,  which makes for lively dinners!

DAY 2: LEAVING THE MOUNTAINS  (The Journey begins)
Today we saddle up and ride out through the mountains, during the morning we pass through the scented oak forests above beautiful ravines that so characterise this mountainous region known as the Garrotxa. Then out of the mountains and by mid morning we ride past the beautiful Mediaeval village of Besalu, the gateway to the Pyrenees. After lunch on the banks of the river Fluvia, we continue through scenery Of rolling hills and pine forests dotted with interesting little villages By now the stamina and agility of these Andalusia horses starts to become evident In the evening a delicious super awaits us, you will taste the fine regional cooking, prepared by our hosts Miquel and Magalie of Mas Torrent a charming rural Inn.

DAY 3:  MILES  (into the Empurdan)
Today we ride and ride! A a long day in the saddle with lots of gallops and long canters. We visit the lower Empordán pine forests.
Every hour we pass another beautiful village, castles, churches, arches, tunnels, old wooden doors with wrought iron knockers, the beauty of the stone work of the past. As the afternoon draws on you can sense the proximity to the coast and at last we arrive at the Mediterranean,the beautiful Gulf of Rosas stretches before  us. Our hotel for the night is right on the beach.

DAY 4:  VAMOS A LA PLAYA !!!
After an excellent breakfast and an early start, we trot our horses 1 km down to the beach. The long curve of the Bay of Rosas stretches before us with 30 km of golden sand. Here we enjoy some excellent gallops and canters on the beach. We will stop every now and then to take the horses into the water- they love it!
After the beach ride we head inland again following the river Fluviá and past a bird sanctuary where we can see many flocks of migrating birds. The terrain is flat with rice-fields and apple orchards. The pace is lively! By lunchtime we arrive at our destination: Castellon d´Empurias. From here you can easily go down to the beach and have another afternoon/evening swim. Or you can explore the town and do some shopping. This is a lively cathedral town where we can enjoy some excellent tapas and the local nightlife.

DAY 5:    BOADELLA
After breakfast on the magnificent roof-top terrace of the hotel over-looking a cathedral, the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees, we saddle up again to continue our journey back to the mountains.
Today the riding is spectacular,  once more a lively pace as we trot and canter out across the planes, through fields, meadows, and Mediterranean woodland rife with the scents of wild herbs and flowers. In the afternoon we ride through olive groves and vineyards and past the lake of Boadella, on the edge of which we find our accommodation for the night. “La Central” an art nouveau palace of blue ceramic tiled towers. It is a haven of peace and tranquillity being a tiny spa hotel, known for its delicious cuisine, hydro massage pool and relaxing massages, all which are very welcome after 4 days in the saddle!

DAY 6:  BACK INTO THE MOUNTAINS
Now the stamina and agility of our Andalusian horses becomes evident.
The morning starts with a long ascent back up to the craggy peaks of the Alta Garrotxa. This is a region of cork oak forests where the Rioja region comes to buy its wine corks! Once again we are in a different type of countryside, a beautiful mountain wilderness. Before lunch we lead our horses along a narrow winding track for 40 minutes. Then a glorious picnic with a view over the varied and beautiful landscape that we have just ridden through. By evening we arrive in the enchanted valley of Riu a paradise of mountain meadows surrounded by peaks, where the goat herds are watched over by hungry vultures and eagles. Here we stable the horses for the night, and go back to the riding centre for another delicious dinner.

DAY 7: HEADING FOR THE BASE CAMP
Back to the horses again!
From here the view is spectacular, majestic peaks all around on every horizon. The morning is spent winding our way down into the gorge of Sadernas, above a gushing mountain river of crystalline water that has gauged out splendid forms in the rock. Once more we are down on the flood planes these we cross at a lively pace to climb once more back up to the heights and our base - the mountain lodge - where a warm welcome and a delicious supper awaits us. After six days of riding and adventure we toast to the horses, our new found friends and to life!

DAY 8:
Departure after breakfast.  Arrival at the airport in Barcelona is estimated around 11:30 AM. If you are staying for an extra few days, there is a good train connection from the airport to the center in Barcelona.

**Subject to Change

Rates and Dates for Mountain & Coast Ride

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: San Jaume de Llierca
Airport: Barcelona / Girona
Transfer: Barcelona airport 6:30 PM 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.

 English or Western riding attire is fine for the ride. Rain gear suitable for riding should be carried along, particularly during the months from November through April.  If you are planning to visit other cities on your own later you may wish to bring a jacket and tie. It is a good idea to bring your own soap, since not all hotels supply it. There will be no opportunity to have laundry done while on the ride. Saddle bags provided.

For riding at the beach you can bring waterproof riding boots (or running shoes) for riding through the water. Also, your riding boots should be comfortable as you have to walk with the horses downhill on a rocky surface for some distance. Please make sure you have appropriate footwear for guiding the horses on foot up/down steep hills!

In general the hotels only heat the rooms during the winter months. Even newer buildings are seldom insulated. Therefor when the weather turns cool you can have an impression of dampness. In case your room is too cool during your stay, you should find an extra wool blanket in the closet, or ask at the reception.