Volcano & Castle Trail

Introduction
Catalonia Spain Explore the wild and remote region of the Garrotxa Volcanica, a spectacular gem of Catalonia! Experience the sensation of stepping back in time- mountain villages, medieval castles, abbeys and churches all steeped in history, perched on the edges of sculptural rock. Fortified walls and stone cobbled roads banish vehicles in favor of well trained horses. Discover the hidden valleys of la Miana and Santa Pau and explore the dense oak forests which provide a fast start to this trail. Enjoy long trots and exhilarating canters past beautiful, gushing waterfalls. Encounter some of the most intriguing villages Catalonia has to offer! Santa Pau, a spectacular walled medieval village, was built out of volcanic rock. Discover Rupit, undoubtedly one of the most picturesque villages in all of Spain, where the houses seem to grow out of the hillside itself. Finally Cabrera, a sanctuary at 1300 meters with a 300 m² platform supporting a church in the middle, quite rightly named "Home of the Gods" by the locals. Venturing through the Garrotxa Volcanica on horseback is the ultimate way to discover this lunar landscape. The terrain is of soft volcanic gravel, excellent for the strong trots and fast gallops we will ride to Santa Margarita, the biggest and most spectacular volcanic crater of the area. Castles are in abundance! The 13th century castle of Sant Salvador and Finestres offers breathtaking views of the volcanoes and from the heights of Santa Julia del Mont we will admire the Pyrenees on one side and the Mediterranean on the other. With a sense of accomplishment and adventure, you will feel as if no one but yourself had trodden this mountainside for years. The view is yours to revel in alone, making the Volcano and Castle Trail a truly unforgettable journey!

Accomodation


The accommodations provided are in local inns and small hotels, specially selected fort their character and comfort, as well as the delicious cuisine.  Midday meals are eaten as picnics.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding

Table mountains, medieval villages, volcanic region, remote virgin area, castles, dramatic varied scenery, history.  Steady, varied and active, some walking on foot and leading horses.

The Andalusian horses have been specially selected for trail riding.  As well as the inherent traits of stamina, agility and good character possessed by the breed, these horses have been trained on the local terrain to achieve greater resistance and balance. Due to hard work and good schooling we have developed some extremely hard working and enthusiastic trail horses capable of nimbly climbing mountains crossing rivers, swimming in the sea and maintaining long sustained gallops across the plains.

“For many a rider it is a new and unique experience to ride one of our horses, their performance is so superior to that of a normal horse, they are a joy to ride.”

The herd aspects: the horses live outside all the year round, this helps to create a good psychologically balanced animal well adapted to the necessities of trail riding. The herd of horses also adapts well to the rhythm of a trail ride, travelling up to 30km a day from place to place as a wild herd would do when looking for food and water.

Natural horsemanship: This is a very important aspect of our training process. We use these methods when starting young horses and training experienced horses. Generally this philosophy is inherent in all of our handling of the horses when under the saddle, in the stable or on the trail ride.

The horse has to respond to the rider-handler of its own free will because it wants to and not due to pure obligation.

“What we achieve through these training methods is a well balanced content enthusiastic horse intent on collaborating with and pleasing its rider at all times”.

Itinerary

DAY 1:
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 centre, 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, you will be told about the special characteristics of our Andalusian trail horses. After dinner you will be given an introduction to the weeks program, with 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’! If 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, making for lively dinners!

DAY 2: The Volcano Trail
After meeting our horses and tacking up, we begin our journey riding down the hidden valley of La Miana, through its dense oak forests. Over the crest we enter the Santa Pau valley, another world of small family farmsteads and little villages. Here we will make a welcome stop in a local bar, and drink a glass of wine under the shade of a grape vine. We will then have a swim and eat our picnic by a waterfall. Santa Pau is a walled medieval village, built out of volcanic rock, presided over by the central castle. It is surrounded by volcanic cones that are now dormant, and there we will settle the horses for the night while we take a walk in the village, have a drink, a "tapa" and then home to Can Jou for dinner and more delights of the Catalan cuisine.

Day 3 - Castles & Volcanoes
This morning we go to Santa Pau and start our day with a coffee in the best cake shop in the region. Then we saddle up and the day begins with a climb up the ridge to the castle of Finestres. The views of the volcanoes beneath us are breath taking. For lunch we will have a picnic in the 13th century castle of Sant Salvador. After lunch, the horses warm to some long trots and canters down to the village of Sant Feliu de Pallerols. Here we settle the horses for the night and before going to the hotel we will have a welcome drink in the square. We stay at a charming family run hotel famous for its excellent cuisine, fantastic hospitality and good wine.

Day 4 - Up to the table mountains
The day begins and we saddle up and ride through the village and across the planes through fields of wheat and sunflowers. Then an ascent up to the mountain meadows where cattle & horses are sent to graze in the summer time. Here we are aware of the strength, hardiness and stamina of the horses as they power their way up the hill. At the top we can see the Pyrenees in the background and in front long views out to the distant coast. Today’s picnic is eaten by an immense waterfall. Up here it is flat and we can gallop over the meadows to the village of Rupit. This is probably the most picturesque village in Spain. The local architecture is a treat. We settle the horses for a well earned rest and we go to our hotel in the centre of the village. This is another old hotel full of local character.

Day 5 - La Mare de Déu de Cabrera
This is a sanctuary at 1300 meters, a 300 m² rock platform supporting a church in the middle. From up here the views are breath taking! This is our goal for today. The morning is spent riding through meadows of flowers and herbs and keeping out of the way of the large herds of mountain cattle. This will be a long morning ride. Our picnic is in Cabrera, home of the gods. And, wow, what incredible views! This most spectacular ride in the heights finishes with the descent to the little hamlet of Joanettes for a welcome drink to finish off a perfect day.
Tonight we spend in the house of Jordi and Carmen, a special rural Italian Inn. Here you can try the local cheese and sausages along with some great wines.

Day 6 - The Volcano Run
The day begins with one of the best breakfasts that you have ever had, but which can make getting back onto the horses difficult! We ride on to the village of Les Preses, with time to explore the narrow winding streets and see the local architecture and Romanesque churches. We ride out through a beach forest, a sea of green and silence, then stop to visit a local bar for a welcome drink.  We shall picnic next to Santa Margarita, the biggest and most spectacular volcanic crater of the area. The terrain is soft volcanic gravel, which is excellent for fast riding! Here the riders and the horses enjoy long trots and fast gallops. In the afternoon we trustingly leave the horses next to a volcano that has been dormant for the last 1000 years. We are then transported back to our mountain lodge, for a well earned rest, a swim in the pool, and maybe even a massage.

Day 7 - Return home
We saddle up and head along the valley of the river Ser. Today we are heading for home, the horses sense this and the riding is lively. We ride through two picturesque villages with narrow streets, old wooden doors and intricate stonework.
Today we arrive back at the lodge after our six day Volcano Trail and we celebrate our arrival with a splendid farewell dinner accompanied by lots more cava, a fitting end to a wonderful week.

DAY 8: GOOD-BYE
Happy and relaxed, we sadly say good-bye and "hasta pronto amigos ".  Transfer out. 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.

Note: There are sections of the trail when you need to lead your horse down the mountain. This trip is physically demanding at times.

Rates and Dates for Volcano & Castle Trail

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.

  Rain gear suitable for riding should be carried along, particularly during the months from November through April. Good sun protection (gloves, sunscreen, and hat with a chin strap), sunglasses with straps, swimsuit, towel, shorts, and a windbreaker should also be taken.  A jacket or sweater for the cool evenings is recommended. A belt pack in which to carry your camera and other small valuables during the ride is handy. Attire is strictly informal throughout, though if you are planning to visit other cities on your own later you may wish to bring a jacket and tie.

Regular film can be obtained locally, but special sizes may not be available-bring plenty. 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. 

For riding at the beach you should bring waterproof riding boots since you will be riding through the water for some time. Also, please bring comfortable riding boots you can walk in as you may have to lead the horses uphill/downhill in the mountains.

In general the hotels only heat the rooms during the winter months. Even newer buildings are seldom insulated. Therefore 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.

Please pack your luggage in one or two soft bags rather than a cumbersome suitcase.

Don’t forget your Passport!