Gredos Mountains & Villages Trail

Introduction
Central Spain Spain
Join a horseback riding adventure across the Avila and Salamanca provinces. You end your journey with the visit of Salamanca town, a world Heritage site by UNESCO.
 
From the Gredos Mountains to Salamanca, you will ride through varied landscapes and learn more about local villages along the way.
You will ride in the Sierra de Candelario and Sierra de Bejar a very lush area with its own microclimate. Then, following the Tormes River, you will head North. The predominant landscape is holm oak woods and pastures where we can see black bulls.

Accomodation


Accommodations
This is a progressive ride, so nights are spent in different locations.

Description
Accommodations are in small hotels and rural inns with private bathroom (toiletries almost always included). Most overnights are at charming rural hotels where we enjoy the exquisite regional cuisine, known for its tendency to be gourmet. We will also experience modern hotels, built in the traditional European style, located in areas of outstanding beauty.
All accommodations provide free Wi-Fi access.

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1: Hotel in Hoyos del Espino
Night 2 & 3: Hotel in El Barco de Avila
Night 4: Hotel in Candelario
Night 5: Hotel in Guijo de Avila
Night 6: Monastery Valdejimena in Horcajo
Night 7: Hotel in Salamanca


Hotel in Hoyos del Espino
This charming hotel offers beautiful views over the Gredos Mountains. It has 21 rooms, all equipped with a TV, private bathroom and free Wi-Fi. The hotel has a digital telescope and can arrange observation sessions on clear nights.


Hotel in El Barco de Ávila
This beautiful hotel built out of noble materials offers modern and comfortable accommodations featuring private bathrooms with hair dryer and toiletries, heating/air-conditioning, a TV, free Wi-Fi access and hardwood floors. The property benefits from a beautiful view over the city and surrounding mountains as well as a lovely garden and terrace.

Rural Hotel in Candelario
This rural hotel is housed in a beautiful building featuring the local architectural style. During its restoration in the 90s, great care was taken in conserving the charm of the traditions while providing more modern accommodations. Each room has its own decor and comes equipped with Wi-Fi access, a TV, heating and private facilities.


Hotel in Guijo de Avila
This small hotel has 20 modern accommodations, all equipped with full bathrooms, air conditioning, a TV and internet access.

Hotel in Salamanca
The hotel is housed in a beautiful historic building with a neoclassical renaissance façade. Rooms are simply decorated and all have air conditioning, a satellite TV, a safe and private bathroom with free toiletries. Free Wi-Fi is available at the reception.


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 on this trip.

The food is a highlight of this trip! Mamen will delight you with the tapas-breaks waiting for you with Serrano ham, Manchego cheese, olives, nuts, etc.

Lunches are taken on the trail; in the countryside (we bring tables and chairs) and always include a starter (salad, gazpacho, vegetables, etc), a main course (paella, iberian pork, fish, etc), fresh fruit, coffee and local wines. Lunchtime features delicious home cooked Spanish dishes such as Paella, Tortilla Española, Iberian pork bbq, salads, and soft cheese very typical from Extremadura “Torta del Casar”. Lunch is often followed by a siesta in the countryside.
 
After the day riding, your dinner in the evening is around 9 pm and you can choose from different dishes and courses of local Spanish recipes. Your dinner is usually taken at the accommodation and include a choice between 3-5 starters (mix salad, soup, vegetables, pasta, etc), 3-5 main course (grilled beef, pork, stews, fish, omelet, etc), a dessert (flan, rice pudding, fruit, cake, etc), local wine, bread and coffee or tea.

The following drinks are included in the package: red and white wines, beer, refreshments, coffee or tea during the meals and aperitifs. Water bottle is provided every morning.

Dietary Restrictions
Special diets (vegetarian, gluten free, allergies, etc.) can be arranged with advance notice.

This trip includes some wine with dinner and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding


Riding Experience
This trip has been designed for intermediate to experienced riders. You should be comfortable at the walk, trot and canter, in group, in open spaces and your seat should be firm. On the rides, you will be riding for between four to seven hours a day so it is important to be as riding fit as possible.

Pace
The overall pace of riding is moderate with walk, trots and canters mostly every day, depending on the terrain. Usually, when the terrain allows for a safe canter, we canter. In the mountains, in many areas the terrain does not allow for trotting or cantering so we enjoy walking with breathtaking views around.

Tack
We use fine quality English saddles and silicon seat saver. All the tack is in excellent conditions, very comfortable for horses and riders. You have small saddlebags in front of the saddles for a water bottle, sunscreen, camera, mobile, etc.

Helmet
We recommend wearing a helmet, however you can ride without a helmet but your insurance must clearly state that you are covered to do that. You will also be asked to sign a disclaimer.

Support Vehicle
A support van follows the group during the whole week, meeting us in the morning, for tapas-breaks, lunches, at night and to move your luggage. This means you have access to your luggage at least 3 times a day.

Horses
We currently have 21 horses: 14 PRE, 4 Pure Hispano-Arab, 1 Anglo-Arab and 2 Crossed (hispano-bretón, hispano-lusitano).
Our horses are responsive, well behave, good natured and serene thanks to the natural horsemanship method used to train them.
Most of our horses were born and bred at home while others have been with us since they were foals.
They live in freedom as a herd, eating, drinking, sleeping and traveling together in the most natural way possible.
They live in a huge pine forest (500 ha) in the Gredos Mountains or in the rich pastures in the Dehesas of Extremadura. They keep fit as they can walk around 20 km every day. They live with other groups of animals including other horses, donkeys, cows and also wild animals such as wolves, roe deer, deer, wild boar, foxes.

Staff
Emilio and Mamen (both born in Gredos Mountains) will be personally escorting you on these trips. Emilio will happily guide you across the trails, while Mamen will be preparing delicious meals and pic-nics.
Emilio has been working in equestrian tourism for over 30 years and he dedicated his whole life to his horses. He speaks English and Spanish.

Age Restrictions
There is no upper age limit, as long as you are riding fit and healthy. The minimum riding age is 10 years old (competent riders only), accompanied by an adult.

Travel Insurance
It is mandatory to take a travel insurance for this trip! If you come from Europe, you should bring the European Health card, this gives you access to Spanish health care.

Itinerary



Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

The following is a sample itinerary but please note that changes are possible due to weather and other circumstances.
The van support is always close to the group with the luggage, so it's not necessary to carry things on the horse. The group meets the van at tapas time, lunch time, or in any other moment if necessary (for shoeing a horse, take rain coats, etc).

Day 1 (Sunday): Arrival 
Meet at Madrid airport and transfer to your accommodation (2 hours’ drive) with a break in Avila for a short visit (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Enjoy your welcome dinner at the hotel with us.
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel in Hoyos del Espino

Day 2 (Monday): Navarredonda de Gredos to Angostura de Tormes
Distribution of horses. Our route follows the Tormes River at the bottom of the valley. Tapas for a short break. Lunch stop. Riding in the afternoon downhill along the river valley to Angostura de Tormes. Horses spend the night at the village and riders are transferred to their accommodation in El Barco de Ávila.
Riding 6 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel in El Barco de Ávila

Day 3 (Tuesday): Angostura de Tormes to Becedas
In the morning, we will go through cattle trails. Lunch by the Tormes River, beside the medieval bridge (14th c.) and in the shade of a 14th c. church in El Barco de Ávila. Then, in the afternoon, we will ride to Sierra de Bejar and Becedas, the last village in Avila province where the horses spend the night. We transfer the riders to the same hotel than the night before in Barco de Ávila.
Riding 7 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel in El Barco de Ávila 

Day 4 (Wednesday): Becedas to Candelario
This day is a short day ride from Becedas to Candelario. We will go through villages of peculiar feature.
In the afternoon, visit of Candelario, a picturesque village (one of the most beautiful in Spain). Walk up the steep streets, and walk along the channels that collect the water from the mountains - magnificent, examples of architecture in this town.
Dinner and overnight at charming rural Inn “Artesa”, in the center of the town. Accommodation and an excellent restaurant where you can taste the most traditional Castilian cuisine.
Riding 4 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel in Candelario

Day 5 (Thursday): Candelario to Guijo de Avila
Northward to Salamanca through Puerto de la Hoya we will get to Neila de San Miguel and stop for tapas at the unique church in a Celtic location (Cerro del Berrueco). Lunch at Medinilla. In the afternoon, the landscape is open and flat and we will reach the Cañada Soriana Occidental one of the main cattle path in Spain.
We will spend the night at Guijo de Avila in a rural complex with very comfortable cabins and a nice views of the Tormes River.
Riding 6.5 hours.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel in Guijo de Avila

Day 6 (Friday): Guijo de Avila to Horcajo Medianero
We will cross the river Tormes by Santa teresa´s dam, a huge water reservoir. We will ride all day through the Dehesas of Salamanca with holm oaks, bulls, black Iberian pigs. Lunch by small river. Afternoon canters through the dehesa and holm oaks to Horcajo Medianero. Night and dinner at monastery of Valdejimena with horses very close to us. You stay in a very special place and you might have to share a bathroom.
Riding 6 hours.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Monastery Valdejimena in Horcajo

Day 7 (Saturday): Horcajo Medianero to Alba de Tormes (Half-day ride)
In the morning, we ride along the Eastern lands of the province with beautiful and clear horizons bathed by waters of the Tormes River. We have lunch near Alba de Tormes. The history of Alba de Tormes is linked to Santa Teresa´s life and death, where the body rests in one of the convents. This is the end of the ride.
The horses travel back home by truck and we transfer riders to Salamanca town (20 min driving).
In the afternoon you can walk along the streets of this historical town, world heritage by UNESCO, visit the most important monuments, The Plaza Mayor with its arcades is particularly impressive. Dinner at a restaurant located at the Plaza Mayor. Night in the heart of Salamanca.
Riding 4 hours.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel in Salamanca

Day 8 (Sunday): Departure
After breakfast, departure from Salamanca at 10 am on time for flights departing Madrid after 2 pm. All riders will be transferred at the same time, so if any of rider needs to arrive to Madrid prior to noon all riders depart earlier or we will arrange transfer (at extra cost).
Meals included: Breakfast


Non-Riders
Non-riding companions are welcome to join this trip. They can travel in the support car and join in meals, dinners and others activities, or if they wish, they can rent a car and move on their own, joining the group for dinner.

Rates and Dates for Gredos Mountains & Villages Trail

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Navarredonda de Gredos
Airport: Madrid
Transfer: Madrid airport

Climate:
                                                Ávila‎‎ area