Valleys of Gredos

Introduction
Central Spain Spain
During this ride, you will explore four different river valleys: Tietar, Tormes, Alberche and Corneja.

Ride from the highest trails of the Gredos mountains, crossing pine forests and riding down to valleys and gorges with clear mountain waters. You will enjoy great views of the Sierra de Gredos during the entire week!
The terrain does not allow for trotting or cantering in many areas so we enjoy a relaxed pace to take in all the beautiful sights.

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 Navarredonda de Gredos
Night 2: Country House in Cuevas del Valle
Night 3: Country Hotel in San Martin del Pimpollar
Night 4: Country House in San Martin de la Vega
Night 5: Hotel in Hoyos del Espino
Night 6: Hotel in Navarredonda de Gredos



Hotel in Navarredonda de Gredos
This small hotel is surrounded by nature and provides great views of the mountains. The bedrooms all come with Wi-Fi access, a TV and private facilities. Guests are welcome to relax in the panoramic lounge or outdoor terrace.


Country House in Cuevas del Valle
This lovely rural accommodation benefits of great mountain views. The rooms are simply decorated and all include a TV, air conditioning and heating as well as a private bathroom and free Wi-Fi access.

Country Hotel in San Martin del Pimpollar
This small hotel offers comfortable bedrooms with great mountain views. Each room features a TV, Wi-Fi access, heating and private facilities. There is a lounge area where guests can relax in front of the fireplace.

Country House in San Martin de la Vega
This charming stone house accommodation offers 2 cozy bedrooms and a shared bathroom. There is a living room with a TV, free internet access and a washing machine. Guests are also welcome to use the small terrace.

Hotel in Hoyos del Espino
This family hotel has been welcoming visitors since 1978. It has 15 guestrooms; all fitted with a private bathroom and a TV. There are public areas where guest can read a book, enjoy the view, watch TV or simply surf the internet. There is also a small garden with colorful flowers and a terrace.


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 to Navarredonda de Gredos
Meet at Madrid airport for 3:00 pm and transfer to Navarredonda (2 hours’ drive) with a stop en route in Avila (short visit). Enjoy your welcome dinner at the hotel with us in Navarredonda de Gredos.
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel in Navarredonda de Gredos

Day 2 (Monday): Navarredonda de Gredos to Cuevas del Valle (Tietar river valley)
Distribution of horses at the stables. We cross the mountains through Puerto del Arenal following the very old path, which was used like a commercial way from north to south of the Gredos Mountains. Beautiful views of the Tietar river valley. Night in very nice rural inn “El rinconcito de Gredos” in Cuevas del Valle.
Riding 6 hours. 
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at “El rinconcito de Gredos” in Cuevas del Valle

Day 3 (Tuesday): Cuevas del Valle to San Martín del Pimpollar (Alberche river valley)
We ride through the Roman Road (II century B.C.) to join the Cañada Real - very important medieval paths for Merino sheep Transhumance. We will get Puerto del Pico, with magnificent views of the Tietar River Valley. After a tapas-break we continue riding along the Alberche River Valley. Beautiful lunch beside the river. Tonight, we will arrive in San Martín del Pimpollar.
Riding 5 hours. 
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at casa rural “Las cuatro calles in San Martín del Pimpollar

Day 4 (Wednesday): San Martín del Pimpollar to San Martín de la Vega (Corneja river valley)
Following the Alberche River Valley, we will ride through wild nature in the north side of the mountains. Beautiful landscape, especially in Spring when the broom is blooming. Lunch in the countryside with magnificent views of the highest peaks of the Sierra de Gredos. We stop for dinner and overnight at rural inn in San Martín de la Vega.
Riding 6.5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel in San Martín de la Vega

Day 5 (Thursday): San Martín de la Vega to Navacepeda de Tormes (Tormes river valley)
We are still in the mountains, with pine trees, broom, stonewalls… The region we explore today is the summer pastures for Avilan cows. We will get very close to the source of the Alberche River. We stop for lunch beside a lagoon. In the afternoon, we ride to Navacepeda through open landscapes with the most beautiful views of Gredos Mountains. Dinner at a restaurant.
Riding 6 hours.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Capra Hispanica in Hoyos del Espino 

Day 6 (Friday): Navacepeda de Tormes to Navarredonda de Gredos (Tormes river valley)
Easy and beautiful day. Today’s ride follows the Tormes River Valley. Lunch at fisherman´s hut beside the Tormes River - wonderful spot for swimming. Short afternoon ride with a few fast good canters to finish the ride.
Riding 5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel in Navarredonda de Gredos

Day 7 (Saturday): Departure
Breakfast at hotel. Departure around 10 am to be at 12 pm in Madrid airport.
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 Valleys of Gredos

Dates Note:

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

Climate:
                                                Ávila‎‎ area