Pyrenees Summer Trails

Introduction
Catalonia Spain
This stationary ride is perfect for the intermediate-leveled rider looking for a quick getaway in the majestic Pyrenees Mountains of Spain. This trail encompasses the beauty of the Pyrenees by taking you to panoramic views in the alpine areas at almost 2000m of elevation, deep valleys and rocky reliefs, river and lakes, and rural villages. In the busy summertime in Europe, no trip is better to escape the tourist crowds than to join us in the mountains. Our guides are knowledgeable of the area and horses and are sure to show you a good time! You'll be staying in a cozy stone hotel and provided with delicious cuisine for every meal! A wonderful demonstration of nature and culture blending in amongst itself!

Accomodation


Accommodations
This is a stationary ride, so all nights will be spent in the same location.

Description
A quaint hotel in the village of Setcases where you can enjoy nature in the middle of a quiet and familial atmosphere. Depending on your room, you will have views on the mountains, the Valley of Camprodon, the Valle del Ter, or Setcases village. All rooms have private bathrooms and a TV.

It is possible to ask for an accommodation upgrade for an extra fee (please inquire).

Room Occupancy
There is no single supplement if you are willing to share.



Meals
All meals are included from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on the last day.

The meals on this trip represent the great delights of the Catalan cuisine! Lunches will vary, sometimes you start early and return in time for lunch or you will picnic along the way. Catalonia produces an extraordinary variety of foodstuffs: wild mushrooms and game from the Pyrenees, the trinity of olives, grapes and wheat from the hilly heartland, all manner of fruits, vegetables and nuts from the irrigated lowlands, rice and fish from the river deltas and a great variety of fish and shellfish from Catalonia's 500 km of coastline. Enjoy a delicious pairing of wine with your meal.

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to dietary restrictions with prior notice.

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

Riding


Tack
The tack is English and trekking style and most horses are ridden in snaffles. Saddle bags are provided to carry items required during the day and for picnic lunches.

Horses
The horses used are well schooled Spanish, Hispano-Arabians, Arabians, Anglo-Arabian, and Quarter horses. They have all been carefully chosen and most are between 14.2hh (150cm) and 16hh (165cm) and are of a medium build. They are sure-footed, fit, forward going, responsive to ride and well adapted to the requirements of the sometimes rough terrain.
The horses are all trained using natural horsemanship techniques, which helps to create an enthusiastic, good natured horse that is keen to collaborate with its rider, and really enjoys its work.
A great deal of time has been spent selecting and training the horses for these trekking routes. Not too boisterous to be difficult for lower level riders, yet with enough spark to make an enjoyable ride to experienced riders. The horses live outside all the year round in a herd to helps to create a psychologically balanced animal well adapted to the necessities of trail riding and group riding. The herd of horses naturally adapts well to the rhythm of a trail ride, traveling up to 30km a day from place to place as a wild herd would do when looking for food and water.

Pace
There are many opportunities for long gallops, canters and trots. On average, we spend 4-6 hours in the saddle per day, covering 20-30 km daily (80 km total). We will be riding for 3 days.

Guides
The main guide will be Xavi, an experienced and talented rider, always accompanied by an English speaking back up guide.

Itinerary


Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

Day 1 (Monday): Arrival
A private transfer will pick you up from Barcelona or Girona airport. You will arrive to your accommodations on the Pyrenees in a typical and small Catalan village in the middle of the mountains with stone houses. You will learn about the special characteristics of our Andalusian trail horses. After, you will be given an introduction to the week’s program with an opportunity for one-to-one conversations designed to find every rider their perfect horse. Then, you can enjoy a fantastic dinner!
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight at manor house

Day 2 (Tuesday): From l’Abella to Pardines
This trail has different landscapes, from wide plains where we will find wild horses and cows to forests where we can do some gallops. We start from l’Abella at 1240m elevation through Bac de l’Abella, crossing Serra Cavallera. We will arrive to the end of la Vall de Camprodon and we continue up to Vall de Ribes in Coll del Pal where we can see Puigmal, la Molina, Colada de Tosses, and el Taga at 1950m elevation. We will go down to Pardines at 2:30pm- at this point we will lunch in a familiar restaurant with a traditional mountain meal. You can be ready for take a swim in the swimming pool! At 4:00pm we will come back across the forest way to Collada Verda and back to Vall de Camprodon. We will see the mountain lodge Pla de Salla where the farmers took care of theirs cows. We continue up to Roques Blanques where we can see Abella, la Roca, Llanars, and Camprodon. We finish our descent to the Hípica.
Riding: 6 hours (approx. 30 km)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at manor house

Day 3 (Wednesday): From l’Abella to Tregurá
On this trail we will see all Camprodon’s Valley. We are going to ride up la Solana d’Abella, crossing Roques Blancas. At this point we begin to ride across the trees and fields where we will reach the highest peak of the day 1950m elevation. If it is a sunny day at Pel de Ca, we can see the Montserrat Mountains. We will cross a big field on the road to Tregura to Pardines. We continue up to la Sierra de la Caña where we can see Queralbs, Vall de Núria, Ribes de Freser, Tregurà, Llanars, and Camprodón. At this point we can enjoy a panoramic view. We continue up to Tres Pics. In this point we can see Coma de Vaca, where the animals feed on summer. We will cross El Castell dels Moros (moor’s castle) where we can see Setcases village, and continue downhill to Tregurà where we are going stop for lunch in a restaurant. After lunch we are going to continue downhill to Vilallonga de Ter, and from this point we will continue up to l’Abella.
Riding: 6 hours  (approx. 30 km)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at manor house

Day 4 (Thursday): Around Serra Cavallera
This trail give us an spectacular views of Ripolles Mountains. We start in l’Abella and ride up across pastures between wild horses and cattle. We will cross Coll del Pal where we see several villages from the whole valley. We will come back in a rounded trail crossing up to Espinadell and arriving to the Hípica. We will arrive at 3:00pm at the Hípica where a barbecue is waiting for us.
Riding: 4 hours  (approx. 20 km)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at manor house

Day 5 (Friday): Departure
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Barcelona or Girona airports. We hope you will take home some great memories of the rides and the sceneries!
Meals included: Breakfast

Rates and Dates for Pyrenees Summer Trails

Dates Note: Custom dates departures can be arranged in August for groups of 2+ pax

Other Info
Meeting: Setcases
Airport: Girona-Costa Brava Airport (GRO)
Transfer: Girona-Costa Brava Airport (GRO) or Barcelona–El Prat Josep Tarradellas Airport (BCN)

Climate:
                                                Girona area