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You will have the opportunity to become the guardians of the ancestral tradition of our culture: the transhumance, a horseback trip from Extremadura to Gredos Mountains in spring (North Transhumance ride) and from Gredos to Extremadura in autumn (South Transhumance ride). A progressive 7 days ride, following the Cañadas Reales, medieval cattle droves, North direction to Sierra de Gredos, crossing different regions and riding a long distance from the winter pastures in Extremadura to the summer pastures in Gredos Mountains. Spain is crossed by old cattle routes that served the pastoral economies of yesteryear. In Spain, these trails are called “cañadas reales” with 75m wide and around 800km long. They are still used by cattlemen who practice transhumance, spending summer in the mountains with their cattle and returning each autumn to the winter pastures. These old trails are more than merely routes for sending livestock to market. These routes are the toll motorways of yesteryear, the infrastructure that sustained transhumance. This is a real experience, travelling on horseback, you will follow the “Cañada Real” from Trujillo to Navarredonda de Gredos or vice versa, crossing 3 different regions in Spain (Extremadura, Castilla la Mancha y Castilla y León), riding in Cáceres province, Toledo province and Ávila province. Exclusive for good riders !
HORSEBACK TRANSHUMANCE IN SPAIN
TRUJILLO - SIERRA DE GREDOS
INDICATIVE ITINERARY *
Day 1: Meeting directly at the accommodation (contact details will be sent to you with your booking confirmation) or free transfer from Madrid airport at 3 p.m, Transfer to Navarredonda de Gredos, 2 hours drive with a short break in the city of Avila and visit: an amazing fortified medieval town listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Welcome dinner at the hotel in Navarredonda de Gredos, a mountain village at 1600 m altitude, with beautiful views of the highest peaks of the Sierra de Gredos, where your horseback adventure will start !
Day 2: Navarredonda de Gredos - Cuevas del Valle - Mombeltran. After breakfast, it's time to meet the horses. Departure of the ride through the Tormes valley and pine forests, and crops with breathtaking views of the mountains of Gredos. Lunch in Puerto del Pico, with great views of the south side of Gredos. After a pleasant lunch, you descend for about 1 hour following the Roman road dating back more than two thousand years, very well preserved. You cross Cuevas del Valle: a picturesque mountain village, to reach Mombeltrán, a beautiful village with a 12th century castle. Night and dinner in a charming rural hotel in the center of the village, next to the medieval castle.
Day 3: Mombeltran-Navalcan. You ride on the Cañada Real, at the foot of the mountains with breathtaking views of the Sierra de Gredos. You cross the Tietar River after the picnic by the river. You leave the province of Ávila, and enter the province of Toledo. Night and dinner in a charming rural inn in Navalcán.
Day 4: Navalcan - Las Ventas de San Julian. Here the Cañada is very well preserved and the landscape changes as you ride along a water reservoir with spectacular views of the Gredos mountains. You cross cork oak forests (Dehesa) with beautiful gallops throughout the day. Lunch next to a medieval church in the village of La Corchuela. In the afternoon, you leave on horseback riding to Ventas de San Julián. Dinner and night at the Parador de Oropesa, a luxury hotel in a medieval castle !
Day 5: Las Ventas de San Julian - Navalmoral de la Mata. Departure on horseback after breakfast, following the Cañada Real in a flatter and more open area, with the chance of beautiful canters: an intense day surrounded by nature, far from civilization. Today you cross the province of Cáceres in Extremadura. Dinner and night at the Rural Hotel in Navalmoral de la Mata.
Day 6: Navalmoral de la Mata - Casas de Miravete. Today, you continue your horseback ride along the Cañada Real, joining the Tajo River, and crossing it over the impressive medieval Albalat Bridge. Picnic by the Tagus River. In the afternoon, you enjoy a nice ride along the Tajo towards Casas de Miravete. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 7: Casas de Miravete - Jaraicejo. After breakfast, departure on horseback crossing the Puerto de Miravete towards the Venta del Colorao with a magnificent view of the Dehesa Extremeña and its open countryside. After lunch, you leave for a short trail ride to Jaraicejo. Night and dinner in a charming rural Inn.
Day 8: Jaraicejo-Trujillo. Departure after breakfast: riding in the countryside with breathtaking views of the city of Trujillo: historic city with a mixture of cultures with the Roman remains of the city of Turgallium, which is now Trujillo. At the top of the town, is a spectacular castle founded in the 10th century by the Arabs. On the main square, many beautiful palaces built by the Spanish Conquistadors in the 16th century. After lunch, you leave to reach Trujillo. Good canters this last day, to end your incredible experience on horseback ! It's time to visit the charming town of Trujillo in the afternoon, before the farewell dinner in Trujillo.
Day 9: Breakfast and departure. Free transfer to Madrid: departure at 10 a.m., to be at Madrid airport around 12:30 p.m.
* Indicative itinerary that can be modified if necessary.
MEETING:
Saturday afternoon at your 1st accommodation (the address will be given with your booking confirmation)
Free transfer from Madrid airport: meeting at 3 pm - 2 hours drive
DEPARTURE:
Sunday morning after breakfast. Free transfer to Madrid. Departure at 10 am. Arrival at 12:30 pm.
CAR RENTAL:
We recommend car rental, particularly cheap in Spain from 30 € per week), on the site www.autoeurope.fr.
FLIGHTS :
Flights to Spain are not included because it is more interesting to book directly your ticket: a transport package included is generally more expensive with agency commissions. However, we are at your disposal to help you find the best prices or to offer you a flight included package on request (free service).
RIDING LEVEL: 
You must be able to walk, trot, canter and galop outdoor on open spaces.
GUIDE:
Professional licensed guide. The guide speaks Spanish and English. An assitant follows by car preparing copious lunches.
RIDING TIMES:
5-6 hours per day on average.
HORSES:
Purebred Spanish, Hispano-Arabian and crossbreeds. Serene horses, result of an excellent natural education. Most of them are born and raised on the spot. They live in freedom and herd in vast pastures and pine forest.
TACK:
High quality English saddles with a silicone seat. All tack is in excellent condition, very comfortable for horses and riders.
HEBERGEMENT:
In comfortable hotels and guesthouses. Single bedroom available with supplement.
MEALS:
Dinners are taken every night in the hotels and guesthouses. For lunch, an assistant prepares local dishes served at the table: salads, barbecue, paella, fresh fruit, wine and coffee or tea.
.LUGGAGE TRANSFERS:
The assistant transfers luggage every day.
2024 PRICE / PER PERSON:
2 450 € in 2-3 person bedrooms
Single supplement (if you don't want to share with other riders): 350 €
Booking fees: 15 €
2025 PRICE / PER PERSON:
2 600 € in 2-3 person bedrooms
Single supplement (if you don't want to share with other riders): 360 €
Booking fees: 15 €
THE PRICE INCLUDES:
Horse and tack rental, guide, assistant, accommodation, all meals, drinks during meals (unless for one dinner at the Parador hotel), luggage transfers, transfers from/to Madrid airport at fixed days and times, financial bond for your payments by our travel agent guarantee.
THE PRICE DOESN'T INCLUDE:
Individual insurance, drinks out of meals, drinks for one dinner at the Parador hotel, sodas, hot drinks, visits, tips, all that is not indicated in "THE PRICE INCLUDES".
INSURANCE:
A civil liability and travel insurance (assistance/repatriation) are compulsory. A cancellation insurance is strongly recommended.
A payment by credit card can make you benefit from its possible insurance (check your contract).
We offer to Europe Union, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway residents: the Chapka insurances.
Cap Security: full insurance with cancellation. Cap Cancellation: cancellation only.
See prices & information
FLIGHTS :
Flights to Spain are not included because it is more interesting to book directly your ticket: a transport package included is generally more expensive with agency commissions. However, we are at your disposal to help you find the best prices or to offer you a flight included package on request.
Une cavalerie de très bon niveau, des chevaux très bien dressés, sereins, endurants, le pied sur, très bien entretenus durant tout le séjour. Mon cheval quant à lui était extraordinaire avec de très belles allures typiques de la race espagnole. Une qualité de cavalerie vraiment exceptionnelle, des paysages variés, de nombreux animaux et oiseaux rencontrés au détour des chemins, des galops quotidiens très agréables, un guide professionnel et très attentif à la sécurité des cavaliers et des chevaux, des moments de détente en pleine nature orchestrés par l'épouse du guide avec convivialité et bienveillance.