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Exciting and
varied trail riding from village to village through spectacular mountain
scenery in the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, gentle river valleys,
forests and open grassland. Relaxed, friendly but professional
guides, great hotels, delicious food and wine, beautiful and well-cared
for horses.
On the southern side of the Sierra Nevada, facing the
Mediterranean, is an idyllic collection of dramatic peaks and hanging
valleys. In May, September and October, we head into the Sierra De
Contraviesa to take advantage of the warm breezes from the Mediterranean
and lush environment of this beautiful coastal range. Rising from the Medditeranean Sea, the Contraviesa
is a panorama of undulating hills and pretty whitewashed villages. The
rural lifestyle continues as it has done for hundreds of years with the
cultivation of almonds, figs and grapes for the local wine. Mules and
draught animals are still used to plough the fields and for transport,
as many of the farms and vineyards are inaccessible by car. The scenery
and vegetation changes with the altitude allowing us to ride through an
ever changing landscape – from the crisp, cool air and blue skies of
alpine forests to the warm balmy breezes of blossom-scented citrus groves.
The rides offer some challenging riding at all paces and are embarked
upon in the spirit of fun and adventure that has made Andalusia
famous the world over.
The daily itinerary changes and evolves to take advantage of local events,
fiestas and celebrations.
Your luggage is transported to each hotel, - all you need to do is relax
and enjoy the ride.
 IT-SPRT01
Rates include 7 nights accommodations with private bath, all meals
with fine local wines, 6 riding days
Single +$195
2008:
04/19-04/26
$ 1,730
05/03-05/10 $ 1,790
09/20-09/27 $ 1,750
10/04-10/11 $ 1,750
10/18-10/25 $ 1,750
 check
availability
Meeting:
Trevelez
Airport: Malaga, Granada
Transfer: incl. from
Malaga airport at 4:30 PM
- return to Malaga by ~ 11:30 AM
Pace: walk,
trot and canter
4-7 hours riding per day, average 5
Level:
Good
intermediate ... riders must be comfortable at walk, trot, and canter.
Tack:
English trekking,
Australian
Horses:
Andalusian and Hispano Arab
Weight limit: 195 lbs.
Min/Max: 2-8 riders
Note: Elaborate picnics in leafy glades with trees in hammocks,
several different wines, etc.. Average of 320 sunshine days.
Also see
Short Getaway Rides
Meals
The Mediterranean picnics are legendary!! We use local (mainly
organic) produce - fresh fish, vegetables and fruit, jamon, cheeses and
wines of the region. Dinner in local restaurants - 3-4 courses, wine
included.
Fortunately, the Mediterranean diet is healthy, plentiful and
extremely tasty. We also provide wine at lunch and dinner each
night, choosing a different bottle for each meal to ensure that our guests
have the opportunity of sampling at least a small selection of the almost
inexhaustible varieties available.
Lunch is either a picnic prepared and delivered to a suitable spot by
ourselves in the support vehicle, or at a local tapas bar. Those who don’t
eat meat have traditionally had a tough time in Spain, but this is not
true of these rides as we are particularly sympathetic to the needs of
vegetarians.
Accommodations
Comfortable hotels with en
suite facilities - the best in each area and run by their owners.
Fantastic views. Accommodation is in locally owned country hotels
on a twin-share basis. We always try and use those places that reflect
the charm or history to the best effect.
Day 1 Hotel San Roque, Pitres Collection from airport and transfer to hotel in the pretty village
of Pitres. Meet
the rest of the riders and guides over dinner and wine. If you cannot
make the transfer, we can arrange a taxi for you.
Day 2 Ride to Trevelez
Ride from the farm (Busquistar) to Trevelez (Spain´s highest
village) via a picnic at a fabulous shady spring at 6000 ft! (1900
metres).
Day 3 Coming Round the Mountain!
Skirt the "Lomo de Juviles" on the old Moorish trading route
culminating in a nice long canter before dropping down into the Cadiar
River and the wonderfully restored Alqueria Morayma which was built in
the 15th century to house Boabdil´s (the last Arabic
ruler in Spain) favorite wife! We will be spending two nights
here.
Day 4 Into the Coastal Range
No need to pack this morning as we head out into the Contraviesa to
explore this undulating range at all paces. A serene day with a very
"other worldly" feeling about it. Return to Alqueria Moraymar for
another night of good food and their own organic wine (they have their
own established vineyards and bodega here)
Day 5 Moorish Villages and Roman Roads
Leaving Cadiar behind, we travel through some of the oldest Moorish
villages in the area (it is quite fun riding into town and the old
villages provide a central cobbled strip to the roads for the horses as
well as watering troughs - and there is little traffic besides) and pass
through the old Roman stone road to the river and upward to the recently
restored Hotel Maravedi in Capilerilla (not to be confused with "Capileira"
which is where we go the following night).
Day 6 Views, views and more views
Leaving Capilerilla we head up the old Moorish Camino to Capileira
(confusing, I know) via a high climb into the heart of the Sierra Nevada
and a leisurely picnic at altitude. Good , varied riding at all paces
sees us safely ensconced in the friendly Al Catifa hotel in Capileira
which boasts fabulous cuisine and a view down the valley, out to the Med
and the coast of Morocco.
Day 7 All good things.........
Ride back to the stables via the Alpujarran village of Portugos for
a typical local lunch of goat's cheese, dried ham, tortilla and "papas
al pobre" (literally "poor man's potatoes!) and a glass or two. We end
the week with a nice long canter before descending to our stables and
another glass or two!
Day 8 Departure after breakfast.
What about non-riding companions?
We also run independent
walking holidays where walkers follow a different route using our maps and
route notes, but meet up with the riders in the evening. Like the rides,
the luggage is transported to the next hotel.
Non-riders can deduct ~$350 from the weeklong rates ....
Weather
With an average of 320 days of sunshine a year, good weather is almost
guaranteed. However, there can be variations in temperature with altitude
and between day and night. The temperatures in February to early May range
from 10 degrees C and 25 degrees C with a possibility of showers. From
mid-May to July and September it ranges between 18 and 30 degrees C and in
August the temperatures can reach 35 degrees. However, riding at altitude
always brings a wonderful fresh breeze and makes these temperatures very
comfortable. In October and November temperatures drop back to between 20
and 25 degrees C and there may be the odd shower. Early mornings and
evenings can be cool even in the summer.
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