Progressive ride in 5 days riding, West direction following the Tormes river valley, more than 20 years doing this ride makes it a perfect ride. Different landscape everyday and peace moderated. We cross medieval villages full of history and the riding is through breathtaking landscape.

This is our favorite ride because we arrive on horseback to the town where Emilio was born; BARCO DE AVILA in Central Spain, Emilio knows every stone of the path and never gets tired of doing this ride.

Emilio has nice chilhood memories riding with his brother and the horses Cuco and Rifeño moving his grandfather’s cows. You can’t miss this progressive ride which is the best for us after many years riding through these paths in Gredos Mountains.

The terrain we ride on is different every day and the scenery never gets boring. We got a perfect ride with amazing contrasts, Spring colors, peaceful Autumn, and the different landscapes during the week are amazing.

Emilio knows the terrain and the route very well and will show you interesting facts along the way.

The peace of riding is moderated with walk, trots and canters every day. 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.

LEVEL OF RIDING

Intermediate to experienced riders, means that you should be comfortable to walk, trot and canter in group and in open spaces and your seat should be independent from your hands. 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.

GUIDE

Every ride is personally guided by the experienced Emilio, with an experience over 30 years as equestrian guide he is a terrific guide. Emilio is expert rider and has a special ability to match his horses with riders. He is leading the groups with his confident and well-mannered horses that are a pleasure to ride, you will always feel very safe. He is English speaker.

HORSES

Excellent PRE horses, Hispano-arabs, born at home, very much loved, very well trained, beautifully looked after and good natured, very easy to ride. They are all well fed and in great riding shape.

TACK

We use finest quality English saddles and tack with silicon seat saver and small saddle bags in front of the saddles. All the tack is in excellent conditions, very comfortable for horses and riders. The horse tack quality is outstanding.

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.

OPTION 1 – 5 DAYS RIDING

DAY 1º MADRID-NAVARREDONDA DE GREDOS

Meet at Madrid airport (meeting time is at 3pm), transfer to Navarredonda de Gredos, 2 hours drive with a break in Avila town for a short visit, amazing walled medieval town World Heritage Site UNESCO. Enjoy your welcome dinner at the hotel with us in Navarredonda de Gredos, a mountain village at 1,600 m altitude with beautiful views of the highest peaks in Sierra de Gredos.

DAY 2º NAVARREDONDA DE GREDOS-NAVACEPEDA DE TORMES

Distribution of horses. Will be a short and comfortable day, is time to meet the horses, riding through the Tormes valley and pineforest, open fields with great views of Gredos Mountains.  Lunch at fisherman´s hut with an excellent paella, cooked at the spot, beside the river Tormes where is possible swimming in Summer. Short afternoon to Navacepeda de Tormes. Night and dinner at a local hotel. Time on the saddle 4 h.

DAY 3º NAVACEPEDA DE TORMES-BARCO DE AVILA

The longest day and the most beautiful views of Gredos Mountains, we will ride down the valley riding through small and remote medieval villages. Lunch at Aliseda de Tormes, beside the Tormes river and its medival bridge. In the afternoon we will ride down the opened valley with a different landscape around with good trots and canters to El Barco de Ávila. We will cross the river Tormes by the roman bridge in El Barco de Avila, a 12th century village with a Castlle from that time. Night and dinner at 4* hotel. Time on the saddle 6,5 h.

DAY 4º EL BARCO DE AVILA-HOYORREDONDO

We will ride to Salamanca province, a beautiful flat and dry area, with incredible granite formations. Very rural region, fields with stone walls, where we can see farmers riding donkeys. The landscape today changes again, the riding is through holm oaks woods and pastures, we will cross Puente del Congosto, another medieval village with a 15th century bridge and Castle. Picnic near the river, a very beautiful spot for swimming in Summer. Lunch by the river. In the afternoon funny riding with good canters to Hoyorredondo. Night and dinner at a very beautiful rural Inn, La Trocha de Hoyorredondo, where it is possible to see the horses resting from your bedroom´s window. A magical place. Time on the saddle 6 hours.

DAY 5º HOYORREDONDO-NAVACEPEDILLA DE CORNEJA

Good trots and canters in the morning by the flat and open Corneja River Valley to Bonilla de la Sierra, very important Medieval town, with a beautiful church, lunch in privet garden with swimming pool and taste a bbq with Avilan beef steak.

In the afternoon we will start climbing back to the mountains. Night and dinner at charming hotel in Navacepedilla de Corneja, time on the saddle 6 hours.

DAY 6º NAVACEPEDILLA-NAVARREDONDA

This is a magnificent mountain riding through 3 different valleys. In the morning we will ride up the mountain to the highest place of the ride, Puerto de Chía (1,800 m), with a magnificent view of the Corneja river valley in the back and the Alberche river valley in the front. Lunch at San Martin de la Vega with the views of the Gredos Mountains, after lunch we will cross the Alberche river and continue to Tormes River valley to get our stables. Night and farewell dinner at the hotel in Navarredonda de Gredos.

DAY 7º 

Breakfast at hotel, departure at 10 am. To be at Madrid airport at 12 pm.

OPTION 2 – 6 DAYS RIDING

Same itinerary with extra day riding. 

DAY 7º NAVARREDONDA DE GREDOS

Circle ride with funny riding with good trots and canters along the pine forest and along the Tormes river valley. Excellent picnic in the countryside. In the afternoon riding back to the stables after lunch. Night and farewell dinner at the same rural hotel than the previous day.

DAY 8º

Breakfast at hotel, departure at around 10 am. To be at Madrid airport at 12 pm. 

ITINERARY MAY VARY DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES.

Please get in touch with us for any further information

The accommodation and the customer attention in every aspect of the rides is all to an excellent standard.

The accommodation along the way varies from charming rural Inn in villages to delightful 4* hotels in towns. All rooms have private bathrooms. Every of them very clean and comfortable.

Single rooms are possible on request with a single supplement.

The food is one of the highlight of this trip, Mamen will delight you with the tapas-breaks waiting for you in any unexpected place with Serrano ham, Manchego cheese, olives, nuts, etc Lunchtime is relaxing and social affair with delicious home cooked Spanish dishes as Paella, Tortilla Española, bbq, salads, etc followed by a siesta in the peaceful countryside.

After the day riding, your dinner in the evening is around 9 pm and you have a choice from different dishes and courses of local Spanish recipes, your dinner is at your guesthouse accommodation. All the drinks are included during the meals, excellent Spanish red and white wines, beer, canned drinks and water.

There is Wi-Fi in every place we stay and is for free.

There are towels, shampoo and liquid soap in each room and in some places they have hair driers.

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

The accommodation has been carefully chosen by us, due to the quality and also for the place for horses, they will rest in a field next to the hotel where we spend the nights.

A support van follows the group during the whole week, meeting us in the morning, for tapas-breaks, lunches, at night and also to move your luggage, so you have access to your luggage during the day at least 3 times or when is necessary. The service along the rides is outstanding.

MEETING POINT?

The meeting point is Madrid Airport for all the itineraries. Emilio, Mamen or both will do personally the transfer. Telephone number in case of delay: +34 635 433 079 (Emilio)/ +34 609 833 783 (Mamen),

The meeting time is at 3:00 pm, so please flights on the first day not after 2 pm. The transfers Madrid airport –Navarredonda-Madrid airport are included. The transfer from Madrid airport to Navarredonda is about 2 hour.

The transfer back to the airport on the last day will be at 10 to be at the airport about 12 pm, so please flights on the last day not before 2 pm.

All riders will be transferred at the same time, so if any rider needs a different transfer we can arrange transfer at extra cost.

WEITGH LIMIT?

90 Kgs / 198 Lbs

NUMBER OF RIDERS?

Min 2 to Max usually 8

TRIP LENGTH?

“Castles of the Gredos Mountains” OPTION 1: The itinerary is 7 days, 6 nights, 5 days riding from Sunday to Saturday. The length of the ride it is around 150 kms.

“Castles of the Gredos Mountains” OPTION 2: The itinerary is 8 days, 7 nights, 6 days riding from Sunday to Sunday. The length of the ride it is around 180 kms.

NON RIDERS?

The ride is suitable for non-riding companions; they can travel in the support car and join in meals, dinners and others activities, or if they wish can rent a car in Madrid too. They can move in their own and join the group for dinner.

LEVEL OF RIDING?

Intermediate to experienced riders, means that you should be comfortable to walk, trot and canter in group in open spaces and your seat should be independent from your hands. 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.

WHAT I NEED TO BRING?

We recommend you to check the weather forecast before coming, always is important to bring sunglasses, sun cream, a rain coat, swimsuit and towel in summer for swimming in the mountain rivers.

WHAT TYPE OF TACK?

We use finest quality English saddles and tack with silicon seat saver and small saddle bags in front of the saddles. All the tack is in excellent conditions, very comfortable for horses and riders. The horse tack quality is outstanding.

DO I NEED TO WEAR 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.

DO I NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE?

It is a condition of your booking that you take out a travel insurance covering you for all medical expenses, injury, cancellation, baggage and personal effects for the entire duration of your trip at the time of booking.

If you come from Europe, you should bring the European Health card, this gives you access to Spanish health care.

WI-FI?

There is Wi-Fi in every accommodation we spend the nights and is for free.

AGE LIMIT?

There is not an upper age limit, as long as you are riding fit and healthy, keep in mind we are long hours on the saddle for 4 to 7 hours a day. Minimum riding age is 10 years old, competent riders, accompanied by an adult.

WHEN CAN I RIDE WITH YOU?

We are opened all year round, so it is possible riding with us in Gredos or in Extremadura all around the year.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO COME?

In Gredos we offer the best ride dates, allowing you to admire Gredos at its best depending on the time of year: spring, with the famous broom in bloom, summer with opportunities for swimming at lunch stops and the autumn with the colorful rides.

DO YOU CATER FOR SPECIAL DIET?

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