Day 1 - Cabo de Gata
Riding: No riding.
A transfer for all guests will be organised from the cafeteria at Almeria airport at 5 pm this day. From here you will transfer to your hotel in San Jose (approximately 45 minutes away) to settle into your rooms.
A ride briefing with your guide will be held at 8 p.m. at the hotel restaurant before dinner.
Day 2 - Arrecife - Indian Jones beaches
Riding: 5 hours
After breakfast this morning you will meet at c. 9:30 am at the Cabacci stables, located a 5-minute walk from the hotel. On arrival, you will gain an introduction to your equine partner, who will accompany you throughout the week.
After preparing and saddling the horses, you will set off on your first ride towards the virgin beaches of the Cabo de Gata: Genoveses, Mónsul, Media Luna and the Mermaids Reef. These beaches are famous settings of iconic scenes from movies such as "Indiana Jones" or "A Fistful of Dollars " - lovers of these films will instantly recognize them.
Enjoyed a delicious picnic lunch at "El Romeral", an old homestead made up of typical Almerian-style buildings that were once a working farm. Through the afternoon you will return to San José, ascending through the Tesorillo Valley.
Day 3 - Los Escullos - the pirate trail
Riding: 4 hours
Today you will set out from San José towards Los Escullos, following wide paths that run along the coast and offer impressive panoramic views out to sea. You will stumble across secluded coves with crystalline waters, as well as small castles and watchtowers that in the past would act as the first warning of possible incursions by Genoese, Barbary or Turkish pirates.
On your return to San Jose, you will enjoy a late lunch of typical Paella before heading off by road to the Tabernas desert - a journey of 1 hour, more or less.
Dinner and overnight at a hotel in the Tabernas desert.
Day 4 - Tabernas Natural Park - in the footsteps of Clint Eastwood
Riding: 5 hours
Meeting up with your horses again this morning, you will begin your first ride into the heart of the Tabernas Desert, known as Spanish Hollywood. Explore deep canyons that were once ridden on horseback by legends like Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach. The settings will evoke images of cinematic Arizona or the Sonoran desert of Mexico. During the 1960s, this region was used extensively as the backdrop for the filming of many well-known spaghetti westerns.
You'll enjoy a picnic lunch at the Cañón de la Emboscada today and a a BBQ dinner back at your hotel in the evening.
Day 5 - Tabernas Desert - Oasis of Laurence of Arabia
Riding: 4 hours
Today you will ride south, following the Oasis Canyon, scattered with the trickling remains of rivers and bodies of water. Toward the end of the morning, you will reach the oasis where Laurence of Arabia was filmed. From there you will head to Fort Bravo, a movie scene set now open as a visitor attraction for those who have an interest in the old spaghetti western films. On arrival in this story-setting town, you will feel transported into a gun-slinger film; see the sheriff catching the bandits that have robbed the
bank or the saloon doors swinging and the curtains twitching at high noon.
You'll enjoy a picnic lunch inside the Fort Bravo fort and a chance to walk the streets and explore the Mexcian town next door.
After lunch, you will head by road to the Sierra Nevada and the final phase of your adventure.
Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Guadix.
Day 6 - La Pantaneta - paths of the shepherds
Riding: 5 hours
After breakfast this morning, you will take a 15-minute transfer by road to where the horses have been stabled overnight.
On saddling up, your destination today is the Pantaneta, a picturesque lake fed with the melt waters that roll off of the Sierra Nevada peaks. You will follow barely visible shepherds' Paths, which offer magnificent views of the altiplano at 1,200 meters of altitude, and up through dense pine forests.
You will enjoy a picnic lunch in La Pantaneta. Those with an intrepid spirit can take a refreshing swim in the lake!
In the afternoon you will make your way back down to the farm, leave the horses here for the night once more and then head back to your accommodation in Quadix for the night.
Day 7 - Sierra Nevada - Camarate
Riding: 5 hours
After breakfast and the short 15-minute drive to the horses, you will set off today in the direction of El Camarate.
As we ascend the mountain slopes, you will follow easy paths, bordered by forests of holm oaks and olive trees. These same paths were once used to guide herds of cattle and bulls to the high mountain meadows during the summers. Around noon, you will have reached an altitude of 2,000 meters, in a place with wide meadows and Atlantic forests. Here you will stop to enjoy the picnic that you have carried with you in your saddlebags.
After lunch, you will begin the descent back down towards the town of Cogollos de Guadix.
This evening, your hosts have planned a wonderful evening flamenco show with a gastronomic dinner (not included)
Day 8 - Departure
Riding: No riding.
Saying a find farewell to the Sierra Nevada, those who wish will be transferred back to Almeria airport for approx. 12:30 p.m. (flights to be booked 14:30 p.m. or later).
Or, perhaps you'd prefer to stay on in Guadix and explore this region further!
Note: All programmes and itineraries are weather dependent; in the face of adverse, or unexpected, weather conditions reasonable attempts will be made to provide equivalent riding. All programmes are accurate at the time of writing. However, the team may adapt or modify details, whilst aiming to provide a similar experience.
