Extremadura (Spain) and Portuguese Trails, Portugal
In the News
“Regretfully due to flooding in the area and the destruction of a vital bridge, the Costa Azul trails have been postponed until later in the year. All other trails are running as normal. We hope this lovely trail will resume in September”
Horses
Type of horses:
Spanish crossed with Thoroughbreds, Arabs and Quarter horses
Nature of horses:
Robust, sure-footed and friendly.
Height of horses:
14hh - 16hh
Weight limit:
90kg
Tack type:
Vaquero bridle (hackamore) and Portuguesa Mixta (a saddle which is manufactured from first-class leather and has a large contact surface. It has ridges at the front and back offering extremely good support to the rider).
Weather
Current Conditions:
Fair, 21 C
Forecast:
Fri - Sunny. High: 39 Low: 18
Sat - Sunny. High: 37 Low: 18
Full Forecast at Yahoo! Weather
(provided by The Weather Channel)
Pricing
Transportugalia Trail
2010 Prices:
The price per person is £835
Single supplement is £125
Airport group transfer is £46
Price does not include flights or travel insurance.
Costa Azul Trail
2010 Prices:
The price for this trail is £835 per person.
Single room supplement: £125
Airport transfer: £46
Price does not include flights or travel insurance.
Extremadura Trail
2010 Prices:
The price for this trail is £581 per person
Single room supplement: £100
Airport transfer: £46
Price does not include flights or travel insurance.
Availability/Booking Form
Ride Description
Based in the Spanish province of Extremadura, this Finca breeds their own beautiful and sure-footed horses. The hosts, Sybille and Horst (who originally come from Germany) were fascinated by the magnificent landscapes and unspoilt areas of Extremadura, so in 1999 they decided to set up their establishment. Now they provide fascinating and enjoyable trails across the border into Portugal using their own well-trained Spanish cross horses.
Having lived in Spain for more than 10 years now, Sybille and Horst know the top riding spots and have designed their trail rides to show guests the beauty of the region. They are intent on learning more and more with each ride and their packages appeal to local riders as well as international guests. An added bonus to this destination is that the hosts are fluent in German, English, Spanish and Portuguese making it a welcome and easy holiday for a variety of guests.
The training of the horses here is taken very seriously due to the nature of their work. Many places in Extremadura still use horses for daily cattle work which means that the preferred horses are agile, fast and of medium height. Since pure-bred Spanish horses do not meet these needs, the horses here are crossed with Thoroughbreds, Arabs and Quarter Horses to make for the perfect all-rounder, still with the Spanish beauty and spirit admired by so many. Sybille and Horst breed and use these kinds of horses as they are perfect for long and often hard riding tours; they are robust, persistant, sure-footed and friendly when treated well by their riders.
The riding style used on these trails is called "Doma Vaquera" and is a traditional Spanish riding method. Horses are firmly trained to be obedient and safe but with special care being taken of young horses' mouths (which allows for a healthy and sensitive horse). Traditional Vaquero bridles are used along with the "Mosquero" (fly fringe). No bits are used on these rides, you are riding with a hackemore, and the saddles are "Portugeusa Mixta" which have a large contact surface. These saddles are made of high quality leather and have ridges front and back offering good support to the rider - essential for long distance rides.
There are several trails on offer here, most of which begin in Spain before moving across the border. This allows guests to experience both Spanish and Portuguese landscapes, culture, history and food whilst enjoying an interesting riding trail.
See Programmes.
Food & Accommodation
Accommodation is in country guesthouses and hotels.
Traditional Spanish and Portuguese cuisine.
Activities
There isn't much time for activities other than riding on these trails but visits and other activities (such as swimming and shopping) are sometimes included in the individual programmes.
Further Details
Languages: English, German, Spanish and Portuguese
Health requirements: Fit and Healthy
Age limit: None within reason
Tuition: For beginners
Included: Full board accommodation, riding according to itinerary, guide, collective transfer
Not included: Insurance, optional entrance fees, additional beverages
Travel Information
Fly into Lisbon airport for a group transfer to the starting point of your trail.
Airport: Lisbon
Programmes
Transportugalia Trail
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From the Spanish border to the Portuguese shores of the Atlantic Ocean in 8 days (6 riding days). Horseback riding in pristine Portuguese landscapes that are still completely unspoilt by tourism. You will get insights into the traditional way of living and the cordial Portuguese hospitality. Day 1: Arrival, meet the other riders, transfer, diner and tour briefing. You will spend the night in a guest house in the little Spanish village La Codosera. Day 2: Breakfast, transfer to the Finca to meet your horse. Start of the tour in La Codosera. In the morning you will cross pasture land covered by cork- and holm-oaks and will then cross the Spanish/Portuguese border. As you are on Portuguese ground, you will make your way towards the West. You will end up near Portalegre where you will leave the horses for the night. Return to La Codosera by car. Day 3: You will cross open range grazing land and cork oak forests. Wide and even paths give the group the chance to enjoy some galloping. You will have your picnic lunch near Crato in the shadow of a sycamore tree alley. You will then follow an old roman route, pass near a historical bridge and pass by some impressive granite rocks before you reach the little village Aldeia da Mata. From there it is just a short way to the corral in Cunheira, where the horses stay for the night. You will have a short transfer to the hotel in Alter do Chao, where you stay for the night. Day 4: You will cross vast eucalyptus forests and tobacco fields (depending on the season) as you make our way to Longomel. After the picnic break you will heading for Bemposta which you reach in the late afternoon. You drive to our hotel in Torres Novas, where you sleep the next two nights. Day 5: Landscapes vary between eucalyptus, cork and oak forests as we are heading for Tramagal. You will enjoy lunch in an idyllic place. The horses will be brought by truck to tomorrow's point of departure. In the late afternoon you will go to Golega, the Portuguese capital of horse, where you will have the chance to visit a saddlery. Day 6: You will cross the rugged, romantic mountains of the natural preserve "Serra de Aire e Candeeiros" where your horses will get the chance to demonstrate how sure-footed they are. After lunch you will have an excitingly steep descent, leading from the heights of the natural preserve down to the flatter coastal area. You can already smell and taste the salty winds coming in from the Atlantic Ocean. At the end of this eventful day you will reach Juncal where you will leave the horses for the night. You will go by car to Nazaré and spend your first night at the shore of the Atlantic Ocean. Day 7: Transfer to Juncal. You will cross a vast pine forest as you make your way to the unspoilt "Praia do Norte", a sandy beach stretching out across several kilometers, where you will enjoy your final ride. You will reach Nazaré after lunch, a former fishing village, nowadays a bathing resort, situated at the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Here you will have to say good-bye to your horses. There will be enough time left to go for a swim or do some shopping, before you will meet for dinner and exchange your impressions of the tour. Accommodation in Nazaré. Day 8: Breakfast and departure |
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| Accommodation: | Ensuite double rooms in country guesthouses and hotels, a limited number of single rooms are available upon request. Full board of tasty Portuguese cuisine. |
| Minimum group size: | 4 |
| Maximum group size: | 10 |
| Ability description: | Good Intermediate and above: A rider who has a firm seat, is confident and in control at all paces. You need to be a fairly experienced rider and have a good level of fitness, as the tour goes through quite challenging terrain. You will need to walk and lead the horses over short distances. |
| Type of ride: | Trail |
| Total riding time: | 6 riding days as detailed in programme (from 2.5 - 7 hours riding per day) |
| Departure dates: | 2010: 28 August - 4 September; 25 September - 2 October; 9 October - 16 October. |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |
Costa Azul Trail
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REGRETFULLY DUE TO FLOODING IN THE AREA AND THE DESTRUCTION OF A BRIDGE THIS TRAIL HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL LATER IN THE YEAR. This trail takes you from the white villages of the Alentejo to the Atlantic Coast, the "Costa Azul" in the south of Lisbon. It is an 8 day holiday for experienced riders, staying in country guesthouses and hotels serving traditional Portuguese cuisine. An excellent trail for experiencing a variety of terrain and for a fantastic beach ride on your last day. Day 1: Arrival at the airport Lisbon, meet the other riders, 2 hours drive to the first overnight stay, a romantic country estate between Montemor-O-Novo and Mora. Dinner and tour briefing. Day 2: Transfer to the point of departure near Pavia. You'll enjoy some fantastic canters on soft ground with fascinating views of vast olive groves before you will reach today's destination near Sabugeiro. The horses stay with you at the same place. Accomodation as on previous day. Day 3: Today you will make your way through hilly and quite varying landscapes. You will pass by sheep and cattle whilst crossing their grazing land. The horses will spend the night on a Lusitano stud near Silveiras. Hotel accomodation in Vendas Novas for two nights. Day 4: You will follow the bed of the Sao Martinho River taking deserted paths. Landscapes vary between pasture land and cork and holm-oak groves as you make your way to Casebres. Day 5: You are close to the centre of the Portuguese fighting bull breeding area and you will see some of the bulls on the way. You will cross the first large rice fields before lunch. In the afternoon, you will again cross pasture land on your way to Casa Branca. The sandy paths give you the chance to enjoy some galloping. Accommodation is in a guest house in Alcacer do Sal for the next three nights. Day 6: You will keep on riding on sandy paths and through pasture land in the morning and will cross the river Sado which is tidal. You will reach the little village of Albergaria in the afternoon where you will leave the horses for the night. Here the landscape is dominated by vast pine forests. You will go back to Alcacer do Sal by car where you will have the chance to visit a saddlery. Day 7: In the morning you will see some impressive fighting bulls of the "Ervideira" breed on your way to the beach. You will picnic just in front of the beach and have the chance to go for a swim in the sea. In the afternoon you will have around 8km of unspoilt Atlantic beaches in front of you, the Costa Azul. You will enjoy long canters on the beach (depending on the tides). You will then reach Comporta where you have to say good-bye to your horses. Return to Alcacer do Sal. 8th day: Breakfast and departure. |
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| Accommodation: | Ensuite double rooms in country guesthouses and hotels, full board serving Portuguese cuisine. |
| Minimum group size: | 4 |
| Maximum group size: | 10 |
| Ability description: | Good intermediate riders - must be comfortable and capable over all terrains and in all paces with a very good level of fitness. You will need to walk and lead the horse over short distances. |
| Type of ride: | Trail |
| Total riding time: | 6 days riding (4 - 6 hours daily with one long riding day of approx. 7 hours) |
| Departure dates: | 2010 Dates:11 - 18 September, 23 - 30 October |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |
Extremadura Trail
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An eight day, seven night trail in the Spanish Extremadura with some time spent across the Portuguese border. This trail is without packing bags and you can see Spanish fighting bulls, great birds and some fascinating old trails passing monasteries and little villages. Beautiful landscapes are to be seen here and there's the chance for some nice, long canters. Day 1: Arrival airport Lisbon, meeting at the coffee bar "cafe cafe", group transfer to La Codosera, dinner and tour briefing. Day 2: After breakfast, transfer to the Finca. Your hosts will match horse and rider, groom and prepare the horses for the trail. There will be a short instruction in the riding ring. You start off towards the mountain Lamparona, the highest point in the region, where you will ride through cork, oak and pine forests. For your lunch break you will stop at the natural swimming pool of the Rio Gevora (with the possibility to swim). In the afternoon you pass the large landed property of La Calera. Over a hill range you come to the Mayadil, where the horses stay for the night. You go back to La Codosera for the night. Transfer - 20min. Day 3: Today you ride through pinewood and rather mountainous terrain and are following an old smuggler path through a river bed which brings you to plane fields. After lunch you pass meadows with cattle and sheep. After passing again the Rio Gevora you will enjoy a nice canter, which ends up near your end point for the day. The horses stay near the former monastery Carrion. The riders can visit the monastary. Transfer - 15min. Day 4: On your way to the border of Portugal you pass pasture land with stone oaks. You can observe the typical Spanish black pork. In the afternoon the landscape gets a bit hilly. Before you reach a Finca with milk of goats and cattle, you will enjoy a long canter through huge olive trees. Transfer - 30min. Day 5: Today you have to round a storage lake already on the side of Portugal. You have picnic on the property of a horse breeder. You are in a bird reservation and with a bit of luck you can observe vultures, storks and eagles. The horses stay on the property of a fighting bull breeder and you can take a look at these imposing animals. Transfer - 20min. Day 6: Today you have another riding day in Portugal. You ride through the typical landscape with pasture land, stone and cork oak trees, cattle, sheep and horses. From the picnic spot it is only a short way to the place where the horses stay for the night, with a Lusitano horse breeder. You can have a look at them. In the afternoon you will visit the nearby fortress of Marvaõ, almost 1000m high in the Serra do Saõ Marmede. (Transfer 1 hour). Day 7: Your last riding day brings you through the Natural Park, Serra do Saõ Marmede, back to the Finca. First you pass more pasture land, then the terrain becomes more rocky. Lunch is eaten near the little village La Tojera, but still on the Portuguese side. You pass the green border and will reach the Finca in the afternoon. There you have to say "goodbye" to the horses. Day 8: Transfer to the airport and departure. |
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| Accommodation: | Accommodation is in typical Spanish guesthouses (casa rural) serving traditional Spanish food. |
| Minimum group size: | 1 |
| Maximum group size: | 10 |
| Ability description: | Intermediate and above. Riders need a firm seat and to be confident and in control at all paces. However, you do not need to be someone that rides regularly. |
| Type of ride: | Trail |
| Total riding time: | 6 riding days (4 - 5 hours daily riding time) |
| Departure dates: | 2010 Dates: 17 - 24 July, 14 - 21 November |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |