Day 1
Riding: No riding.
You will be transferred to the riding centre near Granada in order to meet your guides, horses and fellow guests. A chance to enjoy an aperitif followed by dinner and the chance to discuss and learn more about the trail ahead.
Overnight accommodation at the hotel Hospedería of Zenete 4* (or similar), a replica of the medieval castle above the town of La Calahorra.
Day 2
Riding: 5 hours
Today you will meet the horses and begin your first day of riding. You will head toward La Calahorra castle, a former Muslim fortress with great history and a stunning example of some of the first renaissance architecture to reach this part of Spain. The trail leads you across fertile land with irrigated fields of almond trees, fig trees, olives and a host of other crops. Then you will climb up to 1500 - 2000m following "the trails of the glaciers" (sendero de los neveros), paths used in ancient times by horsemen who came to cut out blocks of ice in order to preserve their food. Following your morning of challenging riding, you will enjoy a picnic lunch near the Rosandra river before heading back to La Calahorra crossing the ancient village of Aldeire and its network of irrigation channels, a legacy of the Moorish occupation.
Back at the hotel Hospedería del Zenete 4* you will have a well-earned dinner and overnight.
Day 3
Riding: 5 - 6 hours
This morning, you will head towards the Zalabi valley, the "Wild West" of Andalucia. You will ride across a large flat plain of red clay that will take you to amazing canyons, reminiscent of the great American canyons of Colorado. There will be a picnic lunch waiting for you next to Lake Cogollos, fed by melting snow from the peaks of the Sierra Nevada - there may be time for a cooling dip too. After lunch, you follow the old mining paths to arrive in the small and ancient Moorish village of Cogollos.
Dinner and overnight in Casa Rural of Cogollos El Tesorillo.
Day 4
Riding: 5 - 6 hours
This morning you will climb up to the Postero Alto summit, riding through Mediterranean pine forests and up crystal clear streams. You will eventually reach the summit at 1850 m. The trail is often used by farmers in the region to monitor their herds of over 4000 cattle that graze freely in the mountains. At the top the landscape is somewhat like Canada, featuring high mountain streams and century-old chestnut trees. Lunch will be a picnic next to the Alhorí river and you will then ride back down along Vaqueros tracks (local cowboys) to the village of Jerez del Marquesado.
Tonight there is a special dinner of grilled meats and vegetables at a local restaurant. The night is again spent at the Hotel Casa Rural of Cogollos El Tesorillo.
Day 5
Riding: 5 - 6 hours
Today you descend to the valley of Zalabi, through a landscape of red clay canyons, to the fertile valley where the ancient Arab inhabitants of Andalucia (Moriscos) cultivated mulberry trees with which to feed silkworms. Your picnic lunch is taken by a water fountain which originates from the peaks of the Sierra Nevada (the tejea). Dinner and overnight at Hotel Cuevas de Abuelo Ventura.
Day 6
Riding: 5 - 6 hours
This morning you will head toward the Alhama river and the easternmost side of the Sierra Nevada Natural Park. You will find the region to be reminiscent of the scenery from the Spaghetti westerns - similar to the deserts of Arizona from the 70s. You will take a rest with a picnic lunch under the shade of pine trees, on the side of the river. In the afternoon you will reach Guadix, a troglodyte city where even today close to 4000 people live in cave homes hewn from the rock face.
Dinner at the a restaurant in the caves, 'la tinaja'. Overnight at Hotel Cuevas de Abuelo Ventura.
Day 7
Riding: 3 - 4 hours
You will leave Guadix and follow winding pack trails which will lead you directly to the highlands of Albuñán and the spectacular views beyond. Leaving the horses, you will enjoy a delicious Andalucian lunch Paella at a local restaurant in Paulemca troglodyte city, at your hotel for the night. There is some free time to relax or make most of the pool at your hotel.
In the afternoon you will head by road back to Guadix where you will have a carriage ride to see the neighbourhood caves. Dinner will be in the city and will be followed by a flamenco show.
Day 8
Riding: No riding.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Granada airport for your departure.
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.