TABERNAS DESERT ROUTE - SPAIN

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This horse riding holiday in Spain offers a one way trail through the mountains into the Spanish Tabernas Desert, the home of Spaghetti Westerns. On this trail we see a variety of scenery from very steep mountain villages to wide open dusty desert. These rides are run back to back and on the second the the itinerary is reversed and the route ridden from the desert to the mountains.

Trip length 8 days / 7nights, 6 days riding Ride only price 2009 - £1,145 Departure dates 2009: 12 Apr; 3 May; 13 Sep Approximate riding time per day Approximately 3-6 hours in the saddle daily Riding ability required Must be able to walk, trot and canter. Group size 6 - 10 Meeting point (getting there) Malaga airport at 16:30 or Granada airport at 18:00 Transfer Included from meeting point at times above. Flight guide London - Granada return from £50 with Ryanair, or fly to Malaga. See below for flight info. Single supplement 2009 - £155

SAMPLE ITINERARY - TABERNAS DESERT ROUTE

Day 1
BUBIÓN Welcoming and introduction of the guide and the horses. Dinner and accommodation at the Finca Los Llanos in Capileira (2 km from Bubion).

Day 2
BUBIÓN - TREVÉLEZ Always along bridle paths, we descend to the village of Pórtugos, where we will take the track that later on will lead us to Trevélez. We will ride through an oak forest on paths that cut this track. Descend to Trevélez by a bridle path. This village, famous for its hams, is considered the highest one in Spain (1.700m). A 4 hour ride. Dinner and accommodation at the hostel La Fragua (**).

Day 3
TREVÉLEZ - CÁDIAR After crossing the bridge over the river Trevélez, we will start this route by a bridle path that climbs the left slope of the ravine, leaving behind the village from which it takes its name. Once again we will enjoy the beauty of the sierras Contraviesa, Lújar and Gádor, this one already in the province of Almería. Descent along a more gentle path to Juviles, where we will have lunch. Descend to Tímar along a narrow path through the gorge. The horses will drink water, then we will take the bridle path to the beautiful hotel Alquería de Morayma (**), close to Cádiar. We have descended over 1,000m in 5 hours. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

Day 4
CÁDIAR - LAROLES Riding first over the hills with stunning panoramic views of Sierra Nevada and the sierras of Contraviesa and Gádor, then we will ride along the dry riverbed to arrive to Ugíjar for a picnic. In the afternoon we will ride up to the beautiful villages of Mairena and Jubar, and from here to Laroles. A six hours ride. Dinner and accommodation at the Refugio de Nevada***.

Day 5
LAROLES - BENECID Descent to Picena then crossing the Bayarcal river, where we enter the Almería province. Picnic at Guarros. Leaving for Benecid passing by Laujar de Andarax, important wine-growing area. A five-hour ride. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel La Marmita de Ahlam***.

Day 6
BENECID - OHANES Across the Sierra Nevada, riding first on a bridle path and then on a track, enjoying the open view of Sierra Gádor, in the other side of the Andarax river, we arrive at Cortijo Fuente Cufría, already in the Sierra de Beires, for a picnic. After a short rest we ride to Piedra del Águila and then to Ohanes. A five-hour ride. Dinner in a local restaurant and accommodation in rural houses.

Day 7
OHANES - ALBOLODUY After a while riding up to the Ermita de Tices, we take the path to the Piedra de los Cocones in the mountain of Montenegro. Picnic in the area. Descend to the colourful dry riverbed of Alboloduy where we start to discover the first desert landscape, through a labyrinth of canyons similar to those seen in numerous spaghetti-western films, and then that of los Yesos where we will find the camp beneath pines trees, at the edge of the Sierra Nevada Natural Park in a place called El Salto del caballo. After saying goodbye to the horses, the riders are taken to Fort Bravo, to have a beer at the saloon while enjoying the western show. After a half hour riding through the Texan frontier town, riders are taken to a typical village, Turrillas. There are spectacular views over the desert of Tabernas creating a memorable end to your horse riding holiday. Dinner and accommodation in Hostal Segura.

Day 8
TURRILLAS Final breakfast of the horseback holiday then bid farewell to Spain.

Optional Extra For those who want, we offer the opportunity to visit the famous caves of the nature Reserve Karst in gypsum of Sobras. Drive to the Natural Park of Cabo de Gata in our 4x4 vehicles. After lunch we go for a swim at the beautiful beaches of Genovess and Monsul. Dinner in the port of San Jose and accommodation at the Hostel Aloha*

The weight limit for this ride is 14 st/198 lb/90 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

WHAT IS INCLUDED
All accommodation, meals, luggage transfer, riding and English speaking guide as in itinerary based on two sharing, transfers if arriving at correct time (see table above).

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Drinks, items of a personal nature. Transfers if not arriving at set times. If booking alone a single supplement is payable.

FURTHER DETAILS
As we are specialists in our field we have extensive knowledge of all our products from details of accommodation and meals to number/size/type of horses to pace of riding ... and much more.

Should you wish to receive further details of this ride please click here.

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