Mountain Trail Rides - For all itineraries please scroll down.
Contraviesa Ride 2024 - £1850pp - see itinerary below
06-13 April
19-26 Oct
Single room supplement €200 to be paid for on-site
Minimum group size 3 people. Surcharge 150€ per person for small groups of 4 or less on the ride. 5 riders plus no surcharge.
Alpujarra Ride 2024 - £1850pp - see itinerary below
05-12 May
24-31 August
21-28 Sept
Single room supplement €200 to be paid for on-site
Minimum group size 3 people. Surcharge 150€ per person for small groups of 4 or less on the ride. 5 riders plus no surcharge.
Buena Vista Ride Trail Ride 2024 - £1940pp - see itinerary below
17-24 May
Minimum group size of 5.
Single room supplement €175 to be paid for on-site
The Alpujarra Mountain Trail Itinerary
Day 1
Collection from Malaga airport not later than 4pm (16.00 Hours). Then a transfer to the village of Bubion where you will be met by the trek organiser and guide. Supper and accommodation in a comfortable village hostel.
Day 2
Today is a day ride local to the stables, enabling you to acclimatise slightly to the area and the altitude. Also acquainting you and your horse prior to setting out for the week.
The ride takes us high into the Valley Poqueira, on a combination of bridle paths and forestry tracks. The route follows along ancient Moorish irrigation channels and summer pastures watered by the snow melt. This valley is claimed to be one of the most beautiful in the whole of Sierra Nevada in Spain with the high peaks reaching over 3,000 metres at the head of the valley, and the Mediterranean Sea at the foot. The horses will carry a full picnic lunch which we will eat besides one of the mountain streams, at 2,500 metres an idyllic spot offering spectacular views, on a clear day all the way across to the mountains of Morocco. Returning to the stables you will be driven down to the village. Set dinner in one of the local restaurants. Overnight in the Casa la Sevillana.
Day 3
Today we head east to the village of Trevelez. This morning we gradually descend (approx. 350 metres) on forestry tracks and bridle paths. The route passes through orchards and small terraces as it skirts the villages of Capilerilla, Pitres and Portugos. There are a few sections where it is necessary to lead the horses on some of the steeper descents. Leaving the village of Portugos below we start the 600 metre climb to our picnic spot in the shade of the pinewoods. After lunch we join the main forestry track to Trevelez, this track maintains pretty much the same altitude as it winds its way through woodlands and small mountain farms. There are some good opportunities for nice canters. At the end of the day approximately a 15 minute walk down an old stone path into the village. Over night and dinner will be in the comfortable Hotel Fragua situated in the old Berber quarter of Trevelez. Use of pool June to September.
Day 4
Today the bridle path takes us over totally different terrain, through mountain farms and pine forests to the village of Berchules. The first part of the ride follows a very steep and rocky path up through woods and summer pastures to an altitude of 2,500 meters. On a clear day it is possible to see across the sea to Morocco, and to the North the highest peak in Spain. Picnic lunch en route. After lunch we begin the descent to the village of Berchules. For the final 30 minutes the path becomes very rough and it is necessary to lead the horses. Over night in a very comfortable family run hotel.
Day 5
Berchules takes its name from the old Spanish word ´Berchel´ meaning literally ´mountain garden´. During the morning we take the ancient Moorish bridle path, once the main trade route over the mountains to Granada. As the path passes through terraced orchards and fields, high above the cause of the river, it is easy to see how the area came by its name.
Leaving the path we stop for a picnic lunch in the shade of the pine woods. After lunch we join the main forestry track built in the early 1900s to improving access for farming and reforestation in the area. There are plenty of opportunities for trots and canters today. We spend a second night in the village of Berchules.
Day 6
Today we head back to the village of Trevelez. Leaving the village of Berchules below we have a steep climb to approximately 2,400 metres. During the morning the route follows dirt tracks through farm and pasture lands up to the tree line; there are some opportunities for canters. A picnic lunch will be served on the edge of the pine woods with wonderful views over the valley of Trevelez, the sea to the south and the Mulhcen (the highest mountain on the mainland). During the afternoon we descend on the bridle path through the woods to the village of Trevelez.
Overnight and dinner will be in the comfortable Hotel Fragua. There is a swimming pool June to late September.
Day 7
Today is a short ride. Following the forestry track through pine and oak woods we return directly to the stables high above the villages of the poqueira. This route not only offers wonderful views out over the Contraviesa mountains and the Mediterranean sea, but many opportunities for canters. Late lunch in the village of Capileira, over night in the village of Bubion. On this evening dinner is not included and guests are free to select the restaurant of their choice.
Day 8
Transfer to Malaga, please don't book a flight with a check-in time before 10.00 as you need to allow time for the transfer down from Bubion.
The Contraviesa Trail Ride Itinerary
Day 1
Collection from Malaga airport not later than 4pm (16.00 Hours). Then a transfer to the village of Bubion where you will be met by the trek organiser and guide. Supper and accommodation in a comfortable village hostel.
Day 2
After breakfast you will be collected and driven to the stables situated 5 kilometres from the village of Bubion in Spain at an altitude of 1.650 meters.
Today is a day ride local to the stables, enabling you to acclimatise slightly to the area and the altitude. Also acquainting you with your horse prior to setting out for the week.
Leaving the stables we take a small path up through summer pastures to join the main forestry track into the National Park, here there are opportunities for canters. We will follow the track to approximately 2.300 metres where it joins a bridle path, following this path through the pinewoods we come out on the ridge of Barranco Habali at approximately 2,100 metres. Here we will stop for a picnic lunch. On a clear day fantastic views down the valley, across the Contraviesa. the Mediterranean and finally Africa!!.
After lunch the route descends through oak woods and open pasturelands to meet the main forestry track leading back to the stables.
The evening is spent in a comfortable hotel in the Casa Sevillana Bubion, Set dinner in one of the local restaurants.
Day 3
Today the path takes us south east to the village of Trevelez. During the morning we gradually descend (approx. 350 metres) on forestry tracks and bridle paths. The path passes through orchards and small terraces as it skirts the villages of Capilerilla, Pitres and Portugos. There are a few sections where it is necessary to lead the horses on some of the steeper descents. Leaving the village of Portugos below we start the 600 metre climb to our picnic spot in the shade of the pine woods. After lunch we join the main forestry track to Trevelez, this track maintains pretty much the same altitude as it winds its way through woodlands and small mountain farms. There are some good opportunities for nice canters. At the end of the day approximately a 15 minute walk down an old stone path into the village. Over night and dinner in the comfortable Hotel Fragua situated in the old Berber quarter of Trevelez. Use of pool June to September.
Day 4
The route today continues east to the village of Berchules. After a 10 minute walk through the streets of Trevelez we water the horses at one of the many springs, mount up and head down to the river. Once across the river the bridle path, many centuries old, follows first the Moorish irrigation channel and then works its way up through evergreen Holm oak and pine forests to the open pasture lands of the Sierra of Juviles.
Descending across the open hillside we have great views towards the coast of Almeria and the Contraviesa mountains. Climbing again we stop for our picnic in the oak woods before joining a dirt track leading us to the village of Berchules.
The final descent into the village is on foot followed by a 15 minute walk through the streets to the stables and our hotel.
Overnight and diner in the comfortable Hotel Berchules. Pool June to end September.
Day 5
Today the ride passes through very different and rapidly changing terrain. The morning starts with approximately a 15 walk down to the riverbed where we will mount up and ride through small cultivated terraces and orchards to the tiny village of Narila. After a steep climb out of the village the terrain becomes much more arid and eroded, the green cultivations giving way to wild rosemary and thyme, almonds and fig trees.
10 minutes on a little transited secondary road will take us to the village of Golgo where we will join the path leading us to the bottom of the valley. After an early lunch by the stream in the shade of tall poplar trees the path climbs steeply through the deeply eroded hills to join a dirt track which will take us down to the valley of Yator.
Late afternoon we join one of the dry river beds which offers opportunities for some great canters and short gallops. The end of the day we cross and recross the river of Cadiar passing through orchards and small holdings to reach the charming hotel Morayma. This hotel is beautifully situated amongst the almond orchards overlooking the river valley. Pool May to late September.
Day 6
We will spend a second night in the hotel Morayma. Today is a short ride, approximately 3 hours with an early picnic lunch before returning to pass a relaxing afternoon at the hotel. The trail will take us through almond and fig farms and higher up the vineyards, during the early Spring the whole mountain is an amazing carpet of flowers. Marvelous views across the whole of Sierra Nevada to the north and the Mediterranean to the south.
Day 7
Our final day of the trek we return to the village of Bubion, a long climb for the horses. Crossing the river Guadalefao we follow a steep bridle path west to the villages Lobras and Timar. From here the route follows a small local road for approximately 7 kilometers before beginning the descent into the spectacular gorge of Trevelez. This descent is on an ancient Roman path cut into the sides of the gorge and must be made on foot leading the horses. It is approximately a 30 minute walk down to the bridge from which we will ride up past the pretty village of Busquistar and on to Portugos for a well earned lunch. In the late afternoon we continue north west along paths and dirt tracks to Bubion.
Overnight in Casa la Sevillana and farewell dinner.
Day 8
Transfer back to Malaga. Please don't book a flight with a check-in time before 10.00 as you need to allow time for the transfer down from Bubion
The Buena Vista Trail Ride Itinerary
This is a challenging circular trail through the east of the Alpujarras and Sierra Nevada National Park, riding over very diverse and varied terrain at high altitude.
The first two days of this spectacular ride pass through the southern slopes of the Alpujarras following the ancient Moorish paths and forestry tracks between the picturesque white villages. The third day we climb to the Peñon del Puerto and maintaining an altitude of over 2,700 metres follow the ridge east to the Puerto del Lobo and the Altos de San Juan. Seemingly endless vista of mountains and plains give an amazing sense of space and wilderness.
The fourth day keeping an altitude of between 2,000 and 2,500 metres the trail passes through the summer pastures and woodlands of the northern slopes. Day five the path crosses the high peaks at nearly 3,000 metres to the south side of Sierra Nevada and the Sierra of Trevelez. Day six head home on forestry tracks.
A reasonable level of fittness is required as much of this ride is at high altitude (2 days at over 2,700 metres), on three days there are sections where it is necessary to lead your horse down hill on rough uneven ground for up to an hour. One night we are in a high mountain refuge of Postero Also where it is necessary to share rooms. The other nights are all in comfortable hotels or guest houses.
Day 1
Collection from Malaga airport not later than 16.00 and transfer to the picturesque village of Bubion, a two hour drive. While in Bubion you will stay in a comfortable guest house. Dinner with your guide this evening.
Day 2
After breakfast you will be driven the 5 kilometres to the stables and introduced to your horse for the week.
Today we head east to the village of Trevelez. The ride starts with a leisurely morning allowing you to become aquainted with your horse. Following a combination of tracks and bridle paths through pine and oak woods we cross over into the valley of La Taha passing the villages of Pitres and Portugos. After a picnic lunch in the shade of the pines we join the main forestry track leading to the village of Trevelez. During the afternoon there are opportunities for some good trots and canters. Overnight in the village of Trevelez, renowned for its air cured ham (serrano ham) and at an altitude of 1,476m the highest village in Spain. The final descent into the village is a 15 minute walk on the old bridle path. Approx 5 hours riding.
Overnight and dinner at Hotel La Fragua. Swimming pool.
Day 3
Continuing east we cross the river of Trevelez and follow the centuries old bridle path winding it way along the Moorish irrigation channel. Leaving the oak woods below the path climbs steeply through pine woods to a height of 2,200 metres to join a forestry track leading over into the valley of Berchules. After a picnic lunch in the shade of the woods we continues along the track passing high mountain farms and pastures. The track follows the contour of the valley deep into the mountains, maintaining an altitude of 2,000 metres. There are wonderful views of the high Sierras ahead and the valley below. During the afternoon there will be some nice canters. The horses spend the night up in the mountains and the riders are driven down to the village of Berchules. Around 6 hours riding today.
Overnight in the very comfortable Hotel Berchules. Swimming pool.
Day 4
A spectacular route taking us up to 2,800 metres, following the ridge forming the very backbone of the east mountains of Sierra Nevada. After breakfast drive back up the mountin to the horses. The first 4 kms of the ride continues on the main forestry track until picking up the path leading cross country high into the mountains. Picnic on route. On reaching the sumit we leave the path to follow the vast open ridge east to the peak of San Juan. It is difficult to convey in words the grandeur, space and wilderness of these mountains. From San Juan a steep and stony descent on foot of approximately 40 minutes, after which we mount up and ride the final hour down to the edge of the pine woods where the horses spend the night and we are driven to the village of Yegen. 8 hours of riding today.
Overnight in Yegen.
Day 5
Today we pass over to the north face of Sierra Nevada and another day of spectacular views and unspoilt nature. The terrain today is very varied as we make our way west crossing numerous steep summer pastures and snow fed mountain streams. Following small and often steep cattle paths we cross deep gullies and ravines, mountain streams and old irrigation channels. Small summer farms now just used for cattle and sheep. Dropping down to the tree line we follow the path through the shade of the pines to reach the mountain refuge of Postero Alto (1,900metre) where we will spend the night. Picnic on route.
Overnight and dinner in refuge, shared rooms, blankets are provided but you need to bring your own sheets or a sleeping bag and towel.
Day 6
The morning starts with a climb of nearly 1,000 metres to cross over the Puerto de Trevelez to the south of Sierra Nevada. Near the sumit we often skirt round snow drifts, stopping to rest the horses at the snow fed streams. Once on the south side we follow small cattle and sheep trails maintaining an altitude of 2,500 metres. Spectacular view across the valley to the snow capped peaks of the Mulhacen and Alcazaba. Late morning we ride along an old Moorish irrigation channel for about 30 minutes, often the channel is running and horses and people enjoy the cool splashing water. Early afternoon commence the descent to the tree line where we will picnic. The later part of the afternoon we follow a steep and narrow path down to the river of Trevelez. The descent takes approximately two hours of which at least an hour and a half is on foot. Approximately 8 hours riding.
Overnight in Hotel La Fragua. Swimming pool.
Day 7
Today is a short ride. Following the forestry track through pine and oak woods we return directly to the stables high above the villages of the Poqueira. This route not only offers wonderful views out over the Contraviesa mountains and the Mediterranean sea, but some good opportunities for canters. Late lunch in the village of Capileira or Bubion. Afternoon free for some last minute shopping and a well deserved siesta. Approximately 3 - 4 hours riding. Overnight in the village of Bubion and farewell dinner.
Day 8
Breakfast and transfer to Malaga airport. Please don't book a flight with a check-in time before 10.00 as you need to allow time for the transfer down from Bubion
Private rides may be arranged on different dates subject to a minimum or 5 riders.
Short Breaks are available in this region Alpujarra Short Break & Malaga Short Trail
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