With us you will have the opportunity to become the guardians of the ancestral tradition of our culture: The transhumance a time travel on horseback from Extremadura to Gredos Mountains in spring (North Transhumance ride) and from Gredos to Extremadura in autumn (South Transhumance ride).

Progressive ride in 7 days riding, following the Cañadas Reales, medieval cattle droves, north direction to Sierra de Gredos, crossing different regions and riding a long distance from the winter pastures in Extremadura to the summer pastures in Gredos Mountains.

Spain is crossed by old cattle drove routes that served the pastoral economies of yesteryear. In Spain, these trails are called “Cañadas Reales” with 75m wide and around 800km long. They are still used by cattlemen who practice transhumance, spending summer in the mountains with their cattle and returning each autumn to the winter pastures, lowlands, faraway. These old trails are more than merely routes for sending livestock to market. These routes are the toll motorways of yesteryear, the infrastructure that sustained transhumance.

This is a real experience travelling on horseback, we follow the “Cañada Real” 75 m wide with a thousand years old, pure nature, during 200 km from Trujillo to Navarredonda de Gredos or vice versa, crossing 3 different region in Spain (Extremadura, Castilla la Mancha y Castilla y León), riding in Cáceres province, Toledo province and Ávila province. Exclusive for genuine riders!

This is a real transhumance, crossing different regions and riding a long distance very different of transterminancia (sheepherding) movement from the valley to the highest place in the mountains in the same region.

Emilio knows very well the Cañadas reales, keeping his family tradition that for ages, practiced the transhumance with the cattle, so he will show you interesting facts along the way.

The pace of this ride is moderated, walk, trots and long canters along the Cañadas Reales. The distance covered on the average is 25-35 km per day.

LEVEL OF RIDING

Intermediate to experienced riders, means that you should be comfortable to walk, trot and canter in group and in open spaces and your seat should be independent from your hands. On the rides you will be riding for between four to seven hours a day so it is important to be as riding fit as possible.

GUIDE

Every ride is personally guided by the experienced Emilio, with an experience over 30 years as equestrian guide he is a terrific guide. Emilio is expert rider and has a special ability to match his horses with riders. He is leading the groups with his confident and well-mannered horses that are a pleasure to ride and to be around, you will always feel very safe. He is English speaker.

HORSES

Excellent PRE horses, Hispano-Arabs, born at home, very much loved, very well trained, beautifully looked after and good natured, very easy to ride. They are all well fed and in great riding shape.

TACK

We use finest quality English saddles and tack with silicon seat saver and small saddle bags in front of the saddles. All the tack is in excellent conditions, very comfortable for horses and riders. The horse tack quality is outstanding.

HELMET

We recommend wearing a helmet, however you can ride without a helmet but your insurance must clearly state that you are covered to do that. You will also be asked to sign a disclaimer.

OPTION 1: NORTH TRANSHUMANCE RIDE

9 days trip/ 8 nights/7 days riding

Day 1 MADRID AIRPORT – TRUJILLO

Meet at Madrid airport (meeting time is at 3pm), transfer to Trujillo, 2,5 hours’ drive. Time to visit to the spectacular town of Trujillo before welcome dinner at the hotel with us where we learn about the Transhumance on the map.

Day 2 TRUJILLO-JARAICEJO

Transfer from the hotel in Trujillo to the horses base (5 min), distribution of horses. Riding through the “Cañada Real”, Lunch in the countryside with excellent paella cooked by us at the spot. In the afternoon beautiful riding crossing Almonte river with its impressive medieval bridge to Jaraicejo. Night and dinner in very nice rural Inn, time on the saddle 5 hours.

Day 3 JARAICEJO-CASAS DE MIRAVETE

Departure after breakfast, we ride in the morning in opened countryside trough Dehesas and beautiful landscape. Good trots and canters in the morning. Lunch in the countryside. In the afternoon a short ride to Casas de Miravete, a small village in a spectacular enclave in the Monfrague National Park. Dinner at local bar with good local food and overnight at rural Inn. Time on the saddle 6 hours.

Day 4 CASAS DE MIRAVETE- NAVALMORAL DE LA MATA Riding in the morning along the “Cañada Real”, with impressive views of Sierra the Gredos in front of us. Crossing the Albalat Bridge (16th century) over the Tagus River, one of the important public works built during the reign of His Catholic Majesty Charles I of Spain and V of Germany with a great shield in relief of Emperor Charles with the double eagle. Pic-nic by the Tagus river reservoir water. Riding in the afternoon to Navalmoral de la Mata. Dinner and night at small hotel. Time on the saddle 7 hours.

Day 5 NAVALMORAL – LAS VENTAS DE SAN JULIAN

Departure after breakfast, we follow the Cañada Real in a flatter area with good trots and canters. Here the Cañada has an unusual wide of 200m. Horses spend the night at Las Ventas de San Julian, transfer for dinner and night at amazing “Parador de Oropesa”, a medieval castle restored and converted into a luxury and magical 4* hotel (dinner “a le carte”, drinks not included). Time on the saddle 6 hours.

Day 6 LAS VENTAS DE SAN JULIAN- NAVALCÁN

Departure after breakfast, we continue following the Cañada Real, here the landscape changes, we ride along the reservoir water close to Navalcan with beautiful views of the Gredos Mountains. Dinner and night at lovely rural Inn in Navalcán. Time on the saddle 6 hours.

Day 7 NAVALCÁN-MOMBELTRÁN

This day is a beautiful day from Navalcán to Mombeltrán, this day we change the Cañada to take another Cañada to go to the Gredos Mountains. Beautiful views, Toledo province is left and we cross to Avila province in Castilla y Leon. Dinner and night at hotel in Mombeltrán.

Day 8 MOMBELTRÁN-NAVARREDONDA DE GREDOS

After breakfast we start to climb the Roman Road with more than two thousand years old, very well preserved. It was used for the Roman armies and the transport of metals crossing the Sierra de Gredos through the abrupt mountain pass Puerto del Pico. Later on, it worked as a cattle drove in the medieval time, despite the passage of centuries, is still in good condition. We ride on the Roman road up the mountains with amazing views, crossing the picturesque mountain village. Cuevas del Valle.

When we get the Puerto del Pico, at the end of the Roman road, the landscape change very much, beautiful mountainous landscape. Lunch at local restaurant at Puerto del Pico, after lunch riding in very different landscape, green mountain pastures with stone walls and the highest peaks of Gredos in front of us to finish the amazing horse riding trip.

Day 7 NAVARREDONDA DE GREDOS-MADRID AIRPORT

Breakfast at hotel, departure from Navarredonda de Gredos at 10 a.m., to be at Madrid Airport about 12.30 p.m. so, please flights not before 2 p.m. All riders will be transferred at the same time, if any rider needs to arrive Madrid before, we can arrange special transfer at extra cost.

OPTION 2: SOUTH TRANSHUMANCE RIDE

9 days trip/ 8 nights/7 days riding

Same itinerary in opposite direction, starting in Navarredonda de Gredos and finishing in Trujillo.

ITINERARY MAY VARY DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES.

Please get in touch with us for any further information.

The accommodation and the customer attention in every aspect of the rides is all to an excellent standard.

The accommodation along the way in the Transhumance ride, varies from charming rural Inn in villages to delightful 4* hotel in Trujillo town. All rooms have private bathrooms. All of them very clean and comfortable.

Single rooms are possible on request with a single supplement.

The food is another highlight of this trip, Mamen will delight you with the tapas-breaks waiting for you in any unexpected place with Serrano ham, Manchego cheese, olives, nuts, etc. Lunchtime is relaxing and social affair with delicious home cooked Spanish dishes as Paella, Tortilla Española, Iberian pork bbq, salads, and soft cheese very typical from Extremadura “Torta del Casar”, excellent quality, followed by a siesta in the peace of the countryside.

After the day riding, your dinner in the evening is around 9 pm and you have a choice from different dishes and courses of local Spanish recipes, your dinner is at your guesthouse accommodation. All the drinks are included during the meals, excellent Spanish red and white wines, beer, canned drinks and water.

There is Wi-Fi in every place we stay and is for free.

There are towels, shampoo and liquid soap in each room and in some places they have hair driers.

Special diet (vegetarian, gluten free, allergies, etc.) can be arranged with advance notice.

The accommodation has been carefully chosen by us, due to the quality and also because of the place for horses, they will normally rest in a field next to the hotel where we spend the nights.

A support van follows the group during the whole week, meeting us in the morning, for tapas-breaks, lunches, at night and also to move your luggage, so you have access to your luggage during the day at least 3 times or when is necessary, so it is not necessary to carry anything on the horse. You have some small saddle bags in front of the saddles for small things, such as a bottle water, sunscreen, camera, mobile. The service along the rides is outstanding.

MEETING POINT AND TIMING?

The meeting point is Madrid Airport for all the itineraries. Emilio, Mamen or both will personally do the transfer. Telephone number in case of delay: +34 635 433 079 (Emilio)/ +34 609 833 783 (Mamen),

The meeting time is at 3:00 pm, so please flights on the first day not after 2 pm. The transfers Madrid airport –Navarredonda de Gredos and Trujillo-Madrid airport are included. The transfer from Madrid airport to Navarredonda is about 2 hour.

The transfer back to the airport on the last day from Trujillo will be at 10 to be at the airport about 12 pm, so please flights on the last day not before 2 pm.

All riders will be transferred at the same time, so if any rider needs a different transfer we can arrange transfer at extra cost.

WEITGH LIMIT?

90 Kgs / 198 Lbs.

NUMBER OF RIDERS?

Min 4 to Max usually 8

TRIP LENGTH?

“Transhumance ride” The itinerary is 9 days, 8 nights, 7 days riding from Sunday to Saturday. The length of the ride it is around 200 km.

NON RIDERS?

The ride is suitable for non-riding companions; they can travel in the support car and join in meals, dinners and others activities, or if they wish can rent a car in Madrid too. They can move in their own and join the group for dinner.

LEVEL OF RIDING?

Intermediate to experienced riders, means that you should be comfortable to walk, trot and canter in group in open spaces and your seat should be independent from your hands. On the rides you will be riding for between four to seven hours a day so it is important to be as riding fit as possible.

WHAT I NEED TO BRING?

We recommend you to check the weather forecast before coming, always is important to bring sunglasses, sun cream and a rain coat.

WHAT TYPE OF TACK?

We use finest quality English saddles and tack with silicon seat saver and small saddle bags in front of the saddles. All the tack is in excellent conditions, very comfortable for horses and riders. The horse tack quality is outstanding.

DO I NEED TO WEAR HELMET?

We recommend wearing a helmet, however you can ride without a helmet but your insurance must clearly state that you are covered to do that. You will also be asked to sign a disclaimer.

DO I NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE?

It is a condition of your booking that you take out a travel insurance covering you for all medical expenses, injury, cancellation, baggage and personal effects for the entire duration of your trip at the time of booking.

If you come from Europe, you should bring the European Health card, this gives you access to Spanish health care.

WI-FI?

There is Wi-Fi in every accommodation we spend the nights and is for free.

AGE LIMIT?

There is not an upper age limit, as long as you are riding fit and healthy, keep in mind we are long hours on the saddle for 4 to 7 hours a day. Minimum riding age is 10 years old, competent riders, accompanied by an adult.

WHEN CAN I RIDE WITH YOU?

We are opened all year round, so it is possible riding with us in Gredos or in Extremadura all around the year.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO COME?

This is a unique ride, we offer only one date for the North Transhumance ride in spring and only one date for the South Transhumance ride, in autumn, following the tradition of our transhumant culture.

DO YOU CATER FOR SPECIAL DIET?

Special diet (vegetarian, gluten free, allergies, etc.) can be arranged with advance notice.