Conquistador’s Trail

7 Days | From £1540pp

Spain ( Best airport: Madrid)

Ride in the beautiful Extremadura region of Spain over 5 days, starting in the lovely town of Trujillo, following the trail east to the Villuercas Geopark (UNESCO) and staying in picturesque villages on route. Travel through the Villuercas Mountains with it’s spectacular panoramic views and see a hidden side of Spain from horseback.

The Riding

The pace of this ride is dependent on the terrain; where the ground allows there are opportunities for good canters but generally this is not a fast trail.

You will be covering on average 25-35 km per day across changing landscapes and spending 5-7 hours in the saddle per day.

Level of Riding and Fitness

Intermediate to experienced riders, means that you should be comfortable to walk, trot and canter in a group and in open spaces and your seat should be independent from your hands. You will be riding for between four to seven hours a day so it is important to be as riding fit as possible. Weight limit is 95kg.

Guides and Group Size

You will be guided by Emilio, an English-speaking guide who, with 30 years of riding experience knows each stone of every path. You will ride through his birth town of Barco de Avila where he grew up riding horses with his brother.

There will be a maximum of 10 riders in a group.

Any questions?

The Horses

You will be expertly matched by Emilio to one of his excellent Hispano-Arab horses. Born at home, very much loved and extremely well looked after, these horses love their job and make for very easy, relaxed riding. All horses are fitted with English tack, with a silicon seat saver and saddle bags supplied for small personal items. A support vehicle will transport your luggage and will be available at your lunch breaks.

Accommodation and Dining

The accommodation is in charming village Inns and a delightful 4* hotel in Trujillo town. All rooms have private bathrooms and are clean and comfortable. Single rooms are possible on request with a single supplement. Wifi is available throughout.

The food is another highlight of this trip. Tapas breaks will include Serrano ham, Manchego cheese, olives, nuts, etc. Lunchtime is a relaxing and social affair with delicious home cooked Spanish dishes such as Paella, Tortilla Española, Iberian pork bbq, salads and soft cheeses typical of Extremadura. A siesta will follow in the peace of the countryside.

After your day in the saddle, your dinner will be served at your accommodation and you have a choice of different Spanish dishes. All drinks are included during meals; excellent Spanish red and white wines, beer, canned drinks and water.

Dietary requirements can be catered for with advance notice.

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Gallery

Itinerary

Day 1 Meet at Madrid airport at 3pm and transfer to Trujillo, a 2.5 hour drive. There will be time to visit the spectacular town before a welcome dinner at the hotel with your hosts, where you will learn about the route and region on the map.

Day 2 Transfer from Trujillo to Herguijuela, where you will meet your horse. Today is an easy day to allow you time to get to know each other. You will begin by riding through the Dehesa, a Mediterranean forest, before a comfortable lunch in the countryside with excellent paella, good wines, salad, fresh fruit and coffee or tea with chocolate and biscuit. After lunch you will have a short afternoon riding to Garciaz where the horses will spend the night. Your accommodation is a 15 min transfer to Madroñera. Night and dinner at a small and beautiful rural hotel. Total length: 5 Hours Riding

Day 3 Beautiful views of the best preserved Mediterranean forests. The dominant species are the evergreen oaks, the holm or cork oaks and the deciduous oaks. Comfortable lunch in the countryside, always with starters, main course, salad, fresh fruit, coffee or tea with chocolate and biscuit, good wines, beer and refreshments. The cool box is always open to everyone! An afternoon spent with magnificent views of the Sierra de las Villuercas, you ride to a small beautiful village in the Villuercas mountains in Berzocana. Night and dinner at a very nice rural hotel with spectacular sunsets over the Villuercas Geopark. Total length: 7 Hours Riding

Day 4 Today you will enjoy the view over the impressive Villuercas landscape, from the top of the mountains. On any riding day you can observe vultures, eagles, azure-winged magpies, red-billed choughs, shrikes and ravens. Villuercas has been declared a Geopark (UNESCO, 2011) because of its Cultural and Natural Heritage and, of course, the great geological value of its relief, with a lot of interesting and visible geological elements. A very rural region with fields and stone walls. You will enjoy a comfortable lunch in the countryside before an afternoon with good canters. Night and dinner at a nice rural hotel. Total length: 6 Hours Riding

Day 5 Good trots and canters in the morning by the Dehesa. Livestock can be seen everywhere; cows, sheep, goats and iberic pigs. They still live in a way which is reminiscent of bygone days. After a luxury picnic, in the afternoon you will enjoy some good canters to Zorita. Dinner at a local restaurant, and a night at a rural Inn. Total length: 6 Hours Riding

Day 6 You will ride in Dehesa Extremeña with good and long trots and canters to return to the beginning of the ride. After lunch in the countryside, a short afternoon to the horses’ resting place. There will be time in the afternoon to visit Trujillo town. Farewell dinner at the hotel.

Day 7 Breakfast at your hotel before departure at 10 a.m, to be at Madrid Airport for approximately 12.30 p.m. For any riders who need to arrive at the airport earlier a private transfer can be arranged for an additional cost.