Horse Whispering in Cabo de Gata

8 Days  |  From £1716pp

Spain ( Best airport: Almeria)

Discover a unique equestrian experience in the heart of the Cabo de Gata Natural Park in Andalusia. Over three days, refine your relationship with horses through natural horsmanship training, followed by three days of horseback riding across wild volcanic landscapes and idyllic beaches. Perfect for experienced riders wishing to deepen their connection with horses while exploring the region’s natural beauty. An adventure to develop skills that you can take home and use again and again.

The Riding

This stay is run by our experienced partners in Andalusia who train their horses with these methods. Horse training in this way is extremely rewarding for all riders and the skills are highly transferable. The goal is to deepen awareness of your body language (how horses mainly comunicate), to create a relaxed partnership. Working with horses in this way reduces anxiety (for both the rider and the horse) and leads to a more meaningful, and easier, riding experience.

After the 3 days of training you can spend 3 days putting it all into practise as you explore the Andalusian beaches (where legendary films were shot – Indiana Jones and Lawrence of Arabia) and lunar-like volcanic craters. The rides last for 5 or 6 hours, and you’ll ride at all paces. This protected national park on the coast provides a total immersion in wild nature and a friendly atmosphere for experienced riders.

Level of Riding and Fitness

This workshop is aimed at those who wish to improve as riders and trainers, with a focus on relaxation, deep understanding of the horse, and the horses mental well-being

For this journey, you must be an experienced rider to fully enjoy the 3 days of training and the 3 days of riding.

Maximum weight: 90 kg

Guides and Group Size

With over 20 years of experience in training, education, and rehabilitation of horses and ponies for both professional and private riders in Spain and France, Agustí Llauró has extensive practical expertise and a strong commitment to learning. He has helped riders of all levels improve their relationship with their mounts and has offered courses focused on mutual trust, revealing each horse’s potential regardless of the rider’s level.

He holds a solid background in classical and ethological riding, officially recognised in Spain and France. He is a Galope 7 certified in classical dressage and has obtained several certifications in ethological riding, including levels 1 and 2 of the EDC method and the Federal Certificate of Ethological Riding, issued by the French Equestrian Federation. He also holds the 5 Federal Knowledges in Ethological Riding, attesting to an in-depth, respectful, and coherent approach to working with horses.

The guide for the three days of riding will be Antonio, one of the owners of the center: Antonio has been organising horseback holidays in this pristine region of Andalusia for over thirty years. He will guide you through truly spectacular locations.

Group sizes are kept small to create a welcoming and friendly atmosphere.

Minimum 2 – 6 riders

Any questions?

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The Horses

There are approximately 20 horses at this destination, mainly Andalusians, Arabians, and Hispano-Arabians. They live outdoors in comfortable paddocks, and when they are not on the riding trail, they stay together in a herd and are free to move around. Chosen for their good temperament and strength, most of these horses stay with the hosts for life and are trained using natural horsemanship techniques. They are safe, brave, respectful, and sensitive horses that enjoy human company. The saddlery and riding style are of the English type. Saddle bags are provided so you can carry your daily essentials, such as sunscreen, water, etc.

Tack and Riding Equipment

The tack used is either traditional English saddles or specialist trail riding saddles. They also have a few western saddles, please let us know if you would prefer to ride Western as this can sometimes be arranged.

 

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Accommodation and Dining

The two hotels used on this trail are Sotillo Hotel or Dona Pakyta, located 5 minutes from San José, and Oro y Luz Hotel in Rodalquilar. Sotillo Hotel features a swimming pool and guarantees a restful, relaxing stay. Quality restaurants serving traditional Andalusian cuisine are selected for dinners, and lunches are picnics taken along the trail. The team sets up a beautifully set table in the park for the lunch, with food provided by local restaurants. (Please note, for 1 to 3 riders, the picnic may be simpler.) Vegetarian meals can be provided upon request.

Get a free Horse Whispering in Cabo de Gata mini-brochure in PDF format.

Trail Booking Conditions
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Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival at Sotillo Hotel (or Doña Pakyta) in San José. At 8:00 PM, welcome and informational meeting. Dinner and overnight stay at Sotillo Hotel (or Doña Pakyta Hotel) in San José.
Day 2-4 Theory and practical preparation. Training from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM, with a 2-hour lunch break. Accommodation and breakfast at the Sotillo Hotel or Doña Pakyta. Lunch at a restaurant. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 5 San José - Mónsul - San José. The Indiana Jones beaches. 5 to 6 hours of riding. Gathering and preparing the horses after breakfast, at 9:30 AM, at our stables in San José (5 minutes’ walk from the Sotillo Hotel, 5 minutes’ drive from the Pakyta Hotel). A brief explanation about equipment and safety. Departure towards the beaches of Genoveses, Mónsul, and Media Luna, where scenes from "Indiana Jones," "Lawrence of Arabia," and "A Fistful of Dollars" were filmed. These beaches offer the opportunity to gallop and experience that wonderful feeling of freedom. After a picnic lunch, riders return to San José, crossing the Tesorillo Valley.
Day 6 San José - Rodalquilar. 5 to 6 hours of riding. Today's destination is Rodalquilar, located to the north. The route winds through the Sierra de Gata and its lunar-like landscapes featuring ancient volcanic craters, stopping in the small village of "Los Albaricoques," where famous scenes from "For a Few Dollars More" and "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" were filmed. Picnic lunch at "El Cortijo del Fraile," one of the iconic sites of the park where the events that inspired Federico García Lorca to write "Blood Wedding" took place.
Day 7 Rodalquilar - Escullos - San José 5 to 6 hours of riding. Return to San José, with the route winding along the coast lined with 18th-century watchtowers, offering stunning views and an oasis of palm trees. The watchtowers were used to monitor the coast in case of pirate attack. Picnic lunch on the beach of Los Escullos, next to the San Felipe fortress.
Day 8 Departure before noon and airport transfer.

Horse Whispering in Cabo de Gata

8 days/7 nights/6 riding
£1716pp

Additional single room supplement: £155

Small group supplement (2 persons): £355

A single supplement is available for 2026:

Low season: £162

Mid & high season: £198

Small group supplement 2026:

3 riders: £126

2 riders: £474

International Flights & Airport Transfers

Do not book flights or train tickets before receiving the booking confirmation email from SaddleTravel.com.

Please plan your flights to/from as follows:

You can fly to Almeria, with a transfer of about 30 minutes.

Alternatively, flights to Granada or Malaga, which are approximately 3 hours by road.

Arrival in Almeria on Day 1, with pickup at 5:00 PM at the bus station or at 5:30 PM at Almeria airport.
Departure from Almeria on Day 8, with hotel departure at 11:00 AM.

Payable upon arrival in cash or card & divided by the number of riders:

Almeria €60 for 1-4 people/4-8 people 65€ one way
Malaga €220 for 1-4 people/4-8 people 310€ one way

Price Includes
  • 3 days of natural horsemanship instruction
  • 3 days of riding (5 to 6 hours per day)
  • 7 nights hotel accommodation (based on two sharing)
  • All meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 8
Price Excludes
  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Airport Transfers