Luxury Hacienda Retreat

8 Days | From £859pp

Spain ( Best airport: Malaga)

Located on the outskirts of the traditional white village of Casarabonela, The Luxury Hacienda is a stunning rural retreat set in over 30000 sq metres of breathtaking Andalusian countryside. This picture perfect location provides the ideal starting point for your riding adventure! With the Guadalhorce valley littered with olive groves on one side and the beautiful mountainous Sierra de las Nieves Natural park on the other, whichever direction you ride in you can guarantee stunning scenery and unparalleled views.

The Riding

The trail rides cater for all ages and abilities and can be tailored to suit the individual rider’s needs. The incredible location of the retreat means there are many routes and options to choose from, from 2 hr to 5 hr trail rides through the most amazing landscapes. From olive groves, rivers and flower filled fields to mountain forests we have it all, with stunning views stretching all across the Guadalhorce valley and down to the coast.

Ride through fields, forests, olive groves, mountains and even through the narrow streets of the traditional white washed villages, all on exceptional, safe and sure footed Spanish horses. It is definitely a bucket list experience!

The week begins with the easiest 2 hour ride on the first riding day, as this gives your host a good idea of the riding ability of each person and any changes can be made before embarking upon the longer, more difficult rides.

The retreat is located on the edge of the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park at the foot of Mount Prieta. As such, the terrain is not straightforward. It involves a lot of climbing and descending which is why the skill level is set at intermediate. The rides are not particularly difficult and the horses are all very well versed in the routes and know exactly how to climb and descend, but they need the riders to have enough confidence to let them do their job. The reward for the climbing is of course the spectacular views.

Level of Riding and Fitness

Riders are encouraged to get to know their horses and take part in grooming and tacking up as this helps you to get the most out of your experience.

Due to the amount of saddle time involved, the terrain and the horses this riding holiday is only suitable for intermediate riders and above.

Guides and Group Size

All hacks are guided by Darren, with more than 20 years experience as a professional jockey, whose incredible horsemanship, vast knowledge and expertise help make this holiday truly special. Maximum group size is 5.

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The Horses

There are 8 riding horses and a mule, a combination of Hispano Arabs, Lusitanos, PRE’s and Andalucians. They are all strong, powerful forward going horses that are suited to people who love to ride. There are 3 dressage horses for people who want to add additional advanced or dressage lessons on to their itinerary.

Accommodation and Dining

The luxury apartments are fully equipped, well appointed, spacious and very comfortable meaning you have everything you need to enjoy an incredible holiday. They are stylishly decorated and equipped with both air conditioning and heating so you are comfortable no matter what the time of year. They feature Samsung Smart TV’s, DVD players and Bluetooth speakers and have private terraces overlooking the front of the property with its stunning cactus garden, orchard and views across the olive groves to the mountains.

Standard accommodation is based upon two people sharing a twin room, but if you don’t fancy sharing, double rooms are available with a single person supplement. All bed linen and towels are provided, including pool towels.

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Itinerary

Day 1 You will be met at Malaga Airport and transferred 40 mins to your accommodation. After an arrival drink there will be a short induction, where your hosts will talk you through what to expect during the week and you will have a short assessment ride to make sure you are paired up with a suitable horse. Afterwards you can make use of the facilities or simply relax before dinner. Dinner is not included today, but your hosts will be happy to make arrangements for you to try one of the local restaurants or to source some food for you to enjoy at your accommodation.

Day 2 Your week starts with an easy 2 hour ride to allow you to become accustomed to your horse and get used to the terrain, which involves a lot of climbing and descending due to the location. After your ride you will have plenty of free time to relax.

Days 3 After breakfast, get saddled up and head out for a 2 hour ride towards the local village where you take in the scenery from a spectacular viewpoint. Depending on the time of year you might stop off at a small peña for a quick drink on the way home.

Day 4 Today’s 3 hour ride involves climbing up the smaller side of the mountain, with incredible views all across the Guadalhorce valley, reaching as far as Malaga and the coast.

Day 5 On your free day you can take the opportunity to explore this incredible region. Whether you want to soak up the atmosphere in the cosmopolitan city of Malaga, take in a little culture in any one of the many fabulous historic towns such as Ronda, head towards the coast to soak up the sun on one of the many fabulous Costa del Sol beaches or sip a cocktail alongside the fabulous yachts in Puerto Banus after enjoying an afternoons shopping there really is something for everyone to enjoy. You may even want to try another activity such as paddleboarding, Mountain Biking, Surfing, Buggy rides and much more.

Day 6 Today you can enjoy the bar ride! Ride up towards a very small traditional white hillside village through spectacular countryside. You will then ride through the narrow streets of the village until you reach the only bar, where you will dismount and enjoy a drink and a little tapas before remounting and riding home via a different route with incredible views of the mountains. Depending upon the time of year this ride often coincides with sunset, so as you are riding home you can watch the sun go down behind the mountains. It is a spectacular ride!

Day 7 Your last day in the saddle! Today you will leave early and head out towards the mountain, climbing past the village of Casarabonela until you reach the highest point where you will stop for a fabulous breakfast picnic with breathtaking views. You will then take a more leisurely route back down, trekking through the woods and fields with varied and spectacular views over the Guadalhorce valley.

Day 8 Depending on your departing flight time you can spend some time relaxing at the retreat or take part in one of the additional activities. Transfer back to Malaga for your flight home.