Panorama Trail Unguided

7 Days | From £1652pp

Spain ( Best airport: Barcelona)

Do it your way – an unguided trail ride with a map and GPS. Go on your own personal self-guided riding tour by discovering an unknown Catalonia on horseback. On this demanding Panorama Trail, you are your own guide! This is as individual as it can be, as only you decide the pace. Come with your partner or a friend and experience the feeling of capturing the terrific mountains of Catalonia – just you and the horses.

The Riding

Get acquainted with the wonderfully diverse landscape and enjoy great panoramas in absolute tranquility. Luminous mixed forests, volcanos and
majestic table mountains with hair-raising drops and astonishing views. Ride across red sand, black volcanic ash and slabs of stone (you’ll need to lead your horse across). The villages along the route are beautiful to ride through, have lunch in and stay in overnight: Besalu (look out for the wonderful old bridge), Santa Pau (a great restaurant for lunch), Sant Feliu where you can enjoy tapas in a beautiful square and Tavertet where you can admire its incredible cliff edge position.

You’ll be riding around 5 to 6 hours per day depending on the pace you choose (and the length of your after-lunch siesta!) and almost the entire route is off road winding through mountains and valleys. You’ll need to be happy mounting and dismounting as the route has a fair number of gates to open and close and some sections will require you to lead your horse on foot so you do need a certain level of fitness to enjoy it. The horses are fit and forward going and your route is preloaded on a Garmin GPS device making it easy to follow.

Level of Riding and Fitness

Since you are traveling without a guide, you should be an experienced rider, happy and confident in walk, trot and canter outside an arena and you should have some experience in handling of horses as you will be responisble for their care during the trail. You will need to be confiden feeding, grooming and tacking up your horse every day on the trail. Riders should be fit enough to enjoy 5 to 6 hours a day in the saddle and you must be able to mount and dismount unaided. The weight limit for this ride is 90 kilos and the minimum age is 12 (must be accompanied by an adult).

Guides and Group Size

The minimum number to take part in the trail is two and the maximum is six. You only ride with the people or group you book with. You’ll meet your host Rudi on the first day of the trail where he will give you a complete 2 hour briefing before you set out, printed maps and a preloaded GPS is also supplied. Rudi and his team are always at the end of the phone for support if any issues arise during the trail. All logistics are organised by your hosts so your luggage will be transferred and waiting for you at your accommodation each evening. The horses stables and meadows are always very close to your evening accommodation and the feed for the horses will be left there ready for you.

Any questions?

The Horses

There are around 40 Andalusian and Spanish horses at this destination, usually around 15-16hh. Your hosts spend a lot of time training them, making them absolutely reliable and sure-footed companions for you during the trail. Each of the horses has a unique personality but all are fit and responsive.

Tack and Riding Equipment

All horses have their own high-quality trail saddle designed for long-distance riding at all paces. These saddles have been developed in collaboration with the saddler ‘Hidalgo’ for maximum comfort and safety during long days in the saddle. Handmade numnahs use medical-grade anti-pressure fleece for optimal back protection for the horse. Each rider is also provided with a handcrafted saddlebag, designed specifically for trail riding needs. You will also be provided with paper maps and a GPS device.

Unguided Panorama Trail_Panorama Trails (5)

Unguided Panorama Trail_Panorama Trails (6)

Accommodation and Dining

Accommodation is in small rural hotels and guesthouses along the trail. All have en suite bathrooms, free WiFi and delicious breakfasts. Some of the guest houses have swimming pools and beautiful gardens, ideal to relax in after riding.

Evening meals are taken in typical Catalan restaurants with a menu of local delicacies to choose from and often feature locally- grown wine from the Empordá region. Lunches are saddlebag or buffet-style picnics. The food on this trail offers a real insight into the food culture of the Catalan region through the lovingly prepared dishes.

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Gallery

Itinerary

Day 1 The trail begins near Girona in Catalonia and you should arrive at the stables by 10am. All riders are given a thorough briefing which includes instruction in map reading, using a GPS, and infomation about the tack, routes, what to be aware of, and care of the horses. After the allocation of the right horse for each rider, there is a light lunch before riders head off on their own through the varied Mediterranean landscape. Arrive at the old mill, the first stop for the night.

Day 2 Start today at a leisurely pace. Feed the horses before planning the day's route over breakfast. Leave the natural stone village and pass through dense forests and wide fields until reaching the river Fluvia. Keep an eye open for the cave church with wonderful views over the river and across the Pyrenees - the perfect picnic spot. After a rest, follow the Fluvia river at a brisk pace until reaching Besalú. Overnight at a 'castle' hotel on the riverbank next to the Romanesque bridge.

Day 3 After the morning routine of feeding the horses and planning the daily route over breakfast. Cross the Fluvia River on a few occasions today on the way to choose a picnic spot and a swim before continuing into the ancient volcanic landscape. Reach the overnight spot at a hotel on the square of a pretty medieval village.

Day 4 Today ride across the million-year-old volcanic landscape - the Garrotxa, to the 'Table Mountains'. The earth turns from ochre to black and the rocks are contrasted against the luminous green of the deciduous forests. Lunch has been arranged at a local bar in a small village. After a break, the path winds steeply up to a pass at 1200 metres where the riders spend the night in a mountain hotel.

Day 5 Today leads to a panoramic view from a 'Table Mountain'. Powerful rock walls tower steeply, but the sturdy horses climb safely along the cliff. See the vultures circling, as if warning riders to be careful! In a canyon lies Rupit, a hidden bandit's village that is built into the rocks. Enjoy a meal in a local restaurant. After a rest, head along the mountains to the mountain-edge accommodation for the night where the hosts will make riders welcome.

Day 6 Today, the trail leads through Oak and Beech forests to the grasslands where livestock graze peacefully. Take in the surrounding beauty on the way to the final destination, the farmhouse of hosts who welcome riders with glass of wine, comfortable beds, and a delicious meal to finish the adventure in Sant Pere de Torrello.

Day 7 Say goodbye to the horses and the team before heading back by taxi to the airport.