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This unusual ride in western Spain created for Imagine Riding by a professional forester, guide and wildlife manager (‘Ingeniero de Montes’) who was raised in Extremadura.
It will be his pleasure to share with us his knowledge and expertise of the landscapes of northern and western Spain.
We will ride Lusitano, Arabian and PRE trekking horses bred and trained in these mountains by a Gredos horseman whose father still led his cattle along the Transhumance route each spring and autumn.
We will follow in the path of the great Hapsburg Emperor Charles V, who in 1556 AD retired to the Monastery of Yuste. The route takes us through the Gredos range. We travel along Roman roads, cattle ways, mountain trails and alpine plains, crossing stone bridges and passing villages along the way.
Overnights are in historic manor houses and ‘parador’ castles.
Madrid Airport
Transfer to and from the airport included
September 23-30, 2022
7 nights, 6 days riding
€ 2,580 based on 8 riders
small group supplement applies.
minimum 4 riders/ maximum 8 riders
single supplement : € 360
What to Expect
This is a mid mountain ride traveling in the path of Charles V. Expect magnificent nature, expansive vistas and a great variety in terrain. We are expertly guided by a forester and a local horseman who have plenty of knowledge and stories to share.
This is a perfect ride for intermediate riders who are confidant at all paces in open country and who are fit to ride 6 to 8 hours per day. We enjoy lunch breaks either in a local restaurant or as a picnic. A back- up team meets us at lunch-time on most days.
The horses are raised in these mountains and are extremely sure-footed and capable. As this is a mid-mountain rides there are are areas suitable for canters each day. The tack is English and saddle bags are provided.
We overnight in manor houses and beautiful paradors or castles with hunting grounds.
Pick up at Madrid Barajas Airport at 5 pm and transfer to the village of Navarredinda de Gredos ( 2 hours by minivan)
Discuss the week ahead over drinks and dinner.
Overnight in the Parador Nacional de Gredos , a hunting estate of King Alfonso XIII of Spain who hunted here on horseback in the early XX Century
Pick up at the hotel after breakfast and transfer to the stables (10 min.)
Ride a circular trail following bridle paths and crossing the north face of Gredos Range. Valleys, deep gorges, rivers, forests, high mountain scrub and mountain-top shepherd huts. If we are lucky, we will be able to see the most emblematic animal of these mountains: the Spanish Ibex. We can also see other animals like vultures, eagles and other alpine wildlife. Picnic with the typical “carne a la teja”, beef cooked on a roof tile heated in the fire. Arrival back at the stables in Hoyos del Espino, and transfer to the hotel (10 min.). Accommodation and dinner.
Estimated riding hours (including stops): 8 hours (6 hours in the saddle).
Accommodation at Parador Nacional de Gredos.
Pick up at the hotel after breakfast and transfer to the stables (10 min.). Ride to Laguna de la Cañada del Gallo, an alpine plain with some lagoons where we will have a gorgeous views of the highest peaks of the Gredos Range. Picnic or lunch in a local restaurant. Travel down the valley to the river Tormes and ride along the river, until we reach the village of Navalperal de Tormes, where we and our horses will spend the night. Accommodation and dinner.
Estimated riding hours (including stops): 7 hours (5 hours in the saddle).
Accommodation at Hotel El Milano Real, at Hoyos del Espino.
On this day of the trip, we will ride along a cattle trail, that has been used for centuries to drive the herds of cattle, sheep and goats from the summer pastures to the low lying areas where they will spend the winter months. Picnic or lunch in a little restaurant. After lunch we will leave the mountains and go to the plains, to El Barco de Ávila. El Barco is a monumental walled town, with a great castle, a romanic bridge and very interesting churches. Accommodation and dinner.
Estimated riding hours (including stops): 7 hours (5 hours in the saddle).
Accommodation at Hotel Puerta de Gredos. Possibility to relax in the spa or take a sauna.
The Emperor Charles V was resting in the castle of El Barco de Ávila in 1556 AD and left the town to travel to his retreat, the Monastery of Yuste. We will leave the village crossing the romanic bridge over river Tormes as the Emperor did. We will follow the same path taken by him and his courtiers until we reach the stables near the village of Jerte. Picnic or lunch in a local restaurant.
Accommodation and dinner in Jerte.
Estimated riding hours (including stops): 8 hours (6 hours in the saddle).
Accommodation at Hotel Balneario Valle del Jerte, with a hydrothermal space where we can relax after a long day in the saddle.
After a good breakfast we will continue along the path of Charles V . This stage is the most challenging of of this ride, because we have to cross the mountains on narrow trails, in the place called “Garganta de los Infiernos” (“Hell’s Gorge”). It will also be challenging for us requiring us to l lead our horses at times. If the weather is good, we can take a bath in natural pools. Throughout all day, there will be no access for the support vehicle, so we’ll have to carry the food for the picnic in our saddlebags. After a long day riding, we will arrive at the town of Jarandilla de la Vera, where we will spend the night, as the Emperor once did.
Estimated riding hours (including stops): 8 hours (5 hours in the saddle + 1 hour leading).
Accommodation at Parador Nacional de Jarandilla, a historical Estate hotel in a XV century castle, where Charles V rested on his trip, while the construction of his last residence at Monastery of Yuste was being finished.
Our last day will be a half a day of relaxing horseback riding, from Jarandilla to Monastery of Yuste, where Charles V lived the last two years of his life. We will ride on trails through fields and orchards, and pass farmer’s houses. We can visit the German Cemetery, where German pilots and sailors from the I and II World War are buried. Finally, we will arrive at the Monastery of Yuste, the end of the trip for Charles V and also for us. Lunch in a local restaurant and transfer to the hotel in Jarandilla (15 min.). Relax, visit the village and dinner.
Estimated riding hours (including stops): 3 hours (3 hours in the saddle).
Accommodation at Parador Nacional de Jarandilla.
Pick up at the hotel after breakfast and transfer to Madrid Barajas airport (2,5 h by minivan). Farewell at the airport around 1:00 pm.
