Preliminary-day-by-day program Alpujarra Trail Ride
Day 1:Transfer from Malaga airport to the small spa town of Lanjaron, "gate" to the Alpujarras, where your guide Sarah greets you. It is usually Sarah who leads the rides, but one of her staff may lead the ride if she is unavailable. You will have dinner and stay overnight at Casa del Viento Farm or hotel close by, in a double room with ensuite shower / toilet.
Day 2: You be driven up to the stables and meet the horses. You start riding north, up above the Lanjaron River Gorge through ancient oak forests towards the top of the El Peñon de los Pájeros, reaching over 2000 meters (6,500 ft) and then ride down through pine forests to the Puente Palo. You stop for lunch and continue east to an idyllic location high up on the slopes of the Poqueria Valley where you will spend the night in mountain huts. Across the other side of the Poqueria valley lie the whitewashed mountain villages of Capileira, Bubion and Pampaniera.
Day 3: You head north following the Poqueria valley with the picturesque town of Capileira to your east. This is one of the highest towns in Spain. Heading upwards toward the peak of Mulhacén, the highest mountain in Spain, forming the backdrop, this valley is truly stunning. Crossing mountain pasture land on a little known old moorish bridlepath up through the pine trees to Refugio Piuca. Following the wide forest logging track that takes you to our mountain cottages, and a good night’s rest.
Day 4: Today is a gradual descent, as you head South down through mountain and pasture land, on an old mule track that was used for trade with the Greeks (goes all the way to Greece!) stopping for refreshment in the local Spanish bar, Los LLanos, before heading through the Olive groves of Padre Eterno & Cerro Negro for a picnic. Following the immense riverbed of the Guadalfeo River which heads toward the sea, and then on to the Farmhouse and a well deserved dinner.
Day 5: Today a shorter ride, as you follow the path of the ruta olivos centenarios (route of the hundred of year old olive trees). Some of these amazing trees are over
600 years old. A trip to the river, where the horses stop for a splash and a drink, before you head across the valley, picnicking under olive trees before a fast climb back up to the Ranch & to your Spanish Farmhouse accommodation and a dip in the pool.
Day 6: Riding on to Orgiva for stroll around the local market, which offers a wide range of local produce and artisan products as well as clothes, shoes, and tourist souvenirs. Orgiva is the largest town of Las Alpujarras. After market you have a fast valley ride with a picnic on the hillside overlooking mount Lugar and the impressive mountains of the Sierra de la contraviesa, before heading up above the town for the night.
Day 7: A lovely long trail ride as you head up cobbled mule paths through an ancient chestnut forest to the waterfalls of the Rio de Lanjaron.
After lunch you follow the old moorish water channels up to El Tello before heading down through El Prado de las Liebres (the meadow of the hares) & returning to the Ranch. Dinner at the Casa del Viento Farmhouse or a hotel close by.
Day 8: Breakfast and departure.
(Subject to change depending on local circumstances. Occasionally they have snow in winter months, which can mean changes to the normal routes & itineraries, as they then take slightly lower paths. Named hotels / farms may be changed to equivalent accommodation in the area.)
Preliminary day-by-day program Alpujarra Mini Trail Ride
Day 1:Transfer from Malaga airport to the small spa town of Lanjaron, "gate" to the Alpujarras, where your guide Sarah greets you. It is usually Sarah who leads the rides, but one of her staff may lead the ride if she is unavailable. You will have dinner and stay overnight at Casa del Viento Farm or a hotel close by, in a double room with ensuite shower / toilet.
Day 2: You be driven up to the stables and meet the horses. You start riding north, up above the Lanjaron River Gorge through ancient oak forests towards the top of the El Peñon de los Pajeros, reaching over 2000 meters (6,500 ft) and then ride down through pine forests to the Puente Palo. You stop for lunch and continue east to an idyllic location high up on the slopes of the Poqueria Valley where you will spend the night in mountain huts. Across the other side of the Poqueria valley lie the whitewashed mountain villages of Capileira, Bubion and Pampaniera.
Day 3: Today is a gradual descent, as you head South down through mountain and pasture land, on an old mule track that was used for trade with the Greeks (goes all the way to Greece!) stopping for refreshment in the local Spanish bar, Los LLanos, before heading through the Olive groves of Padre Eterno & Cerro Negro for a picnic. Following the immense riverbed of the Guadalfeo River which heads toward the sea, and then on to the Farmhouse and a well deserved dinner.
Day 4: Riding on to Orgiva for stroll around the town. There is a market on a Thursday which offers a wide range of local produce and artisan products as well as clothes, shoes, and tourist souvenirs. Orgiva is the largest town of Las Alpujarras. In the afternoon a fast valley ride with a picnic on the hillside overlooking mount Lugar and the impressive mountains of the Sierra de la Contraviesa, before heading up above the town back to the farm. Overnight at hotel/farm close by.
Day 5: Breakfast and departure.
(Subject to change depending on local circumstances. Occasionally they have snow in winter months, which can mean changes to the normal routes & itineraries, as they then take slightly lower paths. Named hotels / farms may be changed to equivalent accommodation in the area.)
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