"Cap de Creus" Dalí Coast Trail

Overview

Trail Route

Day 1: Catalonia

Arrival at Barcelona or Girona and transfer to a beautifully situated country hotel, a former mill situated directly on the river. The location in this idyllic area where silence and tranquility prevail makes this guest house the ideal place to enjoy nature and to relax. The lovingly South American inspired designed garden provides a wonderful atmosphere. What a place to start your holiday!

Day 2: Pure nature

Past peaceful rural villages, our path winds through the hilly landscape of Empordà.

The sandy bottom and the shading crowns of the Mediterranean pine forest invite long canters.

We cross the river and the horses splash in the refreshing water. Our four-legged friends confidently take us to the other side of the river. At a brisk pace, we will continue on to a pretty village at the foot of the Gavarra mountain range. Once there, we fortify ourselves in our accommodation with the delicacies served up for us. Afterwards, we have time to relax in the garden of the beautifully restored guesthouse.

Day 3: Culture - Castle Púbol

We ride through the magical old villages of the Empordanet. With echoes of the horses' hooves on the old paving stones, you will be taken back in time in this hidden area of Catalonia.

When we reach the village of Púbol you can visit the 14th Century castle of Gala, which Dalí gave to his wife, Gala, as a gift.

We have lunch at a restaurant in the village. We leave Dalí's castle and ride back to the 16th century. Our destination is a beautiful village built of natural stone from the Middle Ages.

Day 4: Dalí's Coast

This morning we will canter across the plain of Ullastret, which was a big lake in the Iberian times. A smooth trail leads us through mellow sand dunes and Mediterranean pine forests, up to the rough looking coastal mountain of Montgri.

The continental sand dunes nestle gently among its rocks. The "crowns" of the majestic pine trees provide us with some shade. In the midst of all this, we discover a lovingly laid table of delicacies! Siesta time!

The scent of lavender, rosemary and thyme accompanies us on our way.

Our accommodation for the night is a 17th century country house near the beach.

Day 5: Vamos a la playa (*)

As the day breaks you can smell the sea and taste the salty air. You are right by the sea with your horse and in front of you are miles of sandy beaches.

With the sunrise, we will canter through the breakwater and your horse will play with the waves - they love the refreshing water.

We cross the Aiguamolls marsh with our Andalusian horses at a brisk pace. From horseback we can observe a great variety of bird species. With a bit of luck, we even catch a glimpse of a flamingo or two.

Soon we reach Castelló d'Empúries. With rhythmic hooves clattering on the cobblestones, we ride through the medieval town and past its imposing basilica.

Then the landscape changes again. Between vineyards and olive groves, the deep blue waters of the Mediterranean sparkle in the distance. We approach our destination for the day, a restored manor house dating back to 1582. Surrounded by picturesque nature with a view of the bay of Roses, we can relax after lunch. Those who want to can refresh in the pool or enjoy a massage.

Day 6: Coastal Mountains

Today we spend the morning without horses! We visit the famous Dalí Museum in Figueres. After the impressions of Dalí's legacy, there is still time before lunch to stroll through the town and have a snack in one of the many bars and restaurants.

In the afternoon we get back into the saddle. Today the horses will impress us, because they are true "all-rounders". Like mountain goats, our four-legged companions climb up a rocky and steep mule track into the coastal mountains. At the top of the pass, we give the horses a rest and enjoy the spectacular view. At Cap de Creus, the easternmost point of the Iberian Peninsula, the Pyrenees dip into the sea. To the north we look out over the Gulf of León and to the south over the Bay of Roses and the Empordà plain. We continue through the fascinating landscape of the Natural Park to the lively fishing village of Port de la Selva.

Day 7: Wild Coast

An old trade route winds through rocky terrain into the natural park of Cap de Creus.

Home of Salvador Dali, the third and final highlight of our Dali Trail. Here the last foothills of the Pyrenees sink into the electric blue sea.

Our four-legged friends climb over a pass to Cadaqués, the pearl of the Empordà. The whitewashed fishing village with its old winding streets is rightly considered the most beautiful village on the Costa Brava.

The clear colours of the sky and sea, the excavated rock formations, the luminous bays and deep ravines inspired Dali for his works of art.

In the middle of this spectacular scenery, our trail assistant prepares a lovingly laid table with Catalan specialities. Fortified, we make our way to the impressive Salvador Dalí House in Port Lligat with its enchanting garden. The former home and studio of the ingenious surrealist were converted into a museum after his death.

A typical dinner in the restaurant of the fishing village rounds off the trail.

8th Day: Adios Amigos

After breakfast, transfer to the airports or continue to another trail.

> Important notice to all customers!

Information & Services

Character

The Dali Trail is a long tour with varying terrain. We ride over rolling farmland to the sea which ends at Cap de Creus, a very rocky and unspoilt peninsula of the Mediterranean Sea. The terrain also changes the character of the trail. Lively riding days dominate the beginning of the route. The beach ride is a special experience for both horse and rider and good control of your horse is required. Towards the end of the tour some steep climbs over the rugged coastal mountains determine the trail course.

Every day you will spend 3-6 hours riding and therefore the trail requires fitness and security in the saddle. Following Dali's traces on horseback will be fascinating for experienced riders.

Included services

  • Riding program as described
  • 8 days with 7 nights in a double room with shower and toilet, of which 1-2 nights' accommodation may be with a shared shower and toilet, 6 riding days
  • Arrival day dinner included/departure day breakfast included
  • 6 Riding days half board including wine
  • Tax on stays in tourist establishments
  • Transportation of luggage
  • Local transfers during the trail

Not included services

  • Flight or public transport (on arrival and on departure), taxi
  • Collective airport transfer from/to Girona/Barcelona. Charge when arriving with own car (due to the distance of starting and ending point of the trail)
  • Restaurant & Catering services during the ride: payable locally at the first dinner
  • Entrance fees to Museums and Monuments
  • Drinks/food in bars
  • Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
  • Coffee at dinner
  • Tips for the team and other services
Transfers & Caterings

Notice

  • First day: on arrival dinner is at approx. 9 p.m.
  • Last day: before departure breakfast is at approx. 9 a.m.
  • Due to local conditions, a route change or amendment may be necessary.
  • The Dalí Trail can be ridden in both directions.
  • The tour operator reserves the right to substitute the described accommodations by equivalent if necessary.

Accommodation

Single Room / Double Room / "Half Double Room"

Single rooms cannot always be guaranteed though booked. If a previously confirmed single room is not available, the guest is entitled to a refund of the price paid for those nights surcharge.

Single travellers have the option to book a "Half Double Room".

Half double rooms for bookings 60 days prior to departure can only be booked, if at that time a same-gender customer is also waiting for a roommate. If this is not the case, we will book a single room with the regular, advertised surcharge.

  • Single room supplement + 30,- Euro/night

Transfer

Airport Barcelona
  • Collective group transfer at 5:30 p.m., meeting point at the airport is in Terminal T1 in front of the Café TRAMOYA at the Group Meeting Point North located opposite from the "Oficina de Turisme" (after customs on the right).
  • Please Note! If you arrive at Terminal T2 all five minutes a free shuttle bus brings you to Terminal T1!
  • Please book your flight on the day of departure from 2:30 p.m. onwards!


Airport Girona
  • Collective group transfer at 6:30 p.m. The meeting point at the airport is in front of Café CAFFRICCIO in the arrivals hall.
  • Please book your flight on the day of departure from 1:00 p.m. onwards!

If the arranged transfer times do not fit with your arrival and departure times, we would be happy to organize a taxi for you (about €80-€120 from Girona, €240-€280 from Barcelona, depending on the trail start/end points). Other arrival and departure destinations provided on request.

Please Note: The transfer times can vary depending on flight arrival times/delays from other guests/traffic etc. Please be patient in these cases!

Transfers & Caterings

Guaranteed departure

With a small group surcharge in case the minimum number of participants is not reached. (only on demand)

Important notice

Important notice to all customers!

All trail itineraries are general guidelines and in order to offer our customers the best riding holiday experience we make occasional changes.

Depending on the number of concurrent trails, the season, the weather and national holidays, we may make alterations to itineraries at short-notice, which could affect the number of riding hours per day, the route we take to any given destination or the use of alternative accommodation. Trails can also be ridden in both directions. All changes are at our discretion but when changes are made, we endeavour to ensure that our high standards of quality are maintained and reflected in the alternatives we choose.

(*) It is specified in the Coastal Law (Law 22/1988, of 28 July) and the regulations surrounding it (Royal Decree 1471/1989, of 1 December), that excursions operated in places of maritime public domain should not be for profit. We would like to advise that we do not charge for riding on any beach and therefore that part of any ride is free of charge.

Presentation, organization, photos and information by Rudi Stolz

Booking

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