Andorra Trail

Day 2: Trail ride between two bays

After an extensive breakfast, we get to know our horses and get ready to start our adventure! Leaving from the coast, we ride towards the Albera Mountains enjoying fantastic views over the rugged coastline of the Costa Brava. Underneath shady trees our first picnic is waiting for us.

The afternoon brings breath-taking views of the French and Catalan coasts. Like an amphitheatre, a bizarre mountain backdrop surrounds the plain lying ahead of us. Pine forests, vineyards and olive groves characterise the Mediterranean landscape. After some gallops, we reach a small mountain village. Here, we spend the night in an old castle. For dinner, we visit a local bar with delicious Catalan cuisine and “vino tinto” from a Bodega nearby.

Day 3: Alt Empordà – a touch of Africa

We begin our day with a hearty breakfast before taking time to enjoy a relaxing swim in the beautiful natural silver pool in one of the river gorges.

Refreshed, we get ready for our journey inland with the horses and pass through the beautiful landscape of Alt Emporda with an atmosphere that reminds us of Africa. Cork oak forests and vineyards accompany us on our way until we eventually discover a gorgeous lake. Before we have lunch, we enjoy a bath in the bright green water of the lake.

Our afternoon ride takes us along the lake, through the forested hilly landscape of the lower Pyrenees. In the evening, we arrive at the ‘Hostal del Aigua’ where a hot shower and a delicious dinner prepared by our chef de cuisine David is waiting for us.

Day 4: The Garrotxa Mountains, wild and fearless

In the morning, we follow the river upstream and then head along the mountain tracks at a fast pace with some long relaxed gallops.

We stop in a wonderful river valley for a ‘cowboy picnic’ – the horses enjoy the ‘picnic’ as well. And that is not all: The beautiful turquoise water pools of the mountain stream invite us to swim, jump and dive. The murmur of the stream relaxes us and we have a siesta.

Now we are ready to climb uphill step by step! We cross a Roman bridge with our horses. Via a ‘jungle trail’ we immerse ourselves in the loneliness of the Garrotxa Mountains.

We make our camp for the night at a beautiful and atmospheric chapel. The acoustics, the solitude and the magnificent panorama provides a feeling of happiness. Before dinner we watch our horses in their meadow and look back on the high points of the day.

Day 5: Red canyon like in Arizona

The mountain landscape now subtly changes as we travel into the area of Alt Garrotxa with its deep valleys, craggy rock faces and thick oak forests.

As we cross a small high plateau we pass into France! The red volcanic earth (‘Terre rouge’) gives an amazing atmosphere to the landscape.

After some fast gallops we arrive in a typical French Pyrenean village. Under a Roman bridge, we find two splendid water basins for our refreshment.

The afternoon takes us further into France. We pass through beech groves and later follow a mountain track evolving from the trees. This track leads us to our accommodation for tonight. We admire the splendid view on the surrounding peaks of the Pyrenees and look forward to a warm shower. With a cosy dinner we let this day come to an end.

With a cosy campfire and a dinner in the refuge, we let this day come to an end.

Day 6: Sierra Cavallera – Sierra of horses

Above the clouds, we leave France and come back to Catalonia, passing through green mountain pastures and shady forests. We pause in a picturesque mountain village for a cold drink before climbing high into open mountain meadows, getting the feel of the High Pyrenees for the first time. We pass herds of cattle and mountain horses, enjoying some gallops as we climb.

We cross an elongate mountain ridge to ride on lonely paths through this beautiful mountain paradise to the small town Camprodon. During a walk in the evening, one of the bars might invite us to have a drink...

Day 7: Endless alms – a feeling of Mongolia

Today we have some spectacular climbs up on endless mountain meadows! We see large herds of mountain horses as well as cattle, who watch us curiously as we listen to the sound of their bells.

Above us, the vultures and eagles soar and they show us their incredible wingspan. We can enjoy some long and exciting gallops as we climb through the fields.

For lunch, we make a little detour back to civilization and visit a restaurant in a little town.

In the afternoon we pass fabulous forests; the moss covering the ground swallows the sound of our horses’ hooves so that we climb further in a peaceful quietness. In the evening we reach our campsite for the night. The shepherd’s refuge provides space to make a fire and cook a well-deserved barbecue.

Day 8: Chamois in the Mongrony Massif

Setting off, we once again emerge from the forests into the open mountain meadows.

If we are lucky we will see chamois silhouetted on the skyline, jumping from rock to rock at a breath-taking pace.

Today we will have many opportunities to trot and canter uphill, culminating in a breath-taking sprint that takes us to the ridge. What a view we have from here!

Tonight, we stay in a guest house for hikers. We can have a hot shower and go to bed in the dormitory, after having a hearty dinner prepared by our innkeepers.

Day 9: Sierra Cadí – vest plateau of Cerdanya

We leave the dormitory before sunrise and get prepared for the day. In the special spirit of the early morning, we climb through the pine forest into the stunning Parc Natural de Cadi Moixero. We get to a retreat where we stop off for a snack and a cold (or hot) drink.

As we descend we catch a glimpse of the impressive Plains of Cerdanya before an exciting gallop takes us to our picnic site overlooking the plain.

Tonight we are accommodated ‘extravagantly’. We reach a village built of natural stone, where a farmhouse with cosy rooms and a hot shower is waiting for us. Dinner is being served in the garden of this wonderful place.

Day 10: Land of the Cathars

Quickly we cross the fertile plane of the Cerdanya. Lots of meadows and fields allow us to trot and canter.

When passing the River Ter, our horses have to fight the water current.

We enter the land of the Cathar. In a glamorous valley of the Pyrenees, we make our camp. The turquoise water basins of a wild river become our ‘bath tubs’ for tonight.

Up high on a rock, the remains of a Cathar castle remind us of days gone by. Our horses peacefully enjoy the nourishing, mellow green grass of the high mountains. In this ambience we get to rest and watch the starry sky before falling sleep.

Day 11: Andorra Beach – Trail riding in Andorra

Today we set out for a short but challenging climb into Andorra. It is an exciting day, as we are carrying with us all that we will need for the next two days!

We are rewarded with the sight of a stunning lake that could be something from the Caribbean – but at 2500 m!

Here we are – beach to beach and three countries in just 10 days on horseback!

The horses have a beautiful field overlooking the lake while we enjoy our picnic at the lake and relax on the beach. Of course, we also enjoy a swim and take a siesta!

Refreshed and relaxed, we get back on our horses after the siesta and rejoice at the sight of the many streams along our way.

Right in the middle of the High Pyrenees, we arrive at a wonderful place in the evening where we make our camp for the night.

There is a river close by where we can bath and refresh. From our saddle bags, we conjure up a rich meal and get to rest with full bellies, while the air around us is filled with the calming sound of the cattle bells.

Day 12: High Pyrenees of Andorra

We keep a look out for marmots as we pass through beautiful mountain meadows and river valleys.

After some challenging climbs, we reach our picnic spot at a hidden mountain lake.

Here we can swim and relax before the afternoon takes us to the highest point of the route at 2600 m.

From here we enjoy the spectacular views of the Serra de Cadi and the Aneto, the highest mountain of the Pyrenees. Carefully, we make our way down through this magical landscape until we get to a shining mountain lake. We have reached our destination! We are back in Catalonia.

In a guest house nearby we enjoy a well-deserved hot shower and our farewell dinner, where we review our adventure. What a wonderful time we had!

Day 13: Hasta la vista, Pyrenees!

After breakfast we say farewell and transfer to Barcelona.

> Important notice to all customers!