Holiday itinerary
Make the most of the spectacular surroundings of the Alpujarra hills and Sierra Nevada Mountains on this fun horse riding holiday in Spain. Stay for 3 nights and enjoy 2 full days trekking in the area, spending 1 night in a remote mountain cottage for a horse riding holiday with a difference.
Your base will be a pretty Spanish farmhouse near the spa town of Lanjaron where people come from miles around to take the waters which are said to contain minerals for eternal youth! Just 45 minutes’ drive from Granada, this charming and tastefully restored Spanish farmhouse ‘Casa del Viento’ is set in grounds with olive, almond and fruit trees, vegetable and herb garden and a beautiful swimming pool.
This fun horse riding holiday will take you out on treks to enjoy the beautiful and extremely diverse surroundings of the Alpujarras Mountain, as well as the wide choice of easy hacks right through to challenging trail rides in this spectacular area of Southern Spain.
With the stables situated 1200 metres above the wonderful town of Lanjaron, during your treks you will see some of the most incredible views of the surrounding Andalucían countryside, with the coastline of Africa visible on very clear days.
You will follow old Moorish mule paths and valleys where the horse, mule or oxen still to this day pull the plough to harvest the earth’s crops. This short break is more than just a horse-riding holiday, but a chance to discover the remarkable Andalucían scenery and to witness the culture where even today, tradition remains very much part of everyday life.
Suitability
- Horse riding is suitable for all levels from complete beginners to advanced riders
- Minimum age: 4 (children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult and children under 14 must be supervised on a ratio of 1 adult to 1 child)
- Your hosts speak both English and Spanish
- Please note: Although the riding school have a wide range of horses to choose to ride, the horses on our Horse riding holidays unfortunately cannot take riders over 15.8 stone (100kg)
Solos Holiday?
- These horse riding holidays in Spain make perfect singles holidays, you’ll meet like-minded people
- Singles will be allocated a twin room sharing with another guest of the same sex for no supplement but private single rooms can be booked, and a compulsory single room supplement must be added at the time of booking for a single room
Horse Riding Holiday Start Days
- You can arrive on any day of the week you choose and will stay for 3 nights / 4 days
- You will stay in Casa del Viento on your first and last night (nights 1 and 3)
- Night 2 will be spent in a mountain cottage, the exact cottage you’ll stay in depends on how far you get during your trek on day 1, please note that the mountain cottages are basic but clean, warm and comfortable and typical of a 1* hotel
- Shorter and longer breaks are available, click on the ‘other courses at this school’ button to your right for other options
Riding Itinerary
Please note: - This is a rough guide of your itinerary as it could change upon your arrival depending on the ability, stamina of your riding group
Day 1 – Arrival at Casa Del Viento
- You may check-in to the Casa Del Viento any time after 2pm on the day you choose to arrive
- Relax by the pool during the afternoon or visit the local village of Lanjaron to explore
- A relaxing arrival dinner of Andalucían cuisine and wine will be served in the evening in the quaint Spanish Farmhouse
Day 2 – Full Day Trek
- Enjoy a leisurely breakfast whilst you prepare for your first day of horse riding
- Head over to the stables to meet your horse and saddle up for your full day trek
- Please note: The number of hours of riding depends on you, some people ride for 4 hours, some for up to 8 hours, your instructor will take the lead from you and you’ll be able to head to the nearest mountain cottage for the night when you’ve had enough riding for the day
- After meeting your horse you will then head to a nearby river gorge, through ancient oak forests towards the summit of one of the mountains reaching a great altitude, before dropping down through the logging trails of the pine forests
- Lunch will be a picnic out in the pine forests and afterwards you will begin your trek to one of the beautiful and idyllically located cottages where you will stay for the evening
- In the evening enjoy dinner at one of the mountain cottages which have fantastic panoramic views of the surrounding white washed mountain villages (note: the exact location of the cottage you stay in depends on how far you get on your trek that day)
Day 3 – Full Day Trek
- Enjoy breakfast at the mountain cottage before saddling up for your 2nd day of trekking
- Head out again for a day’s trek to discover more of this stunning area spending between 4-8 hours in the saddle depending on your stamina and level
- Trekking through olive groves, mountains and pasture land, down old mule tracks and perhaps stopping for to have a look around local markets where you can buy local produce
- You will ride through the valleys with a delicious picnic lunch out in the mountains during your trek overlooking impressive mountain views
- In the evening (or afternoon if you prefer) make your way back to the village and to Casa Del Viento for the evening where you will dine with the other guests in the Farmhouse and enjoy a well-deserved meal
Day 4 – Departure Day
- After breakfast guests are asked to check-out of their rooms ready for departure taking home with them new horse riding skills and an insight into Andalucían life that will stay with them long after the holiday is over
What Will I Learn?
You will spend your 2 days trekking through the hills and mountains, your instructor will guide you in the basics of riding if you are a beginner to help you develop your balance and control over the horse to help to create a harmony between yourself and the horse
- As an intermediate to advanced rider you will have the chance to develop your existing skills with plenty of opportunity to canter and gallop
About The Equestrian Centre And Your Tutor
- Your host and riding teacher Sarah established the riding centre back in 1993
- Since then it has grown to become one of the leading and most well-known equestrian centres in Andalucia with between 16-30 horses depending on the time of year
- Sarah was born in New York to Australian parents and has ridden all her life
- Sarah trained with Donald Kear BHS1, Hassa Hofman (Danish) and Eric Theilguard (Danish) and has also ridden horses in eventing and dressage
- Sarah’s experience includes running a trekking centre, training clients for dressage to Grand Prix level, training clients for eventing to advanced level as well as a dressage and working hunter judge
- The stables are situated on a small plateau at a height of 1200 metres above the spa town of Lanjaron in the Las Alpujarras region of Andalucia, close to Granada, Spain
- Due to the stunning countryside and mountain trails, trekking is a big focus here and you can ride to your heart’s content
- Sarah is assisted by another teacher and a team of friendly volunteers who help with the day to day care of the horses in return for riding lessons
About The Horses
- The centre has around 16 horses varying in ages to suit the beginner and advanced rider
- The horses range in height from the smallest horse at 14hh to horses up to 16hh
- The horses are mainly Andalusians and Andalusian crosses with 1 arab
- The horses are well trained, schooled and suitable for all levels of riders from beginners to advanced
- Please note that groups with more beginners will have a higher ratio of instructors to riders (usually 1 to 8)
Accommodation At Casa Del Viento
- Casa Del Viento is a tastefully restored Spanish farmhouse which is next to your host and teachers home Sarah
- The pretty white house has traditional thick Spanish walls to keep cool in summer and warm in winter
- Rooms are twin, single or double and the house can sleep a total of 15 people at one time
- Meals are served in the winter in front of the big open fire and in summer usually out on the terrace
- The house has stunning views overlooking the village and mountains
- The house is a short drive from the village and your hosts are happy to give you a lift where possible if you don’t have a car
- There is a pool, a bar and barbecue with tables, chairs and sunbeds
- Casa del Viento accommodation provides Wi-fi
- Your hosts have cats and dogs who come into communal areas
- Single room supplement
Mountain Cottage Accommodation
- During your treks you’ll stay in a basic mountain cottage
- You’ll have your own room but may share a bathroom
- The cottages are basic but warm, clean and comfortable and are typically equivalent to a 1 star hotel
Meals
- All meals are included throughout your stay
- You’ll have a picnic lunch during your treks and a Spanish breakfast and full dinner each day
- Where possible, the food is locally produced with many of the vegetables and herbs grown in the gardens near Casa del Viento
Go learn to horse ride beautiful Andalucían horses at this idyllic retreat in the heart of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Spain and immerse yourself in equestrian life on this unique horse riding holiday with a difference