Vilafreser – Besalu – Vilafreser – Sant Martí d’Empúries – Vilafreser
Beach & Meadows
11-18 Feb special offer, 3-10 Mar, 14-21 Apr, 5-12 May, 22-29 Sep, 13-20 Oct, 27 Oct-3 Nov
Beach & Meadows trail 2024
“Exquisite route through the plains of the interior and the Catalan coast”
“8 days / 7 nights – 4/6 hours x 6 days riding”
It is a route through the fantastic landscape of the Empordà region and its littoral. Meadows, plains, and beaches along paths that will allow you to discover the Costa Brava. This beautiful region offers a rich medieval history and a lot of variety of landscapes. It has been voted one of the “best destinations in the world” in 2012 by National Geographic Traveler magazine, deservedly earned. You can also discover the Aiguamolls del Empordà Natural Park, a protected coastal territory designated as a RAMSAR site. It is an important area for birds, and it is located on marshland, serving as a refuge for predominantly waterfowl and migratory. More than 300 different species have been spotted here. This territory is relevant for its wide diversity of fauna and vegetation in maritime-terrestrial areas. Dunes of natural formation, beautiful villages, castles and churches, small medieval sites, paths along fields and crops allow you to enjoy a perfect experience for unique and unforgettable days on horseback.
DAY 1 WELCOME TO MASIA CAN GRAU
You will arrive to Masia Can Grau, a guesthouse dedicated to equestrian tourism and located halfway between the foot of the Pyrenees and the nature and wild reserve of the Medes Islands: the ideal place for a horse-riding start and an original way of discovering the region. On arrival day, you can enjoy a comforting convivial home cooked dinner and you will be told about the special characteristics of our Andalusian, Thoroughbred and Arabian crossed trail horses. You will be introduced the week´s program with an opportunity for a one-to-one conversation with the team, designed to find every rider their perfect horse.
DAY 2 THE JOURNEY BEGINS
Today, after breakfast, short briefing with your guide and saddling the horses, we are ready to start our adventure. We leave Vilafreser crossing oak forest, accompanied by scents of thyme and rosemary. Our destination for today is Besalú, a medieval walled village. This ancient capital is a jewel of Romanesque architecture set between two rivers. We cover many miles in the wildness Garrotxa through fields, open meadows, and forest. Our hotel is in front of the spectacular medieval bridge, and you have some time to wander around and absorb the unique atmosphere of this special village.
DAY 3 FROM BESALÚ TO EMPORDA HEALTH
In the morning we leave from Besalú into the forest and over the rolling hills around. We ride through typical Mediterranean brush wood forest, thick with bushes and calcareous soil. This is a rocky area with old buildings of traditional rural architecture like shelters for herders and small stone walls. Up to the Fluviá, out of the rolling hills onto the plains, we canter through olive groves and along wheat fields. Our destination is an interesting Catalan country farmhouse restored in the historic respect of protected buildings. After settling our horses in the paddocks that await them there, we enjoy a rest at the swimming pool or in the gardens before a delicious dinner.
DAY 4 THROUGH THE EMPORDÁ REGION
After an excellent breakfast, we will join our horses and saddle up again and we will start going in West direction, back to Vilafreser. Despite being a prosperous area, the Empordá region still conserves the traditional rural and village way of life. The paths and tracks have not been asphalted nor has the countryside been fenced off so there is an unlimited combination of paths and bridleways to explore.
DAY 5 ROSES GULF
Today is a long day in the saddle. We leave Can Grau in West direction and we enjoy long canters through the Alt Empordà pine forests. Every hour we pass another beautiful village, castle, churches, arches, tunnel, old wooden doors with wrought iron knockers, the beauty of the stonework of the past. As the afternoon draws on, we can sense the proximity to the coast and at last we arrive at the Mediterranean large gulf of Roses. The assistance team is waiting for us and has prepare everything for the rest of our horses. For dinner, a delicious paella to complete this amazing day.
DAY 6 ¡¡¡VAMOS A LA PLAYA!!!
After an earliest start, we trot our horses down to the beach. The long curve of the bay of Rosas stretches before us, kilometers of golden sand. Here we enjoy some excellent canters on the beach, then, we head inland again following the river Fluviá, past a bird sanctuary where we can see flocks of migrating birds. The terrain is flat with lots of rice fields and peach, pears, and apple orchards. The pace today is lively! After our daily picnic in an evergreen oak forest, we continue our journey to the equestrian farmhouse of Can Sort. Accommodation at Masia Can Grau.
DAY 7 HOMEWARD BOUND
After breakfast, we tack up and leave the hotel South direction through Mediterranean Catalan scenery, crossing the small villages of Galliner and Vilamarí. We enjoy spectacular views over the coast plains and the foothills of the Empordà region. Crossing pine and oak forest, we stop for a rest and to have our daily picnic. For the last part of today, a gentle ride to finally join again Can Grau, where we can shower our horses and enjoy a delicious dinner.
DAY 8 ADIÓS AMIGOS
Breakfast and departure…. Friends forever!! See you next year!
Accommodation
Masia Can Grau www.masiacangrau.com
Hotel Masia La Palma www.masialapalma.com
Hotel La Martana www.lamartana.com
Hotel El Moli de l’Escala www.elmolidelescala.com or Hotel RioMar www.hotelriomar.com
NOTE: Similar accommodation in case of unavailability . The itinerary can be modified in case of incidents due to climate change (high temperatures, birds’ migration, fire, dryness, etc…). Particularly with the beach ride: it is not possible to canter when there is too much wind for i.e..