Vilafreser – La Gola del Ter – L’Escala – Vilafreser – Bascara ◀︎ View other date options ▶︎
Catalonia Extreme trail 2025
“For athletic and highly experienced athletes”
“6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS – 130 to 140 km – 5/6 HOURS x 4 DAYS RIDING”
Four long days of riding and nature. For riders who want more than just tourism but not yet a competition level, this trail offer a sportive experience with 5-6 hours riding per day and a lively pace. We ride along paths, plains, and beaches of the Alt and Baix Empordà region, with prolonged canters, combined with nights in the village of La Escala and in the countryside of La Gola de Ter.
DAY 1 - WELCOME TO CAN GRAU
You will arrive at the farmhouse at the end of the afternoon, and you will meet the Catalonia Horse Trails team. It is a special place for riders and horses with a lot of peace and tranquility, despite being located very close to Girona city. The construction, originally from 1727, is restored with simplicity and tells us its story through its old stones and antique wooden doors. After dinner we will go over the week’s program. You will be told about the special characteristics of our Arabian and crossed Anglo Arabian trail horses, fit for “endurance”. You will be given an opportunity for a one-to-one conversation designed to find every rider their perfect horse.
DAY 2 - ALONG THE RIVER TER - LA GOLA DE TER
Today’s ride is promising. The entire route crosses a landscape that combines cultivated fields, which cut into the clearings of the poplar forest on the banks of the river Ter, with small scattered human settlements integrated into the scenery. Riding through mosaic fields, we enjoy some excellent canters. For lunch we stop by the river in a grove, near the pretty village of Verges, and are all welcomed with a refreshing drink. As we continue to ride for the second part of the day, we follow the path to Torroella de Montgrí at a gentle walk, and then follow the river again until we reach our accommodation, a beautiful rural house kept alive by a Catalan family for five generations. The dinner is convivial in the large main dining room.
DAY 3 - LA GOLA BEACH - EL MONTGRÍ - SANT MARTÍ D'EMPÚRIES
After breakfast, we start in North direction to reach La Gola Beach and we ride through the natural areas of La Gola del Ter, La Platera or El Ter Vell, getting the chance to appreciate fantastic beach landscapes. At Fonollera beach, the river forms a lagoon and enters the sea completely, in front of the Medes Islands. We are right at the mouth of the Ter River. Skirting the river Ter to Torroella, we cross it and then continue into the Montgrí Massif, with its imposing castle dominating the valley. In the upper pine forest, we will have the picnic of the day whilst we enjoy an unbeatable view. Then we will descend gently to L’Escala, up until Sant Martí d’Empúries, elevated on a mound from where we can see the old Greek pier. Today we will enjoy an excellent paella for dinner, one of the most popular dishes of the coastal region.
DAY 4 - ROSAS BAY - SANT MORI - CAN GRAU
We trot our horses for a kilometre down to the beach. The long curve of the bay of Roses stretches before us, kilometres of golden sand. We revel in some exhilarating canters on the beach. We then head inland again along the Fluvià river, past a bird sanctuary where we can spot flocks of migrating birds. After a short break at Sant Pere Pescador, we continue through flat terrain with many rice plantations and peach, pear, and apple orchards around. The pace today is lively. At lunchtime we enjoy a satisfying picnic in a pine forest, then we continue riding along a series of paths and forest tracks to finally arrive at the equestrian farmhouse Masia Can Grau. Horses are at home again and we have a rest for the end of the afternoon in the garden with our horses in sight. For dinner, Anne prepared for us a homemade cuisine with delicious local wine and fresh products.
DAY 5 - BÀSCARA - VILADEMULS
After a good breakfast, we saddle up our horses and we’re prepared for another long day in the saddle. We leave Vilafreser village and ride along paths through fields and oak forests. Then we will discover the famous Bàscara racetrack, unfortunately fallow due to maintenance, but where we can enjoy lovelies’ gallops. After our daily picnic near the river and in the shade of old plantains, we will travel more mountainous tracks this time before arriving to Can Grau. On our way, we will ride through Les Serres, and we will appreciate views over Sant Mer hermitage. Finally, friendly “by by” with Catalan cava and the team before a welcome relax at the swimming pool and dinner.
DAY 6 - ADIÓS AMIGOS
Breakfast and departure… and we hope to see you again! And why not on the Pyrenees trail?
Accommodation
Masia Can Grau www.masiacangrau.cat or Can sort www.cansort.com
Hostal Can Bassalis www.hostalcanbassalis.com
Hotel el Molí de l’Escala www.molidelescala.com or Hotel Riomar www.riomarhotel.com
NOTE: The itinerary can be modified in case of incidents due to climate change or emergencies (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 ie.