Vilafreser – La Gola – Rosas beach – Vilaür – Vilafreser
Catalonia extreme
26 Feb-2 Mar, 12-17 Mar, 8-13 Apr, 30 Apr-5 May, 20-25 May, 30 Sep-5 Oct, 14-19 Oct, 4-9 Nov
Catalonia Extreme trail 2024
“For athletic and highly experienced athletes”
“6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS – 164 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, we present this trail of 5-6 hours riding per day with a lively pace, and up to 40 km in one day adding up to more than 160 km in four days. We ride along paths, plains, and beaches of the Alt Empordà region, with prolonged canters, combined with nights in Torroella de Montgrí and La Escala, where we can enjoy some nightlife.
DAY 1 WELCOME TO CAN GRAU
You will arrive at the farmhouse at end of afternoon, and you will meet Catalonia Horse Trails team. 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 - THE MONTGRI - 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 the sea.
On horseback through the natural areas of La Gola del Ter, La Platera or El Ter Vell, we get the chance to appreciate fantastic beach landscapes on this trail. 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.
DAY 3 TORROELLA, MONTGRÍ, SANT MARTÍ D'EMPÚRIES
We retrace yesterday’s path, skirting the river Ter to Torruella, where 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, passing the Hotel Masia- an old mill where we will sleep the night- up until Sant Martí d’Empúries, elevated on a mound from where we can see the old Greek pier.
DAY 4 THE SECOND BEACH - VALVERALLA LAKE - SANT MORI
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 and gallops on the beach. We then head inland again along the Fluvià river, past a bird sanctuary where we can spot flocks of migrating birds. Coffee in Sant Pere Pescador. The terrain is flat with many rice plantations and peach, pear, and apple orchards. The pace today is lively. At lunchtime we arrive at Valveralla Lake, where we soak the horses’ legs to rid them of the sea salt and enjoy a satisfying picnic. In the afternoon we continue riding along a series of paths and forest tracks. Moment after moment we pass another beautiful town, castle, church, arches, tunnels, old wooden doors with wrought iron knockers: the beauty of the stone of the past. In the afternoon, we arrive at the equestrian farmhouse Can Sort, our logistic base in the past and we have our own paddocks.
DAY 5 CAN SORT- BÀSCARA - CAN GRAU
After a good breakfast, we saddle up our horses at Can Sort farmhouse. Then, along paths through fields and oak forests, we will discover the famous Bàscara racetrack, unfortunately fallow due to maintenance. We will have our daily picnic in the beautiful hermitage of Sant Baldiri and 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 “byby” with Catalan cava and the team before a welcome relax at the swimming pool before diner.
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
Hotel La Gola www.hostallagola.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 (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.