Preliminary day-by-day program
DAY 1 WELCOME TO CATALONIA
You will arrive at the farmhouse at end of afternoon and you will meet Catalonia Horse Trails team. During 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. Then, you can enjoy a fantastic and cheerful dinner!
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, you enjoy some excellent canters. Lunch stop by the river in a grove, near the pretty village of Verges, and are all welcomed with a refreshing drink. As you continue to ride for the second part of the day, you follow the path to Torroella de Montgrí at a gentle walk, and then follow the river again until you reach the sea. On horseback through the natural areas of La Gola del Ter, La Platera or El Ter Vell, you 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. You are right at the mouth of the Ter River.
DAY 3 TORROELLA, MONTGRÍ, SANT MARTÍ D'EMPÚRIES
You retrace yesterday's path, skirting the river Ter to Torruella, where you cross it and then continue into the Montgrí Massif, with its imposing castle dominating the valley. In the upper pine forest, you will have the picnic of the day whilst you enjoy an unbeatable view. Then you will descend gently to L'Escala, passing the Hotel Masia- an old mill where you will sleep the night- up until Sant Martí d'Empúries, elevated on a mound from where you can see the old Greek pier.
DAY 4 THE SECOND BEACH - VALVERALLA LAKE - SANT MORI
You trot for a kilometre down to the beach. The long curve of the bay of Roses stretches before you, kilometres of golden sand. You revel in some exhilarating canters and gallops on the beach. You then head inland again along the Fluvià river, past a bird sanctuary where you 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 you arrive at Valveralla Lake, where you soak the horses' legs to rid them of the sea salt and enjoy a satisfying picnic. In the afternoon you continue riding along a series of paths and forest tracks. Moment after moment you 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, you arrive at the equestrian farmhouse Can Sort.
DAY 5 CAN SORT- BÀSCARA
After a good breakfast, you saddle up the horses at Can Sort farmhouse. Then, along paths through fields and oak forests, you will discover the famous Bàscara racetrack, unfortunately fallow due to maintenance. You will have the daily picnic in the beautiful hermitage of Sant Baldiri and you will travel more mountainous tracks this time before arriving to back at the farm. On your way, you will ride through Les Serres and 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 dinner.
DAY 6 ADIÓS AMIGOS
Breakfast and departure to the airport.
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.
