Riding Holiday | Horseback Riding Vacations
RIDE ANDALUCIA TOURS SUMMARY

RIDING HIGH ON TRAILS WITH VIEWS OF TWO CONTINENTS AND TWO SEAS STRETCHING TO THE FAR HORIZON AND FABULOUS MOUNTAIN COUNTRYSIDE ALL AROUND.

SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL FOR THE EARLY SPRING. Gallops for Gourmets, which we launched very successfully in 2011 is a luxurious feast for the senses, discovering the delicious Andalucian cuisine and ingredients, feasting on the fruits of this wonderful countryside. Dates for 2012, weeks beginning March 10th and March 17th.
Ride Andalucia offers a variety of riding trips of one or more days in the ‘Serrania de Ronda’, Andalucia, Spain Riders are met at Gibraltar airport (less than one hour from the ride start point) or can be met at Malaga Airport.
The 4, 5, 6 and 7 day SET DATE departures are for riders “able to ride comfortably and in control at all paces on a reasonably trained horse in open ground”.
The PRIVATE rides are adapted in length and pace to suit the riders.
Please enquire about hourly or daily riding as well as longer tours. We take guided rides all year round excluding the months of July and August.

We have several once a year special rides. These include the GOYESCO CELEBRATIONS which take place in Ronda the first week in September. Bullfighting on foot and on horseback in the costume of the famous painter's era and wonderful carriage driving displays and competitions in the 18th Century bullring fill this week. There are parades, dances and all sorts of festivities. Horses, donkeys, mules and other livestock are bought and sold in the market place. We run an annual ride which includes this festival. How about joining us 4th – 9th September 2012? Or come and see the wonderful display of flowers here in southern Andalucia in April 2012 on our SPRING FLOWER SPECIAL, April 22nd – 28th. There is also a once a year opportunity to ride with us and spend a full day at the FERIA DE CABALLO in Jerez. Dates for 2012 May 7th – 12th/13th.
Two 4 day itineraries are offered as set date departures: For the Sweet Chestnut and Wild Lavender Ride (WL2) guests ride on to a different location every day.

An ideal ride for novice riders is the Shepherds and Smugglers (SS4) 4 day one centre ride, exploring fascinating country based in a pretty farmhouse.
We are also introducing a lowland ride, Castle Plains (CP8) which is a 4 or 5 day itinerary which can be ridden separately or added on to one of the above mountain itineraries to give a real variety of riding.

See below for brief descriptions of these rides or contact us.

As well as all rides listed we are able to easily tailor make rides for private parties taking into account riding ability and length of riding days preferred.
The rides are fully inclusive and for details of dates, tour content and availability contact us

Upon booking, Ride Andalucia will provide guests with travel notes, including a suggested packing list.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TOURS:
Due to fluctuations in currency we do not publish prices on our website but please contact us for current tour prices.

SOMETHING BRAND NEW FOR 2012!
GRAZALEMA COMBINATION TOUR. (7 Days)
9th – 16th APRIL 2012
A really unusual 7 day tour. 3 days of the simple life, riding high with Andalucian guide, horses (and Spanish tack) in the crags of Grazalema National Park.
Then 3 days riding in the Ronda mountains with delicious lunches in local restaurants and luxurious accommodation in a beautiful cortijo.
Two very different experiences in one week! Prices from 1350€

Shepherds and Smugglers (4 days) SS4
Departures 2012. 25th March, 30th March, 17th April,.
Private Ride. Novice level and above.
Guests come and stay in a picturesque farmhouse and ride out to explore the rolling hills and valleys, the ancient paths worn by generations of’ sheep and goats, smugglers’ mules and bandoleros’ horses. This private ride is ideal for guests who are novice riders, who don’t want to ride such long distances or are coming on their own. We can tailor make the ride each day for you.
This ride is available all year round except July and August. Please enquire for more dates...Prices from 575€

Sweet Chestnut and Wild Lavender (4 days) WL2
2012 Spring Departures 3rd – 5th April, 29th April- 1st May, 23rd – 26th May, 29th – 1st June..
Set date departure (intermediate level or above) or private ride.
We climb high above sleepy white villages and deep river valleys and into the secret sweet chestnut forests where the scent of herbs rises as our horses crush the mint and rosemary and lavender. In spring and early summer the mountains are like a huge rock garden with wild flowers and nightingales sing day and night.
Accommodation is in a unique B&B, a small hotel and a ‘casa rural’ (village house). Prices from 700€

Castle Plains: (4/5 days) CP8
2012 Departures: 12th -15th April, 18th-20th May.
Set Date Departure (intermediate level or above) or Private Ride
This ride takes us over rolling hills and meadow towards the Mediterranean and Atlantic, stretching away below us. We descend to sandy pine plantations and long trails beside a medieval walled castle overlooking a lake. Plenty of faster riding is possible on these coastal plains. You will sample local tapas and delicious picnics at lunchtime. Accommodation in two different locations, a mountain cortijo and within the castle walls. Prices from 750€

Lost Valley Route (6 days) LV7
2012 Spring Departures: 15th – 21st May.
Set date departure (intermediate level or above) or private ride.
A wild and unspoilt ride in the Upper Genal Valley. Centuries ago the Moors were driven from the coast to settle in these remote villages and we ride on high ridges and deep valleys between ancient hamlets. This is a challenging ride with steep climbs up to spectacular views and long hours in the saddle.
Accommodation varies from very simple farmhouse rooms to charming country hotels. Prices from 1155€

Sweet Chestnut and Feria Special (6 days) WL2+F
2012 departure 7th-12/13th May
Set date departure (intermediate level or above) or private ride.
Ride the Sweet Chestnut and Wild Lavender Tour (3 days riding) and then let us take you to the beautiful little city of Jerez de la Frontera for the colourful spectacle of the ‘Feria de Caballo’. When the whole town parties and shows off on horseback and in carriages. This important annual ‘fiesta’ shows us wonderful examples of the beauty of Andalucian horses and the traditional dress of their riders. Included is entrance to a gala performance by the finest Andalucian horses of the internationally renowned Real Escuela under the night skies of southern Spain. Prices from 1000€

Goyesco Special Tour (6 days) CC1+G
2012 Departure 4th -9th September
Set date departure (intermediate or above) or private ride.
See Ronda at its most flamboyant, celebrating its famous son, the artist Goya. First ride the quiet trails of the Sweet Chestnut & Wild Lavender Tour and then join the festivities in the beautiful little city where the morning is filled with 18th Century carriage driving and the afternoon with spectacular ‘rejoneo’, bullfighting on horseback. Please ask for prices

GALLOPS for GOURMETS (7 days) G4G
10th – 17th March, 17th – 24st March 2012
A very special 7 Day Break combining mountain horse riding with an unmissable opportunity, to sample and learn about the unique cuisine of this fascinating region.
You will stay in a cortijo with awe-inspiring views stretching south to the straits of Gibraltar and Morocco beyond and every day you will ride out to source the abundant produce of these rugged hills. Together we will ride through the orange and avocado groves, visit the honey hives, look for wild mushrooms, see the goat farms and black pigs in the cork oak forests, and much more. We will spend a day in the fascinating city of Ronda and visit the wine bodegas and go to the thriving fish market in the border town of La Linea. Accompanying us will be chef Neil Armstrong (www.chefneilarmstrong.com) , a chef of international repute.
In the evenings Neil will show you how to prepare and savour delicious dishes from these ingredients..Prices from 2130€

Spring Flower Special (7 days)
2012 departure 22nd – 28th April
Set date departure (intermediate level or above) or private ride.
A very special tour planned when the spring flowers cover the mountains and the valleys of this corner of Andalucia. See the rocky hills of the Serrania de Ronda softened by wild mimosa, alpine iris, orchids and a myriad of other colourful flowers. There are also more birds and wild animals around during the abundant spring season than at other times of year. Prices from 1100€

" You worked SO hard to make it perfect for us - and it was! The horses could not have been better and we loved the places where we stayed. What amazing countryside we rode through and there was a real sense of adventure as we crossed rivers and ravines." Diana & Harry May 2011

“Thank you for the most delightful five days under your care in the
Andalucian interior. You were wonderfully light of touch and informative as
a guide, and a great travelling companion. I enjoyed every moment of our
trip.” George. May 2011

“Just wanted to say again what a wonderful time I had on your Secret Valley
ride a couple of weeks ago - such a wonderful way of seeing a part of Spain
which I really love...Your helpers and horses and the organisation for the trip were superbly choreographed” Suzanne. May 2011