Horse 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.

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.
LOST VALLEY ROUTE   We have spent the early Spring exploring 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 will ride on high ridges and deep valleys between ancient hamlets. This 6 day ride will be inaugurated in Autumn 2010. Please enquire for details.

The GOYESCO CELEBRATIONS 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 this year from 2nd – 6th September?
Three 4 day itineraries are offered as set date departures: For both the Cork Cutters Circuit (CC1) and Sweet Chestnut and Wild Lavender Ride (WL2) guests ride on to a different location every day. Our Winter Gold (WG6) tour guests are based at a delightful cosy hotel.
Stag Forest Rides (STAG). In October we adapt the Cork Cutters’ ride to include exploring stag rutting grounds in the high cork forest.
Our 7 day itinerary combines riding routes in the Hills of Ronda with a full day exploring the fascinating city of Ronda.
An ideal ride for novice riders is the Shepherds and Smugglers 3 day one centre ride, exploring fascinating country based in a pretty farmhouse.

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.

Cork Cutters Circuit (4 days) CC1
Set date departure (intermediate level or above) or private ride.
Stunning views in all directions as we ride along high ridges and into the mysterious, magnificent cork forests. The Atlantic and Mediterranean sparkle in the distance as we pass ancient farms on a partly paved Phoenician way, hidden in the folds of the mountains.
Accommodation for the three nights is in a charming B&B, a small hotel on the river and a friendly farmhouse.
2010 Autumn Departures:, 9th-12th Sept, 29th Sept - 2nd Oct.

Sweet Chestnut and Wild Lavender (4 days) WL2
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).
2010 Autumn Departures: 23rd-26th Sept.

Hills of Ronda (7 days) HR5 including a visit to Ronda.
Set date departure (intermediate level or above) or private ride
Explore two very different landscapes in the hills south of Ronda, the fascinating Natural Park of the Cork Forests and the more open landscape of winding tracks above flower filled river valleys to the south. Half way through your holiday a whole day is dedicated to exploring Ronda, built round a precipitous gorge and filled with traces of Moorish culture, and a history of bandits and highwaymen! Ask about seeing a flamenco show.
2010 Departures: Please enquire for dates of this tour.

Sweet Chestnut and Feria Special (6 days) WL2+F
(This tour was such a success when we inaugurated it this year we plan on running it again next year, 2011. As yet jerez have not confirmed the dates for the Horse Fair next year but we will publish our dates as soon as we kknow. Watch this space!)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. You can also opt to see a gala performance by the finest Andalucian horses of the internationally renowned Real Escuela under the night skies of southern Spain.

Goyesco Special Tour One (6 days) CC1+G
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 Cork Cutters’ Circuit 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. Departure 2nd – 7th September 2010:

Stag Forest Special. (4 Days) STAG
Set Date departure. Intermediate level or above.
This exciting adventure takes us into the high cork forests at dusk as the stags prepare for rutting, locking antlers and roaring, we ride up to hear them and attempt to sight them, returning after dark to traditional Spanish cooking and a glass of Rioja in a white village high on the mountain.
Departures: 6th-9th October , 27th -30th October

Shepherds and Smugglers (3 days) SS4
Private Ride.
Guests come and stay in a picturesque farmhouse with swimming pool 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.
Departures 2010. There are no set dates for this ride and it is available all year round except during July and August..