7 Day Mesmerizing Alpujarra Trail Ride Holiday in Lanjaron, Granada

This fun horse riding holiday will take you out on treks to enjoy the beautiful and extremely diverse surroundings of the Alpujarras mountains, as well as the wide choice of easy hacks right through to challenging trail rides in this spectacular area of Southern Spain. With the stables situated 1,200 meters above the wonderful town of Lanjarón, during your treks, you will see some of the most incredible views of the surrounding Andalusian countryside with the coastline of Africa visible on very clear days.

You will follow old Moorish mule paths and valleys where the horse, mule, or oxen still to this day, pull the plough to harvest crops. This is more than just a horse riding holiday but a chance to discover the remarkable Andalusian scenery and to witness the culture where tradition remains very much part of everyday life.

This horse riding holiday is suitable for all levels from complete beginners to advanced riders. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult and children under 14 must be supervised on a ratio of one adult to one child.

Day 1: Arrival at the hotel accommodation

You may check-in any time after 2 pm on the day you choose to arrive. You can relax by the pool during the afternoon or visit the local village to explore. Later, an arrival dinner of Andalusian cuisine and wine will be served in the evening.

Day 2: Full-day trek

Today, you will enjoy a leisurely breakfast while you prepare for your first day of horse riding. You will be collected from your accommodation and head to the stables to meet your horse and saddle up for your full-day trek. Your trail will begin by heading north up above the Lanjarón River gorge.

You will then ride through the ancient oak forests towards the summit of the Pico del Caballo, reaching over 2000 meters of altitude, before dropping through the logging trails of the pine forests to Puente Palo. A picnic lunch will then be enjoyed in the pine forest, before riding east to an idyllic location high on the slopes of the Poqueria valley, where you will spend a relaxing night in beautiful mountain cottages. The wonderful views extend across the Poqueria valley to the whitewashed mountain villages of Capileira, Bubion, and Pampaniera.

Day 3: Full-day trek

Today you will head north following the Poqueria valley with the picturesque town of Capilera to your east. This is one of the highest towns in Spain. You will trek towards Mulhacén, which has the highest majestic peak on the mainland. With the snowy backdrop, this valley is truly stunning.

Crossing mountain pasture land on a little known, old Moorish bridle path, you will head up through the pine trees to Refugio Piuca. You will follow the wide forest logging track that takes you to the mountain cottages and a good night's rest.

Day 4: Full-day trek

Today, there will be plenty of cantering opportunities as you trek northwest along mountain logging tracks with a stop for a picnic lunch, high on the hillside. After lunch, you will reach the Mirador de Canar viewpoint before passing down the Prado de las Liebres (Meadow of the Hares) to the ranch below. There will be time for relaxation and a dip in the pool before dinner.

Day 5: Full-day trek

You'll ride through the hippy village of Beneficio, onto Órgiva for a stroll around the town shops and the local market (if it's a market day). The market offers a wide range of local produce and artisan products as well as clothes, shoes, and tourist souvenirs. Órgiva is the largest town in Las Alpujarras. After the market, you will take part in a fast valley ride with a picnic on the hillside overlooking Mount Lújar and the impressive mountains of the Sierra de la Contraviesa

Day 6: Full-day trek

This is a lovely long trail ride as you head up cobbled mule paths through an ancient chestnut forest to the waterfalls of the Rio de Lanjarón. High into the mountains, following the river gorge towards the snowline with stunning views of the mountains as you sit under an aged chestnut or walnut tree to enjoy a relaxing picnic. After lunch, you will follow the old Moorish water channels, before heading down to the ranch.

Day 7: Departure day

After breakfast, you will be asked to check-out of your rooms at noon and get ready for departure. You will be heading home with new horse riding skills and an insight into Andalusian life that will stay with you long after the holiday is over.

Please note that this is only a rough guide to your itinerary as it could change upon arrival, depending on the weather, as well as the ability and stamina of your riding group.

About the horses

The centre has 20+ well-trained and schooled horses varying in ages to suit the beginner and advanced rider. The horses range in height from the smallest horse at 12 hands to horses up to 17 hands and they are mainly Andalusians, PREs, Andalusian crosses with Arabs, and also Cobs and ponies. All horses are fully trained to be ridden either Western style or traditional style.

Please note that although the riding school has a wide range of horses to choose to ride, the horses on the working holiday, unfortunately, cannot take riders over 15 stone (95 kilograms). Moreover, the type of tack that is used is mainly English tack, although Caballo Blanco Horse Riding & Trekking Centre does have some Western saddles.

Lanjarón is famous for its water springs which are dotted all over the hills. Many Spanish come here to drink the water which is said to contain minerals for eternal youth. The towns in the surrounding area are heavily influenced by Gothic and Moorish architecture. While out on the hills, you will be surrounded by almond, olive, and citrus groves which are still tended to by “man and his mule”. This area of Spain really is steeped in history and rich in culture.

The stables are situated on a small plateau at a height of 1,200 meters above the spa town of Lanjarón in the Las Alpujarras region of Andalucía, close to Granada, Spain. Wonderful views of the surrounding countryside, hills, and Sierra Nevada Mountains are evident in all directions. You can even see the coastline of Africa on a clear day. It is also near to the busy market town of Orgiva which is boasting many bustling tapas bars.

Since 1980, Lanjarón has celebrated Midsummer’s Eve in honour of San Juan Bautista (John the Baptist) with its Fiesta del Agua y del Jamon (Water and Ham Festival) although the ham aspect has been overshadowed over the years by the liquid element. At the stroke of midnight on June 23, the small mountain village erupts into the greatest water fight in Spain and maybe even the world.

Famous for its mineral water, Lanjarón is the perfect destination for this crazy water war. Locals make sure they park their cars out of town in anticipation of the liquid onslaught that attracts revellers from all over the country and further afield. At midnight, participants take to the streets armed with buckets, water pistols, and anything else they can get their hands on. Total strangers soak each other to the skin while ladies spray the crowd with hose pipes from the safety of their balconies, filling up their buckets in the process.

By the time the whistle blows at the end of the fight, there is a river running through the streets and all are soaked to the bone. After a quick change of clothes, the cerveza starts pouring, fireworks fill the sky, and the real party begins. Over the next few days, revellers celebrate the calm after the storm with a feast of mouth-watering jamon (ham), another product for which Lanjarón is renowned.

Fernando, the Catholic King, conquered the town in 1490. Its Moorish inhabitants rebelled again in 1500, a revolt that was controlled by the Christians after an epic defence. The captain who defended the place preferred to throw himself from the castle tower before surrender. The town participated in an active way against the Napoleonic troops in the Independence War and its inhabitants received the qualifying name of “canoneros” since then.

The castle is currently being renovated. Only its ruins remain over a rocky promontory near to the town. It is located about 600 meters of altitude. Its location was superb because on one hand, it dominated the access road to the Alpujarra and on the other, the one that communicated Granada with the coast. The castle was surrounded by a wall defended by two great towers of rubblework, one to the north, semi-circular, and another one to the south.

Distances

• Federico García Lorca Granada Airport (GRX) - 45 minutes

+−

You will be served 4 breakfasts, 3 packed lunches, and 4 dinners. You’ll have a picnic lunch during your treks as well as a Spanish breakfast and full dinner each day. Although all meals are provided, Caballo Blanco Horse Riding & Trekking Centre also offers a "stop to shop" service with transfers where you will be taken to a large city supermarket if you would like to shop for one hour before arriving at your accommodation. The transfer service costs an additional 10 EUR.

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for: regular (typically includes meat and fish), vegetarian, and other diets can be catered for upon request.

• Spa treatment in Lanjarón
• Visit to the Moorish castle of Lanjarón
• Visit to Orgiva, the 'capital' of the Alpujarras
• Wind-surfing and kayaking on the reservoir
• Visit the beautiful beaches of the Costa Tropical
• Alpujarras nature and birdwatching
• Countryside exploration by horse
• Full-day trail rides
• Visit historic Granada city and the Alhambra palace
• High-level trekking in the Sierra Nevada
• Mountaineering in the Sierra Nevada
• Ski touring in the Sierra Nevada
• Snowshoeing in the Sierra Nevada

• 5 days' horse riding
• Assistance of at least one horse riding instructor
• All horse riding equipment
• 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 6 dinners
• 6 nights' accommodation

• Flights
• Transfers

Recommended Airports

• A reservation requires a deposit of 16.94% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.