8 Day Beginner Horse Riding Holiday in Peneda Gerês National Park, Portugal
Portugal Horse Riding Holiday
Ecotura HorseRiding has already 20 years of experience and invites you to join a different ride in one of the most beautiful natural landscapes where you will make trips on horseback in the beautiful setting of Peneda Gerês National Park.
Key information
- Weight limit: 85 kilograms / 187 pounds
- Tack type: English tack
- Horse breed: Lusitano, Árabe cross
Highlights
- 6 days of horse riding
- Up to 4 hours daily
- Learning with sweet and well-trained Lusitano and Árabe cross
- Observation of wild Garrano horse herds during the rides
- Ride in the wild and beautiful nature of Peneda Gerês National Park
- 7 nights accommodation
- Daily meals
Skill level
- Beginner
Styles
Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport (US$ 112 per person)
Accommodation
Facilities
- Air-conditioned public areas
- Air-conditioned rooms
- Dining area
- Fireplace
- Garden
- Honesty bar
- Kitchen
- Terrace
- Free parking
- Free Wi-Fi
- Internet access
- Meeting room
- Wireless internet
The guest house is a traditional mountain house, built in the early twentieth century and recently restored. Although in essence maintaining the original features, the guest house is equipped with all modern comforts that enable visitors pleasant moments of leisure. Located in the historic village of Castro Laboreiro in the Peneda-Gerês National Park, this house is surrounded by the purest nature that you can find in Portugal.
Ideal rest from the stress of the city, it allows you to enjoy the fully-deservedp holiday. The house is equipped with central heating, a fireplace, free Wi-Fi, and a fully equipped kitchen. Extra beds are available only for children up to 15 years
Program
The itinerary for this beginner week tour can be adapted to the weather or other local conditions but during your stay, there will be a combination of half-day and full-day learning. Please note that the following are example itineraries and are not exhaustive. This is a beginner’s program for those who want to learn quickly but with sensitivity. Pedro is your host and instructor and na experienced horse rider who loves to teach people the joys of riding in a fun, fast, and secure way. It is a wonderful introduction to the world of horses as well as a chance to explore this beautiful area.
You will learn correct riding principles through a mixture of classic tuition, learning about horse behavior, observing wild horses, and enjoying relaxing rides amongst the nature of Peneda-Gerês National Park. This will be very different from the strict methods used on some beginner courses – Pedro aims to introduce you to the lovely world of horses with careful and thoughtful steps.
Daily itinerary
Day 1
No riding.
Transfer from the airport at 15:00 p.m. and travel to the village of Castro de Laboreiro. The evening is free to settle into your accommodation before dinner. Dinner at the guest house
Day 2
Riding: 1 – 2 hours
Breakfast ingredients are left for you to have your own breakfast at a place and time to suits you. At 10:00 a.m. (normally), you will be collected and taken to the stables at on the other side of Castro Laboreiro (a drive of about 5 minutes). In the morning, you will be learning how the horses think and how you should behave around them (body language) to ensure safety. Viewing the horses as companions instead of slaves.
You will start to learn about handling horses from the ground about the tack (saddles and bridles) and how all the equipment works as your first riding experience. You will learn the importance of balance, body position, and your hands, as well as how to use your legs and hands to drive the horses. You will have lunch in the gardens of the guest house. Then in the afternoon, visit the visitor center of the National Park and learn more about the area through which you will be riding. Dinner will be at guest house
Day 3
- Riding: 2 – 3 hours
- Morning and afternoon: Today you will ride outside for a walk to practice your learning from the first day and to become more comfortable in the saddle.
- Lunch: At the mountains
- Dinner: At guest house
Day 4
- Riding: 2 – 4 hours
- Morning: Learning how to put the halter and manage the horse on foot and learning how to trot.
- Lunch: At the gardens of the guest house.
- Afternoon: There is a non-riding visit to the old historical Melgaço village which is known for its old churches and castle. Along the way, you stop at the Alvarinho Centre to sample the wonderful, fresh local white wine. A typical Portuguese wine, the Alvarinho wine is one of the most important varieties of the Tart Wine Region. A true top-quality wine.
- Dinner: At the guest house
Day 5
- Riding: 2 – 3 hours
- Morning and afternoon: Riding outside at walk and trot to practice what you have learned so far, during this ride you will find and observe the behavior of wild horses.
- Lunch: At the mountains
- Dinner: at the guest house
Day 6
- Riding: 1 – 2 hours
- Morning: Riding and learning how to canter
- Lunch: At the gardens of the guest house
- Afternoon: A non-riding visit to Castro Laboreiro medieval Castle
- Dinner: At the guest house
Day 7
- Riding: 3 – 4 hours
- Morning and afternoon: A trail ride in the mountains to practice and enjoy all the knowledge you have gained during the riding clinic.
- Lunch: At the mountains
- Dinner: At the guest house
Day 8
- No riding.
- Transfer to Porto airport after breakfast.
Included excursions
There is a non-riding visit to Castro Laboreiro medieval Castle and Peneda pilgrimage sanctuary and village on day six.
Location
The Peneda-Gerês National Park is about 70,000 hectares protected area positioned at the border of Portugal and Spain adjoining the park of Xurês of neighboring Spain. Located in a mountainous region with the altitude differing between 700 meters and 1,500 meters. It has varied habitats which include dense oak forests and high granite mountain landscapes. This national park is home to the two most endangered species of mammals that is the Iberian wolf and the wild horses namely from the race called Garrano.
Close to the northern border between Portugal and Spain lies the Peneda-Geres National Park, a region of varied habitats that range from high granite mountain landscapes to dense oak forests. Not only is this a beautiful natural landscape, but it is also the territory of a large predator, the magical Iberian wolf, a species that the hosts here have studied closely for several years. In addition to the wolf, the wild Garrano horse also roams this area freely. The rides often pass herds of these horses which is a wonderful sight to behold.
They are in the origin of the Mustang horse. Some of the riding horses used are also from the Garrano breed (the others used being Lusitanos, another Portuguese breed). The riding takes you through the oak woods and groves of birch, a natural shelter for roe deer and wild boar, as well as patches of chestnut and holly trees which are inhabited by squirrels. Jays and Orioles rest along the cliffs where you might also catch a glimpse of an eagle and some rare species of crow.
Food
Daily meals are included in the price. Vegetarian, vegan, lactose, and gluten-free diets are always available at dinners and picnic lunches. The diet information should come in the booking form. You will have available in the house, in a trust system, different kinds of snacks and drinks (including wine).
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Snacks
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
- Alcoholic beverages
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Gluten Free
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
- Lactose Free
- Other dietary requirements on request
What's included
- 6 days of riding according to the day-to-day schedule
- 7 nights accommodation
- Daily breakfast
- 7 dinners
- Wine in the meals
- 6 lunches (some in local restaurants, some in nature)
What's not included
- Transfers from and to the airport (100 euros paid locally 50 euros each trip going and coming)
- Drinks or snacks outside the meals
- Items of a personal nature including beverages, laundry, phone calls, etc.
- Airfare
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport
101 km
Transfer not provided
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) We will pick you up from the airport. The transfer have the value of 100 euros per person ( 50 euros each trip) paid locally . The transfers are always on Saturdays at 3:00 p.m.
On the departure day we will leave the guest house around 9/9:30 , arriving to the airport around 11:30/12:00 p.m.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 20% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 14 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookHorseRidingHolidays.com. All major credit cards supported.