6 Day Pack “A Landscape at Each Gallop” Horse Riding Holidays in Almería, Spain
Horse Riding Holiday in Spain for Intermediate and Advanced Riders
Malcaminos is a group of local guides implicated with Tabernas and its natural environment. In this tour, they give you the possibility to discover and observe the Desert of Tabernas on horseback! They will give you the local guides, the experience, and the love that they have for this hostile land, which is fascinating at the same time. Please note that this will be a horse riding route designed for experienced riders who are comfortable with the three gaits of the horse: walk, trot, and gallop.
Key information
- Rider Weight Limit: 198 pounds / 90 kilograms
- Tack Type: Icelandic (high-end raid), English or Western. If you wish another model, please let Malcaminos know
Meet the instructors
Highlights
- Total distance: approximately 140-150 kilometers
- Explore the Tabernas Desert from the mountains to the deep valley
- Observe the geology and landscape from horseback
- Service of a guide and support vehicle
- 6 nights accommodation
- Pick-up at the LEI airport
- Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Skill level
- Advanced
Types
5 days with instruction in English
Accommodation
Facilities
- Swimming pool (outdoor)
- Air-conditioned rooms
- Environmentally friendly
- Special menu request
- Free Wi-Fi
- At Rancho Malcaminos Inn: an inn with 6 rooms, 2 double and 4 single, with the option of an extra bed. Shared kitchen and bathrooms/showers, terrace with views of the Tabernas Desert.
- Rural accommodation in the Sierra de los Filabres area: a fully equipped rural house with room service and breakfast and dinner included, or an aparthotel or hostel depending on availability and time of year.
- Outdoors. Camping.
Program
Trip facts
- Designed for confirmed high level intermediate and advanced riders.
- Comfortable riding at all three gaits is essential and good manage in all types of tracks.
- Total kilometers to be ridden: approx. 130-140 kms. Some itineraries can be shortened at the request of participants. It is important to note that not all itineraries can be shortened, which is why a high level of riding ability is required.
- Weight and height details are required. Maximum 90 kg
- Children are allowed to join this tour (minimum 16 years old with parent's signature mandatory) and they must really demonstrate the proper riding level required for this trip
- Group size: Minimum 4 participants or the equivalent in euros. Possibility of carrying out the route with one's own horse.
About the holiday
The journey proposed by Malcaminos aims to cross the desert from the base of the Sierra Nevada and Filabres mountains to Tabernas, with itineraries averaging 25 - 30 km per day, alternating between walking, trotting, and galloping.
Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrival at the ranch, accommodation at the ranch inn, and testing of horses and saddles.
- Day 2: Breakfast and morning transfer horses and riders to the starting point. Full-day route departure, including lunch at one stop in the nature (catering). Arrival at destination: campsite or rural hostel-type accommodation, activity around, and overnight stay.
- Day 3: Breakfast and day horseback ride, including lunch at one stop in the nature (catering). Arrive to accomodation (small rutal house), evening activity and dinner. Overnight.
- Day 4: Breakfast and full-day horseback ride with picnic at a stop in the nature (catering), arrival at destination, visit to western town, activity, dinner and night at camp.
- Day 5: Breakfast and half-day horseback riding trip, arrival at destination, meal. Evening barbecue at rancho and overnight. Accommodation at Malcaminos Inn.
- Day 6: Breakfast and half-day trip, circular route. Return to the ranch. Typical lunch and free afternoon. Departure of the group from the accommodation.
This holiday requires a minimum of three participants.
Included excursions
Malcaminos organise a different activity each day, once the riding day finished. The activities are all in relation to the village area stop: walking tour, wine tasting, stargazing, craft workshop, yoga session, screening of a film shot in the places visited. Complementary activities vary depending on the time of year and availability.
Instructors
Théo Bocher
Théo is a qualified riding instructor, specializing in show jumping and guided trails. He has been responsible for the horses at Malcaminos Ranch since 2020. Théo speaks English, French, and Spanish.
Cristina
Cristina is a certified tour guide and production manager in Malcaminos for all activities. She is also the owner of Rancho Malcaminos. Cristina speaks English, French, and Spanish.
Andrés Jiménez Zapata
Andrés is a qualified tour guide. He is the production assistant on Malcaminos riding trails. Andrés speaks English, French, and Spanish.
Location
Located in southeastern Spain, the Tabernas Desert is considered the only true desert in Europe, with more than 3,000 hours of sunshine per year and less than 250 mm of rainfall.
It is a 120 km² area that combines all the scenic attractions of many arid deserts in other latitudes, making it an ideal natural setting for filming feature films, series, video clips, advertising, or documentaries. Known as the European Hollywood, its landscapes have been walked by Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, Claudia Cardinale, Alain Delon, and, more recently, Christian Bale, Ariadna Gil, Joaquin Phoenix, and Jean Dujardin in films such as Exodus, The Hostile Zone, The Sisters Brothers, and El Zorro, among many others.
The Tabernas Desert is made up of five municipalities, including Santa Cruz, Alboloduy, Gérgal, Gádor, and Tabernas, which gave its name to this area in 1989 when it was protected for its geological and natural value.
Food
The food served depends on the day. That can be a picnic (the Malcaminos team will provide everything) or a typical restaurant, barbecue, or paella.
Each day, they offer activities once you arrive at the accommodation stop, that is included and in that case: breakfast + lunch + dinner.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
Things to do (optional)
Additional programs for companions and/or for free time: activities on the Almería coast, Cabo de Gata Natural Park, guided tours of Almería, themed gastronomic and hiking nights, concerts, flamenco shows, etc. These are not included in the program. Prices are subject to availability.
What's included
- Authorized and qualified guide-monitor
- Compulsory general insurance for the activity
- Horse with saddle and saddlebags
- Bed and breakfast every night, from day 1 to day 6 inclusive: camping, inn or small aparthotel or similar
- Sleeping bags, tents and equipment for sleeping outdoors + catering + setting up the camping area
- Logistics and catering support throughout the route with Malcaminos' vehicle
- Necessary transfers for horses and riders
- Activities in contact with the traditional environment of the area
- Lunch: Picnic on the route or restaurant depending on the day of the route
- Visit and meal at Mini-Hollywood or Fort Bravo (depending on the availability)
- Pick-up at the LEI airport
- 6 nights accommodation
- Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner
What's not included
- Airfare
- Personal inssurance for each rider
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Transfer included
Almería Airport
24 km away from your destination
Depending on the program, guests can come to the ranch in their own vehicle, or airport pickup is included. Malcaminos will send instructions to reach the rancho some days before with other details for their arrival.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 40% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
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