“Enjoy this unforgettable riding experience!”
5 Day Poqueira Short Break Mountain Horse Riding Holiday in Alpujarra Granadina, Granada
Casa La Sevillana, Bubion, Alpujarra Granadina, Granada, Andalusia, Spain
Amazing Horse Riding Holiday Spain
The Poqueira Short Break is a center-based ride offering three full days of riding, 5 - 6 hours approximate riding time per day. Each day the trails cover totally different terrain from the previous day and return nightly to the charming village of Bubion. Situated at the base of Mt. Mulhacen (3,480 meters), the Poqueira Valley offers spectacular and varied rides through the National Park. As this ride is center-based, Sierra Trails is able to be flexible with the daily itineraries and offer slightly shorter day rides if so requested. Enjoy this unforgettable riding experience!
Key information
- Rider Weight Limit: 90 kilograms / 198 pounds for experienced riders and 75 kilograms / 165 pounds for intermediate
- Horse Height Range: 14.3 to 16.1 hands
- English-type tack
- Horse Breed: Purebred Andalusian horse (PRE) and Andalusian-Arabian cross horse.
- Comfortable leather saddles for long-distance riding.
Meet the instructors
Dallas
Read more
Read more
Highlights
- Approximate riding time: 5 - 6 hours
- Ride through forestry tracks and bridle paths
- Enjoy spectacular views down the Barranco Habali and even Morocco on a clear day
- Ride to the base of the Mulhacen, the highest peak on the mainland
- Admire beautiful location in the Sierra Nevada
- Professional riding instructor
- Breakfast, lunches, and dinner
- 4 nights accommodation
Skill level
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Styles
3 days with instruction in English
The organizer also speaks: Spanish
Group size: 2-10 participants
Airport transfer available:
Federico García Lorca Airport (Granada Jaén Airport) (US$ 60 per person)
Federico García Lorca Airport (Granada Jaén Airport) (US$ 60 per person)
Airport transfer available:
Málaga Airport (US$ 60 per person)
Málaga Airport (US$ 60 per person)
Accommodation
Facilities
- Horse riding
- Special menu request
- Parking lot
- Tour assistance
Casa La Sevillana
The accommodation will be at Casa La Sevillana. The place was formerly the rather splendid residence of the local manager of the national electricity supply company, Sevillana. When electricity supply was denationalized in Spain and assets were sold off, the family bought the house, renovated it throughout, and converted it into comfortable and attractive bed and breakfast accommodation in the dramatic setting of the Poquiera Gorge in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, in an area known as Las Alpujarras.
The views are breathtaking, snow-capped peaks in the immediate north and towards the Mediterranean Sea in the south. You can even see the Rif Mountains of Africa if conditions are right. Set in the small, ancient, white-washed village of Bubión, Casa La Sevillana is conveniently placed a few minutes away on the country road which winds up the gorge to Capileira, one of Spain's highest villages. This is a perfect base for you who love mountains and nature.
An intricate network of paths and tracks at all levels will satisfy walkers of every ability and inclination and there is one of Spain's finest stables very close by (the owner lives in the village). Local facilities are excellent. There is ample free parking. Shops, bars, and restaurants are a stone's throw away.
Program
Day 1
Arrival in the village of Bubion. While in Bubion, you will be staying in the charming Casa la Sevillana. A comfortable 19th-century townhouse, 7 bedrooms with private shower rooms, large patio, sitting room, breakfast room. Located in the heart of the village within a minutes' walk from the local restaurants and cafes. Dinner with the rest of the riders and a briefing on the following day's activities.
Day 2
After a relaxed breakfast, you will drive up to the stables (five kilometers from the village) to meet the horses. Once everyone has been introduced to their horse, you will start the ride with a steep climb through evergreen Holm oaks and pasture lands to join the main forestry track into the national park. This track allows for some steady trots and canters as it climbs high above the valley Poqueira to join one of the old bridle paths winding through pine woods and summer pastures to an altitude of approximately 2,300 meters.
Picnic lunch will be at the tree line approximately at 2,400 meters with spectacular views down the Barranco Habali, across the Contraviesa mountains to the Mediterranean, and on a clear day, Morocco. Descending on one of the firebreaks, you will pass the remains of trenches and gun placements from the Civil War (1936-1939) and down through oak woods to the main forestry track, leading back to the stables. This overall journey will take approximately five hours.
Today includes approximately 5 hours of riding.
Day 3
Riding at a lower elevation (between 1,300 and 1,800 meters), you will follow a combination of forestry tracks and bridle paths through pine, oak, and chestnut woods. During the course of the morning, in addition to the woodlands, you will pass through pretty terraced farms and orchards above the villages of Pitres and Portugos. After lunch, you will return to the stables on one of the main forestry tracks offering opportunities for some good canters.
Today includes approximately 5 hours of riding.
Day 4
Today, the highest ride of your stay will take you to the base of the Mulhacen (at 3,486 meters, the highest mountain on the mainland). During the morning, you will have a steep ascent on old Moorish bridle paths and sheep tracks over rough and steep terrain, crossing Moorish irrigation channels and snow-fed streams. There may be places you have to dismount and lead your horse.
After a picnic lunch by one of the mountain streams, you will have a much gentler descent on dirt roads down through pine woods to the control point of the national park, where you join a small path leading through the woods and down to the stables. Because today will be largely climbing, there will be no canters. The scenery and the paths are quite breathtaking. You may have a farewell drink with your guides.
Today includes approximately 5 hours of riding.
Day 5
Breakfast and departure.
The trails
With more than 30 years of knowledge of this region, Dallas has chosen a selection of trails offering an amazing diversity of terrains, views, and flora. The rides will follow ancient bridle paths and drovers' routes, dating back to the Moorish occupation and before. Many of these paths have been in use for a thousand years or more as have the terraces and irrigation channels they transverse. Through parts of the mountains, there are more recent dirt tracks providing opportunities for canters and gallops as do some of the river beds on the spring and autumn rides.
The paths, in many places, are built into the rock and it is necessary to lead your horse on some of the steeper descents. Likewise, it is necessary to lead the horses through the narrow village streets. Here, it is possible to forget the pressure of daily life and to ride all day, meeting only the occasional shepherd or farmer.
The horses
The horses are purebred Andalucian (PRE) and Andalucian Arab or sports horse crosses ranging from 14.3 to 16.1 hands. Some of the horses are homebred. Others came as youngsters and most of them stay with Sierra Trails for life. They have been carefully selected for their good natures (a trait of the Spanish horse) and endurance.
The horses are fit, happy, and strong. They enjoy their work and are a pleasure to ride. These are not the average riding school or trail horse but well-bred and schooled horses, responsive, and fun to ride. One of the most frequent comments from riders is that the quality and schooling of the horses far exceeded their highest expectations.
They lead a happy and healthy life, working hard when needed and free to be horses in a herd when not working. During the season, they work one week on and one week off. As a result, they are not sour, enjoying their work and being with people. When bringing in new horses, ideally Sierra Trails prefers for them to be unbroken and unhandled to ensure that they are correctly started. This initial contact and groundwork are essential for a good future working relationship with people.
Most of the horses have been started, backed, and schooled by Mordecai. There are selections of horses to suit different riding levels and great care is taken in the selection of horses according to the riding abilities and preferences of each individual. Sierra Trails keeps about 22 horses and each one has its own personality which is special in its own way. Knowing very well their different characters is essential in matching the horse to the rider. Nearly all the horses have basic training in classical dressage. They are light, responsive, and forward-going.
Riding ability and fitness
These rides are suitable for competent to experienced riders. In order to participate in one ride, it is necessary that you can control a horse outside at all paces and that you can mount and dismount without assistance. While for fitness, you will need to be reasonably fit to participate in the rides. In addition to being riding fit, you will be required to lead your horse on some of the steep descents and need to be comfortable walking on rough ground. There is a weight limit of 90 kilograms.
Instructors
Dallas Love
Dallas owns the longest established holiday riding center in the Alpujarra. Since 1987, her top-quality Spanish horses have provided unforgettable holidays for hundreds of people. The week rides and much of the short breaks are led by Dallas. Working with horses most of her adult life, she established the first stables in the Alpujarra and now has more than 20 horses. The horses have been backed and schooled by Dallas and her brother, Mordecai Love, a professional dressage trainer. Many of the horses have basic training in classical dressage.
Location
The stables are situated in the spectacular valley Poqueira, above the picturesque villages of Pampaneira, Bubion, and Capileira at 1650 meters. They are possibly the highest stables in Europe just over an hour drive to the coast, an hour and 15 minutes to Granada, and a little over two hours from Malaga. The Sierra Nevada covers an area of approximately 2,000 square kilometers in the provinces of Granada and Almeria in the south of Spain.
Sierra Nevada National Park covers 86,210 hectares and another 86,000-hectare natural park, making it the largest park in Spain. With more than 20 peaks over 3,000 meters, it forms the highest mountain range on the mainland. The many microclimates have given rise to the richest botanical life in Europe. 2,100 plants have been cataloged in the park and 60 of which are unique to the area.
Distances
- Coast - 1 hour
- Granada - 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Granada Airport (GRX) - 1.5 hours
- Malaga - 2 hours
Food
The food is fresh local produce. The area is famous for its air-cured hams, cheese, and trout. A special effort is made to enable the visitor to sample the different local dishes, ordering what each place cooks best. Please specify if you have any special dietary requirements. Dinner is included on the night of arrival and the night prior to departure.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
- Other dietary requirements on request
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
What's included
- 3 full days of riding
- Breakfast, lunches for three days, and dinner on the night of arrival and 4th night
- 4 nights' accommodation
What's not included
- Flights
- Personal and medical insurance
- Airport transfers
How to get there
Recommended Airports
GRX
Federico García Lorca Airport (Granada Jaén Airport)
44 km
Transfer available for additional US$ 60 per person
AGP
Málaga Airport
106 km
Transfer available for additional US$ 60 per person
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at Malaga Airport (AGP) or Federico García Lorca Granada Airport (GRX). Transfer from and to this airport is available upon request.
Sierra Trails can arrange collection from Malaga Airport (AGP) or Federico García Lorca Granada Airport (GRX) for an additional cost of 35 EUR per person each way. The collection time should be no later than 4 p.m. and the return transfer on the day of departure would get into Malaga on earlier than 10 a.m.
Airport: Federico García Lorca Airport (Granada Jaén Airport)
Airport transfer available:
Federico García Lorca Airport (Granada Jaén Airport) (US$ 60 per person)
Additional charges may apply. You can request this in the next step.
Airport: Málaga Airport
Airport transfer available:
Málaga Airport (US$ 60 per person)
Additional charges may apply. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookHorseRidingHolidays.com. All major credit cards supported.
44968
Similar Horse Riding Holidays you might like
Why choose BookHorseRidingHolidays.com
Largest Selection
Friendly Customer Service
Offers for every budget
Best Price