Outside the Corral | Transhumance

Transhumance

The Transhumance ride is a real travel back in time, as you ride 200 kilometres along ancient drover routes, from Extremadura to the Gredos Mountains (or vice versa), just like cattlemen have done with their cattle for centuries. It’s a unique journey, crossing three different regions of Spain (Extremadura, Castilla la Mancha and Castilla y Lyon) and riding long distances every day.

Best period

February, March, October

Price

From € 2.450

Ideal length

9 days - 8 nights

Level

Experienced

Highlights

Ride in the footsteps of an ancestral tradition of Spanish culture: the transhumance, the migration over long distances between the mountains in summer and the lowlands in autumn and winter.

Experience the thrill of a real expedition through Spain, with your beloved four-legged friend taking you to a new place every day.

Ride well-trained PRE (Pura Raza Española) horses, personally bred and trained by your guide.

Be pampered by a small and personal team of locals.

Quick facts

Riding Expeditions

9 days - 8 nights

Experienced

Groups up to 10

5 - 7 hours/day in the saddle

Madrid

At a glance

On this authentic 9-day trail ride (8 nights, 7 days of horseback riding) from hotel to hotel you will explore on horseback the Sierra de Gredos and Extremadura region, located west of Madrid. You will ride 200 kilometres (25 – 35 kilometres per day) following the Cañadas Reales. These are ancient drover routes criss-crossed in Spain, that have served the pastoral communities for many years. These tracks are 75m wide and stretch for 700km in length. Today they are still used by cattle herders who move their cattle between summer pastures in the mountains and winter pastures on the lowlands, called the transhumance. On this ride, you will follow the Cañadas Reales from Trujillo to Navarredonda de Gredos (or the other way around, depending on the time of year), crossing three regions of Spain – Extremadura, Castilla la Mancha and Castilla y Lyon.

More information

On this trip, you’ll be firmly pampered. From the moment you land in Madrid until the end of the trip you will be in the hands of your friendly, knowledgeable hosts Emilio and Mamén. They know the area inside out and love sharing their local knowledge with you. You will stay in characteristic, rural hotels. The accommodation was carefully selected for its quality and the presence of adjoining pastures for the horses. During the day on the trails you will be spoiled by relaxing lunch and tapas breaks with delicious homemade Spanish dishes such as paella, tortilla, Spanish ham, followed by a siesta in the quiet countryside. At dinner you can again enjoy renowned local Spanish recipes and specialties. This is not the place to go hungry!

The horses are without a doubt one of the highlights of the trip. Guests ride PRE (Pura Raza Española) horses, almost all of which were bred and trained by Emilio himself. They are strong, reliable and very nice to ride. The horses are considered part of the family and are treated with the utmost care. The rides are easy-going, with exciting canters in between. The average distance covered per day is 25 to 35 kilometers. The group consists exclusively of advanced riders, with a maximum of ten (and the guide). The equipment (English saddles and bridles without bit) is excellently maintained.

In February and October the route goes from the Sierra de Gredos to Extremadura. In May, the route is the other way around.

What do others say?

The Best of South-West Iceland was my first ever riding holiday, and it turned out to be a dream vacation. The stunning natural scenery, the fantastic horses—everything was impeccably arranged! I simply had to relish the experience. Without a doubt, I’ll be booking my next riding vacation with OTC again. Now, the only decision is which trip to choose. A heartfelt thank you to Laure-Anne for providing this unforgettable experience!

Nathalie Couplez

Via

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About

Just back from a week at Monte Velho (Portugal). It was a flawless trip and top service by Laure-Anne, thank you. An incredible and unique experience in a beautiful infrastructure and breathtaking environment. The instructors are all professional and very passionate, you are welcomed by a heartwarming family, and really a place full of history. A great riding holiday to remember!

Kenny De Wever

Via

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About

I had a fantastic time on the Best of South-West Iceland ride! We explored stunning landscapes filled with mountains, valleys, and volcanic beaches. Riding Icelandic horses for the first time was truly one-of-a-kind. This was my second trip with OTC, and as always, everything was flawlessly organized. My only regret is that the adventure seemed to pass by in the blink of an eye. A huge shoutout to Laure-Anne for her impeccable planning!

Tom Werner

About

My first riding holiday was a huge success. First and foremost because of the beautiful location in Portugal where I spent some fantastic days. Laure-Anne’s helpfulness and enthusiasm leading up to the trip are certainly also worth mentioning. In the meantime, I am already making new plans and I am sure that next time I will leave on a riding holiday with an easy mind!