Fresh & Saltwater - Mountain & Sea Trail

Catalonia on horseback – Swimming with horses

1.890 € pp
+ additional services

Overview

Short Trail Description

Refreshing trail along crystal clear streams of the Pyrenees and lakes to the Mediterranean Sea. Swimming with horses on the trail and riding through the Mediterranean mountains and plateau to the sea. We stop for a beautiful bathe every day!

Duration

7 Days / 6 Nights / 5 Riding Days

5 - 7 hours in the saddle. Total ca. 120 km

Participants

4 - 12 Riders

Scenery

Mountain & Sea
Mediterranean Coastal Area

Highlights & Facts

Trail riding Catalonia! From the mountains to the sea
A unique experience: swimming with the horses
Crystal clear mountain streams – a picnic each day next to water
Swimming in salty and fresh water
Riding through silvery cork oak forests
Fantastically long canters in the wide valley
Breath-taking panoramic views of the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean Sea

Riding Level

3 horseshoes or more (Intermediate)

Recommendation

After a lot of nature and water, we recommend a day in the world city of Barcelona. Catalonia offers incomparable contrasts!

Fresh & Saltwater - Mountain & Sea Trail

Trail Route

Day
1 / 7
2 / 7
3 / 7
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5 / 7
6 / 7
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Day 1: Catalan country house

Arrival in Barcelona or Girona and transfer to our starting point, an enchanting natural stone house. Nestled in an idyllic garden, this paradise offers the perfect setting to enjoy the soothing tranquillity of nature and start our riding holiday.

Day 2: Horse riding in unspoilt nature

From the home of our horses, we ride along lonely paths through dense holm oak and pine forests. A soothing calm surrounds us - let the holiday begin!

The surroundings soon change as we ride through extensive river meadows. We enjoy a hearty picnic on the banks of the Fluvià and then cool off in the refreshing waters.

In the afternoon, we continue our ride at a faster pace and finally reach a medieval village that has already served as a setting for historical films. We round off the evening with a delicious meal in a local restaurant.

Catalonian cork oak forests on horseback

Ride through countryside Barcelona Girona

Day 3: Spain - Pyrenees

Today we start early! With the first sunlight, along the Catalan foothills of the Pyrenees, we dive deep into a shady mixed forest.

In the early morning, we allow ourselves some refreshment on horseback during a short break in a quaint village, before we continue until the mid-day picnic.

In a lonely valley, a small mountain stream splashes peacefully. Bath time! - A jump into the shining pool refreshes us and afterwards the rocks heated by the Mediterranean sun warm us up.

Our Spanish horses climb steadily and with great confidence over a pass with a magnificent panoramic view of the high peaks of the Pyrenees. We spend the night in an impressive former monastery where a guesthouse was built more than 300 years ago.

Day 4: Swimming with the horses

Today we want to swim in the lake! We wander through the beautiful Mediterranean mountain landscape. The cork oak forests spread a silvery shimmering light. Soon we have reached the swimming place and a dream comes true. We swim with the horses!

After a picnic and a siesta, we ride back to the monastery situated on a small hill. The view over the lake is magnificent.

Day 5: Ice river “La Muga“

Early in the morning we ride down to the "ice stream" La Muga. And we make a bathing stop at the river. The extremely cold water is a welcome refreshment with the high temperatures.

We follow the cool stream at a lively pace and take a lunch break in a restaurant, where we enjoy some tasty delicacies.

After the culinary strengthening, we continue along the course of the river. Then we encounter an ancient cultural landscape consisting of olive trees and vineyards. The light is impressive in this fascinating scenery.

In a winery village we spend the night in a former farmhouse. The tasteful furnishings and the lovely patio provide a beautiful ambience.

Enjoy stunning panorama horse riding Costa Brava

Day 6: Riding to the sea

Our Andalusians brilliantly master the coastal mountains of Rodas. Here the Pyrenees submerge into the sea. In a picturesque bay of the Wild Coast, we reach the beach, bathe in fresh sea water and taste the salt on our skin!

After the break on the sea, we arrive at our hotel. The view of the turquoise-blue shimmering Mediterranean Sea is magnificent.

We enjoy our last evening with good wine, a delicious fish dish and let this wonderful trail come to an end.

Discover northern Spain on Andalusian horses

Day 7: Tag: ¡Hasta la vista Catalonia!

After breakfast, transfer to the airports or continue to another trail.

> Important notice

Information & Services

Character

The Fresh & Saltwater – Mountain & Sea Trail is a good mix of riding and bathing! Along the rivers you will ride through the Mediterranean Pre-Pyrenees to the Mediterranean Sea. The trail includes mountainous and flat terrain in the valleys and plains. For this reason, the riding pace is very mixed. Lively canters and interesting climbing with the horses gives this trail ride a sporty character for active riders. On two of the days the horses have to be led by us. Comfortable walking shoes are very helpful for approximately 30-minute descents. Over five days, you will spend between 5-7 hours in the saddle and on one day we ride for 4 hours.

Included services

Riding program as described
7 days with 6 nights in a double room with shower and toilet, of which 1-3 nights' accommodation may be with a shared shower and toilet, 5 riding days
Arrival day dinner included/departure day breakfast included
5 Riding days half board including wine
Tax on stays in tourist establishments
Transportation of luggage
Local transfers during the trail

Not included services

Flight or public transport (on arrival and on departure), taxi
Collective airport transfer from/to Girona/Barcelona. Charge when arriving with own car (due to the distance of starting and ending point of the trail)
Restaurant & Catering services during the ride: payable locally at the first dinner
Entrance fees to Museums and Monuments
Drinks/food in bars
Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
Coffee at dinner
Tips for the team and other services

Transfers & Caterings

Notice

First day: on arrival dinner is at approx. 9 p.m.
Last day: before departure breakfast is at approx. 9 a.m.
Due to local conditions, a route change or amendment may be necessary.
The Fresh & Saltwater Trail can be ridden in both directions.
The tour operator reserves the right to substitute the described accommodations by equivalent if necessary.

Accommodation

Single Room / Double Room / "Half Double Room"

Single rooms cannot always be guaranteed though booked. If a previously confirmed single room is not available, the guest is entitled to a refund of the price paid for those nights surcharge.

Single travellers have the option to book a "Half Double Room".

Half double rooms for bookings 60 days prior to departure can only be booked, if at that time a same-gender customer is also waiting for a roommate. If this is not the case, we will book a single room with the regular, advertised surcharge.

Single room supplement + 40,- Euro/night

Transfer

Airport Barcelona

Collective group transfer at 5:30 p.m., meeting point at the airport is in Terminal T1 in front of the Café TABERNNUS at the Group Meeting Point North located opposite from the "Oficina de Turisme" (after customs on the right).
Please Note! If you arrive at Terminal T2 all five minutes a free shuttle bus brings you to Terminal T1!
Please book your flight on the day of departure from 2:30 p.m. onwards!

Airport Girona

Collective group transfer at 6:30 p.m. The meeting point at the airport is in front of Café LAVAZZA in the arrivals hall.
Please book your flight on the day of departure from 1:00 p.m. onwards!

If the arranged transfer times do not fit with your arrival and departure times, we would be happy to organize a taxi for you (about €80-€120 from Girona, €240-€280 from Barcelona, depending on the trail start/end points). Other arrival and departure destinations provided on request.

Please Note: The transfer times can vary depending on flight arrival times/delays from other guests/traffic etc. Please be patient in these cases!

Transfers & Caterings

Guaranteed departure

With a small group surcharge in case the minimum number of participants is not reached. (only on demand)

Important notice

Important notice to all customers!

All trail itineraries are general guidelines and in order to offer our customers the best riding holiday experience we make occasional changes.

Depending on the number of concurrent trails, the season, the weather and national holidays, we may make alterations to itineraries at short-notice, which could affect the number of riding hours per day, the route we take to any given destination or the use of alternative accommodation. Trails can also be ridden in both directions. All changes are at our discretion but when changes are made, we endeavour to ensure that our high standards of quality are maintained and reflected in the alternatives we choose.

Presentation, organization, photos and information by Rudi Stolz

Booking

Rideable Months

Event-Dates

From:	to:	Price	Book now
1748728800 Sun, 01.06.2025	1749247200 Sat, 07.06.2025	1.890 € *
1749938400 Sun, 15.06.2025	1750456800 Sat, 21.06.2025	1.890 € *
1751148000 Sun, 29.06.2025	1751666400 Sat, 05.07.2025	1.890 € *
1752357600 Sun, 13.07.2025	1752876000 Sat, 19.07.2025	1.890 € *
1754172000 Sun, 03.08.2025	1754690400 Sat, 09.08.2025	1.890 € *

* Prices without not included services

Guest opinions

Fresh & Saltwater - Mountain & Sea Trail
June 2024

Our outstanding week with Rudi riding over the Pyrenees was absolutely magic. I have never seen such superbly fit and well behaved horses nor have we eaten such bounteous qualntities of really delicious Catalonian food. Our group were a varied lot and it was so funny by the end as we rubbed off each others prickly edges and laughed the days away.

Thanks Rudi for your hard work.

Megan & Nel

Fresh & Saltwater - Mountain & Sea Trail
June 2018

Thank you for the experience on the Fresh and Saltwater Trail in hot June 2018. The organisation was great. It started with Daniela, who reserved a space for me on this ride at short notice. She sent me all the information and details as well as good directions to arrive by motorbike so that I did not have any issues finding the peacefully situated hostel in Crespià. This is where I met my nice group of fellow riders and my roommate, who was also a lucky choice! Each time, the accommodations were something special, never bog-standard, always beautifully situated, clean, cosy and charming. The hosts were friendly and there were often possibilities to go swimming in a pool or a nearby river. En-route, we never missed out on a bathing opportunity – fantastic in 30°C. A special highlight was swimming with the horses in a lake. I would like to say thank you again to my amazing Dinamico, a great horse. The food was a real treat every time, no matter if it was in the accommodation in the evening, from the saddle bags during the ride or a picnic served by Manel. Always local dishes, freshly prepared, tasty, varied and plentiful. In addition, water, red wine, cold sparkling wine, coffee – there was everything we could have wanted.

Manel, our trail assistant, was a piece of gold. Always in a good mood, always there, constantly helpful and reliable, no matter what we asked of him. For him there are never any problems, only solutions; he is a real treasure. I often admired Niki, our guide, for her patience and calmness, even when she explained something for the fifth time because someone just did not get it. She was always there to help us getting on the horses, and she continuously helped some people tacking up their horses to make sure nothing went wrong. It certainly required some skills to keep our group together. Moreover, she always made sure that the horses were alright, no matter if it was during the ride or in the evening in the paddocks. The horses were simply great! Friendly, enduring, sure-footed and well-behaved. I would have loved to take my PRE Dinamico home with me! What a wonderful horse, well-trained with good gaits and a dynamic forward thrust (he lives up to his name!), but easy to handle and a comfortable ride. A truly reliable horse, self-confident, friendly, attentive, and he was careful with placing his hooves in difficult terrain. Fearlessly he mastered anything without any problems. My all-terrain horse at home in the Black Forest, Germany, would have surely showed me the red card more than once on this route.

The route was exciting, and the terrain was a challenge leading us through diverse beautiful landscapes. The last day was quite long, after 8 hours in the saddle we could not wait to reach the sea…the only issue was that some riders had not read the trail description and the physical requirements well, or they had simply overestimated their abilities and some members of the group struggled. Even the best organisation or tour description is powerless against this. Some riders lacked the necessary knowledge of responsibly handling their horses as well as tacking them up. Thanks to the friendly horses theses riders did not get lost in canter. At least two people would happily let themselves be carried by their horses, which led to unsatisfying situations and a lack of control. My conclusion: all in all, I have collected wonderful impressions and experiences at Panorama Trails. I drove home happy and full of beautiful memories. On the way back, I would have liked to exchange the saddle of my motorbike for Dinamico’s several times.

Ulla

Fresh & Saltwater - Mountain & Sea Trail
August 2017

Words are difficult to find to describe the week I just spent. I came solo, which made me a bit nervous, but I came with an open mind ready for a new adventure. This trip was AMAZING, one of those experiences that stays under your skin a for a very long time. It is food for the soul, heart and mind. The horses are INCREDIBLE, the views are breathtaking, the rides are like no other and then there is a person who makes the trip unforgettable : NACHO! He has a gift with people and horses and he is a gift for anyone who gets the chance to meet him. He is one of those people you don't forget and that leaves a trace.... You feel incredibly safe with him and his knowledge makes you let go of everything & trust him.. He brings you to another level of yourself. The way he is with horses is as special as he is. His passion is contagious, his devotion is beautiful to watch and if you have the chance to have him as your guide, you will be inspired ! He makes beautiful picnics, he makes y ou laugh like crazy and he made this entire trip as unique as he is. You will have so much fun!!! Gracias Nacho chip por ser como eres y por llevarnos en tu mundo con tanta magia. Thank you Manel for your hard work, kindness and beautiful picnics. If you're thinking twice about doing this, don't, just go for it and close that gap! ;-) Shine

Sinead Shannon-Roche

Fresh & Saltwater - Mountain & Sea Trail
August 2017

I had a wonderful time during my Fresh- and Saltwater Trip with Nacho and learned lots about horses, riding and myself! A big THANK YOU to amazing Nacho, Manel and the whole team who made it possible! Your smiles and kindness were amazing! And a big thank you to Masnou who carried me safely over rocky terrain. I will come back for sure :) Muchas gracias!

Anna Tauc

Fresh & Saltwater - Mountain & Sea Trail
July 2017

Had an absolutely fantastic holiday at Panorama Trails. Think about a perfect horse holiday: great, kind-harted great-spirited and amazingly fit horses (rockstars!) which will carry you anywhere: over rocks, rivers and the smallest paths. They are absolutely amazing: beautiful, sweet and looking very happy. Next to this there was the awesome guidance of Nacho who has a exceptional way with horses and a good sense of adventure smile-emoticon:). Not to be forgotten there was the driver Dani who made sure we could enjoy the most perfect lunches at the stops and was always there to help everybody (and pour you some extra cava!) with a big smile. The hotels were small, family owned businesses where we again got amazing, home-cooked dinners. How Panorama Trails runs this all, so perfectly organised, smooth and kind, it is a miracle. I absolutely would recommend their trips to everybody. But be warned: you might end up taking home any of their amazing horses or be spoiled for the re st of your life with the best memory of a horse holiday ever. I know I have. I miss them already smile-emoticon:) Great thanks to Nacho, Dani and Daniela. See you next time!

Sara

Fresh & Saltwater - Mountain & Sea Trail
June 2017

Thank you to Nacho and the incredible Panorama Trails horses for a magical week in the mountains of the Pyrenees on the Fresh and Saltwater Trail. While we thought it would be a fantastic holiday what you delivered was way beyond my expectations: a tenacious, sure-footed, big-hearted, and beautiful Pura Raza Española took me safely up and down steep, winding narrow paths, jumped over rocks as if part-goat, waded through rivers, unhesitatingly took to deep waters to swim with me, clip clopped confidently through alleyways in ancient towns and flew fleet of foot across wild plains. Utter heaven. Nacho was an exceptional guide - his compassion, fun and great recontouring, together with the great hospitality at our hostels and hotels each evening and unbelievable lunches at beautifully set tables that had been conjured into the middle of nowhere by Om made this a holiday of a lifetime. I am already trying to plan another trip. Thank you. Especially to El Bubba!

Sarah Shephard

Fresh & Saltwater - Mountain & Sea Trail
June 2013

The scenery and the horses, the company and the group we rode with were very nice. Overall the ride was very good, the guide Nacho was good and Bufallo supplied good backup and great picnics. A good team! It was a pleasure to ride Marico! Thank you for a wonderful week!

Judy

Fresh & Saltwater - Mountain & Sea Trail
June 2013

Thanks for a great holiday! Having done many similar rides around the world I was impressed with the quality of the horses, the organization and the scenery on the ride. The guide made it fun and enjoyable and definitively one to remember!

Lee

Fresh & Saltwater - Mountain & Sea Trail
June 2013

We were 3 ladies from Norway who went to the salt and freshwater ride. We had a amazing week and I suffer from post-holiday blues, it hit me already when we were arriving to stay in Barcelona a few days after the ride.

We had a excellent guide.Nacho was professinoal and took good care of the horses and us.He was also funny and very nice and the groupe had a lot of fun. I liked my horse Lucero very much,he was really a sweetie.

We had good riding,nice sceneary,we took a swim in serveral rivers/lake/ ocean. We got to swim with te horses also ,and that was very fun. Buffalo was our lunchmaster with the cava,other drinks and exellent food ready for the lunches. The accomidation was fine,and the food in gereral was also wery good.

We have already decided to come back next year for another ride, the herdmans trail all 3 of us. Thank you so much Rudi for organizeing a wounderfoul vacation for me and my friends,and a special thanks Nacho and Buffalo for beeing great hosts.

Anita

Fresh & Saltwater - Mountain & Sea Trail
July 2012

Hello everybody,

Thank you for the nice holiday!!!!
It was very good organized!!

Bye!!

Diana

Fresh & Saltwater - Mountain & Sea Trail
June 2012

It's been a few weeks since I got back home from my trip with Panorama-Trails. I would like to thank you for the great time. The horses were wonderful and in great shape. The coordination with hotels and rides was great too. All in all, my vacation was wonderful and I hope I could join you again in the near future.
Thanks again,

Abdulrahman

Fresh & Saltwater - Mountain & Sea Trail
May 2012

Got home Sunday after doing the Mountain to Sea - Fresh & Saltwater Trail with five of my friends. We had the most amazing week, everything was excellent, the horses, the food, the hotels, the company and especially our guide who was fantastic!! Swimming with the horses was one of many highlights. We are suffering some serious post-holiday blues and are already planning a return trip to do another trail next year. Thanks for making it a week we'll never forget!! :-D

Kate Parsons

Fresh & Saltwater - Mountain & Sea Trail
May 2009

Hi Rudy,
Thanks for thenice sweet and salt water trail two weeks ago!
I enjoyed it very much.

Here a nice picture of one of your pretty horses 'Senaga'.

Regards,

Janna Selier, Amsterdam / The Netherlands

Fresh & Saltwater - Mountain & Sea Trail
October 2007

it was really fun, i'm realy enjoyed it!!!!!!!!

and i miss zorro!!

and thankx for the photos from you!!! they are beautiful!

thake care to and have a lot of fun!

greetz

hedi! X

Fresh & Saltwater - Mountain & Sea Trail
October 2006

The enire trip was perfect. Impeccable attention to detail on Rudi Stolz is part. He was a wonderful host and guide. And the horses were lovely. They are well cared for and obviously happy animals. Thanks for such a good establishment!

a guest

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Fresh & Saltwater - Mountain & Sea Trail

Overview

Short Trail Description

Duration

Participants

Scenery

Highlights & Facts

Riding Level

Recommendation