Andorra Trail

Day 2: Ride along the Fluvia River

In the morning we get to know our horses. The adventure begins!

Following old shepherds' paths, we cross the hilly landscape of the foothills of the Pyrenees and follow the course of the river Fluvià towards the mountains.

The pretty villages of Alt Empordà are impressive witnesses to a grandiose past. We enjoy our packed lunch in a clearing next to the river.

After a siesta, we ride at a leisurely pace to the medieval town of Besalú. Our accommodation for the night is in a hotel next to the beautiful Romanesque bridge overlooking the river Fluvià and the town. Before dinner we have the opportunity to stroll through the old streets of Besalú. In a restaurant in the square, we will enjoy a delicious paella or other typical dishes and tapas.

Day 3: Rocky gorge and mountain stream!

In the morning we ride up the river at a fast pace, then follow mountain paths and enjoy some relaxed cantering.

In a beautiful river valley, we stop for a picnic, which our horses also enjoy. A small river beach near the Roman Bridge invites us to swim, jump and dive. The babbling of the water tempts us to have a little siesta.

Now we are ready to climb up step by step. A mountain path takes us into the solitude of the Garrotxa Mountains.

An atmospheric dome tent near to a gorge, surrounded by mighty rocks, will be our sleeping place for the night. The acoustics, the solitude and the murmur of the mountain river will inspire us with happiness!

Day 4: The Garrotxa Mountains, wild and fearless!

The mountainous landscape begins to change as we ride through the area of the old Garrotxa, with its deep valleys, rugged cliffs and dense forests of oak trees.

At lunchtime we enjoy a delicious saddlebag picnic in a lovely spot by the river. After lunch and a siesta, we take a refreshing dip in the mountain stream before continuing at a brisk pace.

In the evening we reach our accommodation for the night. With its beautiful stone houses and its picturesque Romanesque church, this small medieval town is rightly considered one of the most beautiful villages in Spain. We enjoy a delicious regional dinner at the hotel.

Day 5: Mountain town of Camprodón

The route of the trail takes us deeper and deeper into the Pyrenees. Following an ancient trade route dating back to the Middle Ages, we will reach the border region with France.

We are leaving the foothills of the Pyrenees behind us. The mountains are now covered with forests of beech, oak and chestnut. The views of the surrounding three thousand metre peaks are breath-taking. Crossing the lush meadows of flowers and gentians, we approach our destination, the mountain town of Camprodón, on the banks of the Pyrenean River Ter. During an evening stroll through the pleasant town, there will be plenty of opportunities for a drink in one of the many bars...

Day 6: Pyrenees - Kingdom of the shepherds

Today we will get up early, because we are going to climb high up in the mountains. Across the wide pastures, our horses ascend towards the summit.

We meet happy cows, sheep and mountain goats. Here and there wild Pyrenean horses greet us. We are in the high mountains of the Pyrenees with their alpine character. Flowers such as narcissi, irises, gentians and mountain roses transform the meadows into carpets of flowers.

At 1800 metres we reach a pass, an endless steppe of grass and stone. The panorama is magnificent. In the west we can see the highest peaks of Catalonia and in the east the blue of the Mediterranean Sea. We stop for a siesta and observe a family of vultures circling in the sky.

Over an elongated mountain pass, we ride on lonely paths through this beautiful mountain paradise down to a small Pyrenean village. We spend the night in a former farmhouse in the valley.

Day 7: “Little Mongolia”

In the morning we cross an old mining village and ride through dense boxwood forests. During the day, some spectacular ascents over endless high alpine pastures await us! We pass herds of cattle and mountain horses that eye us curiously at the sound of their bells. Above us, vultures and eagles circle, their huge wingspan is incredible!

Once at the top, we are offered a magnificent panoramic view in all four directions: to the North, the high three-thousand-metre peaks rise, to the West we look at the towering stone mountains of the pre-Pyrenees, to the East the view reaches as far as the Mediterranean coast and to the South, we discover the extraordinary mountain range of Montserrat.

Satisfied by this magnificent landscape, which reminds us of Mongolia, we descend into the valley. The forests and the moss-covered ground swallow the clatter of our horses' hooves. In the evening we reach our domicile for today, a charming mountain hotel.

Day 8: Chamois in the Mongrony Massif

On the way again, we emerge from the shadows of the forest into the wide-open spaces of the mountain meadows.

We observe the silhouettes of chamois on the horizon, jumping over the rocks with breath-taking speed. Today we have plenty of opportunities for trotting and cantering uphill until we finally reach the mountain ridge in a stunning final spurt. What a magnificent view we are presented with here!

Tonight, we sleep in a nicely managed hikers' hut. The sunset over the surrounding rocky mountains is a unique natural spectacle. After a tasty dinner made by our hosts, we stretch out comfortably in the sleeping room.

Day 9: Sierra Cadi - wide plateau of Cerdanya

With the sunrise we leave our night camp. In the morning atmosphere we ride through the overwhelming nature park Moixeró. We arrive at a mountain hut and revitalise ourselves with a snack and a cold drink.

As we descend, we catch a glimpse of the impressive Cerdanya plateau before cantering to our picnic spot with views of the Sierra de Cadí.

Tonight, we are accommodated "luxuriously". In a nice natural stone village, cosy rooms with a hot shower await us. In the lovely bar within our country house, we are treated to a savoury dinner.

Day 10: Land of the Cathars

We ride briskly through the lush plains of the Cerdanya. The numerous meadows and grain fields offer the opportunity for trotting and cantering.

While crossing the river Ter, our horses fight against the water current.

We are entering the land of the Cathars. In an enchanting Pyrenean valley, we set up our camp. The turquoise pools of the torrent invite us to bathe and relax in nature.

High up on a rock, the ruins of a Cathar castle remind us of days gone by. Our horses peacefully savour the nourishing, lush green high mountain grass. In this ambience we come to rest and gaze at a twinkling starry sky before falling asleep.

Day 11: Hiking in Andorra

Today, we set off on a challenging climb to Andorra. It is an exciting day as we have everything we need for the next two days in our luggage!

We are amply rewarded for the effort of the ascent: the view over the high mountain landscape is unique. Here we are: at an altitude of 2500 m and in only 11 days of riding we have ridden across 2 countries!

Our horses graze in a pretty meadow by the river while we dangle our feet in the stream and enjoy the soothing, refreshing water!

In the evening, we reach a beautiful spot in the middle of the high Pyrenees, where we set up our camp. We prepare a rich dinner from our pack bags and come to rest, while the bells of the alpine cows spread their calming sound around us.

Day 12: The High Pyrenees of Andorra

On the way across beautiful mountain meadows and through river valleys, we keep a lookout for marmots. After some challenging climbs we cross the pass and reach the highest point of our journey: We are at an altitude of 2600 m! From here we have a spectacular view of the Serra de Cadí and the highest mountain in Catalonia, the Pica d'Estats. We carefully make our way down through this enchanting landscape to a shining mountain lake. We have reached our destination! We are back in Catalonia.

In a nearby guesthouse, we enjoy a well-deserved hot shower and a farewell dinner together, during which we review our adventure. What a wonderful time we had!

Day 13: Hasta la vista Pyrenees!

After breakfast, farewell and transfer to Barcelona.

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