Short Trail Description
Exciting horse riding trail from the Mediterranean Costa Brava to the alpine mountain peaks of the Pyrenees!
Nowadays herdsmen still pass along the so called "Camino Real" through the north-eastern part of Catalonia. In winter, the herds stay in the mild coastal areas and in summer they make their way up towards the Pyrenees. Round polished, soft, high mountain hills build a contrast to the wild and bizarre rock formations of the Garrotxa mountains. The Mediterranean Costa Brava, deep forests and meadows of the alpine mountains determine the landscape. This diverse trail through quiet and remote herdsmen's land is an extraordinary and unforgettable adventure for sporty and ambitious horse riders.
Duration
- 7 Days / 6 Nights / 5 Riding Days
- 4 - 7 hours daily, total aprox. 130 km
Participants
- 4 - 12 Riders
Scenery
- Pyrenees
Highlights & Facts
- Fantastic panoramic views
- Swimming breaks at turquoise natural pools
- Alta Garrotxa mountains
- Mountain pastures of the Pyrenees
- Accommodation in the picturesque mountain village Beget
- Ride through medieval villages
Hello Panorama Trails!
As you know I was with a group of 7 women and we did the Path of Herdsman with Luis.
The trip was a great adventure! I loved my horse Xiernado. I liked how the terrain was always changing from the Catalonia Jungle, the Garrotxa, and the Pyrenees. The overnight accommodations were fantastic, with comfortable beds and hot showers. I love that the hotels were in ancient towns with lots of history and charm. Riding into Beget was one of the highlights for me. I loved riding in the cobblestone streets and up the cobblestone steps. The sights and sounds were spectacular!
The food was so deelish and I like how we got to experience the local foods, wines and cava! I even tried pig's ears and it was very good. And the wine was plentiful!
I think the ride was probably more physically challenging than I anticipated. The downhill descents on narrow rocky paths with a 1,000 lb. horse behind me were kind a scary, but I still loved every minute of it. We had some nice fast gallops and the horses were sure-footed and fit. I learned that being in the saddle for 7 hours a day is harder than I thought it was going to be. But I felt fit enough, energized and excited to ride each day.
I liked riding over the high mountains and seeing herds of cows, flocks of sheep, shepherds & their dogs, humans picking mushrooms, etc. The solitude and beauty of that area were notable!
I give huge credit to Luis for guiding us on our adventure every day. He is a true gem and a great asset to your guide service!!! He is capable, kind & patient, and has many talents. He knows the trails and also gave us great information about the local area and the politics. He made sure we had everything we needed and that we were having fun. He has great horsemanship and also exhibited good riding skills. We wondered why he waited til the last night to pull out his guitar and sing for us. His music was amazing and we were all mesmerized! I hope you know how lucky Panorama Trails is to have him. Nacho did a great job also with transporting supplies for horses and luggage for humans. Luis and Nacho are a great team!
Thank you for providing such an amazing adventure in the beautiful Catalonia region of Spain. I am so glad I chose the Path of Herdsman, as it was challenging, beautiful, and SO fun!!! I felt very accomplished and proud of my group of ladies for rising to the challenge and embracing the great adventure. We had a blast!
Holly Isaacson