Gourmet Coast Trail “La Pasión“

Riding, gourmet & wellness

3.790 € pp
+ additional services

Overview

Short Trail Description

Pleasurable riding at the highest level – riding and gourmet, Andalusian horse stud and the coast of Catalonia!

Tempting and delicious! This Gourmet Coast Trail spoils the rider in two ways as it provides pure pleasure for your palate and your soul! Spanish horses, gourmet food and wellness treats: experience Catalonia with all your senses! Have you ever slept door to door with the most precious horses of an award-winning Andalusian horse stud? Do you enjoy the spicy taste of goat's cheese or paella with fresh seafood and vegetables? Served with delicious wines from vines that are hundreds of years old?

Dive into the variety of Catalonia's culinary world. Whether typical tapas, regional fish or meat, homemade olive oil or a selection of fruits - let yourself be enchanted by our gourmet cook David and his exceptional cuisine! Enjoy the different regional wines with your meal - you will surely love Garnaxa and Cariñena!

Allow yourself some relief after adventurous days with beach gallops. Let your muscles relax with a relieving massage. Horse riding, wellness treats and gourmet cuisine at its best: This is what makes your riding holiday in Spain so special!

Duration

8 Days / 7 Nights / 6 Riding Days

Participants

5 - 12 Riders

Scenery

Coast
Mediterranean Coastal Area

Highlights & Facts

Daily gourmet menus with local specialties
Delicious wines of the region
Visit and overnight at the oldest P.R.E. Stud Farm in Catalonia
Wine tasting at a winery
Accommodation in historical ruins

Riding Level

2 horseshoes or more (Basic)

Recommendation

El Celler de Can Roca in Girona is the world’s best restaurant! If you book early, we are happy to help you organising a dinner for you there.

Gourmet Coast Trail „La Passion“ — Gourmet Coast Trail “La Pasión“

Riding, gourmet & wellness

Trail Route

Day
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Day 1: Riding and gourmet: country house Mas Roca

Individual arrival in Barcelona or Girona and free transfer to Mas Roca. Our friend Bogi welcomes us to his home, an old mill from the 16th century which enchants us with its unique character. We get to know our guide and our gourmet cook David, who will inspire us with the traditional cuisine of the Empordá region for the week ahead.

Delicious dishes of lamb, goat or beef are part of David's repertoire, as well as sole, gilthead and prawns. You will get to know and enjoy tapas and paellas. The tasty olive oil of the region will be part of your daily dishes, as well as homemade cheese specialties. David creates our first meal that we enjoy with a wonderful wine from the region.

Perfect vacation horse riding Catalonian delicacies

Day 2: Gourmet ride Costa Brava

Our first riding day leads us away from the Panorama-Trails horse ranch, through forests of pine and stone-oak. In a hidden valley we pass a small creek. Sunbeams break through the deep green of a tropical forest. Shrubs of bamboo line the path and lianas and climbers surround the trees above. We are in Catalonia but the ambience reminds us of Costa Rica.

At the flood plains of the River Fluvia our head chef David awaits with a glass of sparkling Catalan Cava, which we enjoy while admiring the delightfully set table full of delicacies. Fresh bread, Manchego, homemade goat's cheese and fruits such as figs, peaches and cherries make this a perfect lunch.

In the evening we ride to Bogi's place, where we spend another night. The garden with its South American feel is a beautiful spot to relax! This romantic place offers unique accommodation both for us and our horses. And, of course, another Gourmet dinner created by David is waiting for us.

Day 3: Andalusian horse P.R.E. stud in Catalonia!

Today's morning is dedicated to the river Fluvia that curls through the countryside. We follow it to the Gulf of Roses where the river flows into the ocean.

David awaits us with a delicious picnic under old cork trees. What a great place to enjoy local delicacies! With renewed energy we mount our horses once again.

Amid paddy fields we reach our impressive accommodation for the night: Catalonia's oldest P.R.E. (Pura Rasa Española) Andalusian horse stud.

Wonderful horses and charmingly furnished rooms await us. Tasteful furnishings and a great ambience are perfect for relaxing after a day's riding. In this wonderful atmosphere we are spoiled with delicious paella with seafood and fresh vegetables.

Day 4: The history of the Spanish horse! (*)

Miles of a sandy beach are ahead of us. A dream comes true: pure horse riding!

The water splashes, sand is everywhere and we gallop through the surf. Our horses play with the waves while we try to stay dry.

After this great experience we enjoy a gourmet picnic in the garden of the P.R.E Andalusian horse stud. We have a great view of the gorgeous brown Andalusian horses, grazing on the luscious green grass. We enjoy today's gourmet picnic with the beautiful scenery. After lunch, those who want to can enjoy some relaxation with a massage from our masseuse Cerrie.

Later we watch a horse presentation at the stud and get to know the history of the P.R.E. Andalusian horse. We have enough time to look around and relax. Who knows, maybe this is the place where you find your dream horse!

We spend another evening at the noble stud and discuss the memories of the day while of course we are served another wonderful gourmet dinner! What culinary experience is waiting for us today?

Will David conjure up something with Boletus and Chanterelle, or create a dish with wild boar or deer? Let yourself be surprised!

Day 5: Medieval village Perelada – Castle and Cava

We canter and gallop past the village of Castelló with its impressive cathedral. From there we get to the marsh of Aiguamolls which is a refuge and breeding ground for many birds. Crossing grazing land, we ride speedily and pass fields of vines and sunflowers on our way to Perelada.

Here we arrive at the friendly guesthouse of Fina and Pere where we spend the night. The beautiful garden and the swimming pool are perfect for relaxing! We enjoy our picnic and look forward to the afternoon when we will visit the glorious castle and its Bodega. Here we not only learn a lot about Cava but we also have a cava tasting. Salud!

Your body needs a little more wellness? No problem: if you like we can arrange a spa and wellness treat for you at the golf hotel in Perelada. Their specialities are treatments with wine, whether a body peel, a massage or a beauty treatment: wine can be used in several ways to refresh your body. If you like more "classical" treatments, there are many offers to choose from!

After another eventful day, David is waiting for us with a terrific meal sweetened by tasty almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts of the region - what a great way to end a perfect day! Another highlight of our day is a tasting of the delicious local wines! We let the evening come to a comfortable end.

Adventures ride on well-trained Spanish horses

Day 6: Wine fields and Bodega visit

The flood plains of the River Llobregat are not only home to a variety of flowers, but also mushrooms like Chanterelle, Boletus and Borel grow here very well.

Our picnic break today includes visiting a bodega. During the wine tasting we get to know the grapes of the region and learn a little more about how their delicious taste ripens and develops.

After this tasty and interesting break we mount our horses again. We pass intricate stone terraces and age-old olive trees line the path.

This is where the regional olive oil comes from, that plays an important role in the Catalan cuisine. On the outskirts of the lovely village Gariguella, our horses arrive at their spacious accommodation. We stay at Emilia's cozy house, where we let the day come to an end. Those who want to can relax in Emilia's Jacuzzi-Spa or enjoy a massage.

For dinner David creates another great menu. This time - of course - with the special olive oil and honey from the village!

Day 7: Natural Park Albera - Mediterranean Sea

Age-old olive trees and vineyards influence the landscape in the morning. We get closer to the coastal mountains of Rodas. The light in this wild and fascinating landscape is impressive.

We admire the proud formations of the Pyrenees' summits and the deep blue colour of the Mediterranean Sea. Our Andalusian horses climb the mountains brilliantly.

In the afternoon, we get to a picturesque bay of the Wild Coast where David is waiting for us with a mouth-watering picnic on the beach.

In the evening, we return to Emilia's place. For our last dinner David has come up with a very special idea: a menu with 5 courses that we will remember for a lifetime!

We enjoy the delicious food and celebrate the end of our gourmet trail with local cava and vino tinto. Visca Catalunya!

Day 8: Hasta la Vista!

Transfer to Barcelona or Girona. Departure or continue to another trail along the Wild Coast or to the Pyrenees.

> Important notice to all customers!

Information & Services

Character

Good riding and food, the best of both! The Gourmet Coast Trail – "La Pasión" is the perfect tour for "gourmets" who don't want to give up brisk riding. In addition to the delicious food and excellent wine, the trail provides various highlights: the beach ride, the magnificent panorama of the mountains and coast and the lovingly selected picnic areas. These things all give the trail an extra touch.

The Gourmet Trail is ridden at all gaits. After several hours riding we will enjoy food prepared by our gourmet chef. Lightweight hiking shoes facilitate a short descent into the coastal mountains. To make it the perfect trip, we make sure there is free time to relax between riding. This makes the trail ideal for the less-experienced riders.

Included services

Riding program as described
8 days with 7 nights in a double room with shower and toilet, of which 1-2 nights' accommodation may be with a shared shower and toilet, 6 riding days
Arrival day dinner included/departure day breakfast included
6 Riding days full board including wine (lunch picnic)
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)
Entrance fees to Museums and Monuments
Wine tasting 15,- Euro/Entrance museum + cava tasting 7,- Euro
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 Gourmet Coast 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.

(*) It is specified in the Coastal Law (Law 22/1988, of 28 July) and the regulations surrounding it (Royal Decree 1471/1989, of 1 December), that excursions operated in places of maritime public domain should not be for profit. We would like to advise that we do not charge for riding on any beach and therefore that part of any ride is free of charge.

Presentation, organization, photos and information by Rudi Stolz

Booking

Rideable Months

Event-Dates

Bookable upon request

3.790 € *

* Prices without not included services

Guest opinions

Gourmet Coast Trail „La Pasion“
September 2017

The Gourmet Coast Trail „La Pasión“ is simply the perfect blend of diverse riding days, exquisite food and time to relax. In September, it was still wonderfully warm, and we did not have a single day without bright sunshine.

Rudi was a great guide, and my horse Yakari was also super! He was so calm that I had enough time to enjoy the beautiful views and to capture them with my camera. The riding pace was perfect for me, and it never got boring.

David is a fantastic cook who prepared typically Catalan dishes we would have never dreamed of. Simply magic!

All in all, this was a successful vacation! Perfect for passionate riders who also get enthusiastic about great food, excellent wine and magnificent accommodation!

Ulrike M.

Gourmet Coast Trail „La Pasion“
May 2011

Hi Rudi, many thanks for a wonderful week's riding on the Gourmet Trail. This was my first trail with you and I'm definitely hooked! I'll be back next year, fingers crossed! Please make sure you thank David for his amazing cooking and great sense of humour, and Daniel for his patience helping us out. And let's not forget my new facebook friend Paola!! A great drinking buddy and really great helper.

Look forward to seeing some beach-ride pictures on your website!

Dave

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