Horseback Riding Vacations in Andalucia, Spain : La Contraviesa Ride

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Day 1

Welcome to La Alpujarra

Transfer from Málaga airport to the village of Bubión in the picturesque Poqueira Valley where you will be met by your trek organiser and guide, Dallas Love.

Dinner with Dallas and your companion riders at a local restaurant before spending your first night in a comfortable village hostel.

Day 2

26 km. Starting at 1,650 m; down to 1,300; up to 2,200; down to 1,550

After choosing your horse, we head off eastward to Trevélez, at 1,550 metres the highest village in Spain. In the morning we follow the old mule paths through open countryside and woodlands to the villages of Pitres and Pórtugos, where we have lunch. We then climb 800 metres through Moorish terraces and chestnut groves until we reach the broad forest track which leads us past pines and oaks and on to Trevélez.

The afternoon offers many opportunities for canters and gallops. We spend the night at a comfortable hotel situated in the old quarter.

Day 3

30 km. Starting at 1,550 metres; up to 2,000; down to 1,300

Today the trail takes us south and east. For approximately 15 minutes it is necessary to lead the horses as we climb an old Moorish stone path up to an ancient irrigation channel where we mount up. We follow this through evergreen oak and pines until we reach open pastures above the village of Júviles.

Riding down to the little whitewashed village we have a wonderful panoramic view of the Contraviesa Range, the Almería coast and, on a clear day, Africa across the sea.

After lunch we climb again through gorse, lavender and thyme to join the path as it winds its way down through small terraced farms to Berchules. The evening is spent in a comfortable, family-run hotel in the village.

Day 4

21 km. Starting at 1,300 metres; down to 650

As yesterday, the first 15 or 20 minutes today is by foot, following the bridlepath through almond groves and small terraced cultivations down to the River Guadalfeo. Mounting up in the riverbed we follow the path east through the green terraces of Narila. After Narila we have to join the road for approximately 20 minutes to pass over and into the next valley.

Here the landscape changes abruptly to dry lands, deeply eroded by the winter and spring rains. Early picnic by the river. After lunch the trail climbs steeply through almond groves and eventually leads us back down to the river bed, where there are excellent opportunities for some good canters and gallops. Tonight we stay at Alquería de Morayma, without doubt the most charming hotel in the area.

Day 5

25 km. Starting at 650 metres; up to 1,600; down to 650

Today we ride to the summit of the Contraviesa range. The trail takes us through fields of almond and figs and higher up, vineyards. During the early spring the whole mountain is an amazing carpet of flowers.

Depending on the weather we will either lunch at a farm along the way or be met by the hotel staff with a delicious local rice dish. The views from the top of the Contraviesa are quite special, across the whole of Sierra Nevada to the north and the mountains dropping into the Mediterranean Sea to the south.

We return for a second night at Alquería de Morayma.

Day 6

35 km. Starting at 650 metres; up to 1,000; down to 600

Crossing the river Guadalfao we follow a steep bridlepath west to the village of Timar. From here our route follows a mixture of dirt tracks and a small local road for approximately five kilometres before beginning the descent into the spectacular gorge of Trevélez.

This descent is on an ancient Roman path cut into the side of the gorge and must be made on foot, leading the horses. It is approximately a 30 minute walk down to a bridge at the foot of the gorge. From here we ride up, past the pretty village of Busquístar and on to Portugos for a well earned lunch. In the afternoon we continue north west to Bubión, where we spend the final two nights of the week.

Day 7

20 km. Starting at 1,650 metres; up to 2,200; down to 1,650

Our final day's ride will take us high into the Poqueira Ravine, the most beautiful valley in all Las Alpujarras. The views are stunning, to the coastal mountains, the Mediterranean Sea glistening beyond (the Rif mountains of Morocco sometimes clearly visible more than 200 kilometres further south). Above us are the impressive - and often snow capped - peaks of Veleta and Mulhacen, mainland Spain's highest.

Back in Bubión, we enjoy a farewell dinner.

Day 8

Goodbye and Farewell

As ever, we wish you a fond goodbye and return you to Málaga airport for your homebound flight.