Packages and Options

Day 1: Arrival in Jerez and transfer to Zahara de los Atunes at the Atlantic coast (about 1.5 hours) where you will have dinner and stay overnight in a hotel right on the beach (alternate route starts in Alcala/Jimena).
Day 2: After breakfast you'll set off on your first beach ride to Barbate. Right after leaving the town, the beach is deserted and only used by the fishermen. As this stretch of the coast is under the supervision of the military, no hotels have been built, and the firm sand gives you the opportunity to get used to your horse in all gaits. In the pine forest behind Barbate, the support vehicle awaits you with the picnic. After a siesta, ride along the beach and through the pine forest above the steep coast of Cap Trafalgar. At this historic place with its old lighthouse you can see as far as Morocco. The horses stay in Caños de Meca, the riders drive back to the hotel at the Atlantic beach. Before or after dinner you may like to swim in the ocean or in the pool of the hotel.
Day 3: Along sandy trails you'll ride back to the beach where you will enjoy more canters. Only towards the end of this morning you'll reach the busier parts of the coast. You'll be pleased to stop at a beach-bar for refreshments. For lunch you'll turn inland to meet the support vehicle. Leaving the coastal pine forests behind, you'll cross a stretch of fertile land with sugar beet, cotton and bean fields before reaching the first meadows of Andalusia. The support vehicle awaits you with the picnic and refreshments. Ride on along Andalusia's meadows. The horses stay in the little farming village Los Naveros, the riders drive to Alcala de los Gazules. Dinner in a typical pub, overnight in a hotel.
Day 4: Leaving Los Naveros, you'll ride to Paterna along old lifestock trails, the "veréras", which are still running through all of Spain, and across meadows of cows and fighting bulls. Lunch stop in a "venta". There are no asphalt roads between meadows and fields, giving you the opportunity to canter again and again. Enjoy the view over the wide open landscape. Keeping a respectful distance you'll ride around herds of bulls and wild cows. The horses stay in Paterna, the riders return to Alcala. Enjoy an evening stroll through this unspoiled, typical Andalusian village. There is even a saddlery that you might like to check out. If you wish to buy the original boots or chaps for the feria parade, you will find them here! As dinner in Spain is seldom before 9 p.m. (here you'll enjoy game dishes) the "nightlife" in the village starts relatively late.
Day 5: Today you will approach Jerez. You'll leave the horses in Mojo shortly before reaching the town and drive to a hotel in Jerez. Women in colourful flamenco dresses and men in the typical "traje corto" can be seen everywhere. The whole town celebrates but the feria itself takes place on the feria grounds, which were laid out particularly for this occasion with bodegas and houses that are partly privately owned, partly sponsored by large corporations. You may spend the evening on the feria if you wish.
Day 6: Today you can explore the Feria with all its exhibitions and shows. Taste that tapas and the famous Sherry. No riding today.
Day 7: The horses are transported to Jerez for you. After you made your horse spick and span and dressed yourself in the typical traje, you will join into the parade. Do it like the locals and stop here and there in front of a bodega to drink a sherry. You might even be invited. In the afternoon, the horses will be loaded for transport back home while you will continue to enjoy the gaiety and various horse shows. You even have the possibility to visit a performance of the Royal Andalusian Riding School (entrance fee of about $45 to be paid in advance so we can reserve the tickets for you). Overnight as night before.
Day 8: Early transfer to the airport of Jerez de la Frontera.

This trip takes place only once a year and follows a different route each time. We ask for your understanding if it doesn't run off as smoothly as our other trips. In Andalusia, customs are different and clocks tick slower. We should try to respect this.

For the tour, we recommend regular riding clothes with jodhpurs or jeans. Mini-chaps with short boots or running shoes would come in quite handy. The atmosphere is very relaxed. Bring some long-sleeved shirts and T-shirts. A sweater for cool evenings, gloves and some kind of hat to protect yourself from the sun should be part of your luggage. Don’t forget your bathing suit, suntan lotion and sunglasses.

During the Feria you will need to dress up. We supply you with the typical “traje” consisting of high waist pants and a grey, short bolero jacket. Suitable shoes are either Spanish riding boots (can be bought locally) and jodhpurs. Bring a white shirt or blouse. Also, you must wear a Spanish hat which can be bought locally.