CRYSTALLINE WATERS OF GREDOS

AUGUST 2026 | €1960pp | spain

RIDE WILD on this riverside adventure

‘A sun drenched Spanish riding escape combining long canters with exceptional local food and wild swimming pools’

Overview

Ride through the wild landscapes of the Gredos Mountains and Salamanca province on a journey that combines exciting riding with traditional Spanish village life. Following ancient drovers’ routes and quiet mountain trails, you’ll pass through forests, open valleys and historic stone villages rich in character and history.

The riding is varied throughout, with opportunities for long canters across open ground balanced with slower stretches through woodland and rural farmland. During the summer months, one of the real highlights of the ride is stopping at natural swimming pools and crystal-clear mountain gorges along the route, offering the chance to cool off with a swim during lunch breaks before continuing on horseback through the mountains.

Lunches are taken outdoors in peaceful countryside settings, while evenings are spent in welcoming rural hotels and traditional inns where you can enjoy regional food and relaxed Spanish hospitality after a full day in the saddle.

This is a ride that blends beautiful scenery, rewarding riding and authentic local culture in a relaxed and enjoyable way.

What you need to know

Horse riding in Spain
€1960 pp shared room (€220 single supplement)
All meals, drinks, accommodation, activities, luggage transport and transfers to and from Madrid airport included.
9 - 15 August, 16 - 22 August 2026
7 days & 6 nights (5 days riding)
4-7 hours riding everyday
Riding through medieval Spanish villages
Shared hotel accommodation
Opportunity to wild swim in natural gorges and pools
Family run with generous and friendly hosts

ask for more info

Riding holiday in Spain with two people riding gray horses in an open field with mountains in the background.

Close-up of a horse's head and ears with a mountainous landscape, yellow flowers, green grass, and snow-capped mountains in the background under a blue sky.

Riding holiday in Spain with a man riding a brown horse through a grassy field with snow-capped mountains in the background.

OVERVIEW

Dates: 9 - 15 August, 16 - 22 August 2026

2027 Waitlist

Price: €1960pp

Location: Spain

Operator: Jerebeque Trails

Riding level: Advanced and experienced. Able to control horse in a group up to a canter within open spaces.

Max group size: 8

Time in the saddle: 4-7 hours a day

Horses: PRE with some pure Hispano - Arab crosses too

Weight limit: 90kg

Currency: Euros

Saddle type: English

Airport: Madrid

Adventure level:

Need to know

Accommodation during the trip in twin hotel rooms with a private bathroom
All activities including riding
Breakfast, lunch and dinner & beverages
Transfers associated to and from Madrid airport
Luggage transport

What’s included:

Flights into and out of Spain
Accommodation outside of the trip
Tips / gratuities.
Travel & medical insurance (this is mandatory)

What’s excluded:

Food: Breakfast will be had at your hotel everyday and usually consists of a buffet or a traditional Spanish breakfast including coffee & tea, toast with olive oil, ham, tomatoes and cheese along with juice and cakes. Lunch will be served by Mamen and usually consists of authentic Spanish dishes such as paella. Dinner will be had at your hotel or in the town. It’s usually a set menu with 3 starter choices, 3 mains choices and 3 dessert choices followed by coffee or tea. Drinks including water, red wine and white wine are also included. They can cater for dietary requirements with advanced notice.

Accommodation:

Accommodation is in a charming boutique hotel in Hoyos del Espino. Rooms are shared but you can request a single with a charge of €220.

Accommodation and food

The horses at Jerebeque Trails are the highlight of the holiday. They are serene and incredibly well mannered, a result of excellent horsemanship and training. Most of the horses were born and bred at home making them truly a part of the family and leaving Emilio and Mamen with some great stories to tell.

Most of their horses are beautiful PRE along with some Hispano - Arab crosses.

They all live in freedom in a large group outside of rides and have the most natural life Emilio and Mamen can offer them. They are above all happy and healthy horses.

Find out more about how the horses are cared for here.

Horses

Riding hat, gloves and comfortable riding boots
Light and loose layers of clothing.
A light rain jacket
Sunglasses
Sun hat
Sun cream
A water bottle
Bum bag
A power pack for charging your phone
A charging adapter
A book for entertainment
Toiletries (remember lip balm, hand cream and moisturiser), towel, jodphurs etc
Swim suit
Camera gear
See our what to pack guide here for a full packing list.

What to pack:

You may bring 1 soft sided bag or a suitcase but it must weigh no more than 20kg and be 60-65cm high, 40-45cm wide and 20-25cm deep. This is due to there being limited space in the support vehicle. You may also bring a small personal bag such as a handbag or rucsac.

Apply to join this ride:

request to book

A platter of fresh fruit, crackers, nuts, and meat on a floral tablecloth.

Itinerary

You’ll meet at Madrid airport at 3pm (so make sure your flight arrives before this with time for delays) for your transfer to Sierra de Gredos. You’ll have a short break on the way in the town of Avila which is an amazing walled Medieval town and an UNESCO world heritage site. You’ll enjoy a welcome dinner in your hotel, positioned in a mountain village with beautiful views of the highest peaks in Sierra de Gredos.
You'll meet your horse before riding through the Tormes valley, pine forests and open fields with great views of the Gredos mountains. Lunch is at a fisherman's hut beside the Tormes river which is great for swimming in the natural pools. The afternoon will feature lots of great canters and trots as you ride back to the stables before being transferred back to the hotel. Time in the saddle: 4-5 hours.
Today you'll be transferred to another location to begin the ride, riding up to Puente de las Juntas and down to Barbellido gorge. You'll have lunch here at another fisherman's hut which is also a great spot for swimming in the crystalline waters of Barbellido gorge. In the afternoon you'll have some good canters through pine forests before reaching a different location in Navacepeda de Tormes. The horses will spend the night in this village and you'll be transferred back to the hotel. Time in the saddle: 7 hours.

You'll follow the Tormes river valley through Navacepeda, which is a historic town in the mountains, to Navalperal where you'll stop for a tapas break. You'll then continue to Pozo de las Paredes which is a 14th century bridge over the Barbellido gorge. Lunch will be at another beautiful place that's perfect for swimming. Your afternoon ride will follow the Tormes river back to the stables. Time in the saddle: 6 hours.
Today you'll ride to Canada del Gallo lagoon with some great views of the peaks of Gredos and great open canters. You'll ride down to the Tormes valley for another luxury picnic with an excellent bbq cooked there for you before the chance for some wild swimming again. After lunch, you'll head back to the stables with some long canters along the way. Time in the saddle: 5 hours.
You'll follow another route alongside the Tormes river before stopping for lunch at another beautiful swimming spot. The afternoon ride offers long and fun canters through pine forests before heading back to the stables. The week ends with a farewell dinner at the hotel. Time in the saddle: 4 hours.
You’ll have breakfast at the hotel and depart at around 10am to arrive at Madrid airport at around 12:30pm.

Apply to join this ride:

reserve your saddle

why riders love this ride

Beautiful born and bred Andalusian and Hispano - Arab horses.
The chance to swim in natural pools and gorges.
Delicious regional food and wine, some cooked on the spot for you.
Varied scenery with opportunities for long canters.
Accommodation in a charming rural hotel.

this ride is right for you if:

You like learning about the culture of countries you visit ✔
You like trying classic Spanish food ✔
You like mountain views ✔
You like exploring medieval towns, castles and churches ✔
You like staying in small boutique hotels and rural inns with a unique character ✔

About the sierra de gredos

The Sierra de Gredos is a dramatic mountain range in central Spain, known for its rugged peaks, high plateaus, and wide open valleys shaped by granite and glacial lakes. This is a landscape of striking clarity and scale, where stone villages, alpine meadows, and clear mountain air create a strong sense of remoteness. Wildlife such as ibex, deer, birds of prey, and wild horses can often be seen moving freely across the terrain. The open valleys and varied elevations make the Gredos particularly well suited to exploring on horseback, offering long riding days through quiet, expansive scenery. It is a region that feels elemental and unspoiled, appealing to those drawn to nature, space, and a slower rhythm of travel.

Weather: what to expect

The Sierra de Gredos and surrounding region toward Salamanca have a continental climate with distinct seasons. Summers are generally warm, with daytime temperatures ranging from 25°C to 30°C (77°F to 86°F) in the lower valleys, while the higher mountain areas are cooler. Winters can be cold, especially in the mountains, with daytime temperatures around 5°C to 12°C (41°F to 54°F). Spring and autumn are mild and comfortable with less extreme weather.

frequently asked questions

what's the best time to go?

The best time to go on a riding holiday in Spain is generally spring and autumn. They offer a milder temperature but still lovely weather. Spring is a great time to see all the wildflowers.
what is the riding pace like?

The pace is varied with lots of opportunities for long trots and open canters.
what type of horses are used and how will i be matched?

The horses on this ride are a mix of Andalusian and Hispano Arab horses, most of which were born, bred and trained at home. You’ll be matched with a horse based on what type of horse you enjoy riding and what you’d like to get out of the riding experience.
how fit do I need to be for this ride?

You need to be fit and comfortable to be riding for 6 - 7 hours a day. For advice on how to get riding fit in time, see our blog post here.
What should I pack?

Like most riding holidays, the best things to pack are layers. You’ll want some clothing to keep you cool like loose linen shirts and also some things to keep your warmer in the evenings. See our example packing list here.
what airport should i fly into?

For this ride you’ll need to fly into Adolfo Suárez Madrid airport and arrive before 3pm which is when you’ll be collected by Emilio and Mamen.

A man with sunglasses and a yellow hat standing outdoors at a table with sliced cured meat and a whole ham on a wooden stand, with a horse nearby and mountains in the background.

your guides

A woman holding a bottle of wine and a plate of cheese and charcuterie with horses in the background on a sunny day.

Emilio and Mamen will be your guides and hosts during your trip, the team behind Jerebeque trails. They were both born in the Gredos mountains and have been organising their riding holidays for a very long time. They work together as a couple like a well oiled machine and will take great care of you.

Emilio leads every ride and always has an interesting story to tell about the area and trail. He personally takes care of all of the horses at Jerebeque trails, breaking them in, training them, and giving them a serene and confident character.

Mamen will accompany you on the trip with her big smiles and dedication to care and service. From the transfer to and from the airport to the preparation of luxurious meals in the countryside, she’s in charge of every detail that will make your trip an unforgettable experience.

The horses are just as much a part of the family and most of them have been bred at home. They are beautiful PRE horses with some Hispano - Arab crosses and you will be matched by Emilio who has a special ability to get the match spot on.

You’ll also be followed by Brasas, a friendly border collie and Emilio and Mamen’s trusted companion.

How to book

Choose your ride
Submit the application form under ‘request to book’
Wait for us to confirm space with the operator (we aim to get back to you within 24hrs)
Pay your deposit of 400 EUR
Full balance is due 4 weeks before departure

cancellation policy

Cancellation terms vary by operator and are specific to this ride.

400 EUR deposit is non refundable
If cancelled more than 4 weeks in advance, any money paid minus the deposit will be refunded
If cancelled less than 4 weeks in advance, no refund will be provided