Three day getaway to the hidden face
5 days, 4 nights. 3 days on horseback. Accommodation and full board included
The North Face in 3 days
Magnificent landscapes with a historical, cultural and gastronomic focus.
A route designed to get to know the main landscapes of the hidden side of the Sierra Nevada, in just 3 days on horseback.
Full breakfasts, picnics of homemade and traditional food in the middle of nature with the horses every midday, and "tasting" dinners in which tapas, Mediterranean, Andalusian and traditional cuisine of Castilian origin are combined.
This itinerary has been conceived for those who want to enjoy three days of exploration in the Sierra Nevada.
These three days, each day a unique experience, perfectly reflect the varied landscapes of this lesser-known slope of the Sierra Nevada: valleys, high mountain settings and the impressive "End of the World", with its captivating red clay canyons.
As a general rule, if the usual hotels are not available, we will make sure that our guests are accommodated in establishments of a similar level of quality and comfort.
Highlights
An unforgettable experience
This trail covers the lesser known - and perhaps more authentic - northern slope of this mountain range, within the protected areas of the National Park and the Nature Reserve. The contrasts are extraordinary: the remains of glaciers in the highest areas, deciduous forests and holm-oak groves with a diverse fauna, spectacular views from the highest plateau in Spain and villages that have survived since the splendour of the time of Abderramán III in the 11th century and spectacular views of the "End of the World".
An itinerary designed to get closer to the authentic culture, gastronomy and essence of the region.
A ride that mainly passes through areas where the landscape, flora and fauna are protected.
Dinners to enjoy the specialities of the fine traditional cuisine.
Full picnic lunches catered by local restaurants, served in a picturesque spot just a few metres from where the horses are tied up.
A vigorous trail, with lots of trotting and long gallops.
Ideal riding weather from March to October. Click here to see average temperatures.
Itinerary
Day 4 - Wednesday
Lugros - End of the world - Lugros After breakfast you will be taken to the Cabacci stables where your horse will be waiting for you. On this last day of our route we will visit one of the most spectacular places in Sierra Nevada. “The End of the World.” This red clay valley, reminiscent of the Grand Canyon, was formed during the Quaternary period by meltwater from the Sierra Nevada range and contains within its walls the largest inhabited cave complex in the world. More than 4,000 people still live in these caves. We will have our picnic in "Marchal", surrounded by this spectacular landscape. In the afternoon we will return to the Cabacci stables in Lugros, where we will say goodbye to our horses and travel by car to Guadix.
Picnic lunch in El Marchal. Tapas tasting dinner in the old town of Guadix. Overnight stay at the Palacio de Oñate hotel in Guadix.
Day 2 - Monday
Lugros - Camarate - Jérez del Marquesado After breakfast and a short 15 minute drive to the meeting point with the horses, we set off in the direction of Camarate. As we ascend, we follow easy paths and trails lined by holm oak and olive groves. These are the same paths that cows and bulls use to reach the high mountain pastures. By midday we will have reached an altitude of 2,000 meters. In a place with wide meadows and trees of Atlantic origin, we will enjoy the picnic that we carry in our saddlebags. Afterwards we will descend to the hotel El Picón de Jérez, in the small town of Jérez del Marquesado.
Saddlebag picnic in the Camarate. Dinner and accommodation at El Picón de Jérez hotel in Jérez del Marquesado.
Day 3 - Tuesday
Jérez del Marquesado - Sendero del avión - Lugros Today's route, which will reach an altitude of 2.000 meters, will cross Jérez del Marquesado and go towards the "Picón", one of the highest mountains in the Sierra Nevada at 3,090 metres. We will find small streams and waterfalls where the water comes down from the mountains of eternal snow. We will follow the same path that a group of young people from Jérez took in 1960 to rescue the American soldiers whose plane had crashed on the peaks of the "Picón". We will have our picnic next to the stream "La Tizná". From there we return to the Cabacci stables in Lugros and drive to Guadix to the Palacio de Oñate hotel. A tasting menu dinner and local wines await us.
Picnic by the Tizná stream. Dinner in a cave restaurant in Guadix. Overnight at the Palacio de Oñate hotel, in Guadix.
Click here to see the average temperatures and rainfall in Guadix.
Please note, this is a suggested itinerary only and subject to change at the discretion of our guides due to weather and other influencing factors.
Useful information
Schedules
→ Breakfast: from 8 a.m. → Meeting time every morning at the hotel reception: 9.30 a.m. → Picnic times: from 1:30 p.m. / 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Rest included. → Daily tour ends at approximately 17:30.
Where are the horses?
For the first two days and the last day, the horses are 15 minutes away from the hotel, at the Cabacci stable in Lugros. On Monday (day 2) they'll sleep near our hotel in Jérez del Marquesado.
Don't forget to bring
✔︎ Helmet. ✔︎ "All-terrain" riding boots (preferably waterproof) to walk beside the horse in rocky terrain. ✔︎ Appropriate riding pants. ✔︎ Riding gloves. ✔︎ Gaiters, if you use them habitually. We will provide you with saddle bags for you to carry with you if you wish: ✔︎ Non-breakable canteen. ✔︎ Sun protection (we recommend long sleeves). ✔︎ Lip protection. ✔︎ Insect repellent. ✔︎ Mosquito bite relief ✔︎ Swimsuit. ✔︎ Windbreaker. ✔︎ Extra battery to take pictures if your phone runs out of power. We have a basic emergency kit, but don't forget to bring any specific medication you may need.
Remember
→ Meeting at the hotel reception on Sunday (day 1) at 8 p.m. → Remember to leave your luggage at the hotel reception before 9.30 am on the days you change accommodation. → It is your responsibility to prepare your horse during the ride and to look after it and its equipment when you return to the stables. →Special diet? Let us know in advance!