INDICATIVE ITINERARY *
Day 1 - Saturday: Meeting at Porto (Portugal) or Vigo (Spain) airport and transfer to the equestrian center. After one hour drive, presentation, visit of the equestrian center. The evening, aperitif and dinner at the equestriian center.
Day 2 - Sunday: The day starts early and breakfast is served at 8 am. Then, you will tack your horse and start the adventure trip at just above the medieval town of Arcos de Valdevez. After crossing the town on horseback, you will follow the Peneda-Geres National Park, and discover castles, plains, hills where wild horses live. Lunch at a local mountain tavern, followed by a ride that leads to pre-historical remains of old civilizations. You will take the direction of the the National Park interpretation center, were all the information about the park will be provided. This location is also the place to leave the horses for the night, in the old forestry nursery fields. Transfer back to the equestrian center accommodation and dinner in typical Portuguese restaurant in Arcos de Valdevez town.
Day 3 - Monday: Breakfast at 8 am, transfer to horses, you will prepare them and leave into the woods of the national park, going uphill to old pasture fields, home of wild horses and all the wildlife of Penêda-Gers National park. The ride goes along this scenery all day through old trails between mountain villages, 1000 meters high, where all the horizon is free from any human presence. Lunch takes place near a mountain lake and is followed by a ride that takes you down the ancient trail. Arrival to Ferreiros village, stable the horses in the old farm house and transfer back to the equestrian center. Dinner at a typical Portuguese restaurant at Arcos.
Day 4 - Tuesday: Wake up and breakfast at 8 am, transfer to Ferreiros stables, prepare the horses and start the ride along the valley countryside, farming fields and oak tree forests. You will reach the Vez river and follow it down to the historical town of Arcos. The lunch takes place by the river side. After lunch, depending on the river level, you will cross the river or make a detour to the nearest old bridge. Arriving to Arcos de Valdevez, a tour through the old 17th century town.
Day 5 - Wednesday: After breakfast and horse tack, the ride starts to the woods above the equestrian center: protected landscape of Corno de Bico, full of forest wildlife, where wild horses, mountain cows, foxes, wild boars and even deers and wolfs can be seen. The lunch happens in a local tavern in the heart of a small and wonderful village with only 6 houses and 16 habitants. Afterwards, the ride goes uphill to a crest where we can have a great view on the Atlantic coast when the weather is clear. The next destination is the core of the protected landscape of Corno de Bico, and a quick stop at the sightseeing post of the old forestry guard. Descending from the forest, we take a trail that leads to the old villages. We leave the horses in the fields of an ancient manor house and stay overnight also in this manor house. Dinner happens in the town of Paredes de Coura, and you will have the chance to taste the famous river Coura trouts.
Day 6 - Thursday: Surrounding the manor, the landscape is full of amazing places. This day is mainly a free ride day tour, all options are available, even a rest day to enjoy the house and the pool. If you want to ride, a tour is offered inside of the protected area of Corno de Bico, where trails are so many and so full of contrasts, looking for wild horse herds will be without any doubt a memorable experience. Due to the natural territory, the meals are carried in the saddle bags. In the evening, the ride heads back to the manor house, were the owners will provide a traditional Portuguese homemade dinner, and the owners will also join us during for the meal.
Day 7 - Friday: Wake up and breakfast, prepare the horses and around 10 am, leave the manor house, heading to another wonderful landscape, through the old forestry guard trail, that will show all the beauties that they were meant to preserve and carz. The natural wild horses shelters, made groups of 50 to 60 trees planted in the woods, in a way that protected the wildlife in harsh winters and hot summers. Along the way, the meeting with the wild horses is inevitable and from their pasture grounds we head down the mountain, to the little mountain village called Grijó, where lunch is provided by the logistics. After lunch, the ride develops through rural landscape and through woods and forests, a natural balance between wildlife and the human presence in the mountain. The ride will also pass near an old castle built on top of a granit stone settlement, and in the 15th century served as a watch-post preventing incoming invasions from Spain Borders. The ride goes downhill to the equestrian center.
Day 8 - Saturday: After breakfast, say goodbye to the horses and you will be transfered to the airport.
* Indicative itinerary: may be changed if necessary.
