Day 1

Arrival and transfer to the Hotel del Tio Tobas ***, evening meal and accomodation in the hotel.

Day 2 - the Zalabí Valley

We will leave by the Zalabi river valley, riding through typical red clay canyons and will ride up to the high plateau of the Marquesado. We will cross the Moorish village of Albunan. At lunch we will stop for a picnic by the Cogollos lake. Following this, we will continue our route towards the typical Andalusian village of Jerez del Marquesado and reach the heart of the Sierra Nevada Natural park. Evening meal and accommodation in the Complejo Rural los Moralillos.

Approximate duration: 5 and a half hours

Day 3 – the Alhorí river valley

This morning we will climb up to the summits through Mediterranean pine forests and small crystalline streams. We will reach the Postero Alto summit which reaches 1850m. We will enjoy a picnic lunch next to the Alhorí river before remounting. This afternoon we will follow old cattle trails back down to the Complejo Rural los Moralillos where we will have our evening meal and accommodation.

Approximate duration: 5 and a half hours

Day 4 – the Aldeire valley

We will leave Jerez along the route to La Calahorra, crossing the Jerez river and climbing up onto the high plateau of Aquile from where we will have spectacular views over the ancient iron mine craters which are over 100 meters deep. Today these craters have been converted into a large blue lake. We will ride to the river Aldeire where we will stop for a picnic lunch. In the afternoon we will head back towards La Calahorra through the community of Aldeire and its network of irrigation channels left over from the Moorish occupation. Evening meal and accommodation in the hotel Hospedería del Zenete **** which is a replica of the medieval castle of La Calahorra.

Approximate duration: 5 and a half hours

Day 5 – the Piena Valley

In the morning we will ride up to the old castle of La Calahorra. This was the last castle built in Spain during the medieval period and hides inside its walls the first renaissance palace of the Iberian Peninsula.

This final day will not be monotonous even though we are returning back to base. We will climb down the Olla de Guadix through the Zalabi river valley. The valley is full of streams which work the old flour mills. We will arrive in Alcudia for lunch. Afternoon free for visiting and shopping in Guadix. Evening meal and accommodation in the hotel Cuevas del Tio Tobas ***

Day 6: End of programme

Transfer to Granada after breakfast