The horse riding program Troglodite Route - The Andalusian Desert for advanced riders, includes 6 days of riding where riders will spend around 5 hours a day in the saddle including a daily stop for lunch. Lunch will consist of traditional regional picnics. The route we will follow, takes us through the red and white clay landscapes, to the oasis of the desert and will lead us through thousands of years of spectacular historical heritage.

Horse riding program:

Day 1: Sunday

Arrival and pick-up at Granada Airport
Transfer to Guadix, followed by a meeting during which you will be briefed on the week’s events
Meal and accommodation provided in our comfortable wooden cabins

Day 2: Monday: Radial route to adapt to the horses. Guadix - Fin del Mundo- Valle del Rio Alhama- Guadix :
We will ride out of the equestrian centre towards the natural park, crossing over the elevated plains until we reach the “Fin del Mundo” (End of the World) at an altitude of 1400 meters. We will then ride down into the Alhama valley. During our descent, we will have our first spectacular views of the famous bad-lands and troglodyte villages of Marchal and Beas.

Picnic lunch in a traditional Andalusian style
Supper and accommodation in the riding centre
Day 3: Tuesday: Guadix - Altiplano - Jerez del Marquesado - Valley of the Zalabi

During this first day of our long trek, we will ride towards the eastern edge of the area, discovering the spectacular plains of the Marquesado del Zenete, with the Sierra Nevada rising in the background. We will start to experience the contrasts that this week will offer. We will cross the small village of Jerez, riding through its small white streets to reach the valley of the Zalambi. We will then climb down into the valley and arrive at the caves of Tio Tobas in the evening.

Picnic lunch in a traditional Andalusian style
Supper and accommodation in the Tio Tobas caves hotel
Day 4: Wednesday: Valley of the Zalabi - Natural Park of the Sierra de Baza - Gor

We will leave the valley, heading towards the Sierra de Baza natural park. We will climb up the gentle slopes of the mountain, cross the park through pine forests and other distinctive local flora, and will finally arrive at Gor, a small mountain village at the edge of the Gorafe desert.

Picnic lunch in a traditional Andalusian style
Supper and accommodation in the el Atochal caves hotel
Day 5: Thursday: Gor - Gorafe Desert - Oasis Rio Guadiana Menor - Gor

This will be our first day in the desert where we will be able to see a large collection of magalitic monuments (Dolmens) We will cross through the red bad-lands which bear testimony to over 3000 years of history. In the deeper parts of the valley, we will find some formations that are typical for this kind of environment, such as desert roses. We will have a picnic at the Rio Guadinana Menor Oasis which, rising out of the middle of nowhere, is home to an incredible mixture of flora and fauna

Picnic lunch in a traditional Andalusian style
Supper and accommodation in the el Atochal caves hotel
Day 6: Friday: Gor - Oasis of the Aliun Thermal Baths - Benalua

We will leave Gorafe in the direction of Benalua, crossing through white bad-lands. We will cross the Guadiana Menor a couple of times during the day, arriving at the Alicun Oasis, where hot water springs out naturally from the rocks of the desert. We will have a picnic lunch here and will then continue our trip towards the small village of Benalua.

Picnic lunch in a traditional Andalusian style
Supper and accommodation in la Granja caves hotel
Day 7: Saturday: Benalua - Face Retama - Guadix

We will leave Benalua along the old roman road, which linked Rome and la Accitania (Guadix). Some parts of the road are still visible along our way. We will pass FACE Retama, a site which was used by Christians during the Roman dominance to celebrate their masses.

Picnic lunch in a traditional Andalusian style
Arrival in the evening at Cabacci Riding Centre, supper and accommodation in the riding centre.
End of program.

The Troglodite Route - The Andalusian Desert horse riding program. Rate per person 1.100 Euros.

Price includes:
Pick up from Granada airport or Guadix bus station
Accommodation
Meals
Horses
Security measures and insurance (except repatriation)