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The Tabernas desert lies to the north of the town of Almería between the mountains of Los Filabres and Alhamilla and is approximately 45 minutes drive from Garrucha.
Occupying some 11,625 hectares this natural area is considered to be the only true desert in the whole of the European continent.
The scenery is startling and the annual rainfall here does not exceed 25mm, with the year-round average temperature over 17 degrees centigrade.
The peculiarity of the desert, with more than 3.000 hours of sun yearly, has made possible the installation of a Centre of Solar Energy (One of the biggest in Spain).
In the desert only plants known as xerophytes (plants like cactus, that are able to live in very dry places) or parasitic plants grow. Salt cedar and oleander do grow in some dry gullies, however, and brushwood grows where it can find nitrogen-rich soil.
The Tabernas Desert has very similar landscape, vegetation & fauna, to those a few kilometres across the Mediterranean sea in North Africa.
No wonder that Italian director Sergio Leone made the so-called Spaghetti westerns, starring the young American actor Clint Eastwood, here in the mid 60's.
Films like Indiana Jones, King of Kings, The Good the Bad and the Ugly, Conan and the Peter O’Toole classic, Lawrence of Arabia, were all filmed in this desert area.
The making of these films and stars like Clint Eastwood, Raquel Welch, Peter O'Toole and Charles Bronson, to name but a few, gave rise to the name of "Mini Hollywood", this name is still used today to refer to this arid area.
For more information on the Sierra Nevada - Tabernas Desert Route - Spain
Request information or call Freephone 0800 043 7942
| Duration |
8 Days |
| Departures |
12th April - 19th April
19th April - 25th April
3rd May - 10th May
10th - 16th May
13th September - 20th September
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| Ride Type |
Trail Ride |
| Rider Ability |
Intermediate to Advanced |
| Accommodation |
Hotels and rural houses |
| Airports |
Malaga - Spain
Flights to Spain |
| Transfers |
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| Prices |
from £1350.00pp
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| Single Supplement |
£160.00 |
| Provisionally Book This Ride |
Click Here or call Freephone 0800 043 7942 |
View Other Worldwide Riding Holiday Destinations |
Day by Day Itinerary
| Day 1 |
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CAPILEIRA. Welcoming and introduction of the guide. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel Finca Los Llanos***. |
| Day 2 |
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BUBIÓN - TREVÉLEZ. Always along bridle paths, we descend to the village of Pórtugos, where we will take the track that later on will lead us to Trevélez. We will ride through an oak forest on paths that cut this track. Descend to Trevélez by a bridle path. This village, famous for its hams, is considered the highest one in Spain (1.700m). A 4 and a half hour ride hour ride. Dinner and accommodation at the hostel La Fragua |
| Day 3 |
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TREVÉLEZ - CÁDIAR. After crossing the bridge over the river Trevélez, we will start this route by a bridle path that climbs the left slope of the ravine, leaving behind the village from which it takes its name. Once again we will enjoy the beauty of the sierras Contraviesa, Lújar and Gádor, this one already in the province of Almería. Descent along a more gentle path to Juviles, where we will have lunch. Descend to Tímar along a narrow path through the gorge. The horses will drink water, then we will take the bridle path to the beautiful hotel Alquería de Morayma (**), close to Cádiar. We have descended over 1,000m in 5 hours. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. |
| Day 4 |
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CÁDIAR - LAROLES. Riding first over the hills with stunning panoramic views of Sierra Nevada and the sierras of Contraviesa and Gádor, then we will ride along the dry riverbed to arrive to Ugíjar for a picnic. In the afternoon we will ride up to the beautiful villages of Mairena and Jubar, and from here to Laroles. A six hours ride. Dinner and accommodation at the Refugio de Nevada |
| Day 5 |
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LAROLES - BENECID. Descent to Picena then crossing the Bayarcal river, where we enter the Almería province. Picnic at Guarros. Leaving for Benecid passing by Laujar de Andarax, important wine-growing area. A five-hour ride. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel La Marmita de Ahlam |
| Day 6 |
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BENECID – ALCORA. Across Sierra Gádor, riding on a track enjoying the open view of Sierra Nevada, in the other side of the Andarax river, we arrive at Cortijo Cacín for a picnic. After a short rest, we ride to the old “Venta de Alcora” and then to the Caseta de Cristal beneath the pine trees. A four and a half hour ride. Dinner outside and accommodation in rural houses. |
| Day 7 |
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ALCORA – ALBOLODUY - GRANADA. A four hours ride to the desert. Descend to the Andarax river and to Rágol. Riding to the mountain of Montenegro through the Rambla (dry river bed) of Guadix, with many opportunities for canters and where we start to discover the first desert landscape. Descend to the colourful dry riverbed of Alboloduy through a labyrinth of canyons similar to those seen in numerous spaghetti-western films. At the end of the Rambla de Los Yesos we will find the picnic beneath pine trees, in a place called El Salto del caballo, 2 Km away from Alboloduy, at the edge of the Sierra Nevada Natural Park. After saying goodbye to the horses, the riders are taken to Fort Bravo, to have a beer at the saloon while enjoying the western show. After a half hour riding through the Texan frontier town, riders are taken to Granada at 2 hours drive from the desert. Dinner in a typical restaurant and accommodation in Hotel Macia Plaza. |
| Day 8 |
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Farewell after breakfast |
| Option |
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For those who want, we offer the opportunity to visit the villages where several spaghetti-westerns were filmed, and the famous caves of the Nature Reserve Karst in gypsum of Sorbas. Drive to the Natural Park of Cabo de Gata in our 4x4 vehicles. After lunch we go for a swim at the beautiful beaches of Genoveses and Monsul. Dinner in the port of San José and accommodation at the Hostal Aloha. |
| Additional Desert Ride, dates and information |
| 7 days, 6 nights, 5 days riding
DATES: April 19-25 / May 10-16
PRICE: £995
Single room supplement: €180
Minimum: 6 people
DAY 1. CAPILEIRA. Welcome and introduction to the guide. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.
DAY 2. ALBOLODUY -.ALCORA A four hour ride through the colourful dry riverbed of la Rambla (dry river bed) de Los Yesos and the Rambla de Alboloduy, through a labyrinth of canyons similar to those seen in numerous spaghetti-western films. At the end of Rambla deAlboloduy, we will ride up the mountain of Montenegro. Descend to the Rambla de Guadix, riding to the Andarax River and to Rágol for lunch. In the afternoon we will ride up to the Caseta de Cristal beneath the pine trees. Dinner outside and accommodation in rural houses.
DAY 3 .ALCORA –LAUJAR DE ANDARAX. Across Sierra Gádor, riding on a track enjoying the open view of Sierra Nevada, in the other side of the Andarax River, we arrive in Fondon and Benecid for a picnic. After a short rest, we ride to Laujar de Andarax where we will arrive in time for a swim in the pool at the hotel. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel Villa Turistica de Laujar***.
DAY4. LAUJAR DE ANDARAX - LAROLES -. After an hour’s ride passing by Laujar de Andarax, an important wine-growing area we get to the mineral waters of Guarros. We climb to the Cerros de Inizar where we will have picnic. After a short rest we will have the chance for a gallop before the descent to the Bayarcal River, where we enter the Granada province after crossing the river. Climb to Picena and then to Laroles. A five and a half hour ride. Dinner and accommodation at the Refugio de Nevada***.
DAY 5. LAROLES - CÁDIAR . In the morning we will ride up to the picturesque villages of Júbar and Mairena. From here we descend to Ugijar. Then we will ride along the dry riverbed of Ugíjar where we will have a picnic. In the afternoon a beautiful ride first over Rambla of Ugijar and the hills with stunning panoramic views of Sierra Nevada and the sierras of Contraviesa and Gádor, before arriving Cadiar. We will have descended over 1,000 m in 6 hours. Dinner and accommodation at the beautiful hotel Alquería de Morayma **.
DAY 6. CÁDIAR - BUBIÓN. Crossing the Guadalfeo river, we will join the path that will lead us to Lobras, Nieles and Càstaras. We will continue until we reach the impressive gorge of Las Carihuelas de Busquístar, where we will descend to cross the Trevélez river, and we will follow the path which leads to the village of Busquístar for lunch. After lunch two more hours riding to Bubión. A six hour ride. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel Finca Los Llanos*** in Capileira.
DAY 7. After breakfast, we say goodbye.
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* ITINERARY MAY VARY DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORSEEABLE CIRCUMSTANCES *
Please get in touch with us for any further information
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