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Horse Riding
Catalan Coast & Hills - Can Jou, Catalonia, SpainItineraryIntroductionWith exciting riding through contrasting scenery, a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere and charming accommodation, it is no surprise that many of our customers return to Can Jou, a great-value centre offering both local and trail rides. We know from our own experiences and customer comments that the rides are great fun - these are very friendly and sociable holidays. ItinerariesCan Jou offers a variety of different programmes: weeks of local riding suitable for intermediates, as well as four 7-night trails for fit intermediate riders (Volcanoes & Castles Trail, The Smugglers Trail, Mountains to the Sea Trail and Mediterranean Coastal Trail). There is also a weekend break with mini-trail. The itineraries shown below are subject to change according to local conditions and other factors and should be used as a guide only. Autumn ridingNovember is a great time for riding in Catalonia, where the climate is still wonderfully mild, the air is clear and the oak and chestnut woods provide a wealth of colour with their turning leaves. After a full season, the horses are at peak fitness so you can enjoy some extra long, exhilarating gallops, interspersed with more leisurely sections to allow you to take in the amazing views. Evenings are as sociable as ever, the roaring log fires adding to the intimate atmosphere. Local RidingRiding out from Can Jou each day through meadows, forest and across rolling plains, you discover the local area, its culture and its history. Each ride lasts 3-5 hours, with either a picnic along the way or a late lunch at Can Jou. Towards the end of the week you enjoy a 2-day mini-trail. 
Day 1: after an introductory chat about the week's itinerary over dinner the night before, you ride out along pretty moutain tracks at a varied and exhilarating pace. The destination is a beautiful monastary which enjoys views as far as the shimmering Mediterranean coast. After a delicious picnic lunch, you return along a ridge to Can Jou. Day 3: the destination of this ride is charming Besalú, a medieval fortified village. The ride to Besalú is quite fast, with some long canters along the banks of the River Fluvià. Enjoy lunch in one of the village bars, with time to explore afterwards before returning to the mountains and Can Jou. Day 4: you ride out through forest, following a bubbling stream to the flood plains below. Once on the plain, you pick up the pace and enjoy a good canter before climbing up to the Coguleras valley. You finish early, giving you the opportunity to visit a beautiful part of the Mediterranean coast and have lunch in Cadaqués (pay locally). Take time to stroll around this picturesque fishing village, the former home of Salvador Dalí, perhaps visiting his house in neighbouring Portlligat. Weekend break with mini-trailIf you only have a weekend to spare, you can join the local riding group for the two-day mini-trail described above. Our weekend breaks run from Thursday to Sunday, with two full days of riding. This is a great way to blow the cobwebs away as you enjoy exhilarating riding. Available in March, April, October and November. Volcanoes & Castles TrailEnjoy an exciting trail ride through one of Spain's most spectacular and unspoiled rural areas. Discover ancient volcanoes, high mountains, flower-filled meadows, medieval castles and river plains on 4-5 hour rides. October is a particularly beautiful time here, with fantastic autumn colours. 
Day 1: after an introductory chat about the week's itinerary over dinner the night before, you ride out along the secret La Miana valley to the next valley, which is dotted with villages and farmsteads. Tuck into your picnic by a waterfall before continuing to Santa Pau, a beautiful walled medieval village set amid ancient volcanoes. There is time to explore before you return to Can Jou. Day 2: the day starts with breakfast at one of the region's best bakeries. You then head up the ridge to the castle of Finestres, with fantastic views over the region's volcanoes. You continue to another castle, where you stop for lunch, before enjoying some long trots and canters down to the village of Sant Feliu de Pallerols, where the horses stay overnight. You can enjoy a welcome drink in the square before settling in at your family-run hotel, known for its hospitality and excellent cuisine. Day 3: today's route leads through fields of corn and sunflowers up to grassy mountain pastures. From the top, you can see the Pyrenees in one direction and the coast in another. You then gallop across meadows to the day's destination, the picturesque village of Rupit, whose houses are built into the rock. Having settled the horses, you go to your base in the centre of the village, an old hotel full of character. Day 4: your destination on this spectacular ride through flower-filled meadows is a sanctuary at 1300 metres above sea level, from where the views are breathtaking. The day ends with a refreshing drink at a bar in the tiny mountain hamlet where you stay, and in the evening you have the opportunity to try the local food and wine. Day 5: the day starts with a visit of the pretty village of Les Preses. From here, you ride through a beech forest, stopping for a picnic lunch by the large Santa Margarida volcanic crater. In the afternoon, you enjoy long trots and fast gallops between the volcanoes. Your hosts take you back to Can Jou for a well-earned rest in the evening. Day 6: trot across the broad plain and head up to the mountain of Santa Julia del Mont. You pass through woodland and areas coated with thyme and lavender, keeping an eye out for eagles and wild boars. From these heights, you once again have wonderful views of both the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean. Back at Can Jou, celebrate with a special paella and plenty more cava. The Smugglers TrailThis thrilling trail leads you high into the mountains, through spectacular scenery and along the historic smuggling trail between France and Spain. You ride each day through wild gorges, along wooded ridges and across high pastures. Despite the rugged terrain, the pace is varied, with regular faster sections. Day 1: Today you journey up a winding track to Can Jou, an 11th century farmhouse perched high up on a ridge overlooking the Pyrenees. You will meet the Can Jou team and your guide will go over the week's programme telling you the special charactericstics of the Andalucian trail horses with the opportunity to discuss the weeks programme to ensure every rider finds their perfect horse.
Day 3: today you leave the gorge and ascent higher into the mountains and on through Talaxa, a typical mountain village with an impressive romanesque church. From Talaxa you enjoy spectacular views of 'La Costa Bona' your goal for this journey. Following the route into the next valley you pause for a picnic lunch then ride onwards to Beget, your base for the night, a beautiful mountain village nestled amidst the gentle mountain scenery. Day 4: you ride through beech forests, meadows carpeted in wild flowers and past local farmhouses built by the local aristocracy and wealthy Barcelona merchants in the 16th century. Your destination is the village of Espinavell, another small smugglers village untouched by the passing of time, where you stay in a family run mountain hotel with the beautiful presence of 'La Costa Bona' in the background. Day 5: after an early start you begin with a climb up a winding track alongside the river and then onwards through the rolling mountain meadows and wild flowers, where you enjoy some exhilarating canters and gallops. Throughout your journey you see herds of cows and horses that graze in these meadows throughout the summer. It also common to see eagles and vultures soaring in the skies. After the day riding you arrive in Camprodon, a lively market town where you stay for the evening. Day 6: your journey continues, leaving Camprodon behind, and travel up onto the ridges where you ride through spectacular mountain plateaus with superb views. Following a long rewarding day you arrive at the village of Oix, a charming mountain village with a magnificent castle, narrow winding streets and lovely cafés. You stable your horses here and are transported by car to Can Jou for dinner. Day 7: with the peaks of the Alta Garrotxa all around you, and the smell of wild herbs and Mediterranean fragrances in the air, you set off for Can Jou, your final destination. The gallops today are long and steady as you ride over the plains, dotted with small local villages, leaving the Pyrenees behind you. You arrive back at Can Jou for a farewell dinner and toast to your faithful horses and new found friends. Mountains to the Sea Trail
Day 1: you set off through scented oak forests and by mid-morning you emerge from the mountains to reach Besalú, the medieval village that is the gateway to the Pyrenees. Enjoy lunch on the banks of the River Fluvia, before continuing through rolling hills, pine woods and little villages to your charming rural hotel, where a delicious supper awaits you. Day 2: a long but enjoyable day with plenty of gallops and canters across the Empordà plain, passing numerous ancient stone villages and pretty churches. The sea grows ever closer, and you spend the night in a hotel right by the beach on the sweeping Gulf of Roses. Day 3: today starts early so that you can spend plenty of time on the beach. Enjoy exhilarating canters and gallops across the golden sand, pausing every now and again to take the horses into the water. Leaving the beach, you head inland following the River Fluvià through rice fields, apple orchards and a bird reserve. Your destination, which you reach by lunchtime, is Castellón d’Empúries. Spend the rest of the day exploring the town or head back to the coast for another swim before sampling some of the town’s lively bars in the evening. Day 4: this spectacular day of riding takes you across the plain, through fields, meadows and Mediterranean woodland at a lively pace. In the afternoon you ride through olive groves and vineyards to Lake Boadella, where you stay at an Art Nouveau hotel complete with a small spa. Pay locally for massages and other treatments. Day 5: the day starts with a long climb through cork oak forests towards the panoramic high peaks of the Alta Garrotxa, a wild, largely uninhabited area. This beautiful wilderness offers a refreshing contrast to the countryside you have enjoyed so far and, after a spell leading your horse, you can marvel at the landscape over which you have travelled as you tuck into your picnic. Your destination is the Riu Valley, where high meadows are framed by craggy peaks. Here you stable the horses for the night and are transferred to Can Jou. Day 6: enjoy superb views of majestic peaks in every direction as you ride through a narrow gorge above a crystal-clear mountain river. You emerge onto the flood plains and cross these at a lively pace before heading uphill to Can Jou for a farewell dinner.
Mediterranean Coastal TrailIf you love the thrill of beach riding, this linear trail is ideal. As on the other trails, you ride for 4-7 hours each day. After two days riding across the inland plain, you have four days of coastal riding, with plenty of beach sections including long trots and canters as well as exhilarating gallops along the vast expanses of sand. There is plenty of time for sunbathing, too. Travel in March or April to enjoy the spectacular spring flowers. Day 1: leaving Can Jou, you ride along a panoramic ridge and through a forest to emerge onto the Empordà plain. From here you pass through sleepy villages, olive groves and cornfields and into the foothills of the Pyrenees, returning to Can Jou for dinner. Day 5: you cross the northern part of the Aiguamolls Natural Park, a haven for thousands of birds, and ride over a low sierra to the beautiful Cap de Creus peninsula, with views of mile after mile of cliffs, rocky promontories and tiny coves. Your destination is Port de la Selva, a bustling fishing village. Linger over your evening meal as you enjoy the sea views. > Further information & prices  |
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This is original trail ride of Mick Peters, owner of Can Jou, and remains very popular. The circular trail offers 4-7 hours in the saddle each day as you head down from the mountains to the sea. You reach the coast at the end of your second day and, after a morning riding on the beach, spend the next three days crossing the picturesque Empordà plain back to Can Jou. Travel in March or April to enjoy the spectacular spring flowers.