This ride starts where the riding tour Burgos Arlanza Valley ends: In Quintanar de la Sierra at the foot of the Sierra de la Demanda. The small mountain range rises to over 1500 m. You ride through wide mountain forests, past glacial lakes and cross the mountain range to the north. Incredibly green and lonely is this little populated landscape. Therefore, overnight stays in small villages do not offer luxury, but an original atmosphere and of course the necessary sanitary facilities. The area is very rich in wild animals, so the chances to meet deer, wolves, wild boars, otters, eagles, hawks and falcons are not bad.
Here and there a monastery appears and invites you to visit. The prehistoric gravestones that you visit on the way are recognized as world cultural heritage. You will then ride in a wide arc to the city of Burgos. The intact royal cattle driveways are ideal riding routes and invite you to gallop often enough.

Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer from Madrid to Quintanar de la Sierra. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel. Perhaps one or two riders from the Burgos-Arlanza Valley Riding Tour, which took place the week before.

Day 2: Quintanar de la Sierra - Neila
From Quintanar de la Sierra you climb steeply up and meander through the dense pine forest to Neila. Since the mountain forests are no longer used as grazing land for cows, there are hardly any cattle driveways left. At most goat paths lead you up to the pass, often enough you just ride cross-country. Depending on the weather conditions, you will visit a number of spectacular lakes of glacial origin, e.g. the Black Lagoon (Quaternary, 10,000 years old). Lunch en route. Crossing the pass, on the other side you will descend gently through mixed forests to the small village of Neila, once the most important wool centre of the area. Overnight stay in a hotel.

Day 3: Neila - Monterrubio de la Demanda.
Through huge beech, oak and pine forests you will ride down to Monterrubio de la Demanda, where you will approach the Green Route of the Mine Railway. Impressive is not only the autumn and the roaring of the deer, but also encounters with wolves, wild boars, otters, eagles, hawks and falcons. These forests are very lonely and untouched, not even hikers get lost here, all around nature and only occasionally a farmstead, which is often enough abandoned. Finally, in Monterrubio de la Demanda you can visit the parish church, one of the oldest Romanesque works in Burgos.

Day 4: Monterrubio de la Demanda - Pineda de la Sierra
In recent years, the lines left open by the mine railway, which was built in 1902 and whose operation was stopped a long time ago, have been transformed into so-called vías verdes. Naturally, as a railway line with few ups and downs, they have been given a new surface that is suitable for walking and cycling, and the tunnels and viaducts have been secured with railings. Thus, 50 km of bridle paths now run through valleys, cross hills with tunnels and lead the riders to Barbadillo de Herreras. They climb up to the gate of El Manqillo, before the ride finally ends in a guesthouse in Pineda de la Sierra.

Day 5: Pineda de la Sierra - Arlanzón
You leave Pineda, a town with pretty farms, and ride along the Arlanzón reservoir. The path meanders along the shore, no one will meet you here and in summer there is certainly the opportunity for a swim. The terrain is flatter here, there are more fields. The ride ends in the early afternoon, after lunch you can visit the prehistoric sites in the Sierra de Atapuerca, which were declared a UNESCO Heritage Site in November 2000.

Day 6: Arlanzón - Monastery of San Pedro Cardeña near Burgos
You have left the Green Route railway line behind you and are now heading towards Burgos and the monastery of San Pedro de Cardeña. After lunch you will have the opportunity to get to know Burgos. The programme can be arranged according to the riders´ wishes. In the evening you will return to the monastery and spend the night in the hotel rooms of the impressive complex.

Day 7: Monasterio de San Pedro Cardenña - Covarrubias
Leaving the monastery behind, you will follow an impressive high trail, and then continue over wasteland towards the Sierra de las Mamblas. After crossing it you will head for Covarrubias, where the stables are located. There is time to visit Covarrubias before a stylish farewell dinner in a famous restaurant in Covarrubias. Overnight stay in a beautiful hotel.

Day 8: Transfer from Covarrubias to Madrid.

subject to changes.

Accomodation
You will stay in carefully ed typical Spanish middle class hotels and country houses. Lunch is usually served as a picnic, always with several courses and a chupito (herbal brandy). Dinner is served at the hotel, table wine is included.

Saddle & Tack: Spanish saddles (vaquero) and curb bit. The stirrups, the so-called coal boxes are unusual, but comfortable with a large footrest.

Experience: You should have ridden regularly for at least 3 years and be able to control new horses without instruction in all gaits.

Horses: Andalusian and Spanish mix, with good character, enduring and sure-footed