Beginner morning if someone in the group can't ride
If your group is mixed and one person doesn't ride, the riding centre can arrange a half-day beginner session in the arena while the others head out on the route. Nobody is left out of the plan.
§02 — The place
The Empordà at horse pace, not car pace
You leave at dawn between holm oaks and pines, Lake Banyoles appears flat and silver, and the silhouette of the extinct Garrotxa volcanoes closes the horizon. Three days where your phone is useless: the pace is set by the horse, the conversation by whoever rides beside you, and dinner by the farmer who cooked whatever was in season that week. This isn't an outing; it's a change of gear.
§03 — Why it stands out
Why it stands out
- 01
Catalonia's largest lake as your backdrop
Lake Banyoles —natural, tectonic in origin— covers 2.1 km² and hosted Olympic rowing at Barcelona '92. Riding with its silhouette to one side of the route is the visual signature of this area, and very few horse-riding destinations in Spain have such a landmark.
- 02
Volcanoes in view, calm route
The Garrotxa Volcanic Zone — natural park with more than 40 extinct cones and the Fageda d'en Jordà beech wood grown over a lava flow — sits 20 minutes away. You ride looking at it and, if you wish, can add a walking day without breaking the trip's logic.
- 03
Palaeolithic under the hooves
Serinyà holds one of Catalonia's most important Palaeolithic sites: the Reclau Caves Park preserves remains of Neanderthals and modern humans. Riding these paths means passing, literally, over 80,000 years of documented human presence.
- 04
Real distance, not postcard rides
The format is two days of 4-6 h in the saddle, not a half-hour loop in a ring. Designed for riders who already know what they're doing, want <em>real miles</em>, and value a pace set by the horse, not by a program clock.
§04 — Who it fits
Who it fits
With friends Ecotourism Romantic History Local Life Relaxation
It fits if: you already ride confidently (comfortable canter, 4-6 hours a day in the saddle), you fancy a weekend with your partner or close friends at a slow pace, you're curious about the Catalan rural landscape and you don't need a packed program.
It doesn't fit if: you've never sat on a horse (this isn't beginner-level), you want extreme adrenaline or a beach holiday. If you're traveling with kids who want contact with horses but not long routes, a family riding-centre experience suits you better.
No commitment · We design it with you
§05 — What you can live
What you can live here
An editorial showcase of what the destination offers. Nothing to book here - we shape it when you write to us.
Adventure
— The active side: guided or self-guided activities, no sugar-coating the gradient.The active side: guided or self-guided activities, no sugar-coating the gradient.
Culture & heritage
— What makes this place different: heritage, crafts, local history.What makes this place different: heritage, crafts, local history.
Visit to the Serinyà Caves Park
Palaeolithic site with Neanderthal and modern-human remains. 1.5-hour guided tour, ideal to pair with the first morning before mounting up. You then ride the rest of the day knowing what stood here 80,000 years ago.
Morning in medieval Besalú
Medieval town with a fortified Romanesque bridge 15 minutes away by car. Listed as a historic-artistic ensemble in 1966, with a Jewish mikveh and old quarter. An easy 1.5 hours to pair with day two for a coffee and walk.
Food & drink
— Eating well without the manual - local product, village pace.Eating well without the manual - local product, village pace.
Farmhouse-table dinner
Seasonal menu at a local restaurant or country house: pa amb tomàquet, escudella, casserole rice, cured meats from the area, Empordà wine. Not a starred restaurant — real regional food.
Empordà wine tasting
DO Empordà —whites from garnacha blanca, reds from cariñena— is little known outside Catalonia. Guided tasting of 4-5 wines at a regional winery as a rest afternoon. Ninety well-spent minutes to understand the terroir.
Where to sleep
— Where you sleep - inns, rural houses, hotels with character in the valley.Where you sleep - inns, rural houses, hotels with character in the valley.
Country house or farmhouse arranged by the riding centre
Rural lodging in Banyoles, Serinyà or nearby villages. The riding centre coordinates the option depending on dates, group size and availability; usually a country house or restored farmhouse with character close to the riding centre.
Boutique hotel in Banyoles
A hotel-services alternative —full breakfast, 24h reception, spa in some cases— 5-10 minutes from Lake Banyoles. A good choice for couples wanting to round off the riding day with urban comfort.
Transfer from Girona AVE
Pickup at Girona AVE station or Girona-Costa Brava airport and transfer to Banyoles/Serinyà (25-30 min). Designed for travellers arriving by train from Madrid or Barcelona without a car.
Nature
— Landscape unfiltered: what you see on foot, without the car.Landscape unfiltered: what you see on foot, without the car.
Swim in Lake Banyoles
The lake has designated public bathing areas on its eastern shore. After 5 hours on horseback in July or August, cooling off here is one of the best end-of-day closures the area offers.
Lake loop in a traditional rowing boat
Gentle crossing in a rowing or electric boat across Lake Banyoles. 1-2 h, effortless, the opposite perspective to the horse: flat water, herons, reed beds. Perfect on a rest day between rides.
30-60 min away
— Half-hour side trips if you've time left or it rains.Half-hour side trips if you've time left or it rains.
Day at the Fageda d'en Jordà (Garrotxa)
A beech wood grown on a lava flow inside the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park. Circular 5 km walking route, flat, accessible. 25 minutes by car. Fits as a rest day between rides, especially in autumn.
§06 — The practical side
Weekend practicalities
- Best season
- Spring · Summer · Autumn
- Fitness level
- Easy
- Typical length
- 1-3 nights
More practical details
Physical level & requirements
Intermediate level. You need to canter confidently, sustain 4-6 hours in the saddle with breaks, and mount/dismount without help. Back and knees will feel it; if you have a sensitive lower back, stick to 3-hour days. No specific fitness training needed, but you must be at ease on a horse.
How to get there
Best season: April to October. Spring (green countryside, long days) and autumn (light, ochre tones, less heat) are ideal. July-August is possible but midday heat cuts riding time. Winters here are cold and damp and the route is not usually operative.
Gear: long riding trousers or thick jeans, boots with a heel and tall shaft (or short boots + half chaps), helmet (usually provided by the centre), sunglasses, sunscreen, water, a light rain shell. In summer, a sun hat and swimwear in case you cool off in the lake at the end.
Access: Girona AVE (1 h from Barcelona) + 25-min drive to Banyoles/Serinyà. Girona-Costa Brava airport 30 min away. Station pickup can be arranged with the riding centre.
Permits: none required from the client; rural tracks are public or arranged by the centre.
Recommendations
Book well in advance for weekends in May, June or September: small riding centres have limited spots. Bring a change of clothes in the car for dinner (after 5 h on horseback, a shower and clean clothes feel earned). If you have extra time, add a morning in Besalú (medieval town 15 min away) or a swim at Lake Banyoles' public bathing areas.
§07 — Bookable packages
Bookable packages
§08 — Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need riding experience?
Yes. This isn't beginner-level: you need to manage walk, trot and short canter with ease. If you've never ridden, riding-centre options suit you better than this route.
How many hours in the saddle per day?
Between 4 and 6 effective hours with breaks. Long morning + midday rest + shorter afternoon is the typical pattern.
Can we go as a couple or small group?
Yes — the format fits 2-6 riders well. Larger groups can be arranged with notice but the pace slows down.
What if it rains?
Light rain: rain-shells on, we ride. Serious storms: the day is cancelled for safety. The riding centre offers rescheduling depending on weather.
Where do we sleep?
In rural lodging in the area — farmhouses, country houses or boutique hotels in Banyoles and nearby. The riding centre coordinates the option based on dates and availability.
Is it possible without a car?
Yes. Girona by AVE + transfer/taxi to Banyoles (25 min). Some centres offer pickup with prior notice.
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