Europe > Spain

Mallorca - Tramontana Ride

Tramontana means “the north on the compass rose” in Catalan. This not only relates to the location of the mountain range in the northwest of Mallorca, but also to the cool north wind that blows over the mountains. On this trail riding holiday, you will discover a more secluded and wild side of the Mallorca Island, far from the hustle and bustle of the coastal and touristic areas. Explore the old town of Pollença, ride along white sand beaches, and through ancient forests. At the end of a fun day in the saddle, enjoy traditional food while contemplating the stars by the open fire. This is a camping trail, ideally suited to riders looking to ride off the beaten path and enjoy a semi-adventurous riding holiday in Spain.
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Trail Riding
4 days - 4 days riding
From £843

Itinerary

Highlights

- Explore the Serra de Tramontana and its beautiful, rugged mountainous scenery, a World Heritage site since 2011;
- Visit the Santuari de Santa Maria de Lluc and the Monastery, the spiritual centre of the Island;
- Discover the local Mediterranean cuisine and wine.
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  • Day 1 1: Home - Mancor de la Valle - Approx. 3 hours riding

    Mallorca Camp
    You are expected at the stables in Manacor in the late morning. You can take a taxi or self drive. Meet the horses and the team while enjoying a cool drink and home-made paella. In the afternoon, start your adventure riding through ancient farmland and rural country lanes to the Finca Sa Murtera.

    Finish the day off with a simple dinner prepared out on an open fire under the stars. Overnight in the cozy Tipi or in individual tents.
    Note: Sa Murtera has dry toilets and basic water facilities.

  • Day 2 2: Sa Vall to Puerto Alcundia - Approx. 5 hours riding

    Mallorca Camp
    After a hearty breakfast at the camp, your riding holiday on Mallorca continues through beautiful remote pastures and forest paths known as Sa Vall towards the Rancho Grande where you will stop for lunch.
    In the afternoon, ride through the forests along the white sand beaches from Son Real to Puerto Alcundia passing a pre-historic cemetery along the way. This stretch of wild coast is beautiful and remote.

    Overnight camped out at a local ranch, with access to hot showers and toilet facilities.

  • Day 3 3: Old town of Pollença & Lluc Monastery - Approx. 5 hours riding

    Mallorca Camp
    Today, ride to the old town of Pollença. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant and enjoy some of the historical sights in the area.
    Continue your trail, ride towards Lluc Monastery through ancient forests and up in the mountains. Enjoy exploring the surrounding area before dinner.

    Overnight in tents at the monastery campsite. (It is possible to stay in a dormitory room in the monastery for an extra fee – check dates and prices).

  • Day 4 4: Mancor de la Valle – Home - Approx. 3 hours riding

    After a good night’s rest, you will follow the path from Lluc Monastery to Mancor de la Valle, where you will enjoy a picnic lunch
    In the afternoon you will be driven back to Sa Cova Vella. Before saying our goodbyes, enjoy some wine and tapas before you depart.

Dates & prices

Price details

No departure for this destination. Please contact our travel advisers for more information.
- Flights or transportation to your destination are not included, but can be booked on request - please contact us for rates.

- Airport transfers are not included. The best way to reach the stables is by taxi. This takes about 45 minutes and has an extra cost of around €70, each way (paid locally). You may prefer to rent a car and self-drive - please contact us for help/directions!

- Rates are per person, based on two riders sharing a tent - single tents can also be arranged at no extra cost.

- Groups are composed of a minimum of 5 riders and a maximum of 8 international riders, plus guides.

- On day 4, there is the possibility to spend the night in the monastery for $45/€40/£35, per person.

- IMPORTANT : Riders weighing more than 95 kg please indicate this at time of booking so we ensure suitable horses are available.
Please Note
The itinerary may be modified at anytime for security reasons, meteorological or events beyond our control such as blocked roads, rivers in flood, drought, strikes and local holidays. Equus Journeys, our local partners and their local guides will always strive to find the best solution and will alter the itinerary as needed.
The names of the hotels and accommodation are given for information only and depending on availability, they may be modified without notice and replaced by another of a similar standard.

Price includes

Support Team

1 English-speaking horse guide

Logistics

1 cook

Accommodation

Accommodation in shared or single tents
Sleeping bag

Meals

Full board from lunch on day 1 to lunch on day 4

Price doesn't include

Meals

Beverages and personal extras

Transport

Transfers to the stables
International flights

Extras

Tips to the local team

Insurance

Visas and personal purchase
Cancellation and travel insurance are not included in the above listed price. Please note that insurance is mandatory. We recommend taking out an insurance policy as soon as your trip is booked to cover you in case of cancellation

Optional

Accommodation

Hotel in Palma
We are currently updating our dates and prices they will be online soon. If you want details of this holiday, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Equestrian info

Horses

On this riding holiday, you will have the opportunity to ride horses of various breeds. Most of them were rescued so they have different backgrounds, from former polo starts, to race horses but the one thing that they all share is the love for their new life!

Guide & local team

Your guides are Lizzie or Xavier. Lizzie is a British lady who fell in love with the island of Mallorca many years ago and is very knowledgeable about the area. She is outgoing and friendly, and puts the welfare of her horses first. Xavier is local to the area and an extremely knowledgeable and professional guide.

Minimum riding ability

Minimum riding ability

This ride is best suitable for experienced riders. You should be comfortable at all three paces and able to keep your balance over varied and uneven ground. The terrain is mountainous and can be tricky to navigate.

Pace

This is a multi-base riding holiday during which you will be spending an average of 5 hours in the saddle daily, enjoying a relatively active pace, keeping in mind that the terrain does not allow for flat out canters!

Tacking ability and participation

Each rider is responsible for grooming, tacking and untacking their horse. You also have the option to assist with feeding and watering.

Trip conditions and Requested experience

You must be physically fit, so you get on and off the horse easily and be able to walk your horse through steep terrain up and down. This is camping riding holiday during which you will be spending several hours in the saddle each day. The terrain is rocky and steep in places: please note that you may be requested to dismount and lead your horse on foot throughout the ride.

There is a back-up vehicle on this ride ensuring that your luggage is transported from place to place.

Equestrian equipment

English saddles.

We recommend our riders to wear a helmet to the correct standard and you should bring your own to ensure a proper fit.

Travel info

Comfort

The Tipi and the tents are equipped with comfortable foam mattresses and cushions – sleeping bags with liners will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own bag or liner if preferred. Riders who do not wish to share will be given their individual tent. Please make sure to bring a headtorch and your own toiletries/towels.

Dry toilets and solar showers are available on the nights when there is no access to facilities.

Meals

Meals are varied and consist of local produce.
Dietary restrictions can be accommodated but make sure to let us know in advance.

Climate

The average annual temperature in Palma de Mallorca is 17.7 °C
August is the warmest month of the year with the an average temperature of 25.9 °C
The lowest average temperature is usually recorded in February, and is 10.8 °C.
This trail ride runs in the shoulder and winter months when the daytime and night-time temperatures are cooler, but still pleasant.

Tips

Tips are welcome but not expected. You should tip what you feel the service is worth and what you feel comfortable with.

Packing list

Head
- Riding helmets are mandatory and we recommend that you take your own to ensure a correct fit.
- Sunhat for when not riding
- Sunglasses - with a cord attached so they don't fly off when riding
- Buff or bandana for protecting your neck and face from the sun and dust

Upper body
- Long sleeved shirts to provide protection from the sun
- T-shirts
- Lightweight fleece or jumper
- Warm polar fleece or equivalent
- Waterproof jacket - rain can be difficult to predict, even in Mallorca, and it's better to be prepared.

Legs
- Lightweight, comfortable riding trousers or jodhpurs - we recommend riding in them at home before taking them on holiday to ensure they don't rub
- Waterproof over trousers
- Casual clothes for the evenings

Hands and Feet
- Comfortable riding boots. We recommend short boots with half chaps
- Lightweight shoes for the evenings
- Several pairs of socks
- Gloves - your hands are particularly exposed to the sun, wind or rain whilst riding

Nightwear
- Pyjamas etc
- Sleeping bags and liners are provided but you can bring your own if you prefer.

Other useful items
- Swimsuit - there are pools on some nights
- Camera and high capacity memory card. Spare battery
- Bumbag for carrying your camera and small items whilst riding
- Water bottle (2 litres or 2 x 1 litre)
- Ear plugs (for light sleepers)
- Towels
- Baby wipes for when showers are not available

Medical kit
- Sunscreen and lip balm - should be high factor
- Insect repellent
- Any medication you regularly take
- Blister plasters in case of any rubs
- Antiseptic cream, plasters, aspirin, anti-histamine, insect-bite salve etc...
- Spare prescription glasses/contact lenses
- Eye drops
- Imodium or similar anti-diarrhoea medication
- Re-hydration sachets
- Antiseptic wipes
- Handwash gel

Our Recommendations
- Backpacks cannot be worn whilst riding. We recommend a small bumbag or a coat with pockets so that you can carry small items with you during the day (passport, camera, sunscreen, lipbalm etc)
- We recommend travelling in your riding boots and carrying your hat and some riding clothes in your hand luggage - then if your luggage goes astray you are still able to ride!
- Any liquids in your hold luggage, such as shampoo, moisturiser, over 100ml should be decanted into small, clear, plastic ziplock bag. We recommend biodegradable washing products where possible.
- In your hand luggage take any valuables, such as your camera, ipod, ipad etc.

Sustainable tourism

  1. Travel light. It's a little known fact, but the lighter you pack, the better for the environment as heavy bags will produce higher emissions (when flying a plane or driving a car!).
  2. Reduce plastic waste. Take your favorite reusable bottle with you. Avoid single-use bags, cups, or straws.
  3. Preserve nature. Always take your rubbish with you during the ride and recycle them. Leave all the flowers or plants as you found them, and never get too close when observing wildlife. Make sure to use eco-friendly products such as body wash or laundry detergent (if camping) to protect both your skin and the environment.
  4. Choose your experiences carefully. Respect animal life by not participating in any activities that abuse wild animals (shows, elephant rides, etc.).
  5. Support local populations. Buy local handicrafts, be respectful of customs, and learn about the culture of local communities.
  6. Share! Raise awareness among your family and friends about sustainable tourism.

For more information please see this page.