Spain
Feria Del Caballo (Jerez horse Fair)
Program Dates: Thursday 15th - Saturday 24th May 2025
10 Days / 9 nights
Grenada - Jerez del marquesado - Lugros - Sierra Nevada
Trip Overview
Our exclusive program "al-Ándalus" is an excellent opportunity to get to know the most important aspects of horse culture and the history of Andalucía, guiding us through the nature of the Andalusian region, its gastronomy, and its historical heritage.
We present a new route that is more cultural, more gastronomic, with good gallops on the gentle slopes and vast plains on the northern face of the Sierra Nevada.
We will discover the history of the "Moriscos" who remained in these lands after being expelled from Granada, and we will walk through small villages that have not changed their appearance since the Arab presence.
The northern face of the Sierra Nevada, with its varied landscape ranging from high mountain surroundings to fertile Mediterranean valleys. We will ride through numerous mountain villages that for
centuries were meeting points between the Arab and Christian worlds.
Jerez del marquesado is located on the northern edge of the Sierra Nevada Natural Park, forming part of the mountainous area that the Arabs called Sened. Its magnificent natural environment makes it the perfect place for horseback riding excursions, in one of the most extraordinary natural spaces in all of Granada.
Travel Itinerary
DAY 1
Thursday 15th May: Granada - Jerez del marquesado
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Activities: Settling in, Meet & Greet
We start out trip with a 12:30pm meet & greet, a welcome cocktail and lunch in the city of Grenada. Reception by the Tour Guide 2:00 PM - Welcome Lunch. *Details of the meeting point will be provided upon receiving your reservation.
After lunch, private transfer to the town of Jerez del marquesado. Located just 75 km / less than 1 hour from the city of Granada.
DAY 2
Friday 16th May: Lugros - Pantaneta de Cogollos - Lugros
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Activities: Sightseeing, Horse Riding (Day 1)
Car transfer to the stables to meet our horses. Approximately 20 minutes.
On our first day of the route, to get accustomed to our horses, we will take an easy trail with wonderful views of the high plateau (1200 meters above sea level). We will use the "shepherds trail" that winds through dense pine forests.
The thickness of these woods, the silence of the path, and the tranquillity of the environment allow us to carefully observe every corner to discover the almost magical nature of this forest, known as the enchanted forest. (We can almost sense a "gnome"or fairy in this magical place).
We arrive at "La Pantaneta" a small lake surrounded by mountains formed by the melting waters of Sierra Nevada. The more adventurous ones can take a dip in the cold water if they wish. Picnic lunch by the Pantaneta de Cogollos.
DAY 3
Saturday 17th May: Lugros - Caramate - Jerez Del Marquesado
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Activities: Sightseeing, Horse Riding (Day 2)
After enjoying our breakfast, we will set out on horseback to explore the area. The gentle slopes of these mountains, with their easy paths, have allowed the locals to drive their cows and wild bulls to the lush high-altitude meadows known as "El Camarate".
This special place blends meadows with trees of Atlantic origin, earning it the name "the enchanted forest". After our picnic, we will descend to the small village of Jerez del Marquesado.
DAY 4
Sunday 18th May: Jerez d M - Sendero del Avion - Jerez d M
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Activities: Horse Riding (Day 3)
We will traverse on horseback through the white streets of Jerez del Marquesado, located in the Marquesado del Cenete (a Spanish noble title granted by Queen Isabel the Catholic in 1491 to Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar y Mendoza).
This region is also one of the highest plateaus in the Iberian Peninsula and is used to designate wines from the northern part of the Granada province. Later, we will continue our journey toward "El Picón" one of the highest mountains in the Sierra Nevada (3090 meters). Although we will stay at an altitude of 2000 meters, we will encounter small streams and waterfalls fed by the snow-capped mountains. Picnic lunch by the "La Tizná" stream.
We will follow the same route taken in 1960 by a group of young people from Jerez who went to rescue American soldiers whose plane had crashed on the peaks of "El Picón".
DAY 5
Monday 19th May: Jerez d M - Valle del Zalabi - Lugros
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Activities: Horse Riding (Day 4)
Start of the route descending from the plateau towards the Zalabí Valley, through a green landscape surrounded by fields of crops. In Andalusian times, mulberry trees were grown in these fields, whose leaves fed silkworms: this is how the threads were produced to make the silk for the clothes of the sultans who lived in Andalusia.
After the picnic in La Tejea, a natural water source of Arab origin that emerges directly from the ground, return to the horse stables in Lugros to leave the horses and a 15-minute drive to the city of Guadix, to the Hotel Palacio de Oñate, the accommodation for the last two nights of the route. Tapas tasting dinner accompanied by local wines in a restaurant in Guadix, near the hotel.
DAY 6
Tuesday 20th May: Lugros - Fin Del Mundo - Lugros
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Activities: Sightseeing, Horse Riding (Day 5)
After breakfast, riders will be transferred to the location of our horses. On the final day of our route, we will visit one of the most spectacular areas of Sierra Nevada, "El Fin del Mundo."
This valley of red clay, formed during the Quaternary by the meltwaters of Sierra Nevada, features the largest inhabited cave complex in the world, with more than 4,000 people currently living in caves. Picnic lunch in the Red Valley, at Marchal
In the afternoon, after our final horseback ride, we will return to Lugros where we will bid farewell to our horses and travel by car to Guadix. In Guadix, a monumental city, we will explore the cave district and enjoy dinner at a restaurant in the city center.
DAY 7
Wednesday 21st May: Lugros - Puerto De Santa Maria
Meals: Breakfast
Activities: Relax & Recharge, Sightseeing, Local Culture
After breakfast, riders will be transferred to Puerto de Santa María, approximately a 4-hour journey. The rest of the day is free to relax and/or explore the beautiful Puerto de Santa María.
Puerto de Santa María is a vibrant recreational hub in the bay, with constant activity throughout the year. Its beaches, wine cellars, and wide range of entertainment and dining options make it a top tourist destination.
Among its most emblematic buildings is the Castillo de San Marcos (10th-14th centuries), originally an Arab mosque and now a beautiful fortress. Also notable are the Monastery of La Victoria and the Gothic-style Iglesia Mayor Prioral. Highlights of its civil architecture include the Lonja, the Hospital de San Juan de Dios, and the Fuente de las Galeras.
During the Middle Ages, the city experienced significant maritime growth, so it is no surprise that its sailors played a notable role in the discovery and conquest of the Americas. In this city, the navigator Juan de la Cosa drew the first world map to include the Americas in 1500.
DAY 8
Thursday 22nd May: Gonzalez Byass Wineries & Feria Del Caballo
Meals: Breakfast
Activities: Sightseeing, Winery Tour, Wine Tasting, Festivities
After breakfast, a private transfer will take us to the González Byass wineries, better known as "Bodegas Tío Pepe." This monumental winery complex, located in the historic center of Jerez, is a hallmark of 19th-century winemaking tradition with its Andalusian courtyards, trellised streets, and spectacular centuries-old cellars where the finest Sherries and Brandies age.
We will explore the vineyards and gardens, tour the 180-year-old cellars, and enjoy a tasting of the exquisite flavors and aromas of the best Sherries. Following our winery visit, we will proceed to El Parque González Hontoria, home to "La Feria del Caballo" one of the oldest and most significant horse fairs in Spain and the world.
Declared of International Tourist Interest, the fair offers visitors a chance to witness various equestrian events, displays, and Vaquera dressage competitions, as well as enjoy local wines, the magic of flamenco, and the spectacular horse and carriage parades throughout the
venue. It promises to be an unforgettable experience.
DAY 9
Friday 23rd May: Feria del Caballo & Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art
Meals: Breakfast
Activities: Sightseeing, Equestrian Events, Festivities
After breakfast, a private transfer will take us to the fairgrounds for another visit to the Feria del Caballo. This time, those interested will have the opportunity to enjoy the parallel equestrian activities at IFECA, including exhibitions, cattle driving contests, Vaquera dressage, carriage displays, morphological competitions, and many other options.
Within the fairgrounds, we will also have the chance to witness the “Paseo de Caballos”, where horses take center stage. The event features a stunning parade of riders, amazonas (female riders), and carriages, showcasing one of the most attractive and authentic spectacles of the Jerez festival.
In the evening, we will attend a performance at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, titled "How Andalusian Horses Dance." This is undoubtedly the most elegant show of the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, a true equestrian ballet set to distinctly Spanish music, with costumes from the 18th century, and choreography drawn from classical and Vaquera dressage as well as other traditional equestrian work.
DAY 10
Saturday 24th May: End of services
Farewell Breakfast at the hotel, marking the end of your trip.
After breakfast, we say farewell to our riders and wish everyone a safe journey home.
End of your journey!
Feria Del Caballo, Spain: Program pricing
NET Price per person in € Euros.
Private Services
Group + 1 Tour Leader FOC
10 Days / 9 Night program | Pricing: €3,535 per person
Single Supplement Applies
Includes: • Private transfers as indicated.
• Meals, accommodation, and activities as per the itinerary.
Spain: flights
Flights from Airport - Airport - Airport from €PRICE* per person
* Domestic flight current rates, subject to change for 2026
1. The itinerary may be subject to changes due to circumstances beyond our control.
2. Delayed arrivals will incur additional transfer fees.
Services: Included with trip
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20% Professional commission
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10 Days and 09 Nights’ Accommodation: In shared rooms (Double basis)
(Check-in: Thursday, May 15 - Check-out: Saturday, May 24, 2025) -
Bilingual Tour Guide: Specialized in equestrian tourism, accompanying the group throughout the whole program.
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Welcome Cocktail: On Thursday, May 15
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Welcome Lunch: On Thursday, May 15
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Welcome dinner: on Thursday May 15
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Special Five-Day Horseback Ride: Through the Sierra Nevada Natural Park and surrounding villages
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Trained and Fully Equipped Horses: For the duration of the horseback ride.
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Bilingual Equestrian Guide: Specialized and certified (English, French, Spanish).
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Support Vehicle: For luggage transfer during the horseback ride.
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Safe and Verified Route: Pre-planned and checked for security.
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Itinerary Logistics Program.
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Official Permits required for the route.
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Participation Diploma.
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Visit to the Feria del Caballo: (González Ontoria Park, Jerez de la Frontera) on Thursday, May 22, and Friday, May 23.
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Visit and Entrance to Equisur: And its Select Horse Breeding Morphological Competitions on Thursday,
May 22: With the possibility to see the following competitions:
MORPHOLOGICAL COMPETITION P.R.E. SECTION 8 (STALLIONS 4 YEARS OLD)
MORPHOLOGICAL COMPETITION ANGLO-ARABS
MORPHOLOGICAL COMPETITION P.R.E. (STALLIONS 5 AND 6 YEARS OLD)
MORPHOLOGICAL COMPETITION P.R.E. (STALLIONS 7 YEARS AND OLDER)
MORPHOLOGICAL COMPETITION P.R.E. MARES 4 YEARS OLD
MORPHOLOGICAL COMPETITION P.R.E. MARES 5 AND 6 YEARS OLD
MORPHOLOGICAL COMPETITION P.R.E. MARES 7 YEARS AND OLDER
MORPHOLOGICAL COMPETITION P.R.E. FOALS 3 YEARS OLD
CARRIAGE DRIVING EXHIBITION AT THE FERIA DE JEREZ (JEREZ CARRIAGE DRIVING CLUB / RCEA)
NATIONAL VAQUERA DRESSAGE COMPETITION (RFHE / FHA) AND AWARDS CEREMONY
MODEL, GAITS, AND FREE JUMPING COMPETITION OF THE ANGLO-ARAB BREED (AECCAÁ)
MORPHOLOGICAL COMPETITION PUREBRED LUSITANO (AEPSL)
PARADE OF CARTS AND RIDERS OF THE ROYAL BROTHERHOOD OF ROCÍO DE JEREZ -
Guided Tour and Tasting at González Byass Wineries
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Visit to the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art: Gala performance, "How Andalusian Horses Dance"
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Local Private Transfers for the Group: Hotel - Feria del Caballo, González Byass Wineries, Royal
Andalusian School - Hotel -
Group Transfers: Guadix to Puerto de Santa María - Puerto de Santa María to Jerez de la
Frontera -
Full Board: From lunch on Thursday, May 15 to breakfast on Wednesday, May 21, including a drink
(beer, soda, wine, or mineral water) with lunch and dinner -
European Breakfast: From Thursday, May 21 to Saturday, May 24
Services: not Included with trip
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Travel Insurance: (medical expenses, trip cancellation, etc.) It is very important and mandatory to have your own insurance with coverage in Spain.
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Airfare: Flights to and from the destination
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Entry Fees: To museums, exhibitions, galleries, etc., not described in the travel plan
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Transfer to the Meeting Point: In Cogollos de Guadix
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Airport Transfers: Inbound and outbound
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Bus Station Transfers: Inbound and outbound
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Additional Hotel Expenses: Such as alcoholic beverages, phone calls, spa services, etc.
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Personal Transfers: Not described in the program
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Transfers to/from the Starting or Ending Point: Of the journey
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Local or International Phone Calls
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Additional Costs for Single or Different Accommodation: A single room incurs an extra charge and is subject to availability
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Lunch: On May 21, 22, and 23
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Dinners: On May 21, 22, and 23
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Changes to Pre-arranged Menus
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Alcoholic Beverages
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Additional Expenses: At hotels or restaurants
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Tips & Gratuities
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Any Other Services Not Described in the Program
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
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TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is a mandatory requirement to have travel insurance in place for this trip, we recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect against any emergency during the trip. This information must be sent before arrival.
