Donkey trekking for grown-ups, 8 days
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate- Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
- Category: Donkey trekking, self-guided
- Duration: 7 nights, 8 days
- Recommended time of year: 1st April - 31st October
Self-guided, donkey trekking trail for grown-ups.
- Walking in the company of a donkey who will carry your luggage.
- Charming rural hotels along the way for you and an obliging field for your donkey nearby, each night.
- Delightful walks along beautiful countryside in Guadarrama National Park.
- Stunning traditional villages.
- Area of special protection for wildlife.
- One night in Segovia (World Heritage Site) and the medieval town of Pedraza.
In the footsteps of shepherds.
This is an exceptional walking tour. Trekking with a docile and intelligent donkey is an experience like no other. These loveable animals will make this wonderful walking tour a truly unforgettable one.
The tour starts in the World Heritage City of Segovia where you spend the first night. After a private transfer and briefing, you will meet your donkey and be taught how to load your luggage, feed, water and lead and look after him or her.
The walking takes place along a section of the ancient drover´s way known as the “Cañada Real Soriana Occidental”, a protected strip of countryside (90 meters wide) crossing the Spanish landscape for 700kms, from Soria on the North East to Badajoz in the South West.
Since medieval times, when wool was a precious commodity, huge flocks of sheep have travelled south each autumn in search of milder weather and fresh pastures and back to the North to spend the summer months.
All this along the northern slopes of the Guadarrama Nature Reserve, an area renowned for its wildlife and stunning scenery. Your donkey will carry your things from hotel to hotel on sacks provided. We can store your airplane suitcase until you finish the trek.
Travel:
Which airport should I fly to? Madrid International Airport.
How do I get to the Starting Point? Catch an AVE (High Speed Train) from Madrid to Segovia (12,20€, takes 30 mins). From here we take you to the starting point for free
How do I get back? Again, we´ll include the final transfer from Gallegos to Segovia for free so that you can catch an AVE (High Speed Train) back into Madrid (12,20€, takes 30mins).
ACCOMMODATION
One 3*** city hotel and five high quality small rural hotels (3 or 4 stars).
Day 1 and 7 Segovia
Day 2 Arcones
Day 3 Navafria
Day 4 Requijada
Day 5 Pedraza
Day 6 Gallegos
OUR DONKEYS
Galindo, Ligoncete, Marina, Gordito, Madrileño… Our donkeys live in the Guadarrama Mountains and are experienced trekking companions. They are tall donkeys of a Spanish race called Zamorano: docile, tranquil animals of unexpected intelligence! You will be surprised at how well they keep a good pace and how they can carry the children without complaint!
