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Also see us on the
Sky Channel 251 & 252
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We'll be auctioning a holiday for
charity again this year. |
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Hello and welcome to our
Spanish4x4 holiday website
We are glad you have found us and are looking
forward to showing
you some of the things we can offer you. Savi & I (Phil) have
made some changes suggested by our guests for the 2012 season as
its your holiday after all not ours so you set the pace. We do
quite a lot of things differently to the rest of the pack so you
get the chance to experience more different types of terrain and
offroad surface than any other tour while still having a
holiday. Read on, watch the videos and we look forward to seeing you
in Spain.
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Are you looking for a
4x4 holiday with everything?
Ok let me run off a few things that
make us different.
Base Camp
First of all we operate from a base
camp, nothing flash or complicated, just off the beaten
track with stunning views, peace and quiet that would make
anyone's holiday perfect. A real wild camping
experience without the stress and fuss of setting up and
breaking camp everyday to move on. A real toilet and
shower hut to make your wild camping experience civilised
and you can use our bbq and cooking facilities too so even
as a learner or first timer all you really need is a 4x4 and
a tent. If you don't have either then check out the
other pages we have something for everyone.
You choose the dates!
As we explore from our
mountain base and aim for day on and day off it means you
can choose your dates to visit and barring being fully
booked that means you can choose any dates you like and we can work
out any length stay you want so the timetable is yours.
Tours will start in May 2012 and run through till much later
because some of the most pleasant comfortable weather is
October and November after this by popular demand we will be
doing a Morocco recce
and planning a Christmas & New Year
event too.
Tour Leader
Ok because we know the bulk of our
routes it means you wont always find us at the front of the
pack, I'm quite happy dropping back and letting another
guest lead with some directions over the radio, if you get
carried away and miss a turn don't worry when we get
to it we'll radio you to come back, when it happens its all
part of the fun and some stick over the radio can be
expected.
Rescue and Recovery
Another area where we are happy to
take a back seat. If a group member has a winch or suitable
recovery gear and someone gets stuck, We are happy to watch
and assist a safe recovery if those involved want to, and it
usually works out that way. We are there to make sure
everyone has a good time and gets what they want out of
their holiday and if winching is your thing then crack on.
Day on Day off
We do, or at least try
to do a day on and a day off which is how we arrived at the
3 days offroading and a night run of course. Usually it ends up
being a lot more depending on the group and other factors.
On the other days you can have a lazy start, go for a cooked
breakfast if you can't be bothered to cook your own then go
fishing, or rent a boat to motor up the river, retrace
tracks and do a bit on your own ,go for lunch at one of the
superb places we can recommend, you will not do everything
there is to do by a long stretch, remember we have been here
years so have a lot more to offer than the tours that just
drive through places, chances are lots are missed !
What this actually means for you
our guest is a chance for a holiday as well as full days
exploring all the scenery and challenges we have for
you as part of a team where no one gets left behind to fend
for themselves in the middle of nowhere.
4X4 Armchair
Mountaineering
(as we like to call it) The name has stuck and it is quite
accurate for some of the tracks we can take you up.
BBQ's & Campfire Cooking
(a magic way to spend the evening)
Restaurants too
( doesn't all have to be wild)
Sunshine, Scenery &
Adventure
( Food for the soul )
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A Holiday as well as
Adventure !
Yes Savi & I (Phil) love offroading and
exploring it always feels like an adventure but we appreciate that
if it's your only week or 2 for the year then you will need it to
be a holiday too. So here's a few things for you to think about.
Don't forget to click on the Holidays link to find out more
about the fly in holidays and the Tag Along link if you are
driving down to see us. |
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What do we offer & do?
3 Days guided Greenlaning & offroading & Sight
seeing
A Night Drive into the Mountains
Superb Photographic and Video
opportunities
Walking, Climbing
Swimming in the Lake and Waterfall
fed swimming Lagoons
Relaxing and Reading
Playing games
Bbq's & cooking on the campfire
Restaurants & cafe's
Campfire & wood collecting &
cutting duties
Stargazing in the still warm
evenings
Fishing The River Ebro
Sunbathing
Visit Roman Ruins
Caves with stalagmites &
Stalactites
Templar Castles
Trip to Barcelona
Day at PortAventura
Hunting & Shooting
Horse Riding
What we want to get across is that everyone can have a good
holiday and off-road experience without driving 10 hours a day and
going home needing another holiday or falling out with the rest of
the family. There is something for
everyone and no pressure to do anything.
Exploring the area :
Ok you will be staying with us
on our lakeside mountain in the province of Tarragona Northeast
Spain a few kilometres from a village called Riba Roja D'Ebre on
the river Ebro. As you can see from the pictures the freshwater
lake is absolutely huge, pretty much deserted and has the most
magical "Jason and the Argonauts" like scenery for about
15kilometres up river. Waking up in the morning is a treat for the
soul as you can see from the picture quite often its a perfectly
still, silent beginning to your day absorbing the blue sky and
warmth with your breakfast. We tour stunning Mountains,
deserted Beaches, Rivers (wet & dry) green Pine forests and Olive
groves, Orchards, quaint villages with amazing histories,
rich vineyards, Templar castles, Ermitas, disused railway, tunnels
and Stations. Wildlife and nature reserves, Caves with stalactites
and stalagmites and so much more!
You will be staying with us
as our personal guests
Which up until recently has been
reserved for family and friends, but after many requests we
are now prepared for a small group of guests in one of our landrovers for guided exploring and for
vehicles following us on tag along tours. We operate from our private
mountainside escape and have many other toys, games and things to
do besides offroading. The huge lake is magic to play on and being
a big kid I have windsurfers, pedalo, aquaskippers, fishing and
swimming stuff too.
Wild camping with us is
not totally uncivilised
We have showers and
toilets, we don't see any reason not to have the basics but
everything else is as mother nature intended, cooking on the
campfire or bbq and eating out in one of many fantastic local
restaurants we have found on our travels is a must. If you want
more than canvas under the stars have a look at the accommodation
page once again there is something for everyone.
Its your holiday so you decide what, when, where and how
you enjoy it. We'll do our best to make it happen and suggest a
few ideas along the way.
Afternoon view over the lake. Fantastic River Ebro to play in. Best ferry in the world
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Explore at will!
If you're
doing a tag along tour, after the 3 days guided touring and a
nightrun, we can point you in any direction you want and give you some ideas, or you can follow us on one of our little excursions into the mountains and use it as an inspiration for your own expedition. You will not be 'led' around all week.....unless you want to. You are free to explore at will although our run will lead you to some places that you wouldn't find on your own!!!! So don't forget your camera and binoculars because you will most definitely need them!!
Should you have any problems we will rescue you.
Your adventure starts from the moment you wake up
Because you're starting your day on the side of a mountain!.
From the bottom of our driveway (which is a track itself) you're
at the beginning of dozens of tracks that traverse the mountains
surrounding us. Some of the tracks are fantastic, virtually
unknown, and surrounded by stunning scenery. It is truly
breathtaking! The ancient olive groves, pine trees, Roman ruins
and churches hidden in the mountains are great fun to explore, photograph
and imagine in their heyday.
With us you have the flexibility
Set
your own pace and do your own thing as well as exploring with
us. No day need be the same. You can choose to go off exploring
on a day off with your 4x4 experiencing everything the Catalan countryside has to offer, or visit some of the ancient Roman ruins, medieval villages, churches, sand dunes or even the beach ( you can even drive for miles on some of the beaches!). If you're a wine buff then the region of La Rioja is well known for its production of Rioja DOCa (Denominacion de Origen Calificada) wines. Wine has been made in this region for over 2,500 years-prior to the Roman occupation.
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There is just so much to see and explore one trip wont be enough!
One of my favourite is driving along river beds like this one
above. Oh did we mention that you can also go horse riding, fishing,
canoeing, climbing and cycling so bring your bicycles and canoes
along if you're driving because you will definitely want to
experience some of the scenery that way.
The best bit? because you come back to us everyday you don't have to drag all your gear about everywhere you go. We'll look after it. If you have the stomach for it then I recommend the rollercoaster and the 280ft drop
at PortAventura otherwise the 25 ft cliff jump on the far side of
the lake might do it! A canoe is the best way to discover the sunken village in Faio (Fayon). The only visible reminder of the town of Fayon is the bell tower which became submerged with the damming of the river Ebro.
A big component of our holiday is the social aspect
It's about being outdoors and surrounded by nature during the day and in the evening, sitting around the campfire, drinks in our hands, chatting about the days events, exchanging adventures/misadventures stories under the night sky that almost always promises a good show of shooting stars. It's all about good company, good conversation and good food.
Our holidays
Are for anyone with a passion for 4x4 travel, adventure,
culture and nature. However, if you're after luxury, want to be
waited on hand and foot can't take a bit of roughing it, then
alternative accommodation is available.
What to expect
You can expect to have the Best Holiday Ever! No horrible hotels, no crowded beaches and no soaring costs. We have the basics like showers and toilets. We guarantee you incredible views, a stunning variety of rural landscapes to choose from: mountains, rolling countryside, beaches and magical woodlands. There will be firewood to collect (if you want to). You can either choose to cook your dinner on the fire pit or use the BBQ. You can most definitely expect to be able to unwind in this magical and stunning atmosphere and soak up the beauty that Mother nature has blessed us with.
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It has been known to be anything between 30-45 in May-August. From
September until about early December it can be around 25-30. Sun
protection is a must at all times and so is after sun protection.
People with sensitive skin who burn quickly should always apply a
sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more. During the summer months the
sun doesn't set until about 9.30pm and the full moon is absolutely amazing.
Getting to us
Is easy. You can either choose to drive through France or take the ferry
to Spain (my personal preference as it's relaxing and an experience in itself) from Portsmouth or Plymouth to
Bilbao or Santander. Below is two links to Multimap. Each shows directions from either
Bilbao/Santander to us.
http://www.multimap.com/s/s99CWQek (Bilbao), http://www.multimap.com/s/GKfR8Bsq (Santander)
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