What better way to discover rewilding than by living it directly?

Itinerary

DAY 1 — Arrival and Welcome Arrive at the meeting point, meet the group and your guides, and settle in. The evening begins with a welcome talk covering the Rewilding Spain project and everything the week has in store. A good dinner, a first look at the night sky, and the week begins. DAY 2 — Dehesa de Solanillos: Fire, Recovery, and the Horses That Helped The day starts at Dehesa de Solanillos, one of the most significant rewilding sites in the region — land that suffered a devastating fire twenty years ago and is being brought back through the grazing of Tauros cattle and Serrano horses. You'll spend time with Rewilding Spain rangers, joining them in some of their daily routines and understanding what managing a rewilding project actually involves from week to week. From there, the route takes you through a working resin pine forest, where you'll learn about the centuries-old tradition of resin tapping and its role in keeping these woodlands healthy. A picnic lunch in the open countryside, and then on to Cobeta — a small village with a very particular kind of quiet — before finishing the afternoon with a visit to the Pottoka horses, a hardy Basque breed now playing its part in restoring this landscape. DAY 3 — Mature Forests, Volunteer Planting, and the Birth of a River A morning hike through ancient woodland that is part of Rewilding Spain's mature forest programme, guided by someone from their team. You'll learn how forests left to their own devices develop structure, complexity, and biodiversity that managed plantations simply cannot replicate — and you'll see the wood-boring beetles and other invertebrates that make it work. Mid-morning, you'll stop to plant oak saplings as part of an ongoing restoration effort. Lunch at a local restaurant in Vega del Codorno, and in the afternoon, a visit to the source of the Cuervo River — a reminder that this territory is the headwater of several of Spain's most important rivers, and that protecting the land here has consequences that reach far beyond it. DAY 4 — Wild Horses, a Hidden Lagoon, and Camera Trap Secrets The morning takes you to Dehesa de Villanueva de Alcorón to find the Przewalski horses — and to collect the camera traps that were set in their territory. Lunch at the small local bar in El Recuenco. Back at the hotel in the afternoon, the group sits down together to review the footage: who passed, when, what they were doing, and whether the horses and the local wildlife are starting to interact in ways no one planned for. On the way, a detour to La Balsa — a small lagoon that exists entirely by accident, the result of a human error decades ago, and now a thriving habitat for waterbirds that never received the invitation. DAY 5 — European Bison and the Stars Above Zaorejas The largest land mammal in Europe. The morning is dedicated to the bison reintroduction project at El Recuenco, with a guided visit that explains not just the animals themselves but the ecological logic behind their return — how bison grazing, wallowing, and moving through the landscape creates conditions that dozens of other species depend on. Lunch at a local bar. The afternoon is yours — rest, walk, read, or simply do nothing in a place that rewards it. After dinner, the group heads to the astronomical viewpoint at Zaorejas for a stargazing session under one of the cleanest skies on the continent, with local wines, teas, and craft beers to make the most of it. DAY 6 — Tajo Canyon: The Landscape Below A full morning hiking through the Tajo Canyon — one of the most dramatic landscapes in the Iberian interior, carved deep into the plateau over millions of years. You'll pass some of the park's most iconic viewpoints and arrive for a mycological set menu lunch at a restaurant in the middle of the forest. The afternoon is free: rest at the hotel, explore the surroundings, or take a quiet walk on your own. DAY 7 — Goodbye Breakfast together, a final group conversation to reflect on the week — what you saw, what changed, what you'll take home. Then, the road back.

What's Included?

- 6 nights accommodation - All meals as per programme (lunches and dinners indicated) - Expert local guides throughout the week - Rewilding Spain team accompaniment on relevant days - Stargazing session with drinks at Zaorejas viewpoint - Camera trap collection and review session - Volunteer tree-planting activity - Activity insurance - Small group experience

What to Bring

- Comfortable walking boots or hiking shoes - Weather-appropriate clothing - Small backpack for day trips

How your experience helps rewilding efforts

In an area where depopulation is a big problem, your trip makes a direct difference. We only work with local partners. This means your entire experience—from the travel agency and the restaurant to the guides and your lodging—comes from the region itself. This helps change the economic model and proves that nature-based tourism benefits everyone. Through guided tours and expert explanations, you become a rewilding ambassador. You'll share what you've learned and support conservation long after you go home. By choosing local businesses, your visit helps create a stable income for communities. This encourages them to actively support conservation efforts. Your participation shows that wildlife and natural landscapes have real economic value, giving local people a sustainable alternative to traditional activities that might harm the environment.

Rewilding landscape

Rewilding vision

Iberian Highlands | Spain

The removal of dams and artificial barriers is restoring the natural flow of rivers and streams across the Iberian Highlands. This is revitalising aquatic ecosystems, allowing fish and other freshwater species to move freely and regain their abundance.

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This experience involves

• Hiking
• Wildlife photography
• Gastronomy (local)
• Educational experience
• Volunteering
• Dark skies & stargazing

Wildlife in this landscapePlease note that the presence of wildlife doesn’t guarantee sightings — these animals live freely and may remain out of view.

Location