What to see in Tiétar Valley at New Year: 6 days on a gay and LGBTQ+ retreat

What if you welcomed 2027 somewhere completely different? Imagine six days surrounded by mountains, charming Spanish villages, shared laughter and an LGBTQ+ group that makes you feel at home. From 29 December to 3 January, Apolo invites you to discover the Tiétar Valley and the Sierra de Gredos, celebrate New Year's Eve together and enjoy a gay retreat where you can arrive solo and find a welcoming, family-like atmosphere.

End the year together: arrive on your own, feel part of the family

Some years deserve a different ending. Perhaps your friends already have plans, perhaps the usual celebrations no longer excite you, or perhaps you simply feel ready for a new experience. We believe New Year's Eve can be about much more than midnight and a party: it can be a chance to reconnect with yourself, meet people and begin the next chapter surrounded by nature.

Our gay and LGBTQ+ New Year retreat in nature brings together people who want to celebrate in an open, respectful environment. You can join on your own, with your partner or with friends. You do not need to know anyone beforehand or be naturally outgoing. A welcome conversation, a shared meal or a walk through a village can make meeting people feel surprisingly easy.

We want the atmosphere to feel like a gathering of friends: a place at the table, someone to share an excursion with, laughter in the common room and the freedom to be yourself. We cannot promise that every stranger will become a lifelong friend. What we can create is a warm, inclusive setting where genuine connections have room to grow. You may travel solo, but you do not have to spend New Year feeling alone.

That feeling is what makes an LGBTQ+ countryside retreat special. During the day we explore villages, landscapes and caves; back at the house we share meals, creative activities and conversations. If this sounds like your way of travelling, discover Apolo's gay group trips and LGBTQ+ tours, designed around meaningful destinations and shared experiences.

The Tiétar Valley at Christmas: a peaceful side of the Sierra de Gredos

The Tiétar Valley stretches across the south of Ávila province in central Spain, sheltered by the great peaks of the Sierra de Gredos. Here, rivers and mountain streams descend towards valleys filled with traditional villages, chestnut and oak woodland, olive groves and striking views of the surrounding mountains.

Summer visitors come for natural pools and sunny days, but winter reveals a more intimate atmosphere. Mornings invite you to wrap up warmly and explore, while the low afternoon light brings out the textures of old stone houses. On clear days, the higher peaks may be dusted with snow. As evening arrives, there is something particularly comforting about returning to a warm country house and finding the group gathered together.

Between Christmas and Epiphany, life in the villages moves at a different pace. This is a time for local food, heritage, countryside walks and unhurried conversations. The landscape is not merely a backdrop to our retreat: it is part of the experience, helping us slow down and enjoy the simple pleasure of being together.

Six days of nature, villages, friendship and celebration

Our New Year experience is scheduled for 29 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. The six days bring together the valley's most memorable places, group activities and a special New Year's Eve celebration. Creative sessions and shared activities are arranged within the programme, with the final timetable coordinated around the group and winter conditions.

Throughout the stay we also enjoy hiking, a creative workshop, a participatory cooking activity, board games and karaoke. Exact timings may change, so the current New Year retreat programme remains the place to check the final arrangements.

Arenas de San Pedro: the historic heart of the valley

Arenas de San Pedro is one of the most important towns on the southern side of Gredos. Its historic streets, squares and traditional buildings offer a wonderful introduction to the area's past. It is a place where everyday village life and centuries of history coexist, making it particularly enjoyable to discover together.

The town's best-known monument is the Condestable Dávalos Castle, also called the Castle of the Sad Countess. Its medieval walls evoke the noble families and historic routes that shaped this part of Castile. Other highlights include the Palace of Infante Don Luis, the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción and the historic Aquelcabos bridge.

Beyond the monuments, we want to experience the town itself: its architecture, local shops and inviting streets. A group visit offers plenty of opportunities to share discoveries and take photographs, especially when the atmosphere is quieter during the Christmas holidays. The castle's interior has been affected by restoration closures, but its exterior remains an important landmark.

Cuevas del Águila: an extraordinary world beneath Gredos

Near the small village of Ramacastañas, just outside Arenas de San Pedro, lies one of the valley's most surprising natural attractions: the Cuevas del Águila. The experience begins as we leave the daylight behind and enter a remarkable limestone chamber shaped over thousands of years.

Stalactites hang from the ceiling, stalagmites rise from the cave floor and enormous columns resemble natural sculptures. The lighting reveals fascinating textures and patterns, making the visit an extraordinary contrast to the mountains and villages above ground. The cave maintains a relatively stable temperature of around 17°C and high humidity; the usual visit takes approximately 40 minutes and includes steps and damp sections.

It is the kind of place that becomes even more memorable when shared. Someone spots an unusual shape, another notices a colour or formation, and the whole group begins looking at the cave differently. For opening hours and holiday arrangements, consult the official Cuevas del Águila visitor information.

Guisando: wooden balconies, historic streets and mountain views

Guisando is one of those villages whose charm is best appreciated slowly. Narrow streets, irregular squares, stone houses and characteristic wooden balconies tell the story of a community closely connected with the surrounding mountains. The village was declared a historic-artistic and picturesque ensemble in 1974.

Walking through Guisando reveals small architectural details and unexpected views of Gredos between rooftops. It is not about rushing from monument to monument, but about enjoying the atmosphere and discovering how traditional buildings fit into the mountainside.

For our group, this visit is an opportunity to experience another side of the region, exchanging impressions, sharing photographs and appreciating how the landscape has shaped local life. Often, the most lasting travel memories come from simple moments like these.

The villages that give the Tiétar Valley its character

The wider valley is home to a collection of distinctive towns and villages. Candeleda is known for its traditional architecture and its connections with the mountain streams of Gredos. Mombeltrán has a striking castle and a rich historic setting. El Arenal sits among mountain slopes and countryside paths, while Pedro Bernardo enjoys a remarkable position overlooking the valley.

These places help explain the region's identity, although they are not all scheduled stops on our retreat. Together, they reflect a landscape of mountain communities, rural traditions and historic routes. At Christmas, their peaceful atmosphere provides a refreshing contrast to crowded city celebrations.

The distances between our main destinations are short: Arenas de San Pedro is roughly 5–6 km by road from Guisando and around 9–10 km from the caves. That proximity allows us to appreciate several sides of the valley without spending the whole day travelling, subject to road and weather conditions.

More than sightseeing: nature, creativity and shared moments

The magic of an Apolo retreat does not happen only on excursions. Some of our most memorable moments take place between them. Hiking and nature walks give us the opportunity to breathe fresh air, experience the winter landscape and talk as we move together through the countryside.

We also bring creativity into the experience through an art workshop with Sergio S. París. This is a chance to experiment, express ourselves and enjoy creating something without needing any particular artistic background. A participatory Spanish-omelette cooking activity brings everyone together in a different way: preparing food, collaborating and laughing over the little moments that happen naturally in a kitchen.

Then there are the evenings: board games, karaoke, music, conversations by the fireplace and meals that turn into long, relaxed gatherings. These shared moments are where a group begins to feel familiar. We arrive as different travellers, but gradually create a collection of stories that belong to everyone.

New Year's Eve: celebrate the beginning of 2027 together

After exploring the valley and spending several days together, the most symbolic moment arrives: saying goodbye to 2026 and welcoming 2027. We gather for a special New Year's Eve dinner, share the traditional Spanish midnight grapes and celebrate with music and a festive atmosphere.

This is a party with a difference. We are not simply strangers standing next to each other at midnight. We have already walked together, discovered new places, cooked, created and laughed. When the countdown begins, there are familiar faces around the table and memories already taking shape.

For many LGBTQ+ travellers, welcoming a new year in an environment where they can be themselves has a meaning beyond the celebration. It offers the possibility of feeling accepted, included and connected. You can be outgoing, quiet, reflective or ready to dance: there is no single correct way to enjoy the evening.

La Higuera: our home throughout the New Year retreat

Our rural accommodation in La Higuera, in the Tiétar Valley, provides the setting for daily group life. This is where we return after exploring the region, share meals and gather for the New Year's Eve celebration. Rather than a public sightseeing destination, it is the home base of our organised experience.

A countryside retreat feels different from staying in a large city hotel. Shared living spaces encourage spontaneous conversations, quieter moments and a sense of belonging. The atmosphere is intended to be friendly and respectful, with room for different personalities and ways of enjoying the trip.

For more about the values behind our trips, read how travelling with pride creates space for connection. You can also explore our LGBTQ+ group travel experiences for other opportunities to discover the world together.

Frequently asked questions about our gay New Year retreat in Tiétar Valley