Multi-ride vacations are a growing trend. And horse riding holidays are the ultimate form of low, slow travel: they’re immersive, sustainable, deeply rewarding AND if you plan your trip right, you can hop from one ride to the next! Happily, there is no easier place to travel ‘low’ than Europe. Border crossings are a breeze and transportation is well-managed and efficient.
With this in mind, we thought we’d spark your imagination! Here are some low, slow European globetrotting itineraries spanning France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Scotland and England.
France
Fly into Paris and explore the City of Love before catching the train to Montrichard for the heavenly Loire Valley & Castles Ride, or to Reims for the dazzling Champagne Ride.
Alternatively, you could fly directly to Bordeaux and embark on the week-long Bordeaux Wine Trail. If you’re visiting in Autumn, why not hire a car and drive east for The Camargue Ride? There’s plenty to see and do along the way, so we’d recommend embracing the spirit of slow travel and booking a B&B or three en route.
Italy
Fly into Rome and spend a few days at GioRoma before taking the train or driving to meet Gio himself at his preferred haunt: an exquisitely restored farmhouse in Tuscany, your base for an extraordinary riding vacation. From Tuscany, make the most of Italy’s extensive railway network to visit as many history and culture-filled destinations as you like on your way south to Villa San Giovanni. This coastal town is where things get interesting: you can catch a train on a boat to Sicily! Yep – the train boards a large ferry for the 35-minute scenic journey to the port of Messina on the beautiful, volcanic island of Sicily. You can hop off in Messina, or stay aboard for the very scenic ride to Palermo, a lovely city in which to spend a day or two before your Sicilian horse riding holiday begins! Your ride hosts also recommend exploring the historic, laid-back city of Cefalù, just an hour up the road from Palermo.
Spain
Begin your journey in Catalonia with the laid-back Catalan Coast Trail. Afterwards, be sure to visit bustling, balmy Barcelona – here’s our city guide.
Continuing south, you’ll reach the heartland of the Spanish horse, Andalusia, where you can experience either the Train & Trail Ride (combining dressage training and trail riding) or the Dressage Ride (choose from three dressage-focused itineraries). Then, having honed your skills in the arena, you might like to explore the region more deeply on our eight-day trail ride in Andalusia.
And from Spain, it’s all to easy to reach…
Portugal
Portugal is perhaps the ultimate slow travel destination: the locals have perfected the art of relaxation and there is never any hurry. The Kingdom of the Lusitano is the perfect introduction to Portuguese horse culture, after which you’ll be perfectly located to jump straight into our ride through the ‘Blue Coast’, Costa Azul, or our ride along the equally beautiful Alentejo Coast. You’ll be totally and utterly recharged by the time you head for home. Oh and if you’re visiting in November, you can’t miss the legendary Golegã Horse Fair.
Ireland
Fly into Dublin and spend a day or two soaking up this colourful city. Then travel west for Cross Country in County Tipperary or north for our Castle & Estate Ride in County Monaghan. These two vacations are highly complementary and if you can, it’s well worth doing them back-to-back. It’s only a three-and-a-half hour drive from one ride to the other. That said, in the spirit of slow travel, we’d recommend exploring the vibrant city of Galway and some of Ireland’s gorgeous villages along the way, not to mention Connemara National Park.
From Ireland, take the ferry across the pond, where a plethora of horse riding holidays awaits in…
The UK
What better way to explore the UK than on horseback?! From London (or Bristol, or Birmingham), hire a car and take your time travelling east through bucolic countryside to The Cotswolds Ride. Then, spend a few days exploring the south of England before reaching the Acorn Inn in Dorset – your base for the English Rose Ride.
From here, it’s a very scenic road trip to the Scottish Borders. Be sure to explore the Yorkshire Dales, the Forest of Bowland and the Lake District on your way up! In southern Scotland, experienced riders will LOVE The Scottish Borders Ride. For beginner and intermediate riders, The Thirlestane Castle Ride is an equally spectacular experience, and The Borders Riding Academy offers a tailored program to hone your riding skills and confidence. And you absolutely MUST visit Edinburgh, one of the most enchanting cities in the world.
Then, depending on the time of year, you could immerse yourself in true wilderness on The Scottish Highlands Ride (April to May and August to October) or take advantage of Scotland’s sleek railway network to travel up to Inverness for The Scottish Jewel (July to September).
What would your dream European multi-ride holiday look like? Let us know in the comments, or feel free to contact us to start planning your next trip!
