Galloping with giraffes in Kenya, living among nomadic herdsmen in Mongolia, riding along empty beaches in coastal France— horse-themed vacations are certain to make for an unforgettable experience. It's exploring the world from your favorite seat (the saddle), and the team at Equitours makes planning your adventures easy.
Offering equine tours all around the globe, Equitours is run by a team of passionate equestrians who love travel almost as much as they love horses. The owners of Equitours, the Fox family, are also the proud owners of Bitterroot Ranch, a working ranch in Wyoming that invites guests to stay and experience their lifestyle. The ranch closes to guests in the winter, and that downtime inspired the Fox family to expand their horizons to horseback riding vacations in all corners of the world.
If you dream of seeing the world from horseback, experiencing new cultures, and making incredible connections with both people and horses, an Equitours vacation should be on your bucket list. Here are a few of their most popular destinations coupled with the most amazing experiences to inspire your next daydream.
#1. Explore Majestic National Park Country in Arizona and Utah
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This seven-day trip takes riders through three of the world's most famous national parks. From your seat in the saddle, you'll be able to explore areas of the parks most tourists never get to see. The trail starts in the Pariah River Canyon and heads onward toward Bryce Canyon and the gorges near Zion National Park. The ride culminates with a breathtaking view over the Grand Canyon.
#2. Relax in the Irish Countryside
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Nestled in the remote northwest region of Ireland is a picturesque hotel and Irish pub where horseback riders from all over the world meet to explore unpopulated beaches and ride through Irish countryside. It's an escape from the hectic world of work and obligations and an opportunity to slow down and breathe in the fresh air, making it a perfect vacation destination for horse lovers. Beautiful and responsive Irish hunters and Connemaras are both the transportation and the inspiration. The horses are fast, personable, and confident as they gallop down country lanes and along sandy beaches.
#3. Herd Cows at an Argentinian Cattle Ranch
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Estancia Los Potreros is a 6,000-acre working cattle ranch in a beautiful location in Argentina. There's an amazing view of the Andes mountains, wildflowers everywhere you look, and an abundance of wide open space worth exploring on horseback. Ride consultant and Equitours co-owner, Hadley Fox, told iHearthorses,
"I adored trying polo in Argentina at Los Portreros. They have some of the finest horses I've ridden anywhere in the world, so responsive and sensitive. It is also the home of the hosts, and you feel the love and passion they put into their animals and their operation."
#4. View African Wildlife in Kenya
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An African safari is one thing, but imagine traversing that same landscape from the saddle of a horse. The Equitours trip to the Masai Mara in Kenya is a once in a lifetime, awe-inspiring experience. Riders gallop after zebra as they cross their paths and stare in wonder at herds of elephants, giraffes, and countless other species unique to Africa. As Hadley puts it, there's nothing more exhilarating. This trip has been one of the most popular experiences Equitours has to offer for over 30 years, and it's easy to see why.
#5. Ride With Nomads in Mongolia
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Mongolia is like no other country in the world. The majority of families live as nomadic herdsmen, moving with their livestock in search of green pastures. On this horseback riding vacation, riders experience a living culture that has been around since the time of Genghis Khan. Riders travel 100 miles south of Ulaanbaatar in the Tov province. The region is an overwhelming expanse of silent, treeless landscape. There are no fences, no roads, and the only structures are the temporary shelters that make up the nomads' camp. It's a heart-stirring trip that leaves riders feeling physically accomplished and mesmerized by the world outside modern society.
#6. Marvel at Dramatic Landscapes in Chile
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If you dream of views that make you stop in your tracks and wilderness that is the epitome of natural beauty, the region of Torres Del Paine National Park in Chile should be on your list of must-see places. The landscape seamlessly transitions from towering granite mountains to rolling countryside, and it even surprises visitors with pockets of forests revealing breathtaking waterfalls, lagoons, and rivers. Riders on this trip also visit iceberg-filled lakes and wild-looking glaciers. Seeing it all from between your horse's ears is a perfect opportunity to relish one of the most remote wildernesses in the world.
#7. Visit Vineyards in Coastal France
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Horseback riding vacations don't always have to be about roughing it. If you're more of a wine and dine type of traveler, you'll enjoy the Equitours trip to Bordeaux, France where horse lovers and wine enthusiasts unite. Bordeaux is famous for its wine, and this seven-day holiday is a celebration of the area's long-standing culture and beauty. Visiting top-tier wineries to ride horses through the grounds and sip the best wine in the region is all on the agenda. And don't forget the horseback expeditions to remote beaches for much-needed peace and relaxation.
For people who love horses, there's no better way to see the world than from a saddle. It's a chance to slow down and truly experience a new region and culture. Instead of zooming by in a car or a tour bus, you make meaningful connections with the horse, the people, and the area. Hadley told iHeartHorses,
"At the end of an Equitours trip, we hope you go home feeling both rejuvenated and accomplished. You weren't sitting on a tour bus for hours on end-- you should be proud of the physical accomplishment! At the same time, it is such a perfect pause moment from your regular life-- you got away from the routine of commuting and working, you explored a new place, you made memorable connections, both equine and human."
Are there any other great destinations for vacations for horse lovers that you can think of? Let us know in the comments below!
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