When you think of "adventure travel," what crosses your mind?
How can a traveler visit the remote parts of the world's most beautiful and interesting places while.....
Destinations like Africa, Asia, Europe and South America offer a wonderful variety of adventure tours on horseback. Though comparatively little known to Americans, the British and particularly the French have highly developed the riding tour concept in many parts of the world. In many locations in the United States rights-of-way for horses have been lost, but many still exist in other countries.
Horses and horseback riding are deeply woven into the culture and history of most cultures from Argentina to Ireland. This is how our ancestors traveled and for those with a sense of history there is no more appropriate way to go. If you arrive in a foreign place on horseback, you will most likely be enthusiastically greeted by locals with waves and smiles which greatly facilitate meaningful contacts. Those who arrive by bus, on foot or on a bicycle are usually ignored. Horses are a great introduction and ice breaker almost anywhere.
If you seek a wilderness adventure, then horses are the way to go unless you want to walk and carry your equipment. Riding tours can take you from inn to inn, castle to castle, palace to palace or from one comfortable camp to another. Costs are very reasonably compared to biking or bus trips.
Horseback riding adventures vary widely in the skill and experience required to handle them safely. Most of these tours move out at all paces and include some good gallops so that one can cover 15 to 35 miles in a day. Beginners need several days of instruction before attempting even an easy trip, but those who are reasonably fit, not too overweight and have open minds can catch on very quickly. A week of intensive riding with good instruction can easily prepare most people for the less demanding adventures.
One of the enormous advantages of travel on horseback is that you are sharing the adventure with a willing animal who is also interested in the sights and sounds and who loves a brisk gallop on a beach or open plain as much as you do. A day in the saddle is also great exercise and riding is an excellent way to keep fit while having fun. It is far more interesting and satisfying than sitting confined in a bus or land rover all day which really isn't adventure travel at all. Another dividend is the keen appetite you develop after a day in the saddle for the delicious food you will be served.
On an African ride, a good horse can outdistance an irate Cape buffalo or elephant and keep you safe. Comfortable camps are set up for you each night, the food is excellent and the service superb. Or try a horseback tour visiting the castles of the Loire Valley and ride into the courtyards on your horse like a knight of old. You can gallop along forest tracks where the French aristocracy once chased the wild stag. There is a broad spectrum of possibilities available for horseback riding vacations.
If it appeals to you to travel in harmony with nature without using polluting, noisy machines or an unresponsive bicycle, then you should look into horseback riding tours.
Bayard Fox has been riding for 70 years on six continents and has ridden enough miles to circle the globe several times. He is owner and founder of Equitours Worldwide Horseback Riding Vacations. He and his wife also own the Bitterroot Dude Ranch where they raise and train Arabian horses. Bayard has been leading and organizing riding tours for 35 years.
Copyright 2005 Bayard Fox and Equitours, Ltd.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 2.5 License.
For most people, outdoor cooking is synonymous with barbeque, but... Read More
Spain offers the visitor over 4,000 kms of coastline where... Read More
Romancing History ? A Holiday in RajasthanRajasthan, the name evokes... Read More
Pictures of a massive dead Great White shark on the... Read More
The dictionary defines a tent as 'a portable shelter usually... Read More
Mt. Washington Valley Trails & Mt Washington - NHThe highest... Read More
Stay warm or die. That's what it comes down to... Read More
As the weather cools in late summer and the days... Read More
Paul Scott Mower once said, "There is nothing like walking... Read More
Whale watching is a spellbinding, entertaining, and thought-provoking adventure trip.... Read More
The beautiful Salmon River stretches through over 400 miles of... Read More
When you think of "adventure travel," what crosses your mind?... Read More
New experiences make me nervous, and I assume that holds... Read More
There's nothing that will quicken the interest of RVers like... Read More
Are walking sticks longer than trekking poles? What about hiking... Read More
Before you take off on that great outdoor adventure, be... Read More
One afternoon during a trip across the country in our... Read More
"The good news is that there is no reason to... Read More
Which is the best African safari company for my safari... Read More
Do you like to take one day hiking trips? Do... Read More
TENT CAREYou should seal all floor seams and those seams... Read More
Eaton Canyon Natural Area Nature Center, entrance, 1750 N. Altadena... Read More
Sun, Sand and Surf ? an apt description for Goa?... Read More
There is something about a town tucked between the mountains... Read More
A rigid inflatable boat is defined as a hard-hulled boat... Read More
We love spending time outdoors and if you are expecting... Read More
This amazing drive through the White Mountains of New Hampshire... Read More
Plimoth Plantation and the Mayflower II ship are major attractions... Read More
Normally when you think Safari you think Big 5. The... Read More
A camping gear checklist is an important tool to help... Read More
A South Africa safari is the ideal wildlife trip to... Read More
The sport of river rafting was practically invented in Colorado.... Read More
When you are planning a vacation to Maui or Rio... Read More
Boston is a great destination city for a vacation. There's... Read More
SAFE WALKING TREKKING OUTDOORSIf you are contemplating a long distance... Read More
Hiking shoes versus hiking boots? Hiking shoes win. Okay, next... Read More
Sharklife.co.za has been fighting an ongoing for the protection of... Read More
Western Australia ? South-West Coast driving holiday. Great Australian Road... Read More
Spain offers the visitor over 4,000 kms of coastline where... Read More
Summer is for picnics, hikes, outdoor concerts, barbeques ... and... Read More
Oregon's Rogue River is one of the nation's most beautiful.... Read More
Mount Sunflower, Kansas. Ebright Azimuth, Delaware. Hawkeye Point, Iowa. Hoosier... Read More
Santa Cruz Church, the church of the holy cross, was... Read More
The first recorded mapping of what is now Koombana Bay... Read More
I stood at the observation point on the balcony at... Read More
If you you find yourself saying "Hey, that's a good... Read More
The Northern Circuit is probably Africa's most dramatic wildlife area.... Read More
Normally when you think Safari you think Big 5. The... Read More
Going on a gorilla safari must rank as one of... Read More
Ask me which Pacific island has the most to offer... Read More
The Royal Barge Procession in Bangkok, conducted on very rare... Read More
Truly a small wonder, the eTrex takes the best features... Read More
Which is the best African safari company for my safari... Read More
Mount Rainier National Park is the most popular park in... Read More
Solo backpacking means peace and quiet. No one to talk... Read More
The Kenya safari circuit is one of the best in... Read More
There is something about a town tucked between the mountains... Read More
Recently I attended a Boy Scout Leader Roundtable meeting where... Read More
Paul Scott Mower once said, "There is nothing like walking... Read More
The state of Goa on the West coast of India,... Read More
The intricate details on a topographic map can be befuddling,... Read More
"Do you know about Wal-Mart camping?" We didn't know, but... Read More
When you search online for a camping gear outlet you... Read More
San Diego offers a bevy of interesting hikes. With the... Read More
I stood at the observation point on the balcony at... Read More
We've all heard about whalewatching from boats or shore, and... Read More
Outdoors |