Horse riding holidays in Hungary, the Historic Trails ride.

Ride Description

Each ride will take you some of the most spectacular landscapes of Europe, many through areas which are protected and unspoilt. The Bakony Mountain is a protected environment with lovely beech-wood and pine forests, picturesque valleys with streams and over 1100 caves. Besides spotting deer, fallow deer, moufflons, wild boar and wild cats, there are 104 protected bird species in the woods of Bakony.

You can ride as a whole family and mix trail riding, archery and show jumping near the ancient village of Ópusztaszer, which is almost 1100 years old and boasts a deep and fascinating history. On this ride you can choose either a horse or carriage which means non ride.

The Lippizaners and Castles programme is a whole equestrian experience, as you will have chance to discover several different regions of Hungary; the West with the Fertó-Hanság national park and the East in the Bukk mountains. You will meet the magnificent Lipizzaners, world famous for their performances in the Spanish riding school in Vienna. You will stop enroute to explore the beautiful Baroque town of Eger and ride uninterrupted through the largest national park in Hungary.

The Spa Relaxation ride gives riders a week of pure unadulterated luxury. Here you will combine riding past extensive vineyards and over rolling hills with the typically Hungarian pastime of spa bathing. Hungary is famed for its natural thermal springs, with over 1300 in all and this is a perfect way to wind down after a hard day in the saddle.

More adventurous riders might choose the Trail ride across the Great Plains or Pusztas or the Zala trail which takes you through game rich forests.

For experienced riders the autumn and spring time (September – November and February – April) hunt riding is available to celebrate the end of the riding season and the beginning of the new hunting season.
This traditional riding programme evokes the hunts of old times. Nowadays on these occasions the main task is not to kill a fox, a deer or a boar, but to ride along a 25-kilometre-long field that is made more difficult with some obstacles.

Some may want to learn the ins and the outs of the Hungarian carriage driving school. In a week anybody who has no experience at all in carriage driving, but loves horses, can reach a level where he or she can put two horses to a carriage and ride along a marked part of a course or a field. They learn about the equipment, tools used in carriage driving, get acquainted with the Hungarian methods of harnessing and carriage driving, and also get an insight into the world of carriage driving competitions. At the end of the course you take part in a splendid house-race and a one-day long carriage driving tour. You receive a diploma on the completion of the course. The leader of the course is Sándor Fülöp world champion in four-in-hand carriage driving.

See Programmes.

Food & Accommodation

Accommodation is dependent on the type of ride chosen. Some guests may chose to stay in 'yurts', which are typical Hungarian tents offering basic facilities. Other may wish the greater luxury and comfort of a guesthouse staying in double or triple rooms. The yurts are equipped with neighbouring shower facilities and the guests house has showers on site.

On some rides you will be staying in private homes or pensions whilst on others, like the Spa Relaxation ride, you will be staying in luxurious three and four star hotels which offer exclusive oriental style Kaplidja-baths, swimming-pools, wellness pools, children's pools, jacuzzis, finnish Saunas, and steam cabin with cold water bath. These rooms have air-conditioning, and all modern facilities. Some sites have tennis courts and extensive grounds.

All rides are on a full board basis and offer a combination of typical Hungarian and international cuisine.

Hungarian food is varied and your meals may include goulash soup and stew prepared in a cauldron, spit-roasted or barbecued poultry, and pork or for that matter ox to, satisfy the tastes of even the best connoisseurs. Of course, the selection in restaurants includes scores of gourmet dishes of international cuisine, including numerous vegetarian dishes.

Activities

All rides are point to point so the activities are an integral part of the programme.

Many activities will depend on where you are staying. Those who opt for rides which overnight at hotels can enjoy a range of facilities offering exclusive oriental style Kaplidja-baths, swimming-pools, wellness pools, children's pools, jacuzzis, finnish Saunas, and steam cabin with cold water bath.

You can also enjoy archery, wine tasting, show jumping and entry to some ancient national parks, sightseeing in Budapest and visit to century old castles, many of which are included in the cost of your ride.

Further Details

Languages: English and Hungarian

Health requirements: Must be physically fit and in good health

Age limit: None but under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. Children wanting to ride must be confident

Tuition: Yes

Included: All meals, transfers

Not included: Flights

Travel Information

All destinations are approximately 2 hours drive from Budapest. All transfers with a private car or van are included.

Airport: Budapest

Lipizzaners and Castles

The Lipizzaners and Castles programme is a whole equestrian experience, as you will have chance to discover several different regions of Hungary; the West with the Fertó-Hanság national park and the East in the Bukk mountains. You will meet the magnificent Lipizzaners, world famous for their performances in the Spanish riding school in Vienna. You will stop enroute to explore the beautiful Baroque town of Eger and ride uninterrupted through the largest national park in Hungary. Day 1: Sunday: After the arrival at Budapest airport, you will be transferred to Hotel Sofitel, in the very centre of the city, at the bank of the Danube. Overnight in Budapest. Day 2: Monday: From Sofitel, you will be driven to the western part of the country. Your riding guide and the horses will welcome to a little village called Fehértó. You will ride a big circle that takes about two and a half to three hours. This ride takes you through peaceful meadows, corn, and wheat and sunflower fields, partly through the Ferto-Hanság National Park. The area is rich in game: deer and rabbit can be seen as well as different bird species for example stork, pheasant, heron. For lunch the famous Hungarian gulyás soup will be served accompanied with red wines. It takes about a 50 minutes drive till you arrive to Szidónia Castle Hotel. This graceful mansion recalls the lifestyle the nobility of past centuries. After checking in, you have few hours to enjoy the spa facilities of the house, to go for a pleasant stroll in the park or just relax and enjoy your time. Dinner will be served in the homey tavern of a nearby lying, watermill. Here you will be shown the structure of the more than 300 years old Mill and spoiled with delicious local meals. Day 3 :Tuesday: The ride starts around 10 am from Fehértó again and you will ride until you reach your evening accomodation. In the morning, walk, trot and canter will be varied for about two to two and a half hours on similar terrain as yesterday: peaceful meadows and agricultural fields with some forests. You will cross some villages as well, where you will have the chance to see local churches and houses with flowery gardens from horseback. Picnic lunch will be served at a lovely location at a side of a small lake (in case of bad weather it will be served in a roadside restaurant instead). After having a rest riders leave the lake behind to ride another two and a half to three hours. This afternoon gives you the opportunity to enjoy long canters with some gallops. You will ride over 2 bridges, pass through villages and forests until you arrive at the lordly but welcoming - family owned - Pokvár Castle. Don't forget your swim wear because just as at Szidónia Castle, Pokvar offers excellent spa facilities as pool, jacuzzi, sauna, and steam bath. Massages can be arranged at each accommodation too. Day 4: Wednesday: Today you ride for about two and a half hours. The landscape becomes hillier. You will enjoy some more long canters today, before a final walk up a wooded hill and have a delicious picnic lunch on the top of it. In the afternoon you are going to “ride back in time” You will have the chance to visit the more than 1000 year old Abbey of Pannonhalma, that has been declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. The first monks arrived to St Martin’s Hill in 996 and raised a church in 1001. During the visit, you will be shown the most interesting parts of the ancient monastery, as well as the Benedictine library and archive, one of the largest ones in the world with 360,000 volumes of rare books. Dinner will be served at Pokvar Castle. Day 5: Thursday: A day off riding which gives the horses a well earned rest. You will be driven from the western part of the country to the beautiful northern hills. After an early start you stop around 12’o clock at the stud farm of the world champion coach driver Lazar brothers. Here you may attend a Hungarian horse show, see ancient Hungarian breed animals and enjoy a luscious lunch accompanied by folk music. In the stables you can see competitive Lipizzaner horses. You will arrive to Eger around 5 pm. This charming baroque town earned it’s very special place in the Hungarian history on the 10th of September 1552 when the Turks lay siege to Eger Castle, 40-50.000 Turkish soldiers surrounded the castle occupied by a garrison of about 2.000 soldiers. The castellan, István Dobó and his troops swore that they would fight to the very end. After a siege lasting 40 days, the Turks retreated, having failed in their attempt to take the castle. After arriving, you will have the evening free to enjoy the town. Today you will be on your own for dinner. Day 6: Friday: You will be taken to the Lipizzaner farm near Eger. The owner of the farm comes from a traditional carriage-driving family and breeds Lipizzaner horses. You will be told about the history of the horses and showed some of the superb stallions. You will then take a 3 hour ride into the hilly Bükk National Park along vineyards, through meadows and forests. Beech and oak woods cover the area of the Bükk National Park. Be prepared for the Lipizzaner horses being livelier than the horses you were riding 3 days before. Those who feel uncomfortable on a more spirited horse will be offered to follow the riders on carriage. After a light lunch, you will be driven to Szilvásvárad, the home of the Hungarian Lipizzaner horses. Driven by carriages through the little village located in the heart of the Bükk National Park, you will be shown the stables of the stallions, the stables of the mares, and finally you will see the mares with their foals running free on the pasture. After the farewell dinner, you will be driven back to Eger. Day 7: Saturday: After checking out in the morning you will be driven back to Budapest. You will be able to go to the tack shop, wine shop and market hall.
Accommodation:	Double room in 4 star hotels. See main accommodation section for further details.
Minimum group size:	5
Maximum group size:	12
Ability description:	For intermediate riders.
Type of ride:	Trail riding
Total riding time:	3-5 riding per day
Departure dates:	12-18 May, 19-25 May, 15-20 September, 22-28 September
Pricing:	See Pricing

Spa Relaxation Ride

Hungary is famous for being an equestrian nation but it is also a country linked to water. The country boasts several major rivers including the Danube and Tisza and many water aquatic sports champions, but is famed above all for its 1300 thermal water springs. The close relation which linked Hungarian people with spas originates from Roman and Turkish cultures. On this ride you can experience Hungary on horseback riding with the added luxury of soothing spa bathing, thereby discovering two strong characteristics of the Hungarian way of life. This very unique trip combines, nature, water and history. You cannot fail to feel both invigorated and relaxed all at once. Day 1: From Budapest, you are driven to Sumeg. You will immediately be enchanted by the stables built in the 18th century at the foot of the medieval castle. The Capari family owns there about forty horses. After lunch, you ride for three and a half hours through the most unspoilt of countrysides without passing through urbanised areas. You ride to the foot of Tatika hill where ruins of a medieval castle tower over the valley. The volcanic hill is covered by an aboriginal beech grove mixed with 200-210 years old hornbeam and sessile oak trees. Along the trail you can also observe nine burial hillocks built during the Iron Age. At the end of the afternoon, you can relax in the spa of the Hotel Kapitany Wellness where you will spend the night. Day 2: A morning ride of two and a half hours, followed by a delicious picnic lunch. You pass through the hills and vineyards of the Zala region located in the west of Balaton lake. At the end of the day, you arrive on horseback to the charming, classical mansion of Misefa, surrounded by beautiful landscapes of forests. It will remind you the noble mansions of the 19th century. Day 3: You leave Misefa on horseback to arrive at the end of the morning in a scenic medow at the edge of Zala river. There you will leave the horses for a while to relax in the thermal water of Kustany spa. After this calming break, you get on saddle again to reach the outdoor theatre where you will attend a medieval equestrian show. The beautiful outdoor location is perfect for a starlit dinner. You will spend the night in the beautiful baroque mansion of Zalacsany. Day 4: You ride through gentle hills and old forests to reach Heviz. Nature provides this town with a 4.4 hectare lake of hot water. You will have the chance to spend the rest of the day in the therapeutic waters of the biggest thermal lake of Europe. Day 5 From Heviz, the morning ride leads you the ruins of Rezi castle at the top of a 400 metre hill. It is the perfect location to have a delicious picnic lunch. The last riding stage of your trip leads you back to Sumeg through the unspoilt natural landscape. Tonight, you enjoy a very special dinner in the style of a medieval feast. Day 6 Depending on your plans, you will be driven directly to Budapest or you can have the possibility to visit the medieval castle of Sumeg built in the 13th century.
Accommodation:	Accommodation is at the luxurious Hotel Kapitany Wellness, the Misefa Mansion, and a Baroque mansion at Zalacsany. See main accommodation section for more details.
Minimum group size:	4
Maximum group size:	12
Ability description:	Intermediate
Type of ride:	Trail riding
Total riding time:	4-6 hours per day
Departure dates:	Departure dates April-September 2008
Pricing:	See Pricing

Hunt Ride

For experienced riders the autumn and spring time (September – November and February – April) hunt ride offers a perfect opportunity to celebrate the end of the riding season and the beginning of the new hunting season. This traditional riding programme evokes the hunts of old times. Nowadays the main task is not to kill a fox, a deer or a boar, but to ride along a 25-kilometre-long field that is made more difficult with some obstacles. The baroque stall building at the foot of a 14th century castle ensures the perfect scene to start the hunting. From this spot hunters ride across the most scenic trails of Bakony hills, and Balaton Overland National Park. The tour can be followed with a carriage that enables non-riders to share the experience with the “hunters”. On the first day of this three-day-long programme riders get acquainted with their horses, make friends, and take a light trail ride with the beautiful English French Tricolour hunt dogs. The second day is for the hunt ride. Riders dressed in hunting outfits follow the “fox” with the dogs across the countryside. (Instead of a fox, dogs follow a route, marked by a special smell) The route follows the most beautiful and exciting scenery, through some 50-70-centimetre-tall natural obstacles. At about halfway riders and horses take a break, and the riders have a pleasant picnic lunch. At the end of the second half participants start a 600-800-meter-long competition on an open field to catch the “fox” In the evening hunters celebrate together on a hunters ball with hunting dinner and gipsy music. On the third day there is a light ride for a couple of hours when the riders can say good-bye to their fellow riders and to their horses. These horseback hunts is organised in the wooded and hilly area of Western-Hungary.
Minimum group size:	5
Maximum group size:	12
Ability description:	Intermediate
Type of ride:	Hunting
Total riding time:	4-5 hours per day
Departure dates:	September- November 2007 full, February - April 2008
Pricing:	See Pricing

Medieval Castle Trail

This ride takes you through the volcanic hills and the Tapolca basin in the north-west of Balaton lake. Thanks to the mild climate, the region of the Kali and Tapolca basins are covered by vineyards. This region is not only beautiful for its nature but also for its medieval castles. Many of these are just ruins because they have been demolished to avoid resistance from the Hungarian lords. Breathtaking views, smells of the forests and historical tales make this a truly magical ride. Day 1 . Arrival and dinner at the horse farm. Day 2 . Our ride into the Tapolca basin through flat landscapes leads us to the lunch place. Then at the end of the afternoon, we will arrive in Karmacs and spend the night there. Day 3. After breakfast, you will ride to Sumeg where we end the day. There you will visit the 13th century castle of Sumeg, at the top of a hill. Day 4. Today you ride through the Sumeg forest until you reach the village Taliandorogd. No castle today but a delicious picnic lunch in the forest and a visit to a typical Hungarian village. Day 5. You ride to the Nagyvazson castle which has been rebuilt followed by a delicious picnic lunch next to the Kinizsi spring. An afternoon ride to reach Monozlo panzio. Day 6 . On the way back to the first inn, you will literally see a sea of stones. This is because volcanic activity has left ancient basaltic stones. Then you ride until the Csobanc castle. Day 7 . The loop itinerary will leads you to Szigliget . There you will enter a wine cellar where you can taste the best wines in the region. Then we will visit the Szigliget castle which is under renovation. From the top of the hill, the view on the glistening Balaton lake is just breathtaking. Day 8 . Breakfast and departure
Minimum group size:	5
Maximum group size:	12
Ability description:	Intermediate
Type of ride:	Trail riding
Total riding time:	4-7 hours per day
Departure dates:	Please contact the office for 2008 dates
Pricing:	See Pricing

Historic Trails, Hungary

Overview

Programmes

Horses

Pricing