Molise, Italy
Reviews
“The generous hospitality and easy temperament of the horses induced a holiday mood. Cantering through carpets of pale yellow and purple violets with the scent of wild oregano in the air created the perfect riding atmosphere.”
Helen C., Read review
“Brilliant. It was all we had hoped for and more. Most relaxing and great fun. Astrid & Carmine were the perfect hosts - we were treated like friends - food was excellent and varied and the horses were stars. My riding has improved and the views and scenery were wonderful.” John B.
“A very good holiday, Beautiful setting with well looked after and cared for horses and very kind hosts. The overnight stay at the lodge and sleeping under the stars with our camp fire was very special. Riding through the beautiful scenery was wonderful.” Wendy B.
“Great experience with lovely hosts. Riding was a good challenge and we learnt a lot.” Simon O.
“A fantastic experience, the scenery was amazing and the horses were so forward going and well behaved. I loved sleeping outside and looking up to the stars at night. Italian food, so great, and you couldn't ask for better guides.” Amanda M.
Horses
Type of horses:
Quarter horses, Paints
Nature of horses:
Kind temperament, well schooled, responsive
Height of horses:
13.2 - 15hh
Weight limit:
90 kg
Tack type:
Western
Weather
Current Conditions:
Partly Cloudy, 7 C
Forecast:
Fri - Mostly Clear. High: 7 Low: 2
Sat - Partly Cloudy. High: 8 Low: 2
Full Forecast at Yahoo! Weather
(provided by The Weather Channel)
Pricing
Valley of the Bear Trail
2010 price: £866 includes seven nights bed and breakfast, full board including wine and beer with lunch and dinner from dinner on the first day up to and including breakfast on the day of your departure. The price also includes transport of your luggage, five and a half days riding (5 -7 hours per day) and two English speaking guides.
There is a supplement of £45 per night to book a double room at the agriturismo (instead of the farmhouse) which is 5 minutes drive away.
Abruzzo Trail
2010 Price £997 includes seven nights bed and breakfast, full board accommodation including wine and beer with lunch and dinner from dinner on the first day up to and including breakfast on the day of your departure. The price also includes transport of your luggage, five and a half days riding (7-9) hours per day) and two English speaking guides.
Molise Trail
2010 price £811 includes seven nights bed and breakfast, full board with wine and beer at lunch and dinner from dinner on the first day up to and including breakfast on the day of departure.
The price also includes transport of luggage, five and a half days riding (5-7 hours per day) and two English speaking guides.
Introduction to Western riding.
The price of £761 includes both theory and practical (in the saddle) approx. 25-30 hours in total. Seven nights bed and breakfast, full board with wine and beer at lunch and dinner.
Carpe Diem (Stationary with two day trek)
2010 price £798 includes seven nights bed and breakfast, full board with wine and beer at lunch and dinner from dinner on the first day up to and including breakfast on the day of departure.
The price also includes transport of luggage, five and a half days riding (5-6 hours per day) and two English speaking guides.
Stationary Programme
2010 price of £725 includes seven nights bed and breakfast, full board with wine and beer at lunch and dinner and twelve riding hours (at least).
Majella Trail
Price of £1020 includes seven nights bed and breakfast (three at the farmhouse and four at a hotel), full board with wine and beer at lunch and dinner, two English speaking guides, luggage transfer and transfer to and from Isernia at 19:45 on arrival and departure at 08:10.
Availability/Booking Form
Ride Description
A holiday at this fabulous location is ideal for those looking to get away from it all. You will be riding in a very unspoilt area of Italy, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, experiencing the companionship of other guests, your welcoming guides and the friendly and sure-footed horses. There are four trails and a stationary ride to enjoy, something to suit nearly all abilities. You will ride in valleys, fields, hills and mountains on lovely responsive horses who will safely take you on the ride of a lifetime. The Valley of the Bear Trail takes you through a rural and unspoilt area and the Abruzzo Trail is suitable for the more experienced and fit rider where the terrain is more arduous.
There is a more adventurous programme called the Molise Trail and this is for those who don't mind sleeping around a campfire in between seeing some beautiful spots of Italian countryside. If you are taking one of the trails then you will need to be reasonably fit, as the hours in the saddle are long, but you will be riding western style so you will be comfortable on your well-trained quarter horses. Carmine and Astrid are very experienced guides whose knowledge of the area is second to none and they will show you wildlife and scenery beyond your imagination. They are members of the FISE (Federation of Italian Equestrian Sports) and Carmine is vice-president for the region of Molise. This destination sometimes provides opportunities to ride with wild horses and even see wolves and bears, an unforgettable experience.
There is also a programme here specifically designed for novices and those wishing to gain more confidence in the saddle. Astrid will make sure that you are comfortable in the saddle by the end of the week and this is an incredible setting for learning to ride in or simply to improve your skills.
Accommodation on the trails varies from mountain lodges to hotels. You can be assured that at all these destinations you will be comfortable and very well fed (during the stationary programme you can experience Carmine's delicious cooking - he used to be a chef!). A based holiday is fantastic for those wishing to learn more about western riding and who would like less hours in the saddle. The peace and tranquility of this lovely destination needs to be experienced.
See Programmes.
Food & Accommodation
You will stay in a farmhouse renovated sympathetically by Carmine in 2003 which now provides very comfortable accommodation for all guests. The farmhouse, dating from 1885, is almost 3000 feet above sea level and is situated on the edge of a wood and overlooking a beautiful valley. The house is not large but very comfortable. The living room has a large fire place and is a wonderful place to sit and discuss the day.
There are two guest rooms both furnished simply and authentically. One room is for two guests and the other comfortably accommodates six which is, of course, great fun for a group of friends. There are two bathrooms with all modern conveniences. There is a large kitchen where both Astrid and Carmine cook the most amazing meals which may be eaten around the large table or out on the terrace.
If you prefer more privacy we can arrange accommodation at an agriturismo just five minutes down the road for a supplement of 50 Euros per double room per night.
Breakfast is continental and can be eaten on the terrace or in the kitchen. The food here is wonderful with great care being taken to provide local specialities cooked with fresh ingredients. Vegetarians and those with special diets can be catered for with prior notice. Carmine used to own a restaurant and this is apparent from the wonderful recipes he shares with his guests. You may be lucky and find that Astrid will let you have these recipes when you leave!
A welcome drink, wines and beers are included (only at lunch and dinner) in the cost. All other drinks must be paid for. You will never go hungry here! Our own testers called the food 'imaginative and delectable' and 'original and sumptuous'!
Further Details
Languages: Your hosts are fluent in English, Dutch, Italian, French, German & Danish. Two English speaking guides
Health requirements: There are no specific health requirements.
Age limit: 16 years for trails and 12 years if accompanied by an adult
Tuition: By arrangement
Included: Full board including wine and beer (lunch and dinner only). All riding. Transfers from Isernia Station at 19.45 on arrival day and 8.10 on departure.
Not included: Sleeping bags on trail. Transfers from station. Supplement for single rooms in the hotel and agriturismo
Travel Information
Both Easyjet and Ryanair fly into Rome. It is very straightforward to travel to Isernia where we arrange your transfer. A bus runs every 20 minutes from outside Ciampino airport and can drop you off at the Termini in Rome. This is a journey of around 20 minutes. Trains are inexpensive (12-15 euros) for the train from Rome to Isernia. This is a very easy journey and inexpensive.
Groups may want to travel by taxi to and from the airport. The minibus can accommodate a maximum of 8 persons. The cost would be 200 euros each way to split between the group.
Alternatively you can fly to Naples and catch a train to Isernia.
A transfer is included when guests arrive at 19.45 at Isernia and when they depart at 08.10.
Airport: Rome
Alternative Airport: Naples
Programmes
Valley of the Bear Trail
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This is a wonderful trail through hills, meadows and woods in unspoilt rural Italian countryside. An opportunity to ride western style on reliable and friendly horses, all with their own character. Your trail takes you over narrow paths with magnificent scenery and you will ride through the so called 'Magic Forest', staying in mountain lodges, rural hotels and the comfortable farmhouse. You may get a once in a lifetime opportunity to ride with wild horses. Saturday: You are expected to arrive after 5pm on Saturday evening. In case you travel by train you can get a transfer from Isernia railway station (there will only be one transfer per day). It takes about twenty minutes by car to reach the farmhouse. You will soon recover from your journey when you get back to the farmhouse. With the wonderful view and a drink in your hand, you will soon get to know your hosts and other guests. You can be assured of a fantastic three course dinner accompanied by tasty local wines. Sunday: The morning is yours if you wish to sleep late and take your time over breakfast. During this time you will unwind and take a look around or perhaps just sit in the sunshine admiring the view. After breakfast there is a brief demonstration in western riding. After this you will do a test-ride (around three hours long) to enable you to get acquainted with the horse you are going to ride on the trail. You will have another delicious dinner at the farmhouse where you will spend the night. Monday: At about 10am you leave the house and ride through Alto Molise with its hills, meadows and woods. You will stop for a delicious picnic in the shade of mighty oaks near the ruins of a Samnitic temple. The Samnites were the original population. It took the Romans three centuries of warfare before they finally conquered this region which then became part of the Roman Empire (79 BC). After this welcome break you will continue riding through the endless hills and unspoilt countryside. At the end of the day you arrive at an agriturismo where dinner awaits, another regional speciality. You will spend the night here. Tuesday: After breakfast you continue the trail, following the old Tratturo Castel di Sangro-Lucera. The Tratturo is a centuries-old track that is still used to move cattle from the far south where grass is scarce in summer. After the Tratturo you reach Pescolanciano with its old castle. Here you stop for lunch. After this break you ride towards the Colle dell’Orso. The trail gets steeper, climbing 1,800 feet to a height of 3,600 feet. The route leads you over narrow paths, through beech-woods with carpets of leaves. In the evening you reach a simple mountain lodge where you dine and spend the night. First of all the horses need to be taken care of after their long day. You sleep in dormitories so please do not forget to bring your sleeping-bags. Wednesday: Today is dedicated to the magnificent scenery of the plateau of Colle dell’Orso and the cowboys. During this ride you will enjoy the most splendid views of the Abruzzi and Matese Mountain ranges, with peaks of appr. 6,500 feet. The most impressive scene of all is, however, the herds of cattle and wild horses in the plains. Carmine will try to get you near so you are able to canter with them. After this very special experience it is time for lunch. Then you return to “cowboy-land”, over the hills and through the valleys you ride as far as the so-called Magic Forest. This piece of woodland is completely sheltered by rocks and there are but two possible ways of access, which makes the visit quite adventurous. Leaving the Magic Forest you go back to our mountain lodge, which is equipped with a shower. In the evening there will be a camp-fire or the fire will be lit in the fire-place. Thursday: In the morning you will once again enjoy the beauty of the Colle dell’Orso, called Magic Mountain by some. Your picnic lunch will be in the garden of a little church. In the afternoon the route descends, leading you back to civilization. In the evening you leave the horses in a small riding stables before dining and spending the night at a cosy hotel. Friday: Today you are able to take it easy. First you ride through Civitanova. Then you pass a valley where the river Trigno has been dammed. You follow the Trigno to Pescolanciano, climbing the hills that border on the forest Collemeluccio. This is one of the forests protected by UNESCO. The project is called Man and Biosphere (MAB). Worldwide UNESCO protects 254 forests. Four of them are located in Italy; two of which are in Molise. The last few miles on horseback take you over open heathland and dense oakwood. At 5pm you will arrive at Carmine and Astrid’s farmhouse. Tonight you can enjoy more excellent wines and another delicious meal which will be your farewell dinner. Saturday: Departure after breakfast. N.B. Due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances the programme may have to be be adapted. However, the number of hours spent in the saddle and the destinations remain unaltered. This trail requires that you are in reasonable shape and is also suited for less experienced riders. In this rural and unspoilt part of Italy, far from the madding crowd, “festina lente” (hurry slowly) is part of the life-style, as are late dining hours. There may not always be a strict time-table, but your hosts do hope you will enjoy the “dolce vita”, the delicious Italian cooking and excellent wines, unspoilt nature and absence of stress! For those single travellers looking for companions, how about joining Holly who will be escorting the Valley of the Bear Trail on 21 August? |
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| Accommodation: |
Your accommodation is varied on this ride as you would expect on a trail of this kind through unspoilt countryside. You will stay at the comfortable farmhouse at the beginning and end of the trail. On the trail you sleep in a mountain lodge in dormitories (equipped with shower) for a couple of nights. The bolder of you may wish to sleep outside with your horse! Two nights will be spent at an agriturismo when you get down from the mountain. Riders need to bring a sleeping bag and towel. Fresh sleeping bags and towels can be rented for 10 euros paid locally. Although the Italian law does not require that riders wear helmets, we would appreciate it very much if you bring and wear your own riding hat. |
| Minimum group size: | 6 |
| Maximum group size: | 8 |
| Ability description: | Must be reasonably fit and able to walk next to your horse. You must be able to walk, trot and canter. |
| Type of ride: | Trail |
| Total riding time: | 5 and a half days riding, approximately 6 hours in the saddle each day on the trail |
| Departure dates: | 2010 dates: 8 - 15 May; 21 - 28 August (Escorted Trail); 2 - 9 October. |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |
Abruzzo Trail
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This is an adventurous trail for the riding fit. It is quite a strenuous trail but the rewards are magnificent. You ride through mountains, forests and meadows in diverse and totally unspoilt countryside. At 3300 feet above sea level you will enjoy the clean air and relax western style on responsive quarter horses. There is much wildlife to see including wolves and even bears. Saturday: You are expected to arrive after 5pm on Saturday evening. In case you travel by train you can get a transfer from Isernia railway station at 19.45. It takes about twenty minutes by car to reach the comfortable farmhouse where Carmine and Astrid live. After settling in you can enjoy an aperitif and get to know your hosts and the other guests. You will be assured of a delicious three course dinner - probably a regional speciality together with a good local wine. Sunday: This morning you may wish to lie in or perhaps you will be up early to look at the sun rising over the valley. Time to relax over breakfast and have a few minutes to yourself - a walk perhaps or maybe just sitting in the sun on the terrace. Before lunch there will be a brief demonstration in western riding. After lunch you will have a test ride, a three hour ride to get acquainted with your horse. Dinner and overnight are at the farmhouse. Monday: At about 10am you get in the saddle and follow the Tratturo Celano-Foggia. A Tratturo is a 2000 year old track that used to move cattle from the far south, where grass is scarce in summer. A picnic is taken in Montedimezzo. The hunting lodge which belonged to the royal family of Bourbon now contains a museum and the forest here is protected by UNESCO (worldwide this organisation only protects 256 forests, four of which are in Italy, two in Molise itself). You continue along the Tratturo as far as the river Sangro where you leave the Tratturo to follow small paths. Sunbathing lizards take to their heels. The air smells like an Italian kitchen, with rosemary and thyme growing everywhere. Next you climb uphill through a forest, after which you reach Roccaraso. Here you will enjoy a delicious dinner and spend the night. Roccaraso is at an altitude of 3,600 feet above sea level and is a well known skiing resort. Tuesday: After breakfast you leave Roccaraso behind and head for the Piano delle Cinque Miglia (the valley of five Miles). Here you can enjoy a long canter! At the end of the valley the first tall mountains loom up at either side, a gravel road takes you to the Montagna Spaccata (split mountain) where benches and old oaks tempt you to stop. The narrow, stony road, going up and up, leads to a water trough where the horses can drink. You can enjoy the view over the valley and perhaps take some pictures. The trail continues climbing until, all of a sudden, there is an open space in the forest that offers a beautiful panorama. After this you lead the horses on foot until you reach "Agriturismo Jovana" (mountain lodge) where lunch is served - the owner has won various awards for his “ricotta” (cheese). After lunch you follow the gravel road which takes you upwards to Scanno and just outside the village the horses are left in a riding centre “Il Ranch”. Enrico will take you in a minibus to his hotel. Dinner is at a restaurant in the historical centre of Scanno and after dinner you can stroll around this lovely old village. Wednesday: Today is going to be challenging! You leave the civilised world behind you and ride through the unspoilt nature of the mountains of the Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo where no cars are allowed. With a bit of luck you should come across wild horses or some deer. The wolves and bears keep away from the clatter of hoofs. After a long climb you halt at 6,300 feet a.s.l. and enjoy the panoramic view. The mountain peaks are covered by snow until late spring. Then you will lead the horses down on foot as it is too steep here to stay mounted. Having reached the right path you can mount again and ride through extensive forests. In a meadow you will have a picnic and if the weather is fine you might like a nap. After this the route continues through the forests until you reach Pescasseroli. After the long ride you will need a good dinner and that is exactly what you'll have at Eleanora. Thursday: Today there are many miles to cover so you will be in the saddle for about 8 hours. After breakfast you soon leave civilisation and return to the unspoilt countryside. The route gets steeper and if the sun is shining everyone will be hot. Having arrived in a valley there is a long canter to enjoy. Around noon you will arrive at Val Fondillo. There are almost four miles to be covered on foot as unfortunately this is an asphalt road. It leads to one of the most protected areas of the National Park, Camosciara, where you stop for a well deserved picnic. After many miles you see the lake of Barrea on your left. You will continue, riding this time, through a different type of forest until, most likely exhausted, you reach Sandra's riding centre. The horses are left there. Dinner is in Alfedena and you spend the night at the comfortable "Hotel Katja". You will certainly sleep well on this occasion! Friday: The last stage of your trail leads through Alfedena and the mountains of the Parco Nazionale are now behind you. Just outside Alfedena there is a plain where you can go for a long canter. A little later you pass Ponte della Zittola, which is the border between Abruzzi and Molise, then you follow part of the Tratturo Castel di Sangro-Foggia in the foothills of Alto Molise. Having passed the hamlet of Montalto it is time for a picnic. After lunch it takes between two and three hours to ride home. About 6pm you are back at the farmhouse to unsaddle the horses for the last time. You will most certainly enjoy the farewell dinner and a well deserved drink. Saturday: Departure after breakfast. Due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances the programme may have to be adapted. However, the number of hours spent in the saddle and the destinations remain unaltered. Although the Italian law does not require that riders wear helmets, we would appreciate it very much if you bring and wear your own riding hat. |
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| Accommodation: | Your accommodation is varied on this ride as you would expect on a trail of this kind through unspoilt countryside. You will stay at the comfortable farmhouse at the beginning and end of the trail. On the trail you sleep four nights in *** hotels. |
| Minimum group size: | 6 |
| Maximum group size: | 8 |
| Ability description: | You need to be very comfortable and experienced in the saddle for this trail. You also need to be fit because there are several occasions where you will need to walk beside your horse because of the terrain. |
| Type of ride: | Trails |
| Total riding time: | 7 - 9 hours per day |
| Departure dates: | Dates for 2010: 5 - 12 June (fully booked); 22 - 29 May (new date); 4 - 11 September (fully booked). |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |
Molise Trail
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This is a trail where you will ride through land once populated by Romans and now left to return to nature. You will spend three nights camping in tents, one in a mountain lodge and three at the farmhouse. This is a trek which can be enjoyed by less experienced riders and those who will love the 'cowboy' camping experience. However, whilst a fabulous unspoilt trail, you will also not have toilets or showers for three days whilst camping. Saturday: You are expected to arrive Saturday evening and, having enjoyed a welcome drink, you will get time to settle in and have dinner with your hosts. A three-course Italian dinner will be served every night, accompanied by delicious local wines. Sunday: The morning is for you to relax. You may sleep late, take your time over breakfast, do whatever you like. After breakfast there will be a safety briefing and demonstration in western riding. Next you will do a test-ride (3 hours) to enable you to get acquainted with the horse you are going to ride on the trail. Dinner and overnight is once more at the farmhouse. Monday: At about 10am you leave the house. After passing through a large beech wood the trail takes you into open fields. After riding for about two and a half hours you will stop for a picnic. In the afternoon a mountain has to be crossed, which will take about three and a half hours. The tents will be pitched near the remains of a Samnitic temple. The Samnites were the original population and it took the Romans three centuries of warfare before they finally conquered the region, which then became part of the Roman Empire (79 B.C.). Tuesday: After breakfast you ride past Vastogirardi. A little later you follow part of the Tratturo Castel di Sangro-Lucera. A Tratturo is a 2000 year old track that is still used to move cattle from the far south, where grass is scare in summer. At the end of the morning the trails leads through the water of a stony brook - this is quite an experience! A picnic will be taken in a field, in the shade of a mighty oak. In the afternoon you will descend this mountain and at the steepest part the riders will have to go on foot. Tonight the camp will be set up in a lovely valley. Wednesday: After a long climb you stop near a little church to admire the view. From here you can see Isernia (the capital with a population of 20.000 inhabitants) and its surroundings, but that is not where the trail is going. A gravel road takes you through the hills and the picnic today is in a hamlet. Well fed and rested you enjoy a canter going both up and down hill. The camp will be set in the valley nearby Pescolanciano - its castle is illuminated at night and provides a great view. Thursday: In the morning the horses will carry you as they climb high uphill and as this is hard work for them, there will be a short break. The beech woods on this mountain are beautiful. You spend the night in a mountain lodge which has a shower, toilets and electricity. You will enjoy these conveniences having 'roughed it' for three days. Friday: Time has come to go back to the farmhouse. First you have to get down the mountain and then you will pass an artificial lake. You follow the Trigno to Pescolanciano, climbing the hills that border on the forest Collemelucio. This is one of the forests protected by UNESCO as part of a project called Man and Biosphere. Worldwide UNESCO protects 254 forests, four of which are located in Italy and two in Molise itself. The last few miles on horseback take you over open heath land and dense oakwood. After 5pm you are back at the farmhouse, ready to unsaddle the horses for the last time and enjoy a farewell dinner. Saturday: Departure after breakfast. Due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances the programme may have to be adapted. Although the Italian law does not require that riders wear helmets, we would appreciate it very much if you bring and wear your own riding hat. |
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| Accommodation: | Three nights at the farm-house, one in the mountain lodge and three camping in tents. The mountain lodge has a modern shower and toilet facilities. |
| Minimum group size: | 6 |
| Maximum group size: | 8 |
| Ability description: | You need to be riding fit for this trail and be comfortable at walk, trot and canter. |
| Type of ride: | Trail |
| Total riding time: | 5 - 7 hours per day |
| Departure dates: | Dates for 2010: 17- 24 July |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |
Introduction to Western riding.
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This is a golden opportunity for novice riders to learn how to ride western style with your experienced hosts helping you out every inch of the way. You will learn theory as well as practical skills including all aspects of horse care. Your itinerary will be tailored to the individuals but will follow along these lines. Day 1 After a drink you can settle in. Later you will enjoy a typical Italian dinner. A three course Italian dinner will be served every night and is accompanied by local wines (and is always delicious). Day 2 After breakfast you will meet the horses. They live around the house. Answering some simple questions, you learn something about their behaviour, after which you will be taught how to lead a horse on a halter. A lot of time will be spent on grooming them in the proper way. Then it is time for lunch. In the afternoon you learn how to saddle your horse and you will be taught how to get on and off, and carry out balance exercises. There will then be a ride through the woods (about 1hr) where your host will accompany you on foot and will give instructions. Day 3 Maybe early risers want to give the horses their breakfast? If not so, take your time over your own one. By 11 am it is time to saddle up. After lunch you will mount your horse and do various exercises. Every day there will be new things to learn, and without noticing, you will absorb a lot of information and improve techniques. Day 4 Today you can take a leisurely breakfast and take care of your horse. You will ride in a different direction. It leads through open fields and you will learn how to descend and climb a modest hill. Theory is on a new topic. Day 5 Before lunch the horses will be groomed and saddled. In the afternoon the ride lasts 2 hours and you will try your first trot. The afternoon finishes with more theory. Day 6 Today is going to be exciting as your confidence will have grown and you will embark on a longer ride in this beautiful countryside. The picnic goes in the saddle-bags or on the pack-horse. The ride goes to a big valley. Here you will be trotting and make a short canter or two. Day 7 The morning is at your disposal. After lunch you will saddle up and go for a long ride (3 - 5 hours). The horses will take you through some lovely countryside to a spectacular panorama. Overlooking it, the horses can rest a little. Then you can use your new skills and do a couple of canters before descending to the valley. The last hour takes us through an extensive wood. You will enjoy your last dinner and probably be very impressed with yourself! Day 8 Departure after breakfast. Although the Italian law does not require that riders wear helmets, we would appreciate it very much if you bring and wear your own riding hat. |
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| Minimum group size: | 2 |
| Maximum group size: | 4 |
| Ability description: | Novice riders. |
| Type of ride: | Tuition and Trail |
| Total riding time: | Theory and practical (in the saddle) 25 - 30 hours in total. |
| Departure dates: | Dates for 2009: To suit between May-November. Dates for 2010: 15 - 22 May; 16 - 23 October and 23 - 30 October. |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |
Carpe Diem (Stationary with two day trek)
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Day 1 You will arrive on a late afternoon on Saturday and after a drink you can settle in. In the evening you will wine and dine with your hosts, who will cook a delicious three course Italian dinner always accompanied by delicious local wines. Day 2 The morning is yours. You may sleep late, take your time over breakfast, or do whatever you like. Before lunch there is a safety briefing and a short demonstration in western riding. After lunch we do a test ride (3 hours) to enable you to get acquainted with the horse you are going to ride all week. Day 3 At about 10am we leave the house. After a long ride through a wood we reach many fields, where we can have a canter. Picnic is at an idyllic spot. After lunch there is a lovely view of the village of Vastogirardi. Then the route takes us through miles of beech woods. It ends in the Valle Fredda (Cold Valley). Here it is time for another long canter. Day 4 Today the ride takes us east. Lunch is at a picnic place with wooden benches and tables. In the afternoon we will pass the village of Carovilli. Here we stop for an ice-cream before riding back home. Day 5 Today we will follow part of the Tratturo Celano-Foggia. A Tratturo is a 2000 year old track that is still used to move cattle from the far south where the grass is scarce in summer. Picnic is in Montedimezzo. The hunting lodge which belonged to the royal family of Bourbon, now contains a museum. The forest is protected by UNESCO. Worldwide, this organisation protects 256 forests. Four of them are located in Italy, two of which are in Molise. Day 6 After breakfast we ride downhill towards Pescolanciano. Before arriving in this village, we will have some canters across the fields. Lunch is served in a little restaurant. The owner is well known for her home made ice-cream. In the afternoon the trail gets steeper, climbing about 1,800 feet. In the evening we reach a mountain lodge where we dine and spend the night. But first of all we take care of the horses. Day 7 In the morning we have to leave the plateau. After a while we pass a valley where the river Trigno has been dammed, creating a cistern. We follow the Trigno to Pescolanciano, climbing the hills that border on the forest Collemelucio. This is the other wood in Molise, protected by UNESCO. The project is called "Man and biosphere" (MAB). The last few miles on horseback take us over open heath land and dense oak wood. At about 5pm we are back at the farm-house, unsaddle the horses for the last time and enjoy our farewell dinner. Day 8 Departure after breakfast. Due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances the programme may have to be adapted. Although the Italian law does not require that riders wear helmets, we would appreciate it very much if you bring and wear your own riding hat. |
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| Accommodation: | Accommodation is at the comfortable farmhouse with one night spent at the mountain lodge. |
| Minimum group size: | 5 |
| Maximum group size: | 8 |
| Ability description: | Intermediate to experienced |
| Type of ride: | Trail |
| Total riding time: | 5-6 hours riding per day |
| Departure dates: | Dates for 2010: 1 - 8 May; 3-10 July, 24-31 July, 7-14 August, 16-23 October and 23-30 October. |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |
Stationary Programme
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This is the ideal programme for those who prefer to take it easy or for riders with less experience. You will be riding and exploring the beautiful countryside surrounding the farmhouse on calm but forward going horses. You will ride out in a different direction every day and take care of your horse on a day to day basis. Each horse has their own character and is well-trained and suited to the variety of terrain that you will cover. They are beautiful paints and quarter horses, ranging from Cream who is always ready to work to the fantastic looking Too Hot (what a name!) who offers a fabulous ride. Each evening you will return to your comfortable farmhouse and enjoy a sumptuous meal prepared by Carmine and Astrid. These hosts are kind and welcoming, ensuring that their guests are treated like friends and offered the most wonderful of holidays. The minimum number of hours you will ride here during your stay is 12 and usually you will ride much more than this. A rental car is highly recommended as the surroundings offer stunning scenery and plenty of picturesque villages clinging to the mountain slopes. Pompeii is only one and a half hours away by car and is certainly worth a visit. The Adriatic coast with its wide beaches can be reached within the hour if you wish to visit the seaside and a swimming pool is less than half an hour by car. Although the Italian law does not require that riders wear helmets, we would appreciate it very much if you bring and wear your own riding hat. |
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| Minimum group size: | 2 |
| Maximum group size: | 8 |
| Ability description: | Novice, intermediate and experienced |
| Type of ride: | Based |
| Total riding time: | Experienced riders 2-5 hours per day (min. 12 hours during the week, usually much more) |
| Departure dates: | Dates for 2010: 6 February - 3 April and 30 October - 27 November. |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |
Majella Trail
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The trail takes you through this National Park which is protected by the WWF (the National Park is the eighth so-called Pan Park in Europe). You will ride through increasingly high mountains and large stretches of valley. Many long hours will be spent in the saddle but you will also have the opportunity to stay in some local hotels where you can rest and enjoy the delicious Italian food and wine. This rural and unspoilt part of Italy offers beauty and a relaxed way of life. Saturday: You are expected to arrive on Saturday evening. After a welcome drink you can settle in. In the evening you will wine and dine with your hosts who will cook delicious three course Italian dinners. No need to say that these are accompanied by local wines! Sunday: The morning is yours. You may sleep late, take your time over breakfast, do whatever you like. Before lunch there is a safety-briefing and a short demonstration in western riding. After lunch you set out for a test ride (three hours) to enable you to become acquainted with your horse. Dinner and overnight are at the farmhouse. Monday: Today you ride through large stretches of woods and fields before eventually stopping at a idyllic spot to enjoy your picnic lunch. After lunch the ride continues as you pass the remains of a Samnitic temple. The Samnites were the original population of Molise and it took the Romans three centuries of warfare before they finally conquered this region, which became part of the Roman Empire (79 B.C.). Later you arrive at the plateau of the hill where you can see the beauty of the Majella. At the end of the day you reach San Pietro Avellana, this is where you spend the night and enjoy your evening meal. Tuesday: Today’s destination is the small town of Pescocostanzo. The trail takes you through increasingly high mountains and at the end of the afternoon you ride through large stretches of valley. Having spent about seven hours on horseback you are bound to be longing for a drink and fortunately Pescocostanzo has a nice square with several bars and restaurants. Taking a walk in this picturesque medieval town is pleasant for everyone and a must for those who are interested in architecture. You will be staying at a ***hotel with dinner in a restaurant. Wednesday: The National Park Majella (75,000 acres) is one of the biggest in Italy. It is a so-called Pan Park, which means that it is protected by WWF. Today there will be a six hour long ride in the surrounding highlands and it's expected that you will be able to have nice canters here. The night will be spent at the same hotel. Dinner, however, is at a different restaurant. Thursday: This is going to be a demanding day spending about eight hours in the saddle. The first part of your trail takes you upwards towards a large valley whereas the next stretch is a long forest road, leading you down and down again. Part of that road must be covered on foot! In the early evening you finally reach your destination. Dinner is at a restaurant in Alfedena and you spend the night at the comfortable “Hotel Katja”. Friday: Just outside Alfedena there is a plain where you can go for a long canter. A little later you pass Ponte della Zittola, which is the border between Abruzzi and Molise. Then you follow part of the Tratturo Castel di Sangro-Foggia in the foothills of Alto Molise. Having passed the hamlet Montalto, it is time for a picnic. After lunch it takes between two and three hours to ride home. By about 6 p.m. you are back at the farmhouse, ready to unsaddle your horse for the last time and enjoy a farewell dinner. Saturday: Departure after breakfast. |
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| Accommodation: | Three nights at the farmhouse and four nights at *** hotels. |
| Minimum group size: | 6 |
| Maximum group size: | 8 |
| Ability description: | Intermediate and fit |
| Type of ride: | Trail |
| Total riding time: | 5 and a half days of riding (6-8 hours a day) |
| Departure dates: | 2010 dates: 19 - 26 June; 16-23 October |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |