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.

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. After this 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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

An exciting new trail around "Goat Mountain" (1730m), through the valleys and beautiful forests. Here you can explore this stunning countryside from the back of a kind and easy-going horse, enjoy some delicious Italian food and make friends with your fellow riders. "Festina lente" (hurry slowly) is part of the lifestyle, as are late dining hours, and guests can enjoy the absence of stress in this wonderful part of the world.

Saturday:

You are expected to arrive on Saturday evening. After a welcome drink there will be dinner with your hosts. A three-course Italian dinner will be served every night, 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 are a safety-briefing and a short demonstration in western riding. After lunch there is a test-ride (3 hours) to enable you to get acquainted with the horse you are going to ride on the trekking. Dinner and overnight are at the farmhouse.

Monday:

After breakfast it is time to saddle up the horses (about 10am). Today’s destination is Capracotta, a little village of 965 inhabitants, which is one of the highest municipalities in Italy being situated at 5200ft. The name literally means "cooked goat".

Before lunch you will ride through seemingly endless fields before it is time for a delicious picnic. After you have eaten and had a rest, you will enjoy a lengthy canter through a long valley. Capracotta can be seen looming ahead but it will take you about two hours to get there. Tonight you stay in a hotel and eat dinner at a restaurant.

Tuesday:

Today you will enjoy a day ride to climb 'il Monte Campo', the highest point of which is 5235ft. From here you will have a gorgeous view of 'Alto Molise' and the Abruzzo. After this you follow cross-country skiing slopes, which lead through a wood of silver firs, towards your picnic stop at the Rio Verde (green river). A little later you arrive at Prato Gentile which literally means "kind meadow". In the afternoon you descend to Capracotta and ride through open landscapes with many meadows. The night will be spent at the same hotel but dinner will be at a different restaurant.

Wednesday:

Today you start with a few enjoyable canters along a gravel road which leads gradually upwards. The horses can enjoy time to catch their breath whilst the riders enjoy views over four different mountain ranges - the Colle dell'Orso, the Matese, the Mainarde and the national Parc of Abruzzo.

After another tasty picnic the trail will take you towards the small village of San Pietro Avellana. Here you dine and spend the night at a little hotel which is just a few miles from the main village. Before you settle down for your evening drink you help to make a paddock with electric wire to keep the horses safely enclosed during the night. Most of the rooms offer views of the horses grazing peacefully. Tonight a simple but hearty meal will be served.

Thursday:

After riding for around an hour you will pass Montedimezzo which used to belong to the royal family of the Bourbons. Nowadays the hunting lodge is a museum and 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. After this you ride to 'il re Faione' and this 'King of Beech Trees' is almost 500 years old.

Maria awaits you with the lunch table set for a meal consisting of nice snacks. After this it will take around two hours for the group to ride to Littorio's agriturismo. Up until quite recently he used to keep horses of his own and so the paddocks next to his house are free for your horses to use overnight.

Friday:

After breakfast you ride along the Tratturo Castel di Sangro-Lucera. A Tratturo is an old track, around 2000 years old, which is still used today to move cattle up from the far south where grass can be scarce during the summer. At around midday you will reach Pescolanciano where you will stop in a small restaurant for lunch.

This afternoon you climb the hills which border the forest of Collemelucio, another UNESCO protected area. The project here is called Man and Biosphere (MAB). The last few miles on horseback take you over open heath land and through dense oak-woods. At about 5pm you will arrive back at Astrid and Carmine's farmhouse before unsaddling the horses for the last time and enjoying a farewell dinner.

Saturday:

Departure after breakfast.

N.B. Due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances the programme may have to be be adapted. The number of hours spent in the saddle, however, as well as the destinations remain unaltered.