Best Places to Go Horseback Riding

From the coast of Hawaii to the mountains of Chile, explore our list of best places to go horseback riding.

By: Krystyna Barnard

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Cappadocia, Turkey

In Cappadocia, also known as the “Land of Beautiful Horses,” a horseback ride is a must. Riders can saddle up on Arabian or Barb horses, both native to the area, and meander along trails that wind through ancient Turkish villages past underground cities and Byzantine-era churches, to valleys surrounded by orchards and the region’s famous fairy chimney rock formations.

Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

Known as one of Africa’s greatest wildlife reserves, Masai Mara is home to the largest quantity of big cats in the world. A part of the Serengeti National Park, Masai Mara, located in southwest Kenya, provides horseback riders with the ultimate safari experience as they get close-up views of the wildlife, including lions, leopards, cheetahs and zebras that roam the park.

Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC

Novice and experienced horseback riders alike can experience the majestic beauty of the chateau-inspired Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. Guided private and group trail rides explore some of the property’s 80 miles of estate trails, meadows and brooks, which are often graced by wildlife of the Appalachian Mountains.

Loire Valley, France

A World Heritage Site located in central France, the Loire Valley is known for its historic towns, chateau-inspired architecture and vineyards. Trail rides wind through the French countryside and forests, providing riders with stunning landscape views of rolling hills and castles that make for a riding experience that’s straight out of a fairytale.

Haleakala National Park, Hawaii

Known as the “House of Sun,” Haleakala National Park is the highest peak on the island of Maui. Horseback riders can experience the Hawaiian culture as they travel across a tropical, volcanic landscape that’s surrounded by lush forests, waterfalls and streams that stretch out to the coast.

Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

While horseback rides through Torres del Paine may be for the more experienced rider, the surrounding views of the Andes Mountains and Patagonia are ones you won’t want to miss. Trails winding along the rugged mountain peaks, colorful meadows, streams and glaciers provide riders with a breathtaking view of scenery you won’t get anywhere else.

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Located in southwestern Utah, Bryce Canyon is known for its unique and colorful rock formations called “hoodoos.” Horseback rides descend 2,000 feet into the canyon where riders can experience breathtaking panoramic views with up to 200 miles of visibility, rock formations, forests and wildlife.

Banff National Park, Canada

Located in the Canadian Rockies, Banff National Park is Canada’s first national park. Mountainside or riverside trail rides provide novice and experienced riders alike with breathtaking mountain views and scenery as they wind through lush forest, past rivers, and the park’s historic sulfur hot springs. There’s even a good chance to spot some of the park’s wildlife, including black bears and elk.

Donana National Park, Spain

Donana National Park, located on the Atlantic coast of Spain in Andalusia, is a World Heritage Site, one of Europe’s largest parks and the site that prompted the creation of the World Wildlife Fund in 1961. Riders can saddle up on majestic Andalusian horses and explore the Mediterranean region’s vast marshes, forests and sand dunes that are home to hundreds of species of wildlife, including the endangered Spanish lynx and Adalbert’s eagle. The sound of ocean waves crashing on the nearby shore, coupled with the scenery, make for an unforgettable horseback riding experience.

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Best Places to Go Horseback Riding

Related To:

Shop This Look

Cappadocia, Turkey

Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC

Loire Valley, France

Haleakala National Park, Hawaii

Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Banff National Park, Canada

Donana National Park, Spain

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