Horses in travel are often treated as background: a quick trail ride, a photo op or something to do between spa appointments. That’s starting to change. As the Lunar New Year turns to the Year of the Horse in February 2026, more travelers are choosing experiences where horses aren’t a sideshow but the focus of the trip itself.
This year promises to be less about ticking off Instagrammable locations or sitting in vehicles watching wildlife from a distance, and more about trips that involve movement, participation and time spent actually experiencing the location. An equine-centric vacation ticks all those boxes.
Recent findings from Virtuoso point in the same direction. In its 2026 Luxe Report, advisors say travelers are redefining luxury travel around slower itineraries, fewer crowds and deeper cultural connections, with many clients willing to spend more when a trip offers meaning rather than just access. The report also notes rising demand for travel that blends activity with immersion, underscoring that experiential and adventure-leaning trips are no longer niche but part of the mainstream luxury conversation.
Horse-centered travel fits squarely into that evolution. Riding through landscapes, learning from people whose lives still revolve around horses or relying on horses to carry you between camps changes how you vacation. In the places that follow, horses are not decorative or incidental; they are central to the journey, whether through heritage, wellness, conservation or the simple act of moving from different locations.
Horse-assisted wellness and leadership experiences in Santa Fe
The Inn of The Five Graces has introduced The EQUUS Experience, a horse-assisted program that’s far more than a simple trail ride. Developed with International Coaching Federation-certified facilitators, the experience centers on guided interaction with horses, using their responsiveness to human behavior to explore communication, presence and trust. Programs range from two-hour introductions to multiday retreats and workshops and are open to individuals, couples and families.
The setting reinforces the equine program. The Inn of The Five Graces is a 26-room Relais & Châteaux property created from a cluster of historic adobe buildings in downtown Santa Fe, known for its Silk Route-inspired interiors, curated art and artifacts and a strong sense of privacy.
Accessing Ireland’s thoroughbred heartland
Cashel Palace has a dedicated equine concierge and tailors horse-centric itineraries that are at the core of County Tipperary, Ireland’s thoroughbred heartland. The historic five-star hotel sits at the center of one of Europe’s most active bloodstock corridors, close to major stud farms, training yards and racecourses that drive Ireland’s racing economy. Experiences can include tours of Coolmore Stud and insight into Ballydoyle Racing, where many of the operation’s top horses are prepared for international competition.
Itineraries often extend to the medieval town of Fethard, long established as a horse town, with visits to the Fethard Horse Country Experience and lunch at the horse-themed Sadler’s Restaurant & Bar.
On-site riding programs integrated into a luxury alpine resort
Quellenhof Luxury Resort Passeier pairs its five-star alpine setting with one of the most developed equestrian programs found in a European resort. Set in the Passeier Valley near Merano, the property operates its professional riding center alongside the hotel, with modern stables, indoor and outdoor arenas and several resident horses. State-certified instructors offer private lessons and small-group sessions for beginners, experienced riders and children, allowing the program to function year round.
Beyond the arenas, guided rides follow riverside paths and alpine trails through the surrounding valley, extending the experience into the landscape that defines the resort. Family-focused options, including pony riding and introductory horse-care sessions, broaden the appeal, while the equestrian facilities remain fully integrated into the hotel’s wider spa, dining and leisure offerings rather than treated as a standalone activity.
Riding Iceland’s volcanic and coastal terrain
Eldhestar operates in southwest Iceland near the Hengill volcano, offering year-round riding across lava fields, valleys, beaches and geothermal areas. The program centers on the Icelandic horse, a breed isolated in Iceland for more than 1,000 years, and offers half-day, full-day and multiday rides for riders of all experience levels. Eldhestar maintains a large working herd and runs an established breeding program, with young horses raised in open landscapes before being introduced to riding.
“Eldhestar,” meaning volcano horses, draws inspiration from the surrounding valleys and hot springs through natural materials and traditional Icelandic cuisine served on site. Located within driving distance of many of Iceland’s major attractions, the property makes it easy to pair riding with other outdoor activities. The experience emphasizes outdoor activities and direct interaction with the horses rather than staged or passive sightseeing.
A luxury ranch stay built around horsemanship
Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort & Ranch operates as a working ranch and luxury wilderness lodge in British Columbia, Canada, offering an equestrian program built around guided instruction rather than casual trail rides. Set across 10,000 acres of rangeland, the resort maintains its own herd of ranch horses. Riding is tailored to experience level, from first-time riders to advanced equestrians, with an emphasis on confidence, skill development and horsemanship.
The program follows SiwashSynergy, the resort’s natural horsemanship approach, which begins with a private orientation covering grooming and saddling before progressing to guided trail rides and other activities. Siwash Lake is part of Destination Canada’s Signature Experience Collection, positioning it as a high-end North American riding destination rather than a traditional dude ranch.
Riding with Patagonia’s baqueanos inside Torres del Paine National Park
Las Torres Patagonia is the only property inside Torres del Paine National Park permitted to offer equine activities, giving guests rare access to the park through the region’s working horse culture. The hotel operates on a historic estancia at the base of the Paine Massif and manages a herd of roughly 150 horses under a holistic planned grazing system. In 2025, the family-owned property earned the title South America’s Leading Green Hotel at the World Travel Awards for its conservation work and long-term stewardship of the national park.
Gaucho baqueanos, horsemen whose families have worked this landscape for generations, lead the riding program. Experiences range from introductory rides to full-day excursions across Patagonian steppe, river flats and forest margins, with routes selected for access and terrain rather than spectacle. Guests can also visit the stables, learn about traditional tack and horse care and spend time with baqueanos through shared meals and storytelling, reinforcing horses as part of an active working system rather than a recreational add-on.
Polo heritage at The Leela Palace Jaipur
At The Leela Palace Jaipur, equine travel centers on polo through a formal partnership with the Rajasthan Polo Club. Guests can participate in a guided equestrian experience that includes demonstrations by a polo coach, interactive sessions with trained polo horses and a tour of the associated stud farm. The program offers insight into how polo horses are trained, handled and prepared for competition, with access designed to be educational rather than performative. Guests also receive insider access to the annual Leela Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Polo Cup, connecting the stay to one of Jaipur’s most visible modern expressions of its historic horse culture.
Multiday guided horseback journeys
Multiday guided horseback journeys place horses as the primary means of moving through remote terrain. Itineraries are designed with access, season and landscape as considerations, rather than resort schedules.
Alexandra Tolstoy Travel, whose Kyrgyzstan Riding Adventures run as a fixed-date expedition from Sept. 24 to Oct. 5, 2026, is one such example. The 11-night, camp-to-camp journey travels through the Sary-Chelek area and the Chatkal Range of the Tien Shan Mountains, supported by a fully mobile camp.
Another tour operator, Timbuktu Travel, structures multiday horseback travel through customized itineraries rather than scheduled departures. The company curates extended riding journeys across regions such as Kenya, Botswana, Tanzania, Namibia, India and Chile, often with mobile camps or remote lodges rather than a fixed base.
Unique places to take trail rides
Not every equestrian experience needs to stretch across days. In Colorado, Dunton Hot Springs pairs guided rides through alpine meadows and aspen groves in the San Juan Mountains with time at its natural hot springs.
In the Liwa Desert of Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara offers trail rides across sweeping dune systems on the edge of the Empty Quarter. The Resort at Paws Up in Montana integrates guided trail riding into a working-ranch landscape of river valleys, open pasture and forested foothills.
Other trail rides lean heavily into culture and setting. New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty Horse Adventures runs beach treks along Pukehina Beach and rides through surrounding farmland, paired with overnight cabin stays. In Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, Hotel San Cristóbal offers on-property beach and desert rides along the Pacific coast.
In Namibia, Midgard Country Estate leads horseback safari rides across open plains and hills, including sunrise and sundowner outings. The Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo in Costa Rica frames riding through its Sabanero for a Day program, combining trail rides with visits to a working hacienda and hands-on ranch traditions tied to the region’s cowboy culture.
A different way to travel
What distinguishes these equine experiences is not where they take place, but how they operate. From one-hour trail rides to weeklong expeditions, horses are used to structure trips around movement rather than amenities, appealing to travelers seeking adventure that works for all ages and ability levels. As travel continues to favor experiences over destinations, equine-led journeys are likely to remain a flexible entry point into adventure travel, offering a range of options without limiting who can take part.
Jennifer Allen is a retired chef turned traveler, cookbook author and nationally syndicated journalist; she’s also a co-founder of Food Drink Life, where she shares expert travel tips, cruise insights and luxury destination guides. A recognized cruise expert with a deep passion for high-end experiences and off-the-beaten-path destinations, Jennifer explores the world with curiosity, depth and a storyteller’s perspective. Her articles are regularly featured on the Associated Press Wire, The Washington Post, Seattle Times, MSN and more.
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