September 10, 2008

Horsing Around

Horseback Adventures Around the World

Tired of trains, planes, and automobiles? Swap reclining seats for saddles on a horseback riding trip around the world. Giddy…you know.

Hey, Dude
Make yourself useful at La Reata, a working ranch in Canada’s gorgeous Saskatchewan River Valley. Learn to ride, rope cows, fix corrals, and brand newbies while enjoying uninterrupted views of the plains.

Such Great Heights
A horse is a horse, of course, of course. But not every jaunt is the same. Ride Chile takes you north into the Andes (310 days of sun per year) then south to Patagonia (granite peaks and glaciers). Or go with three other riders 11,000 feet up the Condor Trail to watch the birds (a national and folkloric symbol but sadly threatened) fly below.

Lions and Leopards and Rhinos, oh, my!
They say don’t get out of the jeep, but there’s nothing like galloping alongside zebra, antelope, gazelle, and giraffe on a Tanzanian safari. You’ll go through savannas, bush, and swamps between mounts Meru and Kilimanjaro, following migrating animals, visiting with Chagga locals, and spotting the Big Five (lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo, rhinos) in the open air.

Trek Baby, Trek Baby, 1, 2, 3, 4
Discover Mongolia nomad style on a two-week trek through the archaeological ruins of Karakorum, the capital of Genghis Khan’s Great Mongol Empire. Ride through valleys and mountains, visit a monastery and natural reserve, recover with authentic Mongolian barbecue, and channel your inner Robin Hood with archery at a local festival.

Into the Great Wide Open
Iceland isn’t as cold as it sounds, especially when you’re soaking in geothermal baths after riding through lava fields and waterfalls. You’ll cover history and geology along the cracked trails, see evidence of earthquakes and volcanic activity, and trade turf for surf on a whale-watching expedition.

Kilting at Windmills
Scotland’s Argyll Castle Trail — pristine green highlands, purple heather, clear streams — is the scenery of legends. Ghosts are rumored to haunt the castles. Prefer a different kind of spirit? Ease your saddle sores with an evening whiskey tasting.

Beach Bum
If it’s not a vacation without sun and sand, follow Australia’s Boomerang Trail along the coastline for run-ins with kangaroos, wallabies, and cockatoos in the rain and eucalypt forests. Cool off in a rock pool and stop for snacks and bevvies at a macadamia farm and winery.