The 15 Best Horse Riding Trips

1.Cardrona High Country Pub Trail Horse Trek (Intermediate level+)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 269 reviews · from $433Our pick

Ride into Cardrona’s high country with a small group of up to seven, crossing rivers and working farmland with time to trot or canter. Guides such as Summer, Kelly, Emily, and Marley match horses to your ability and share local gold-rush stories. The route stops at the Cardrona Hotel for a drink before returning.

“Perfect experience , very well kept horses and the guiding was informational and we felt safe the whole time.”

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2.Rubicon Valley Horse Treks – 2 Hour River Trail Horse Trek

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 196 reviews · from $91

Ride for two hours through Rubicon Valley with guide Chris, crossing farmland and following a musterer’s trail to the Otarama lookout. You’ll see the Waimakariri Canyon and Southern Alps, with calm horses for beginners and chances to trot or canter for confident riders.

“My wife and I did the two hour tour for our honeymoon and absolutely loved it. Chris was amazing and makes you feel very confident riding such a large animal. I would highly recommend this for anyone looking for a fun activity with beautifuRead more”

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3.Guided Horse Trekking from Rotorua

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 159 reviews · from $68

Join a guide at Adventure Playground Rotorua for a one-hour walking horse trek through farmland and native bush on Mt. Ngongotaha. You’ll ride a horse matched to your ability, stop for views over Lake Rotorua, and return to the meeting point. Lucy is one guide praised for her warm, reassuring help.

“Great set up, well looked after horses. Friendly helpful staff. An awesome ride in an awesome part of the world. Would thoroughly recommend.”

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4.Queenstown: Walter Peak Horse Trek & Queenstown Lake Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 151 reviews · from $134

You’ll cross Lake Whakatipu by TSS Earnslaw or Spirit of Queenstown, then ride 40 to 45 minutes through Walter Peak farmland with an English-speaking guide. Small groups of up to six make this a calm, personal outing for first-time riders, followed by tea, scones, and muffins.

“Ferrie ride was great. We did the Walter Peak Horse Ride. Looked after us as we had not been on a horse many years. The afternoon high tea was delicious.”

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5.Gold Discovery Trail Horse Trek Cardrona – Most popular!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 151 reviews · from $309

This two-hour Cardrona Valley ride suits complete beginners and experienced riders. You’ll meet your horse, learn basic control, cross streams, climb mountain lanes, and hear gold-rush and farming stories from guides such as Phoebe or Val. The route includes time for photos and ends back at the stables.

“This shorter ride takes you through beautiful countryside. The guide takes pictures too so you have memories to take with you. I had beautiful weather despite forecasts. Guide Phoebe is very friendly & tells you a lot about the area & local farming.”

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6.Wicklow Mountains Horse Trekking

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 118 reviews · 1 hour 20 minutes (approx.) · from $90

Ride for about 80 minutes through the Wicklow Mountains and Kings River valley with Hollywood Horse and Pony Trekking. Ray, Lisa, Nicole, or Jack match horses to riding ability, give beginners a short lesson, and guide groups of up to six. Some rides include lake riding and cantering for experienced riders.

“Ray and his assistants were amazing. Very informative and understanding of different riding levels and made sure you were at ease with what was going on.”

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7.Half Day Walter Peak Horse Trek and Cruise from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 101 reviews · from $142

Ride from Queenstown to Walter Peak on the TSS Earnslaw or Spirit of Queenstown, enjoy tea at the Colonel’s Homestead, then follow a guide on a gentle 40-minute horse trek. The small group is limited to six, with horses suited to beginners and views toward the Remarkables.

“During this 3-hour booking, we only spent 40 minutes horseback riding. I wish we had known this before making the reservation, as it felt a bit expensive for such a limited amount of riding time. We also didn’t realize that we would need to take a boat across the lake to reach the location, which consumed most of our paid experience.”

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8.Levi: Riding Trek with Icelandic Horses

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 39 reviews · 1 - 2 hours · from $111

Ride a gentle Icelandic horse through the winter forests and open plains near Levi. Your Finnish or English-speaking guide provides riding instruction, gear, and a route suited to your group. Choose a one or two-hour trek, with a chance to try the Icelandic horse’s smooth tölt.

“Le personnel était très accueillant et ça correspondait totalement à la description”

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9.MONGOLIAN NOMADS: 2-Day Horse Trekking & Cow Milking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 23 reviews · 2 days · from $369

This private two-day trip from Ulaanbaatar takes you to a working nomadic family in Töv. With an English-speaking guide such as Koko or Toya, you can ride horses, herd sheep and goats, milk cows, share meals, and sleep in a traditional ger.

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10.Rotorua: Scenic Horse Trek

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 23 reviews · 1 hour · from $74

Ride a well-matched horse through rolling farmland near Mt Ngongotaha, with wide views over Lake Rotorua. Your English-speaking guide gives a safety briefing, helps you settle in, and keeps the pace relaxed. Groups are limited to five, making this a quiet outing for confident riders.

“Me parecio carisimo pero supuse que valia la pena. El recorrido duro 30 min nada mas (no 1 hs) y ademas es una caminata super lenta en la que no te dejan cabalgar y moverte de la linea de la guia. Experiencia normal. Los caballos muy bien cuidados.”

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11.Year-Round Adventure: 3 Days Horse Trek to Song Kul Lake

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · from $400

Ride from Bishkek to Song Kul Lake with an English-speaking horse guide, spending nights in a shepherd’s house at Kilemche and a lakeside yurt camp. You’ll cross mountain country, eat local meals, rest by the lake, and return through Kyzart village. Ali is named as one guide in the tour feedback.

“Incredible experience! Highly recommend for quality services, comfortable travel, and those seeking adventure. Ali was a great guide for me and my friend and all of our stays with local families were authentic and fun. Even for first time horse rRead more”

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12.Essaouira Beach Horse Rides &Treks for All Levels

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · from $23Best value

Ride from Diabat through argan forests, dunes, countryside, and Atlantic beaches with Hamza and his carefully matched horses. Beginners get patient support, experienced riders may ride faster, and sunset trips can end with Moroccan tea, photos, and videos.

“The sunset ride with Hamza was hands down one of the highlights of my time in Morocco. Everything was thoughtfully organised. He even prepared tea after the ride!”

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13.Cappadocia: Sunset Horse Trek Through the Valleys

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 12 reviews · 2 hours · from $65

Ride for two hours through Cavusin, Rose Valley, and Red Valley on a guided sunset trek. Beyza and the English-speaking team help beginners get comfortable, then lead you to a grass viewing platform for wide sunset views before returning you to your hotel.

“The horse riding adventure was pretty good. It's a leisurely linear walk with horses where you reach a summit, rest for 30 minutes, and then head back down. The route was relaxing and you get good sweeping views and great photo opportunities. However, we didn't cover as much ground as I had expected. I imagined the route would finish in a closed loop which would have allowed exposure to more of the valley but it was point A->B->A. We went right back the same way we had come. Murat did a good job engaging from the start as administrator but the other guide and driver I encountered were less sociable.…”

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14.Cardrona Valley: Horse Trekking Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · 2 hours - 210 minutes · from $298

Spend up to three and a half hours riding through Cardrona Valley with a calm horse matched to your size and ability. You get a one-on-one lesson before setting out, then follow a guide such as Hannah, Phoebe, or Kelly along scenic mountain tracks. Ask about the Gold Discovery Trail for families or the faster High Country Pub Trail.

“The tour was so beautiful! Even though it rained ever so slightly it was by far the best experience I had during my holiday! Phoebe was an excellent teacher and gave us lots of facts about the area! She was so kind and encouraging too”

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15.Horse riding – Dirt Trek Trail. Lisdoonvarna, Clare. Guided. 1 hour.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $121

Ride for one hour from Mountain View Horse Riding Centre near Lisdoonvarna, with guides including Peter and his family team. You’ll pass through Clare woodlands and famine ruins while looking toward the Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands, and Connemara mountains. Beginners are welcome, but the 95kg weight limit matters.

“10/10. This horse riding experience was a favorite of ours! The guide, Peter, made the whole experience with his warm, welcoming, and charming nature putting all of us beginners at ease as we saddled up for the first time. He took the time to learn each of our names and checked in with us multiple times on the ride to make sure everyone was comfortable and having a good time. The grounds and barn were definitely cared for by thoughtful staff and the horses were well-trained, respected, and healthy animals. Highly recommend adding this adventure to your trip!”

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