Point to Point Trails and Advanced Horse Riding Holidays

Feeling most at home in the saddle, craving longer rides, faster gaits, or horses that respond to the slightest shift of your weight? Looking for a riding experience that goes beyond the basics, where the terrain is wilder and the days are fuller? Or maybe you’re looking for a holiday that challenges your skills while still leaving space to slow down and enjoy the places you ride through?

If any of that sounds like you, a Horse Riding Holiday for Advanced riders might be exactly what you're looking for.

Advanced Horse Riding Holidays are designed for confident riders who are comfortable at walk, trot, and canter, and who want more than a gentle introduction to horseback travel. Instead of short lessons or carefully controlled beginner rides, advanced holidays open the door to longer hours in the saddle, varied terrain, and horses trained for responsive riding. You might spend the days cantering across open countryside, navigating winding mountain trails, or galloping along a wide stretch of beach with nothing but the sound of hooves and wind around you.

They’re ideal for riders who already have a solid foundation and want to deepen their experience. Some travelers come alone, eager to spend a few uninterrupted days doing what they love most. Others arrive with friends or partners who share the same passion. Families with older teens who ride confidently often choose these trips as well, especially when everyone wants to be part of the adventure rather than watch from the sidelines.

The structure can vary. Some holidays focus on group riding, where small groups set out together each day and share the rhythm of the journey. Others offer private riding for those who prefer a quieter pace or want to tailor the experience to their own goals. You might spend your days covering long distances through forests and mountains, exploring coastal trails, or refining your technique during focused arena sessions between trail rides.

And when you’re not riding, the destination itself becomes part of the experience. Depending on where you travel, you might wander through historic villages, swim in the sea after a long beach ride, or relax by the pool overlooking open countryside. Some packages even include Wine Tastings, cultural excursions, or guided walks through nearby nature reserves. Around Easter, Christmas, or New Year, many riding holidays take on a festive atmosphere, with special dinners and seasonal celebrations that bring riders together at the end of the day.

Ready to trade your run-of-the-mill vacation for something far more exhilarating? Join a Horse Riding Holiday for Advanced riders and embark on the adventure you've been waiting for!

What sets Advanced Horse Riding Holidays apart is the freedom they offer. Instead of staying close to the stables, riders often explore vast landscapes where horses have been part of local life for centuries. Long trail rides across mountains, deserts, beaches, and rolling countryside become the most important part of the experience, with well-trained horses that are used to varied terrain and longer days.

In some destinations, the focus is on multi-day riding journeys, where you cover new ground each day and sleep in different locations along the route. In others, you return to the same base each evening after exploring a different trail. Arena sessions are sometimes included for riders who want to refine technique between trail adventures, especially when working with local breeds known for their agility and responsiveness.

Accommodation plays a big role in shaping the overall atmosphere. Some holidays lean toward simple countryside lodges or family-run guesthouses that feel warm and welcoming after a long day in the saddle. Others offer luxury ranch stays or elegant rural estates where comfort is part of the experience. All-inclusive options are common, making it easy to focus entirely on riding without worrying about logistics. Budget-friendly stays are also on offer and they’re especially ideal for riders who care more about time on horseback than five-star amenities.

Food is another big part of the experience. After hours outdoors, meals tend to be generous and rooted in local tradition. You might find yourself enjoying fresh Mediterranean dishes in Spain, slow-cooked tagines in Morocco, or hearty countryside meals in Ireland or the UK. In many places, dinner becomes a shared ritual, with riders gathering around long tables to relive the day’s best moments.

Certain destinations across the globe stand out again and again for advanced riding experiences. Here are some of them:

Morocco offers one of the most extraordinary advanced riding experiences in the world. The High Atlas Mountains deliver demanding, high-altitude trails on Barb and Arabian horses that are as capable and sure-footed as any you'll find. Desert rides through the Sahara are in a different category entirely. The combination of physical challenge, cultural richness, and sheer visual drama makes Morocco a destination that advanced riders return to. Plan your trip around Easter when the Atlas valleys are green, and the temperatures are mild.

Argentina is where advanced riders discover what open ground really means. The Patagonian steppe, the Andean foothills, and the great pampas offer riding on a scale that redefines the concept of space. Gaucho-led expeditions on the pampas are as authentic as equestrian travel gets, covering serious distances on well-bred criollo horses, sleeping on estancias, and experiencing a horsemanship culture that's been refined over centuries.

Mongolia is the ultimate destination for advanced riders who want something truly wild. Riding native Mongolian horses across the open steppe, covering the kind of distances that would be impossible in more contained European landscapes, camping in nomadic gers, and navigating terrain that requires genuine skill and stamina. There are a few concessions to comfort here. Summer trips offer the best conditions, but the experience is demanding regardless of season.

Spain offers advanced riders the best of European equestrian Culture. Riding pure-bred Andalusians through the Sierra Nevada or along the ancient pilgrimage routes of the north combines physical challenge with an aesthetic pleasure that's hard to match. Arena classes specialized in classical dressage and natural horsemanship are available for riders who want to deepen their technical skills. While the multi-day trail holidays in Andalusia and Catalonia cover serious ground through landscapes that reward every hard-earned kilometre. Christmas and New Year Riding Holidays in rural Andalusia are particularly appealing if you want to spend the festive season doing what you love most in a mild climate.

Bulgaria, while still a rather undiscovered destination, is another great pick for these holidays. The Rhodope Mountains and Balkan Range offer challenging, unspoiled terrain that's largely untouched by tourism, with sturdy, capable horses and guides who know every path. Multi-day rides cover altitude and distance, passing through villages and landscapes that feel genuinely remote. It's also one of the most accessible destinations in terms of cost, making it an excellent choice for riders who want a serious challenge at prices you might not expect.

Ireland has a wildness to it that suits advanced riders particularly well. The hills of Connemara, the coastal trails of Kerry, and the open moorland of Mayo offer riding that's physically demanding and visually extraordinary in equal measure. Irish horses, particularly the Connemara pony crosses and Irish Sport Horses used on many holidays, are talented, bold, and responsive to experienced riders in ways that make the whole thing feel like a genuine partnership. The welcome is warm, the landscape is relentlessly beautiful, and the evenings have a particular quality that's entirely their own.

South Africa provides advanced riders a dimension that exists nowhere else: wildlife. Riding at pace through private game reserves, navigating terrain shared with elephants, buffalo, and lions, is an experience that stays with you forever. The riding itself is technically demanding and exhilarating, and the all-inclusive safari-style programmes make the logistics seamless. Families with older teens who ride confidently will find South Africa one of the most extraordinary shared experiences available anywhere.

France delivers technical excellence alongside some of Europe's finest riding country. Advanced dressage and show jumping programs in Normandy and the Loire Valley attract serious riders from across the world. Trail Riding through the Pyrenees offers a high-altitude challenge with medieval history at every turn. And the Camargue — riding the native white horses through salt marshes and wetlands — is one of those experiences that feels unlike anything else in European equestrian travel. And if you’re looking for a unique way to spend the festive season, Christmas and New Year holidays in the French countryside are one of the best options.

Turkey rounds out our list with a destination that surprises almost everyone who goes. Cappadocia's extraordinary volcanic landscape is genuinely unlike anywhere else on earth. The horses are well-suited to the terrain, the guides are experienced, and the cultural richness of the surrounding region adds a depth to the experience that goes well beyond the riding. Sunrise rides over the valleys, with hot air balloons drifting overhead, are the kind of thing that reminds you why you ride.

So where will your next ride take you? Explore our Horse Riding Holidays for Advanced riders and find the destination that quenches your thirst for adventure.