“The perfect ride for taking it easy”
7 Day Carpe Diem Horse Riding Holiday in Isernia
Altavia Horses, Contrada Colle Arso s.n. 86083 Carovilli, Isernia, Italy
Italy Horse Riding Holiday
The atmosphere during Altavia Horses' tours is informal and cozy so many guests will feel at home instantly. During the riding week, everybody will take care of his/her horse. The tack is western, experience with western riding is, however, not required. All year long the horses live in a herd, they can choose from the paddocks around the house or the stable, which is at a distance of 30 feet from the house. The horses are trained gently and with a lot of patience, as well as experienced on mountain trails and long-distance rides.
Key information
- Rider Weight Limit: 198 pounds / 90 kilograms
- Tack Type: Western tack
- Horse Breed: Quarter horses or crossbreed with Quarter
- Horse Height: 155 centimetres
Meet the instructors
Carmine
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Highlights
- 4.5 days with horse riding
- Daily riding time: 4 - 6 hours
- Italian and English-speaking guide
- Daily full board meals with wine and beer at lunch and dinner
- Roundtrip Isernia train station transfers are included
- 6 nights accommodation
Skill level
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Styles
5 days with instruction in English
The organizer also speaks: Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian
Group size: 3-8 participants
Accommodation
Check-in Time:
20:00
Check-out Time:
09:00
Facilities
- Dining area
- Fireplace
- Garden
- Kitchen
- Lounge
- Terrace
- Library
The house, dating from 1885, is situated at almost 3,000 feet above sea level. It is the only inhabited farmhouse in this little nature conservation area. The nearest neighbors live in Carovilli, a little village four miles away.
The front of the house faces a large oak forest whereas the rear offers a splendid view of the mountains and a valley. The house is not very big but quite comfortable; it was completely renovated in 2003. The living room has a nice fireplace, a piano, and a modest library. There are three guestrooms (two double and one dormitory accommodating six people) and two bathrooms with all modern conveniences. Meals are served on the terrace or in the kitchen-diner.
Program
Day 1: Saturday
You are expected to arrive on Saturday evening at the farmhouse. After a welcome drink, there will be dinner with your hosts/guides. A three-course Italian dinner will be served every night, accompanied by local wines.
Day 2: Sunday
The morning is yours, you may sleep in, take your time over breakfast, do whatever you like. Before lunch, there will be a safety briefing then you'll groom and saddle up the horses followed by a short demonstration in western riding. After lunch, you'll do a test ride (three hours) to enable you to get acquainted with the horse you are going to ride all week.
Some riders like to ride different horses during the week which is also possible. Visit the new riding center-inclusive Bistro from your host which is close by and look forward to having a freshly prepared dinner.
Day 3: Monday
At about 10 a.m., leave the house. After a long ride through the woods, there will be many fields; have a canter and lunch picnic at an idyllic spot. After lunch, there is a lovely view of the village of Vastogirardi, then, the route takes you through miles of beech-woods; it ends in “Valle Fredda” (Cold Valley), here, it is time for another long canter. In the evening, wait to get served delicious food cooked by your host.
Dat 4 - Tuesday
Today, pass the new riding center and ride down to the village of Carovilli. Tie the horses and have a fresh aperitivo on the Piazza. You can enjoy the atmosphere and listen to the small and big news from the inhabitants. Your next destination is Castiglione, a small town in the neighborhood. On top of the hill from Castiglione, there is a church ruin to see, it houses a still-functioning bell that you can ring.
The view from there is the valley from Carovilli. After a picnic, ride back to the farmhouse. The late afternoon is yours for free. You can relax in one of the amankas at the Bistro with a book; near the cozy fireplace in the house, you can find some of them, even in English or Dutch and German. If you like to take a refresh in the pool of the neighbor town or you like to visit the castle in Pescolanciano, Altavia will bring you there.
Day 5: Wednesday
Cross a little river, immediately followed by a steep adventurous climb. Continue uphill along small paths with wild berry bushes left and right from you until the forest clears; here, stop for a picnic. To the north, you can see where the Abruzzo mountain starts, then, it is just a short way to Pietrabbondante (literally meaning “plenty of stones”); admire the theatre and the two Samnitic temples.
The Samnites were the original population of Molise. It took the Romans three centuries of war before they finally conquered this region, which then became part of the Roman Empire (79 B.C); afterward, it is time to ride back home.
Day 6: Thursday
After breakfast, ride downhill in the direction of Pescolanciano. Shortly before the village, pass on the Tratturo, a Tratturo is a 2000-year-old track that is still used to move cattle from the far south where the grass is scarce in summer. From there, have a nice view of the old castle from the village. Before arriving in this village, there will be some canters in the fields.
Lunch is served in a little restaurant; the owner is well-known for her homemade ice cream. And now, get your trunks out, you can go swimming! Directly next to the resting place of the horses, there is a little pool which is build up a few years ago, you can relax here. The last few miles on horseback takes you over open heathland and dense oakwoods. At about 6 p.m., you are back at the farmhouse, unsaddle the horses for the last time and enjoy the farewell dinner.
Day 7: Friday
Departure after breakfast.
- Note
Due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances the program may have to be adapted. The alternative program may include Bell Museum Agnone, castle visit in Pescolanciano, a Western riding lesson in the round pen of the new riding center, etc.
The horses
The horses have been selected for their character, looks, and intelligence. They were all born in the mountains, so they are very reliable in this mountainous area. All-year-long, they live in a herd which makes them a close group, besides, most of them are related in some way or the other. The horses are willing and easy-going.
The tack is Western; on Sunday morning, you'll get a safety briefing followed by a short demonstration in western riding. After lunch, it is time for a three-hour ride so that all riders will get acquainted with their horses and the terrain.
Instructors
Carmine Di Perna
1 Certificate
Show
Carmine is a native of Molise. In his early years, he ran his own highly successful bar / restaurant in Isernia. Besides being an excellent cook, he became a horseman at heart. Carmine organizes four different treks plus a home-based ride at Altavia Horses. He speaks English and Italian and he is a certified guide of FISE (Federazione Italiana Sport Equestre).
Location
Molise is situated in the southeast part of the region Lazio (Rome) and north of Campania (Naples).
Landscape and nature
The hills and mountains are sloping. In the Abruzzi, the Apennines are taller and rougher. There is no industry to speak of, everything over here is still pure nature. The Abruzzi house approximately has 40 brown bears. Furthermore, there are wild-boars, foxes, hares, squirrels, chamois, eagles, falcons, owls, woodpeckers, bats, and a handful of wolves.
There is an outstanding wealth of flowers, species Altavia grows in their gardens are put in vases at home and are wildflowers here. In early spring, there are crocuses, primroses, and violets; in May and June, the roses, irises, various anemones, and different kinds of orchids blossom; in July, a beautiful and rare orange lily appears in the woods, and autumn is the time of the cyclamen and autumn crocus.
On horseback
On the plateaus and in the valleys, you will make long canters; the horses, however, have to climb and go down a lot. Therefore, the pace is generally not very fast. The safety of the rider and that of the horse is the main thing!
Food
Daily full board meals with wine and beer at lunch and dinner are included in the package. The first meal included starts with dinner on the first day up to and including breakfast on the day of departure.
Usually a picnic is served while riding, with local cheese Caciocavallo, Pecorino, omelette with zucchini and mushrooms, bread cooked in wooden oven, regional wine.
At home every evening after the happy hour drinks, a 3 courses dinner; pasta (alla siciliana, carbonara, with mushrooms) meat with salads or fresh vegetables or potatoes and desserts.
All meals are fresh cooked using local products as mozzarella cheese, rucola, cherry tomatoes and regional wines. Vegetarian plates can be offered as well as vegan.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Alcoholic beverages
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
Things to do (optional)
If you don't want to ride, you can choose to visit archaeological sites (Romans and Samnites), the Bell Museum or the thousand year old factory in Agnone. You can also visit the medieval villages in the area. During summer, you can either go to a swimming pool in the area, or you can go to Adria to enjoy the beach (65 km away). Long or short hiking tours can be arranged in the surroundings with guide.
What's included
- 4.5 days with 4 to 6-hour horse rides
- Services of an English-speaking guide
- Daily full board meals
- Wine and beer during lunch and dinner
- 6 nights accommodation
- Scheduled roundtrip Isernia railway station transfers
What's not included
- Airfare
- Airport transfers
- Snacks
- Other drinks (30 EUR)
- Entrance to public buildings (example: the pool area)
- Insurance
How to get there
Recommended Airports
FCO
Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport
172 km
Transfer not provided
NAP
Naples International Airport
92 km
Transfer not provided
Arrival by airplane
Please arrange your flight to arrive at Naples International Airport (NAP) or Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO). Airport transfers to the train station in Isernia are not yet included in the package.
- Please arrive at Naples International Airport (NAP) no later than 3 p.m. and arrange your departure flight no earlier than 2:30 p.m. to be able to join Altavia's complimentary Isernia railway transfers.
- Please arrive at Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO) no later than 2 p.m. and arrange your departure flight no earlier than 3 p.m. to be able to join Altavia's complimentary Isernia railway transfers.
Arrival by train or bus
The transfer from and to the railway station in Isernia is included in the package. On the day of arrival, the transfer will be at 7:45 p.m., and on departure day, the transfer will be at 9 a.m.
- From Rome/Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
The Leonardo Express goes to Rome Termini (C:S) twice per hour. The journey takes approximately 30 minutes. A one-way ticket costs 14 EUR. Altavia advises you to buy your ticket to Isernia at the airport, this one-way ticket costs approximately 11 EUR. The train’s destination from Rome Termini to Isernia is Campobasso/Termoli. Sometimes, it splits up in Montecassino. Please make sure that you are in the right carriage. Platform 15 is located between 14 and 16; please follow 14 or 16, after 400 meters, you will find platform 15.
- From Naples
There are busses to Central Station, you can buy a ticket with the driver; a one-way ticket costs approximately 3 EUR. The journey lasts about half an hour. A one-way train ticket to Isernia costs approximately 6 EUR, the train’s destination is Campobasso. In Italy, train tickets are only valid when stamped in one of the machines which you will find on the platforms.
Arrival by car
From Rome
- Follow the motorway (A1) in the direction of Naples as far as the exit S. Vittore then drive towards Isernia.
- Just past Isernia, drive on to the SS 650 (keep to the right) direction: San Salvo.
- Having driven through three tunnels, take the exit Pescolanciano/Capracotta. Then follow the SS 651 and drive past Pescolanciano (on your left). Drive past both exits for Carovilli.
- After the second exit, the road bends to the right, slow down after this bend.
- There is a road sign indicating a crossroads, just after the sign, you turn off the road to the right onto a B-road.
- There is a yellow sign saying “C.da Castiglione – ColleArso”.
- Follow this narrow forest-road for about one mile and you'll see Carmine and Astrid’s house on your right.
From Naples
- Follow the motorway (A1) in the direction of Rome as far as the exit Caianello, then drive towards Isernia (SS 85).
- Just past Isernia, drive on the SS 650.
- Having driven through three tunnels, take the exit Pescolanciano/Capracotta. Then follow the SS 651 and drive past Pescolanciano (on your left). Drive past both exits for Carovilli.
- After the second exit, the road bends to the right, slow down after this bend.
- There is a road sign indicating a crossroads, just after the sign, you turn off the road to the right onto a B-road.
- There is a yellow sign saying “C.da Castiglione – ColleArso”.
- Follow this narrow forest-road for about one mile and you'll see Carmine and Astrid’s house on your right.
Along the Adriatic coast
- Follow the motorway (A4), Bologna, to Bari as far as the exit Montenero di Bisaccia/Vasto Sud, then drive towards Isernia.
- Take the exit Pescolanciano, which is immediately after a short tunnel. Drive past Pescolanciano and Carovilli.
- After the second exit, the road bends to the right, slow down after this bend.
- There is a road sign indicating a crossroads, just after the sign, you turn off the road to the right onto a B-road.
- There is a yellow sign saying “C.da Castiglione – ColleArso”.
- Follow this narrow forest-road for about one mile and you'll see Carmine and Astrid’s house on your right.
Important information
Please arrive at the farmhouse at 8 p.m. Due to Altavia's small-scale set-up, it is unfortunately not possible to welcome you before this hour.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 16.94% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 21 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookHorseRidingHolidays.com. All major credit cards supported.
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