Off the Beaten Track and Back to the Essence: Why Horse Riding Holidays Embody Every Major Travel Trend of 2025
In 2025, travelers are seeking experiences that move them — both literally and emotionally. Far from the crowds, deep into nature, and with a growing emphasis on meaningful, sustainable journeys. At Outside the Corral, we see it every day: demand for exclusive, conscious, and truly personal travel is rising fast.
Our travelers aren’t looking for a standard vacation. They’re after something immersive – whether that’s a digital detox in the Jordanian desert, riding alongside gauchos in Argentina, or spotting wildlife on horseback during a safari in Africa. Equestrian tourism weaves together the most important travel trends of the moment into one powerful, unforgettable experience.
Riding holidays combine today’s biggest travel trends into one unique formula. Discover in this blog article which ones they are.
1. Digital detox
On average, we spend 5.5 hours a day behind a screen. To escape the digital rat race, more travellers are consciously opting for a digital detox. And few things offer a better digital detox than a horseback expedition through Jordan. Gallop across the endless sandy plains of Wadi Rum, sleep under the Milky Way and live to the rhythm of the desert. No signal, no Wi-Fi, no notifications — just you, your horse, and the silence of nature. It’s a mental spa for the soul.
2. Green is the new gold
Ecotourism is booming, and the call of the wild has never been louder. Hidden national parks now top our bucket lists. We’re parking our campers on family farms, waking up to the sound of clucking chickens and grunting pigs. Sunrise yoga under swaying palms, long-distance treks through untamed landscapes – the message is clear: green is the new gold.
In Africa, horseback safaris take you eye-to-eye with elephants, giraffes, and zebras – offering a much more eco-conscious alternative to the classic jeep safari. There’s simply no closer way to connect with nature.
3. Detour destinations
Popular hotspots are losing their appeal. Today’s traveler is seeking the road less traveled. In Namibia, you can gallop through dramatic desert landscapes without another soul in sight. The wind in your hair, adrenaline in your veins – pure freedom, pure simplicity. In the Dolomites, you’ll navigate steep mountain trails on horseback and dive into glacial lakes far from the tourist crowds.
4. Coolcations
With summers in southern Europe growing hotter – and climate extremes becoming more frequent – many travelers are heading north for a breath of fresh air. Welcome to the rise of the coolcation. Think crisp fjords, shaded forests, and snow-dusted peaks. In Norway and Iceland, you can ride through frozen valleys, along volcanic beaches, and past thundering waterfalls and glaciers. No mass tourism on our routes – just the raw beauty of nature and, if you’re lucky, the glow of the midnight sun or the magic of the Northern Lights.
5. Cowboy Core
The term ‘back to basics’ takes on new meaning in the travel trend of ‘Cowboy Core’. The wild west captures everyone’s imagination. We seek out farm life and to do so, we travel to the most rural corners of the world. Travellers want to feel what it is like to live and work in nature. It’s a return to simplicity and authenticity. Picture yourself camping under the stars, surveying the horizon from the back of a horse, or sharing stories around the fire. Cowboy Core offers a chance to quite literally step into a cowboy’s boots. There’s no better place for it than Argentina. On the vast pampas of the award-winning Estancia Los Potreros, you’ll round up cattle with real-life gauchos and master the art of the lasso.
6. Ed-venture tourism
In 2025, travel is about more than relaxation – it’s about learning something new. More and more people are seeking out experiences that combine education and adventure. Known as ed-venture tourism, this trend is also driving a rise in regenerative travel – journeys designed to leave a destination better than you found it.
Whether it’s contributing to conservation and anti-poaching initiatives on a horseback safari at Borana Lodge in Kenya, or learning the art of classical dressage in Portugal, these are experiences that expand your horizon and make a positive impact on both nature and the local community – all while immersing you in a rich cultural journey.
Do these travel trends have you dreaming of saddle-bound adventures? Let 2025 be the year you go beyond the ordinary and step outside your corral! Curious to learn more? Book a free virtual coffee or drop us a message via our contact page. We’d love to hear from you!