Karst Wild Nature & Culture

On this scenic ride in the southwest of Slovenia you’ll ride in the country’s wild nature with varied terrain and spectacular wildlife (you might spot a bear!), while there’s also time to explore interesting sights in the area, like the renowned Lipica stud farm and the town of Piran. This ride is a fabulous way to explore Slovenia at its best!

Discover this journey

Best period

March - October

Price

From € 1.560

Ideal length

7 nights

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Highlights

Explore Slovenia’s natural wilderness from horseback with breath-taking views.
Ride with a small family-owned business, where the western-trained horses are part of the family.
Visit the renowned Lipica Stud Farm, the cradle of the world-famous Lipizzaner horses.
Have a chance of observing wild wolves, bears, boar and deer.

Quick facts

At a glance

This fabulous ride (seven nights, five days riding) on the scenic Karst Plateau in the southwest of Slovenia with fixed accommodation offers a great balance between wild nature and culture, between riding through the area’s unspoiled nature and having the chance of exploring some interesting sights. The programme includes a mix of shorter days of riding with some sightseeing in the afternoon and full days of riding. Your horse will take you to breath-taking valleys, ancient caves, historic castles, glittering lakes, green forests with abundant wildlife (like boar, wolves, deer, bears and beautiful birdlife) and remains of World War I tunnels.

More information

In the middle of the week, you’ll have the chance to pay an exciting visit to the Lipizzaner stud farm at Lipica, one of the oldest stud farms in the world! The itinerary also includes one non-riding day to Piran, a lovely old port town that has remnants of a medieval wall, protected as a cultural historical monument. On your last night you will head out with an experienced guide to a hunting observatory where, if you sit quietly and long enough, you may get to view wild bears!

Your hosted by an experienced family-run business, where your host Borut is incredibly knowledgeable about the local wildlife and an experienced wildlife tracker. Guests ride Quarter Horses, Warmbloods or Icelandic horses, who are very well-trained, relaxed and treated as part of the family. Most of the horses are ridden western-style with western saddles and long reins. For the Icelandic horses, English style saddles are used.

Your holiday base is a bed & breakfast in the small town of Trnje. The accommodation is comfortable and clean, but basic. Every room has a private bathroom, but it might not be en-suite. On this ride, you’ll enjoy delicious homemade Slovenian meals. Every morning a breakfast buffet is waiting for you. Lunch is taken on the trail, in a local pub or with a picknick in a beautiful setting. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to taste the delicious local wines.

What do others say?

My trip was really lovely! I was a little bit nervous as I have only travelled alone in the UK (I'm English myself so it was exactly the same as travelling around Belgium). But everything went smoothly, from the flight to picking up my car (I rented a car through Hertz, definitely recommended!). At check-in, everything went really perfectly too, I got a beautiful (and big!) room overlooking the garden. The staff were super friendly and helpful, making my solo trip feel a little less alone! The food is also mouth-watering, I still dream of the lamb dumplings.... The stables are the cleanest I have ever seen, the horses are treated with so much love and it shows. The riding lessons themselves always took place in the indoor arena, due to bad weather. I learnt so much during the lessons, for which my huge thanks to the instructor. This will definitely not be my last time to book with you, and who knows, maybe back to Poland. I would also like to thank you for the great care from start to finish!
Shelby Hulmes
About Masuria Sports & Countryside
Laure-Anne from Outside the Corral paid attention to my holiday wishes from the very first moment. She took care of a proper preparation and literally took me on a journey to my holiday destination. During the entire stay in Spain, the horses and guests were well taken care of. We rode in a beautiful area with a diversity of scenery, from flat countryside, valleys to steep cliffs. We spent six to seven hours in the saddle per day and during the breaks we enjoyed delicious tapas and traditional local dishes. Lunches were lavish picnics, each day in a unique spot, in the middle of nature. Living so close to nature feels very exclusive. The experience of a Michelin restaurant can hardly compete with this. ;-) The composition of the group was amazingly good. Our group consisted of ladies, various age groups, and we interacted in a casual way. The holiday exceeded my expectations. It was truly fantastic and can highly recommend it!
Brigitte Verhoeven
Via Google Reviews About Monfragüe National Park Ride
From our very first meeting with Outside the Corral, we felt confident with Laure-Anne. She enthusiastically shared details about the various rides, assessed our expectations and skill level. Shortly after, we received a well-thought-out proposal with several appealing destinations. Choosing proved challenging for us, as all options looked fantastic—sorry for the delay, Laure-Anne :-). Ultimately, we settled on the "Castles of the Gredos" ride in Spain—a tranquil and beautiful journey on delightful horses. Despite some days with long hours in the saddle, we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It's a form of slow travel, allowing us to set aside the "must-do" list for a week and savor moments on horseback in the stunning natural surroundings. Leading up to the departure, Laure-Anne remained highly engaged, and we truly felt well-informed—perhaps the most informed among our travel group. Thank you, Laure-Anne!
Ine Dullaert
Via Google Reviews About Castles of Gredos Mountains
I had an absolutely fantastic holiday that exceeded all my expectations! Everything was meticulously organized, the horses were exceptionally well cared for, and Emilio and Mamén are truly delightful people. Despite the challenging days, it was the perfect introduction to riding holidays. The stunning landscapes, delicious food, and charming rustic hotels all contributed to a flawless experience. Spending seven hours a day on the back of a wonderfully trained horse instills so much confidence that you can fully enjoy and relax without worries. The seamless organization, from Laure-Anne's planning to Emilio and Mamén's execution, allowed for a carefree experience without having to overthink anything before or during the vacation. I couldn't have chosen a better "first" experience, and this sentiment was shared by riders who have been re-booking this trip for years. My inaugural experience with Outside the Corral was truly wonderful, and it certainly won't be my last. Highly recommended for those who can handle long days in the saddle — DON'T HESITATE! Thank you for everything, Laure-Anne — I'll be back!
Hanne Surmont
Via Google Reviews About Castles of Gredos Mountains

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