Ride Transylvania – 10 days from £915 pp

Save £100 on Equine Adventures’ 10-day Ride Transylvania trips departing on July 10, or August 7. Priced from £915pp (2 sharing), the trip explores the stunning Romanian countryside on horseback taking in the Calimini Mountains and breathtaking unspoilt valleys.

The itinerary also includes a meeting with local people to experience the culture and traditions, and a trip to Dracula’s Castle. Price includes all riding, airport transfers, accommodation (5 x camping, 2 x guest house and 1 nt x hotel) and most meals.

Non riders welcome to travel in the support vehicle, minimum age 14yrs, and experienced intermediate riding skills (walk/trot/canter) essential. Call Equine Adventures 0845 130 6981.

Discover The Secret Life of Elephants with Equine Adventures – 9-day horseback safari from £2430pp

Discover The Secret Life of Elephants with Equine Adventures’ 9-day Big Five Safari. Offering a saving of £380pp on February departures (12, 18, 22 or 27), the trip includes a thrilling ride in the Mashatu Game Reserve - aka Land of the Giants for its magnificent elephant herds - a vast wilderness area almost untouched by man. Horse-back safari riding trails cover riverine and bushveld terrain in a breathtaking countryside that is rich in wildlife. Fly to Johannesburg for 4 days in South Africa based at Dinaka in Limpopo Province, and continue with 4 days in Botswana. In addition to elephant, sightings of all the big game are a realistic possibility given good weather conditions at the tail end of the wet season. The price, from £2430 (normally £2810) includes flights, transfers, shared accommodation (single supplements available), horse and most meals. And…. February bookings are automatically entered into a prize draw to win your safari place foc).

RIDE JORDAN’S HOLY LAND - 10-DAY EASTER ADVENTURE

To combat ‘January gloom’ experts are suggesting a variety of efficacious activities, from growing your own food to practising metta bhadvana meditation. Equine Adventures offers its own brand of pick-me-up with the prospect of an Easter break galloping through the landscape of Lawrence of Arabia and the history of a biblical land. The 10-day Jordan Explorer horseback adventure follows the ‘King’s Highway’, visits Nabataean Petra and the canyons and gorges of Wadi Rum, together with the Red Sea shores of Aqaba, departing Amman 10th April 2009.

Arrival in Amman, is followed by a visit to the King’s Highway, an area rich in archaeological sites dating back to the Hebrews, King Solomon, the Crusaders and Saladin. Next day, continue by road to the ancient city of Petra, at the heart of the Nabataean kingdom, described in John W. Burgon’s poem as ‘the rose city, half the age of time’. Later, transfer by road to Wadi Rum, saddling up for 4-days of exhilarating desert riding on well-schooled Arabs, retracing many of Lawrence’s trails. Embark through the expanses of Jordan’s desert landscape, venturing deep into the canyons of Wadi Rum, passing immense sand dunes, stony plains, valleys and dry oases. Experience the towering wind-sculpted rock formations, including the ‘Seven Pillars of Wisdom’ immortalised in Lawrence’s writings, encountering Bedouin tribes along the way. In the desert, riders sleep under the stars or in tents, and enjoy meals prepared over an open fire whilst watching the sunset. Finally, transfer by road for 2-nights in Aqaba, searching out souvenirs in the colourful souks, or relaxing along the coral-rich coast of the Red Sea, before returning to Amman.
Ability - riders need to be fit and confident to lead horses through sand.

The holiday costs from £1,460 p/p (land only) including transfers, 4-nights hotel and 5-nights camp accommodation, most meals, baggage transfers during ride, horse, tack and expertly guided activities. Local payment of US$50 p/p is payable on arrival to cover tips plus US$15 visa cost.

Contact Equine Adventures for further details.