Ride on the scenic Karst Plateau of Slovenia, discovering ancient caves and castles as well as having the chance to visit the home of the Lipizzaner horse – Lipica. If you’re lucky you may even spot a bear on an evening’s trip to a woodland hide.
Day One:
On arrival at your accommodation in Trnje you will be shown your room and then offered dinner in the evening.
Day Two:
After breakfast you are transfered to the horses, it’s a short drive to Sembije (c. 15min) where the horses are located and set out on the trail, following a path which goes under a natural wall and through a tunnel carved in the rock. Upon reaching Silentabor you’ll have spectacular views of the wildness around you. Your next stop is the village of Narin where you have time to rest and enjoy lunch in a pub.
After lunch, continue riding on the hillsides of Primoz where you will be able to look at the remains of the tunnels from World War I. The path leads through woods and onto floodplains of the river Pivka, before reaching Trnje again. You can settle your horses here and have dinner before returning to your B&B to overnight.
Riding time: 7 hours
Day Three :
Straight after breakfast, you will head out on a half day ride to the lake Petelinjsko Jezero. The path takes you through unspoilt nature and a small village where the people may openly offer you some of their authentic homemade sheep’s milk cheese to try. Head back to Trnje for lunch and to change for the afternoon sightseeing activity. Today you can choose to visit either Postonjska Jama (the cave park) or Predjamski Grad (a beautiful Medieval castle built into the mouth of a cave). NB: Entrance fees to either activity are not included.
After sightseeing, you can head out for dinner and then return to Trnje to overnight.
Riding time: 4 hours
Day Four:
This morning you have another half day ride, this time to the lake Palsko Jezero, following a route through green forests and stopping to view sights along the way. After returning to Trnje for lunch, you will have a chance to change before heading to the Lipica Stud in the afternoon – the home of the Lipizzaner horse. Once there, you can choose to take a ride in the horse-drawn carriage, visit the Lipizzaner Museum, take a tour of the stables or simply relax in the beautifully maintained grounds. NB: Entrance fees and costs for additional activities are payable locally.
Later you will return to Trnje for dinner and to overnight.
Riding time: 4 hours
Day Five:
Today will be a full day of riding as you head out through Trnje to the floodplains of the river Pvka. After passing an old mill and the ruins of castle Kalec, there will be a chance to stop for a rest in the shade of some huge lime trees, before continuing on woodland paths to the village of Bac, where you will have lunch. In the afternoon, you will ride to Sembije, following the forest route uphill to Mala Milonja which offers heavenly views of the landscape around you. Tonight you will leave the horses here and have dinner nearby before returning to Trnje to overnight.
Riding time: 7 hours
Day Six:
Non-riding day as you head to Piran – an old port town that has remnants of a medieval wall, protected as a cultural historical monument. Narrow streets and closely constructed houses descend from the hill to the church and central square in true Mediterranean character. This town, which grew up under the influence of Venice, is considered to be one of the most authentic and photogenic towns on the Adriatic coast. Lunch is to your own account today so you can choose from the many cafes and restaurants on offer.
Day Seven:
Today will begin with a short drive to Sembije to meet and saddle the horses. You will then you ride to Milojna, which is bear territory and if you are very lucky you may see one, or evidence of one, along the trail. This wild area offers breathtaking views from the hilltops and lunch will be served at an idyllic cottage in a clearing near some WWI tunnels. In the afternoon, you will continue your ride back to Sembije for dinner.
Ride time: 6 hours
Day Eight:
After breakfast you are transferred to the airport for your flight home or onwards travel.
Food and Accomodation
You stay in a B&B in Trnje and return there each night. The B&B has two twin rooms and a triple room. The rooms are clean and comfortable but not glamorous, although guests will enjoy the beautiful horse photos, art and memorabilia spread around – your hosts are true horse lovers! Guests have their own room entrances, so there is plenty of privacy.
Each of the rooms has a private bathroom but this is not necessarily en-suite. They also have views across the fields to the horses or over the gardens.
Breakfast is taken at the B&B and is buffet style with an assortment of bread, home-made jams, cheese, honey, yoghurt and cereals, with tea and coffee.
Lunches and dinners are taken in different locations and usually in pubs offering delicious homemade food. Most of the meals will include meat but it is possible to arrange vegetarian meals with advance notice. Lunches include delicious local wine.
Additional information:
- Minimum group size: 2
- Maximum group size: 7
- Ability description: Confident Intermediate to Experienced riders. You should be capable at all paces on a forward going horse
- Type of ride: Trail riding, returning to the same place each night
- Total riding time: 5 main riding days, some shorter days and some much longer. There may be time for a ride on arrival day
- Departure dates: On demand
- Type of horses: Quarter Horses, Warmbloods, Icelandic Horses.
- Nature of horses: Relaxed and calm but forward-going
- Height of horses: 14 – 16hh.
- Weight limit: 100kg / 15 stone 10 lbs
- Tack type: English style saddles for the Icelandic horses or Western saddles for the Quarter Horses and Warmbloods
- Languages: English, Slovenian, Croatian, Italian.
- Health requirements: General good fitness recommended.
- Age limit: Riders need to be 16 years or older to join the trail programmes.
- Tuition: No
- Included: Accommodation, meals, soft drinks with meals, horse riding, transportation of luggage from site to site.
- Not included: Flights, insurance, transfers, entrance fees to non-riding sites, extra drinks, extra activities.