The Umbria Ride, Italy, Italy - Horse Riding Holidays and Safaris

Sitting tall and mighty at the heart of Italy, yet somehow largely undiscovered by tourists, Umbria’s Sibillini Mountains encompass a landscape so big, so multifaceted and so unique, it defies belief. Riding across plains that could swallow you whole, gentle hills that seem to roll on forever and mountains like a giant’s crown piercing the moody sky, you can’t help but wonder, how can such an endless expanse possibly squeeze into the heart of Italy?

But leaving you in a state of wonder is what Umbria does best, so whisper your questions to the wind and let the answers come to you, slowly but surely, as the journey unfolds to the steady rhythm of your horse’s hoofbeats.

Guided by Emiliano Brandimarte, a third-generation Sibillini horseman and rancher, you’ll have the honour of exploring Monti Sibillini National Park as the locals do. From the mountains themselves, to the ancient hilltop village of Castelluccio, to the famed plains at its feet that turn into a sea of flowers every summer, a whole world will open up between your horse’s pricked ears.

And if you opt for the week-long itinerary, you’ll enjoy two nights in Castelluccio itself and five nights in charming mountain villages as you traverse the greater Apennines: vast plateaus, wild alpine passes, and meadows grazed by free-roaming horses, sheep and cattle.

This ride takes you off the beaten track and into a fantasy world of cowboys, cattle, wolves, wilderness and legends. Loosen the reins and feel time stand still as you absorb the abundance of natural beauty (and exquisite cuisine!) at your fingertips.

Fast Facts

Horse Breed:Quarter Horse cross, draft horse cross, Haflinger and Maremmano. These strong, solid, hardy horses were born, bred and trained on the ranch.
Pace:This is a steady ride where you can sit back and enjoy the magic of your surroundings, with some opportunities to trot and canter.
Type of tack:Western saddles and bridles.
Time in Saddle:On average, 5 to 6 hours per day.
Ride Length:There are 8 day, 7 night (7 riding day) and 4 day, 3 night (4 riding day) itineraries available.
Seasons:July & September.
Group size:A maximum of 7 guests, with two riding guides.
Riding Ability:Suitable for all riding abilities.
*Beginner riders are expected to be capable of riding at a walk and rising trot outside an arena, and be learning to canter. Fitness is important as you will be in the saddle for up to 6 hours on some days. Not sure what your riding ability is? Watch THIS video to find out.
Weight Limit:A maximum of 110kg / 240lbs. It is VERY important that you provide your current weight accurately when booking. If your weight is not accurate, we cannot guarantee that your hosts will have a horse for you to ride.
Accommodation:8-day itinerary: Riding from one quaint alpine village to the next, you’ll stay in a series of B&Bs and farmstays ranging from simple and comfortable to utterly charming, each offering twin share rooms with ensuites. All have beautiful views and some have on-site restaurants, while others are a short walk from exceptional local trattorias.
4-day itinerary: all nights are spent at Villa Tardioli, a simple but charming B&B in the town of Castelluccio di Norcia. It offers twin share rooms with ensuites, a pretty terrace with mountain views, and an on-site restaurant.
A single supplement is available for those who do not wish to share.
Inclusions:
The price includes all riding activities outlined in the itinerary, accommodation, meals (from first day dinner through to last day breakfast), and non-alcoholic beverages.
Exclusions:
The price does not include international or regional flights, transfers to/from Rome Fiumicino Airport (€170 Euro per person, round trip), travel insurance (compulsory), or alcoholic beverages.

DEPARTURE DATES & RATES

Itinerary

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*Please note, this is a suggested itinerary only and subject to change due to weather and other influencing factors.

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8 Day Ride - Day 1

Welcome to Rome, globetrotters! Hopefully you’ll have flown in a day or two early and had a good look around this most famous of cities. The transfer departs Rome Fiumicino Airport at 11am sharp, so make sure you’re at the meeting point nice and early. It’s about a 2-hour drive to the hilltop village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio, nestled in the breathtaking surrounds of Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park. This mountainous region is a treasure trove of Italian heritage and natural beauty – one of the few habitats in Europe where bears still roam wild.

In the early afternoon, you’ll arrive at your accommodation, Dimora Sessanio, a beautifully restored 19th-century residence oozing old-world nobility. Here, you’ll be greeted by your guide Emiliano and his friendly team, who will brief you on the week ahead. You’ll then be shown to your rooms and have a chance to freshen up before heading to the nearby stables. Emiliano and his team will ensure everyone is matched to a responsive, reliable mount, perfectly suited for the journey ahead. A short ride through the hills surrounding the village allows you and your horse to get to know one another.

Dinner tonight is a short stroll away at a cosy trattoria in the heart of the village. Raise a glass to the adventure ahead as you dine beneath stone archways and frescoes, with the Apennines rising dark and proud beyond the terraced rooftops. Italians eat quite late (dinner is served between 8-10pm), so prepare for late nights and sleep-ins!
8 Day Ride - Day 2

After a decadent breakfast featuring such delights as pastries, slices, yoghurt, ricotta and honey, you’ll pack your bags and don your riding gear, mounting up at 9:30am. Today’s ride is a seven-hour loop through the Campo Imperatore plain – a vast, high-altitude plateau often called Little Tibet for its sense of expansive, otherworldly solitude. You’ll cover 35 kilometres (21 miles) of mountain trails through meadows and ridgelines dotted with free-roaming herds of sheep, cattle and horses. Lunch will be served at a remote mountain refuge, where you can rest and refuel while taking in the spectacular views. With an elevation gain of around 700 metres, there will be plenty of opportunities to marvel at the splendour of the Gran Sasso massif.

As evening draws in, you’ll return to Dimora Sessanio, where your comfortable room and a hot shower await. Dinner is once again in the village.
8 Day Ride - Day 3

After breakfast, you’ll pack your bags and prepare to depart Santo Stefano. Today’s route descends gradually through the southern valleys of the Gran Sasso range. You’ll cover around 30 kilometres (18 miles), with a similar elevation shift to yesterday as you cross the Piana delle Locce and another impressive face of the Campo Imperatore. You’ll stop for lunch at a refuge offering sweeping views across the peaks and plains of the Apennine mountains.

In the afternoon, you’ll reach the village of Assergi, where the horses will rest in stables adjoining your simple but comfortable accommodation at B&B Il Parco. With plenty of daylight left, you’ll jump in the shuttle for a quick guided visit to a small church favoured by Pope John Paul II, who prayed there during his many visits to Campo Imperatore.

Dinner tonight is in Assergi – another opportunity to sample the hearty, flavoursome fare of Abruzzo.
8 Day Ride - Day 4

After breakfast at B&B Il Parco, you’ll ride out from Assergi and begin the steady climb up the Gran Sasso mountain chain. The high point of today’s 35-kilometre (21 mile) route is the Capannelle Pass, a remote and rugged stretch where semi-wild herds of horses graze on the sweet mountain grass. You’ll stop for a saddlebag-packed lunch beside a small church dedicated to Saint Vincent. This is transhumance country, where livestock migrations have worn winding paths over many centuries. Even now, when the seasons change, herds are mustered along these tracks.

In the afternoon, you’ll begin a gentle descent towards the village of Capitignano, where you’ll spend the night at Agriturismo La Canestra, a farmstay known for its warm, family hospitality. Dinner is a celebration of Abruzzo’s produce and traditions, showcasing local ingredients, homemade pastas, and perhaps even a glass of plum-red Montepulciano d’Abruzzo to toast another unforgettable day.
8 Day Ride - Day 5

Today you’ll ride for around five hours, covering 24 kilometres (15 miles) as you leave Capitignano and head towards the town of Amatrice, nestled in the Monti della Laga mountains in the region of Lazio. The route offers sweeping views of Lake Campotosto, a striking manmade lake surrounded by forested slopes and, on a clear day, views back towards the Gran Sasso massif. Lunch will be provided en route by the marvellous team from last night’s farmstay, Agriturismo La Canestra, with regional soups and fresh produce sourced straight from the farm.

In the afternoon, you’ll reach the town of Amatrice. Despite being devastated by the 2016 earthquake of central Italy, Amatrice is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. The horses will stay at a local riding centre while you settle into B&B Santa Giusta. While the accommodation is basic, the real treat tonight is the food: Amatrice is the birthplace of the legendary pasta all’Amatriciana, and this world-famous dish will be served up with all the warmth and pride this resilient town is known for.
8 Day Ride - Day 6

Today you’ll cross from Lazio to Umbria, entering Monti Sibillini National Park and completing your remarkable journey through three national parks and three Italian regions in six days! You’ll ride for 35 kilometres (21 miles) along an ancient transhumance track linking central and southern Italy that has been trodden by sheep, horses, cattle and people for hundreds of years. passing through the magnificent valleys of the Pantani di Accumoli – a series of serene mountain ponds carved by glaciers. A packed lunch will be served overlooking the herds of cattle and horses drinking and grazing by the Pantani.

In the afternoon, you’ll descend onto Piano Piccolo (‘Small Plain’), one of the three famed Plains of Castelluccio. Finally, the beautiful Valle della Dogana leads you to your guide Emiliano’s ranch, where the horses will be reunited with their herd.

Your base for the last two nights of the ride is the hilltop village of Castelluccio di Norcia. You’ll be accommodated at Agriturismo Locanda dei Senari, a cosy hilltop farmstay with magnificent views across the Pian Grande (‘Big Plain’) and the Sibillini Mountains beyond. Evening brings another lovingly prepared dinner with local specialties such as the famous Castelluccio di Norcia lentils, prosciutto ham and prized Norcia black truffles.
8 Day Ride - Day 7

After breakfast at around 8am, you’ll saddle up for a spectacular ride through the heart of the Sibillini Mountains. Today’s route winds through a series of panoramic ridgelines and valleys that frame the Piano Grande, Pian Perduto, and Piano Piccolo. Blanketed with wildflowers in early summer and bordered by the towering peaks of the Apennines, these landscapes are nothing short of cinematic. Dominating every view is Monti Vettore, the highest summit in the Sibillini range at 2,476 metres. It’s a shorter ride today – 25 kilometres, or 15 miles – so you’ll have plenty of time for photo stops and a relaxed lunch at a mountain refuge.

Returning to Emiliano’s ranch, you’ll say a fond farewell to the kind, strong horse who has carried you on this journey, then return to Locanda dei Senari for a celebratory feast of Umbrian flavours with your newfound Globetrotting friends.
8 Day Ride - Day 8

After breakfast, you’ll say arrivederci to Emiliano and his wonderful team and be transferred back to Rome Fiumicino Airport for your onward travels.
4 Day Ride - Day 1

Welcome to Rome, globetrotters! Hopefully you’ll have flown in a day or two early and had a good look around this most famous of cities by now, because today you’re leaving the city for the dramatic hills and plains of Umbria. The transfer departs Rome Fiumicino Airport at 11am sharp, so make sure you’re at the meeting point nice and early. It’s about a 3.5 to 4-hour drive, and you’ll take in some truly gorgeous countryside en route.

Arriving at your accommodation, Villa Tardioli, in the afternoon, you’ll be greeted by your guide, Emiliano, and his friendly team, who will welcome you to their homeland and brief you on the adventure ahead. You’ll then be shown to your rooms and have a chance to freshen up before being driven to the ranch at 5pm. Try to keep your jaw attached as you take in this incredible setting!

Emiliano and his team will match you with one of their impeccably-trained horses and lead an hour-long trail ride around the ranch so you can get acquainted. It’s summer, so the days are long and you’ll be bathed in beautiful evening light.

Returning to the stables, you’ll share a welcome drink with your guides and fellow guests, then it’s back to Villa Tardioli for an Umbrian feast. Italians eat quite late (dinner is served between 8-10pm), so prepare for late nights and sleep-ins!
4 Day Ride - Day 2

After a decadent breakfast featuring such delights as pastries, slices, yoghurt, ricotta and honey, you’ll don your riding gear and be transferred to the ranch, mounting up at 9:30am. Get excited, globetrotters – today you’re riding to Pian Perduto (‘Lost Plain’), one of the famous Plains of Castelluccio that are covered with lentil, poppy, cornflower, violet and mustard flowers from mid June to mid July each year! Nowhere else on earth can you see such a dramatic display: flat plains flooded by a technicolour carpet that would make Monet and Van Gogh weep, butting right up against huge, green, rolling mountains. No doubt you’ll take your time riding through here, with plenty of photo stops on the way!

There may be chances to trot or canter as you ride back to the ranch along the gentle, rolling hills and smooth pastures of the Pian Grande (‘Big Plain’), once again awash with wildflowers.

After a quick lunch at the ranch, you’ll mount up again, as Emiliano has a job for you: rounding up his herd of around 80 horses and leading them across the prairie to their night pasture. Travelling alongside the herd brings a sense of peace and belonging that nothing else can!

Tonight, dinner will be cooked up barbeque-style under the starry sky at the ranch, then you’ll head back to Villa Tardioli for a good night’s sleep.
4 Day Ride - Day 3

Today begins in a more relaxed fashion, with breakfast at the hotel at 9am, after which you’ll be driven back to the ranch and reunited with your horse. The ride sets off at 10:30am, visiting the last of the vibrant Castelluccian plains: Pian Piccolo (‘Small Plain’). From here, you’ll pass through the magnificent valleys of the Pantani di Accumoli – a series of serene mountain ponds carved by glaciers. A packed lunch will be served overlooking the hundreds of cattle and horses drinking and grazing by the Pantani.

Returning to the ranch, you’ll say a fond farewell to your beautiful mountain horse and head back to Villa Tardioli, for one last fabulous dinner featuring Castelluccio’s many specialities.
4 Day Ride - Day 4

All roads lead to Rome, as they say, and you’re taking the scenic route! After packing your bags and having breakfast, you’ll hit the road to explore Valle della Dogana, another beautiful alpine valley, which leads you to the mighty Mount Vettore, the highest peak in the Sibillini massif.

On the way back to Castelluccio, you’ll stop at a lookout with spectacular views across the Piano Grande and Piano Piccolo. Soak up every inch of this last glimpse of ‘La Fioritura’, globetrotters – you won’t ever want to forget the sight!

Finally, after lunch at the ranch, you’ll depart for Rome Fiumicino Airport at around 2-2:30pm. Please book departing flights for after 9pm (depending on the available connections, we suggest flying home the following day).
Transfer Information

Transfers to/from Rome Fiumicino International Airport are available at an additional cost on the first and last days of the ride (€170 round trip). You MUST have cash for this on the day.

We recommend flying into Rome a day or two early to account for any delays and give yourself time to recover from jet lag and see the sights.

If flying in on day 1, you MUST ensure you arrive with plenty of time to collect luggage, clear customs and meet the transfer before 11am. The transfer departs at 11am sharp. It’s a long drive from the airport to the ride location (2hrs for the 8-day itinerary, 3.5-4hrs for the 4-day itinerary), and if you miss the transfer, the only option will be to hire a car or a taxi.

On the final day, departing flights can be booked anytime after 3pm (8-day itinerary) or 9pm (4-day itinerary).

Self-drive is also an option for the 4-day itinerary only: please ensure you arrive at your accommodation, Villa Tardiolo, by 3pm on day 1. The address is Villa Tardioli, Via Sibilla, 45a, 06046 Castelluccio PG, Italia. Click HERE to view on Google Maps.

Globetrotting is happy to recommend a third-party travel agency that can provide a competitive quote on international flights, travel insurance, car hire and accommodation before and after your ride.

Umbria, Italy, Globetrotting Horse Riding Holidays

Audrey K.

‘The Umbria ride is a “pinch me” experience from beginning to end! The setting in a glorious series of valleys is astounding in every direction, and you will experience fabulous horses, fantastic hospitality, breathtaking views, clean and comfortable accommodations, and oh, the food and the wine! Second to none. I think we all fell in love with the lovely people of Castelluccio, with our horses, with our guide, Emiliano, and his family, and with this often-overlooked corner of Italy. I would go again and again!’