Sample Itinerary

Day 1 Sunday Arrive at your accommodation. Most flights arrive at night, but whatever the time we will be ready to greet you with refreshments. Day 2 Monday After a “Meet the team” breakfast we’ll take you to the stable yard and introduce you the horse we have selected for you. You can spend sometime with him/her up in the riding school before leaving the yard for your first taste of our stunning landscape. This ride takes us through the lower foothills of the Kyrenia Mountains arriving near the village of Bellapais, taking in the exquisitely beautiful Gothic Bellapais Abbey, built by the French Lusignan Kings of Cyprus in the 13th Century. Your camera is a must. Day 3 Tuesday A leisurely meander of approximately three & a half to four hours through the Kyrenia mountain, climbing ever higher and higher to a plateau underneath the lofty peak where Buffavento Castle stands proud. It is the highest and most remote of the crusader castles situated on the mountain ridge, it commands a panoramic view of the vast Mesaoria Plain and the northern coastline. A delicious picnic lunch will be served at an ancient settlement site surrounded by Pine and Almond trees, giving you time to ponder and marvel at the skill of the early builders. We then make our way back down slowly to the stable yard. If we are lucky enough we may spot some Eagles. Day 4 Wednesday Today is an non-riding day so you get the chance to relax. For those that wish to explore the island’s delights they can disappear into the historic harbour town of Kyrenia for some shopping or explore nearby beaches. Day 5 Thursday This morning we box the horses up and drive for 2 miles to the base of the Besparmak Mountain Range. We ride for about 5 hours today, skirting the forest tracks, stopping for a picnic lunch just above the Sourp Magar  Monastery. This is a beautiful spot with an unbelievable silence and heady scent of pine trees. You will have plenty of time to visit the monastery, once a famous place of pilgrimage for Armenians on their way to the Holy Land, whilst the horses have their lunch and a rest. We then return to the horse box via the north face of Besparmak enjoying the sweeping views down to the sea. Day 6 Friday: Today we come down from the heavens and take a stroll along the old coast road, no longer easily accessible by car it's total peace and tranquillity and clear blue ocean waves and rocky headlands. Riding past farms and ancient carob trees wandering goat herds and grazing livestock we head for the Eagles Nest and little know oasis perched high above the Mediterranean sea where we meet Barbaros a colourful character renown for his collection of artefacts retrieved during his many diving exploits. Here we will have a leisurely lunch & a few drinks before returning home. Day 7 Saturday Leaving the stables, we re-trace the “hoof prints” of the Crusader Knights to Bellapais. Riding through the village past the Abbey our ascent begins. Don’t forget your camera! The views over Bellapais village & below are incredible. This trail ride is about serenity, silence and total harmony with nature, far, far away from the madding crowds.  We picnic amongst the pine trees before a gentle descent back to the stables. Sunday Alas, departure day. Come back and see us again soon.