Carpe Diem: Horseback riding in the land of Samnites

Arrival of participants on Saturday evening to the farmhouse and meeting with the guide. Upon arrival the guests are be provided with a welcome drink and accomodation rooms. Dinner and overnight stay at the farmhouse.

Free time for individual activities in the morning. Before lunch the guests are invited to take part to the security briefing in which the guide will provde the guests with the trekking details and itinerary. The day is dedicated to the horseback riding lessons and regulations, such as grooming, saddle placement and a short demonstration of western riding. After lunch we do a test-ride (3 hours) where you are matched to an horse and to enable to get acquainted with the horse you are going to ride during the journey. We visit the new riding centre inclusive Bistro from our host which is close by and have a fresh dinner. Overnight stay at the farmhouse.

After breakfast, we are ready to start off out journey in Molise. We depart around 10 a.m. and we head to a dense wood, where the horses can gallop in freedom. We can immerse ourselves in the peaceful atmosphere of the nature and hear its voice, leaves rustling and the horses’ hooves on the ground… At midday we have a pic nic in an astonishing place from where we can see the little village of Vastogirardi. After resting for a bit, we are ready back on our horses and continue our trekking through an immense beech forest where, especially on the spot of the “Cold Valley-Valle Fredda” the riders and the horses can have fun and gallop in freedom. Dinner of local delicacies and overnight stay.

After breakfast, we ready to set off to Carovilli and its equestrian center. Carovilli is a beautiful pearl in the Upper Molise, here we tie the horses and enjoy a typical Molisan happy hour in the square of the village. After a quick stop, we are ready to head down to Castiglione, tiny nighbourhood of Carovilli. At midday we enjoy a delicious pic nic on the top of an hill, near the ruins of an ancient rural church, which the bells ring still chime. After lunch we return to the farm. Free time for individual activities.
Acoording to weather conditions, the guide will advice you on different activities such as a pleasing visit to the Castel of Pescolancino.

After breakfast, we saddle our horses and start a new day with fun! We gallop through the forest, then cross a stream and we proceed al the way up on a steep climb. At midday we enjoy our pic nic on the hill with a special view of Agnone, the village of the bells. After lunch we head down to the Italic sanctuary of Pietrabbondante, which was the site of public worship by the Samnite people. After the visit to the archological site, we return to our basecamp.

After breakfast we are ready to reach Pescolanciano, a tiny village of eight hundres people. We reach our destination riding the ancient tratturo “Castel di Sangro – Lucera”, crossed back in time the shepherds who used to practice the transhumance. In Pescolanciano we vist the castle that overlooking the village. Lunch at a local restaurant, where to owner prepare a mouthwatering homemade ice cream. The last few kilometers will lead through heaths and oak woods along the Trigno River Valley. We return to the farm in the evening to unsaddle the horses for the last time… Dinner and overnight stay.

After lunch, departure. End of our services. N.B. The above itinerary may be subjected to changes due to weather conditions or any other conditions of operational nature.