2025 Adventures Unpacked: The Unforgettable (Equus) Journeys

Songs around the campfire, uninterrupted gallops across wide open spaces and awe-inspiring natural wonders were just some of the things that brought smiles to our faces in 2025. As we tried and tested popular and new rides (it's a tough job, we know!) we discovered exciting trails, delicious cuisine and lovely people in a bid to become better travel advisors and expand our portfolio of exciting horsey holidays. 

But our own trips made up just a small portion of the (Equus) journeys in 2025 -- the majority, of course, were taken by our guests. And as we wrap up yet another wonderful and busy year, we thought we'd take you on an tantalising tour around the world, from the wild west of the USA to the Mongolian grasslands, hopefully fuelling your wanderlust for next year.

So here it is, our 2025 adventures unpacked by region, and a quick glance at what's in store for 2026:

This year has been busy on the European front at Equus! Our portfolio kept growing and, somehow, all our new destinations start with the letter "S": Serbia, Slovenia and Sweden! But we didn’t just focus on adding new countries. We also spent time curating and refining options in long-standing guest favourites like Italy and Portugal. Although I can’t share everything just yet, there are some very exciting trails coming soon!

As always, the highlights of my year were the trips I took. Early in the year, I had the opportunity to rediscover my own country from the saddle. Portugal may be small, but it never stops surprising me: the hospitality, the food, the landscapes… and, finally, after years of trying, I got to see the wild Garrano horses on the Winding trails of Serra D'Arga and there were foals!

I also visited a long standing partner in Gerês, which operate the Wild North trail. In October I headed east to the Balkans. Serbia showed me a slice of real rural life, simple yet full of heart, while Bulgaria surprised me in the best possible way with some free, active riding on the Thrace Empire ride (and it's not just me, our guests seem to agree that the Balkans should be on everyone's 2026 travel list and we have plenty of feedback to prove it)!

If 2025 proved anything, it’s that Europe still knows how to keep me on my toes (or should I say in the saddle)? First stop in 2026 is an escorted trip on our brand new ride, the Galician Crossing from Portugal to Spain - just a few spots left if you want to join me!

From the Egyptian pyramids to the Mongolian steppe, and from the Sahara desert to the 'end of the world' in Argentina, 2025 was an exciting year for Equus Journeys in the Middle East, Asia and South America. In January, I was sent to test our Palms Pyramids & Pharaohs ride in Egypt, where I finally got to see the breath-taking pyramids on horseback, to visit the impressive pharaoh tombs that make up the Valley of the Kings and to ride a fabulous Arabian stallion called Drago!

In the summer, I jetted off on a very different adventure, Across the Orkhon Valley in Mongolia, where I experienced a warm welcome from nomadic families, slept in yurts, ate delicious local food and spent my days galloping across the grasslands on a wonderful Mongolian steed. Happy clients meanwhile returned from our Horses Dunes & Nomads in Morocco, our camping trail in Jordan and from our Volcanoes & Haciendas ride in Ecuador.  

In 2026, we will have plenty more to offer across these fascinating regions. Due to a surge in enquiries for Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan, we have added a new Hiking & Horse Riding tour in Mongolia that is perfect for families and beginner or intermediate riders. In Kyrgyzstan, we also now have a beginner ride (Wild Kyrgyzstan) as well as a shorter trail for experienced riders (the Tien Shan Trail) -- both with wild camping nights in the foothills of the Tien Shan mountains. 

In Latin America, we are VERY excited about some thrilling new trips for ultra-intrepid explorers, including our End of the World ride in Tierra del Fuego Argentina (a bucket-list destination) and our Cattle & Camping Trail in the wild lands of north Patagonia. Last but not least, there's our new Ride to Barichara and the Chicamocha Canyon in Colombia, offering stunning colonial architecture, rides through fruit farms and a taste of Colombian coffee!

Stay tuned for more, with Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil, Ladkh (India) and a new Andes crossing, all on the horizon….

In June this year I travelled to Utah and Arizona, two US states very new to me, to join the aptly named Three Parks Spectacular ride (the long version). This is a ride that will stay with me a long time, and I will never forget the feeling of falling asleep on the very edge of the Grand Canyon on a full-moon night. “Spectacular” doesn’t even start to cover it.

There is one date open at the end of May 2026 and I would absolutely recommend adventurous riders look into this one. I promise it’s a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience! In the US, our working ranches are almost fully booked for the year, with a few spots available at our new Lake Ranch in Wyoming. Guest ranches have a little more availability, although you’ll need to be quick to snatch the last spots on our New Mexico guest ranch!

Not far away, Canada has been particularly popular this year. Our new Alberta ride has seen a lot of interest (understandably!), and we have several guaranteed departures next year. I also recently visited two new potential ride partners in Ireland, starting with Annaharvey Farm in Offaly, which is a really fun cross-country destination. I then moved on to County Wicklow, just south of Dublin, to test a new luxury, all-inclusive riding holiday, including some really special moments both in and out of the saddle – coming soon to the website. 

Over in Africa, all of our Okavango Delta camps have been refurbished and are looking fabulous. I am now very familiar with the area, having spent a few weeks touring the delta last year. Things are ticking along very nicely everywhere else and I am hoping to get myself to Kenya in the second half of the year.

Now is a wonderful time to reflect on the past year and to start dreaming about the adventures to come! This year I was lucky enough to ride with my son James in Ireland on the Ring of Kerry Ride in February. We thoroughly enjoyed the warm Irish hospitality, the lovely horses, and the spectacular scenery. It’s definitely a family-friendly adventure and one I’d happily recommend. I also managed to do a few days of exploratory riding and even a day’s hunting in Ireland – a fantastic experience all around! I’ve also had the pleasure of hearing so much wonderful feedback from many of you.

This year, rides in Bulgaria, Croatia, and Andalucía, Spain have been especially popular – thank you for sharing your experiences and photos, they truly inspire future travellers. 

Looking ahead to 2026, I’m considering organising a small group trip to Tanzania in September, or perhaps a shorter getaway to Iceland or Jordan. If any of these destinations spark your interest, please don’t hesitate to let me know – it would be wonderful to ride together again. 

To find more information about our riding holidays in 2026, please visit our website or contact one of our travel advisors on email: info@equus-journeys.com or call us on +44 (0)1905 388 977.

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