The very best riding holidays in the world all personally checked by Zara and Jill business partners. Wonderful personal service for every client.
PM today to book an riding adventure of a lifetime! We offer unique horse riding adventures around the world. Our trips suit advanced riders to beginners and we pride ourselves in knowing each location well and matching clients to their perfect trip.
01/12/2024
Zara’s Planet is a family run business and all of us come from a background of competitive riding while also having a penchant for exciting travel. We are delighted to be able to offer such unique and high-quality horse riding holidays for all of those who love horses and seeing the world from a different perspective.
⭐️ Follow us for inspiration and drop a message to plan your next adventure - we’ll reply within few hours! ⭐️
📸 Running with zebras in Masai Mara, Kenya
28/11/2024
This just arrived in the post at Zara’s Planet HQ UK from a very dear client (one of the best) as a thank u - and I can’t tell you how excited I am to read this incredible adventure by one person and 2 Criollo Horses who in 1925, nearly a 100 years ago rode from Buenos Aires to New York - Aime Tschiffely you are a true equestrian adventurer & inspiration!
And his 2 horses proper legends, Mancha & Gato - incredibly were given to Aime by a Patagonian Indian Chief called Dr Solanet, who turns out to be the relative of our hosts and partners Angie & Diego Solanet Estancia Don Joaquin - we only found this out a couple of weeks ago when we rode with them! Totally blew my mind!
20/11/2024
✨ZARA’S PLANET GUARANTEE✨
1. All rides are tested by our team - We have traveled the world testing a huge variety of horse riding holidays to make sure we offer you the best experience possible.
2. Personal service - We’re at the end of the phone and messaging apps Monday to Friday to discuss your horse riding holiday plans. We’ll normally reply within a couple of hours and you can even try us at the weekends, leave a message and we’ll call you back!
3. Price match - All our riding holidays hold a price guarantee. We believe in your piece of mind on price when you book with us and will refund the difference should you find the same riding holiday elsewhere at a lower price.
4. 24/7 emergency number - If something goes wrong on your holiday, we’re available 24/7 to resolve any issues.
5. You can trust our expertise - We know our stuff when it comes to horses, riding and travel. Our background is working with horses, competing and breeding and we created our business from the back of our passion for travel and adventure. We work hard to make sure we cater for all riders whether you’re a professional or a leisurely trail rider.
6. Loyalty discount - We give 5% discount on our standard rates when you book with us again.
7. Ease of payment - We quote in three currencies (GBP, USD and Euro) and accept all credit cards.
8. Extras and exclusive rides - We regularly arrange private rides to various destinations. These holidays are hosted by one of our team members and are open only to Zara’s Planet clients and friends. We guarantee an extra layer of care and comfort and attention to detail in organizing everything for you.
✨Follow us for horse riding holiday inspiration✨
14/11/2024
✨Is Cappadocia on your bucket list yet? We think It should be.✨
Our Cappadocia riding trails take you around the fairytale like landscapes of this famous national park. You’ll ride gorgeous Arab horses across the most beautiful valleys, a succession of fantastic rock formations, lush canyons, high plateaus, steppe-like landscape, along with vineyards and orchards. On the way, you’ll pass through local villages giving a glimpse of the local way of life, and the culture and rich past of the area.
Three itineraries:
🐎 6-Day Sportive Ride only for fit and advanced riders. The route includes difficult passages where you will be asked to get off your horse and lead up steep paths. The effort is rewarded by stunning views but a good physical condition is essential.
🐎 5-Day Active Ride with the same breathtaking landscape but physically less demanding than the Sportive Ride
🐎 6-Day Classic Ride taking you across the Cappadocia landscapes at a pace that allows for more relaxing riding and more time to enjoy the views.
🏡 Accommodation on all trails is in charming hotels and guesthouses in Cappadocia’s prettiest villages.
🤩 Ask about add-ons like a hot-air balloon flight over Cappadocia’s surreal landscape at sunrise or a traditional Turkish bath experience. We also recommend a weekend in Istanbul before or after your Cappadocia trail to explore more of Turkey.
📆 March-May, September-December 2025
✈️ Kayseri or Nevşehir
💰 From £1,450 / €1,740 / $1,830 Please note prices vary by itinerary and departure date.
Comment below or send a message for more info.
04/11/2024
🇦🇷 Estancia Los Potreros, Argentina 🇦🇷
Take your first lessons in the game of polo, or ride sure-footed horses with the gauchos across the oldest mountain range in South America. Either way, you will enjoy this unique, working estancia, for its warm hospitality and upmarket accommodation.
Estancia Los Potreros is a 6,500 acre estancia, nestled between the pampas and the Andes, on top of the Sierras Chicas, in the heart of the region of Cordoba. The ranch is owned and run by your perfect hosts, Kevin and Louisa Begg, a fourth generation Anglo-Argentinian family. It is a perfect location for those looking for a relaxed horse riding holiday in Argentina with excellent, well-schooled horses and comfortable, country house style accommodation which is adorned with antiques, giving the place a rustic, grand feel. You’ll also enjoy the superb, tasty home cooked food served with excellent locally produced wine.
✈️ International flight directly to Cordoba, or to Buenos Aires followed by an internal flight to Cordoba
📆 Open all year except May & June
💰 From £2,810 / €3,340 / $3,620
💬 Ask about special programmes to learn to play polo
29/10/2024
🇺🇸 Our favorite working ranches in the US are rounding up their cattle after summer, taking them to be sold and moving the remaining cattle to winter grazing pastures. That means guest activities in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho are closing until April 2025.
📆 Now is the perfect time to plan your ranch holiday for 2025. We work with a selection of authentic ranches where you can get your hands dirty in ranch work, or just join in on a scenic ride western style!
✨ Each ranch has been individually selected and visited by our team, so we have first hand experience to advise and find your dream ranch holiday.
Leave a 🤠 in comments below or message us for more info!
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📸 Image from Kara Creek Ranch in Wyoming
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24/10/2024
Are you more of a sunrise or sunset person? 😉
Not sure we can choose… if possible, we ride from sunrise to sunset!
These beautiful moments are from the Chubeka Trails ride in Eswatini. 🇸🇿
20/10/2024
🚨 News alert 🚨
Not all African riding holidays cost you an arm and a leg. Eswatini, this little gem of a country in Southern Africa offers beautiful scenery based riding, variety, plains game and lots of fun canters! The riding is suitable for intermediate and advanced riders. We’d recommend as a good option for first timers in Africa, or when travel budget or time is limited as this one is also fairly easy to travel to.
✈️ International flights to Johannesburg, connecting flight or road transfer to Eswatini
📆 2 itineraires with or without camping, departures around the year
💰 From £1,100/ €1,300/ $1,400
💬 Message for more info
14/10/2024
Sweet Grass Ranch is nestled at the base of Montana’s picturesque Crazy Mountains. As a sixth generation, family-owned cattle operation and guest ranch, it offers an authentic western experience with
☘️ Warm hospitality
☘️ Hearty family-style meals
☘️ Magnificent horses in beautiful country
☘️ Spectacularly diverse terrain for riding
☘️ Authentic cattle work
☘️ Stories swapped by the campfire
☘️ Cozy cabins tucked under the trees
Sounds like a dream? 🤩🤠
💬 Message us for more info.
05/10/2024
📣📣 Last minute ride available 📣📣
Day of the Dead Ride in Mexico 26 Oct – 3 Nov 2024
Day of the Dead is one of Mexico’s most important religious holidays and it is celebrated passionately throughout the country, and especially so in smaller provincial towns and cities.
During The Day of The Dead Ride you will be riding on horseback and participating actively in the celebrations, in a way that will allow you to discover why this tradition has conquered the empathy in the world and why it has been an inspiration for fashion and various international films.
The first three days of the trip is dedicated to discovering and living the tradition of “Dia de los Muertos” in two of the most beautiful cities of Mexico: San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato. Cities recognised for preserving the oldest traditions of Mexican culture. On the 4th day your horseback adventure begins, riding in the footsteps of these ancestral traditions. From the saddle you will discover authentic villages, their traditions and their inhabitants.
“I am always on the lookout for really different and interesting riding adventures and the Day of the Dead ride didn’t disappoint. What a country, what a festival and I cannot thank Angel and his team, and above all his horses for looking after us all along the way.” -Jill-
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📆 26 Oct - 3 Nov 2024
✈️ Mexico City and internal flight to Guanajuato
💰 £3,145 / €3,695 / 4,014
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01/10/2024
“Ever since I can remember, I’ve dreamed of riding a mustang, and this year, that dream finally came true. Not only did I get to ride one mustang, but I had the incredible opportunity to ride three! My horseback riding adventure in Wyoming turned out to be one of the best holidays ever.”
-Alison, who visited The Hideout in June 2024-
🔸🔸🔸
The Hideout Ranch is an incredible destination for those who have a passion for horses, horsemanship, and the great outdoors. With its vast backyard spanning 650,000 acres of diverse landscapes in Shell, Wyoming, guests are promised an unforgettable experience exploring trails that offer new adventures each time.
📆 The Wyoming ranch season is typically from early Spring to Late Autumn
✈️ International flight to Denver +domestic flight to Cody or Billings
💰 From £2,600 / €3,000 / $3,300
🤠 Ask also about themed ranch weeks in April-May
2025
🤠 Leave a comment or message now for more info
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29/09/2024
We have travelled the world testing a huge variety of horse riding holidays to make sure we offer you the best experience possible.
🌎🏆 Our horse riding holidays are thoroughly researched – we consider all the elements that go towards making our holiday collection the best in the world.
🐴🏇We check the quality of the horses, if they are fit for the job, well produced and looked after. We make sure the riding terrain is good going, the countryside is interesting and tack in good condition.
🏡⛺️ We make sure the accommodation, whether it’s a five star hotel, a farmhouse or camping, is clean and comfortable, and offers a great night’s sleep.
🥕🍲 The food is all important too – we take the time to make sure we tell you if it’s cordon bleu, home cooked, or regional and locally sourced – above all it has to be delicious, plentiful and nourishing.
🤠❤️ Last but not least, we choose the horse riding holidays that have the best hosts, who are friendly, warm and welcoming.
✨ It’s only when all these elements come together that we add a horse riding holiday into our hand-picked collection.✨
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💬 Do you need some holiday inspiration? Chat to us now!
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23/09/2024
Journeying across The Namib - the world’s oldest desert.
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The Namibian Desert Safaris are nearly sold out for 2025. Send a message if keen to grab last available saddles!
We’ll be soon publishing new dates for 2026 and a planned Zara’s Planet private safari - you dont want to miss this one! Watch this space 🤩
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📸
19/09/2024
📣 Calling all ranch holiday enthusiasts 📣
The popular Spring Special weeks are back in 2025 at The Hideout Ranch in Wyoming! These are slightly different programmes from the usual stays at the ranch, read below and get in touch if it sounds like your thing. The best part, there’s no single supplement on these trips! Who’s ready to harness their inner rancher?
✨APRIL OPENING✨
The first two weeks of April will be dedicated to opening the ranch. Be the first to ride on the trails and work with the horses after their restful winter. You’ll get the chance to be a part of the team behind the scenes at The Hideout!
📆 30 March - 5 April & 6-12 April
✨WOMEN’S ONLY WEEK✨
This week is the perfect chance to come and learn from female ranchers alongside likeminded women from all walks of life. Enjoy visits from guest speakers, great conversations and go shopping western clothing with the pros.
📆 13-19 April
✨WELLNESS RETREAT✨
This experience focuses on renewing your energy, revitalizing your mind and body, and developing your mindfulness. Featuring activities such as guided morning yoga, horsemanship clinics with special guests, and quiet reflection rides.
📆 30-26 April & 27 April - 3 May
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08/09/2024
Is swimming with horses on your bucket list? 🌊🐴😍
After a week on our private safari in Botswana we headed to Mozambique for something totally different. Our trip was short, only 3 nights, but we managed to fit in an incredible day ride to the red dunes along miles and miles of empty white sand beaches, a ride inland through villages and local farms, a Dhow sail for the non riders and some awesome swimming with the horses in the sea. In between we ate like royalty and lapped up the happy ambiance of Mozambique.
We went to meet Mandy and Pat Retzlaff who are legendary… Famous for their book “One hundred and four horses” an autobiography of their life saving horses in Zimbabwe and bringing them to Mozambique. Wow what an incredibly warm, interesting and hospitable family…you have to visit! This is the type of experience that even instagram cannot properly depict.
05/09/2024
“I only book with Zara’s Planet as your personally tailored advice and the hosted rides are what does it for me. I can’t think of anything you could improve except keep adding more rides so I don’t run out of ones to do!”
Claire Palmer who joined our private safari in The Okavango Delta, Botswana, in July 2024
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We regularly organise private trips to some of the most amazing riding destinations around the world. What makes these trips special is that they’re personally hosted by one of our team members and provide that extra touch of personal service, careful planning, attention to detail and fun the way you like it.
✨Leave a comment or drop us a DM now if you’d like to join us on one of our hosted rides!✨
📆 Next year’s rides are already being planned and filling in! 🥰
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22/08/2024
What a place to stay with your friends, family & horses in the UK🤗
Sister company HorsenriderBNB are delighted to list Orchard Barn, an absolutely stunning, brand new 2-bedroom barn conversion, perfectly located in the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire countryside. Orchard Barn in Teversal offers direct access to miles of off-road riding, with trails leading through Silverhill, Pleasley Pit, and Brierley Parks, all without any road work. Enjoy a scenic ride to the purpose-built canter track in Tibshelf. For your horses, we provide 3 acres of paddocks next to the barn with flexible setup options. The barn sleeps 4, featuring ensuite bedrooms, an open-plan kitchen, and a Juliette balcony with stunning countryside views. Relax outdoors with a fire pit, BBQ, and secure, gated parking.
Click the link 👇 for further information and your host's contact details
PART ONE PRIVATE RIDE; Epic trip…with Epic group of women and one male. How lucky am I? Very little/no WiFi for two weeks so just sharing installments in air on way home from vilanculos. First up was 5 nights mobile safari in Botswana’s Okavango Delta with one of the most knowledgeable riding guides in Botswana…David Foot.
Highly recommend you do a mobile safari at least once in your life. We were in the thick of it often surrounded by breeding herds of Elephants, we also saw tons of zebra, giraffe, kudu, springbok..the list goes on. Infinite birds in the Delta too and David is an encyclopedia naming and explaining all…in addition to the geology and history of the area..really fascinating and special.
We were so privileged to camp one night in a spot where the flood waters were starting and spent time under full moonlight watching the lagoon fill in front of our eyes…a force of nature has to be experienced to appreciate. We were all humbled and fascinated.
The horses of course were the highlight and each of us had a best friend for the week keeping us safe and enabling us to experience the Delta in best way possible.
A blissful few days of riding at dawn and at sunset then sundowners, eating exceptionally delicious camp food, riding for 6+ hours a day exploring the vast Delta, well earned afternoon siestas on saddle pads after a picnic lunch waking up to Ellie’s just 30 metres away silently swishing their way to the river for a cool down oblivious of us, cooling off in the wild waters of the Delta after David did a croc check, hot bucket showers after long dusty canters back at camp, morning coffee around the camp fire watching the sun rise..we all felt submerged into the bush rhythm and although the luxury Cha Cha Metsi fixed camp beckoned for part 2 we didn’t want to leave this way of life. There is something about the simplicity and raw real living that gets to you with a mobile camp.
Enjoy a few photos although nothing can do justice like the real eye and breathing it. Zarax
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Our Story
Zara and Jill were best friends from their school days in the Scottish town of Dunblane. They ate, slept and breathed horses, from the day they met at their trainers yard, they instantly became the best of friends, but little did they know, thirty years later, both married and with children, their yards full of ponies instead of horses they would embark on their greatest adventure, starting Zara’s Planet and riding their way round the world, all in the name of business.
It’s not often people get to live out their dreams and for that both Zara and Jill are grateful, it shows in their enthusiasm for talking to their valued clients and planning their horsey holidays and adventures. They understand that people work hard and that reflects in their attention to detail and concern to make sure every single element of their clients trip is carefully executed to make sure their clients money is well spent.
The business was originally set up by Zara, over ten years ago in Dublin, Ireland and Jill shortly followed, opening in Dunblane, their UK office. Over this time, they have built up an incredible collection of rides and adventures all over the world, all of them test ridden and ticking all the boxes ensuring they can confidently send over their much loved clients to destinations where the horses are in good condition, happy in their work, the accommodation whether it be tents or luxurious suites are clean and comfortable, the food is fresh, wholesome and well thought out reflecting the countries culture and the hosts, many of them now friends, are warm, caring and fun!
It’s no surprise that after more than 10 years running Zara’s Planet, they have not lost any of their excitement in the business.
Zara “I love travel off the beaten track and horses, combining both of these elements to me makes for the perfect holiday”
Jill “It’s simple, there is just no other way to travel in a country, than by horseback. You have access to not only some places that you just would never see travelling on foot, but you get under the skin of a country, you meet the real people, the type of people us horsey folk want to meet, the grooms, the trainers, the cooks and the locals. I just love it, I feel very spoilt and for us when we book new clients on a riding holiday for the first time, hearing the feedback we get when they return is fantastic, they feel the same and of course book again, which is the greatest compliment”
