CARPE DIEM

This programme is ideal for riding as well as taking it easy. 3 – 6 hours on horseback every day.  

Saturday
You are expected to arrive on Saturday evening at the farmhouse. After a welcome drink there will be dinner with your hosts/guides. A three-course Italian dinner will be served every night, accompanied by local wines.

Sunday
The morning is yours. You may sleep in, take your time over breakfast, do whatever you like. Before lunch there is a safety briefing. Then we groom and saddle up the horses, followed by a short demonstration in western riding. After lunch we do a test-ride (3 hours) to enable you to get acquainted with the horse you are going to ride all week. Some riders like to ride different horses during the week which is also possible. We visit the new riding centre inclusive Bistro from our host which is close by and looking forward for having a fresh prepared dinner.

Monday
At about 10 a.m. we leave the house. After a long ride through a wood there will be many fields. Let’s canter. Picnic is at an idyllic spot. After lunch there is a lovely view of the village of Vastogirardi. Then the route takes us through miles of beech-woods. It ends in “Valle Fredda” (Cold Valley). Here it is time for another long canter. In the evening we wait to get served delicious food cooked by our host.

Tuesday
Today we pass the new riding centre and ride down to the village of Carovilli. We tie the horses and have a fresh aperitiv on the Piazza. We can enjoy the atmosphere and listening to the small and big news from the inhabitants. Our next destination is Castiglione, a small town in the neighbourhood. On the top of the hill from Castiglione there is a church ruin to see. It houses a still functioning bell that we can ring. The view from here is the valley from Carovilli. After a picnic we ride back to the farmhouse. The late afternoon is for free. You can relax in one of our amankas at the Bistro with a book. Near our cosy fireplace in the house you can find some of them, even in English or Dutch and German. If you like to take a refresh in the pool of the neighbour town or you like to visit the castle in Pescolanciano, we will take you there.

Wednesday
We cross a little river, immediately followed by a steep adventurous climb. We continue uphill along small paths with wild berry bushes left and right from us until the forest clears. Here we stop for a picnic. To the north we can see where the Abruzzo mountain starts. Then it is just a short way to Pietrabbondante (literally meaning “plenty of stones”). Let’s admire the theatre and the two Samnitic temples.  The Samnites were the original population of Molise. It took the Romans three centuries of war before they finally conquered this region, which then became part of the Roman Empire (79 B.C). It is time to ride back home.

Thursday
After breakfast we ride downhill in the direction of Pescolanciano. Shortly before the village we pass on the Tratturo. A Tratturo is a 2.000 years old track that is still used to move cattle from the far south where grass is scarce in summer. From here we have a nice view to the old castle from the village. Before arriving in this village there will be some canters in the fields. Lunch is served in a little restaurant. The owner is well-known for her home-made ice-cream. And now, get your trunks out. We can go swimming. Directly next to the resting place of the horses there is a little pool which is build up a few years ago. We can relax here. The last few miles on horseback take us over open heath land and dense oak-woods. At about 6 p.m. we are back at the farm-house, unsaddle the horses for the last time and enjoy the farewell dinner.

Friday
Departure after breakfast.

N.B. Due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances the programme may have to be adapted.
Alternative program: Bell Museum Agnone, Castle visit Pescolanciano, Western riding lesson in the  round pen of the new riding centre.

Price 2025:    

Euro 870   

Dates 2025:    

03/05 – 09/05  
02/08 – 08/08
25/10 – 31/10
On request Aug. + Nov. + April

Special features:       

We organise Carpe Diem stationary programs on request also for 3-5 nights (2- 4 riding days)

Including
6 nights bed and breakfast
Full board with wine and beer at lunch and dinner starting with dinner, on the first day up to and including breakfast on the day of departure
4 ½ days of riding (4 – 6 hours a day)
English-speaking guide
Transfer from and to the railway station in Isernia. On the day of arrival at 19.45 hours and on the day of departure at 09.00 hours

Excluding
Other drinks / Euro 45
Entrance to public buildings ( for example the pool area )

Number of participants
Min. 3 / max. 6

(September 2024)