Riding in Chianti Country

On this week-long holiday riding in Chianti Country, you’ll explore the Tuscan countryside on horseback. You’ll discover thermal pools – with natural toning mud included, deserted Medieval hamlets, and convents tucked away in fairytale forests. Well-trained horses, comfy accommodation and all meals included.

Tuscany. It’s home to no fewer than six UNESCO protected sites. And with this in mind, it’s little wonder so many film directors have set their movies here. Room with a view, Much Ado About Nothing and The English Patient are just a few of the well-known names to have brought the Tuscan countryside to the silver screen. And the area around Montaione is just as scene stealing. Sun-drenched hills, the nearby Medieval city of San Gimignano and the artists’ mecca, Florence, are all within striking distance. Closer to home, you have scenery comprising of gentle rolling hills, vineyards and olive groves.

With four full-days of riding, one half-day, and a free day to explore solo, you’ll be spending plenty of quality time outdoors. This tour’s really geared around the gorgeous natural thermal pools that are dotted around Tuscany’s countryside – the apartments where you’ll be staying even have two of their own. Highlights included trekking by horseback to the Bagni di Mommialla sulphur pools, riding through rivers to little Medieval villages and Roman ruins, and exploring the magnificent Tonda and Castalfalfi castles.

This tour is pretty intensive, so you’ll need to be a fairly decent horse rider to be able to come on it – the team that organises it request that you’re intermediate and above. It’s done in groups of no more than nine, so you should be happy spending time with new people, as you’ll be spending the best part of every day for a week together. Lastly, you’ll need to be aged 15 or over, and relatively fit and active as most days you’ll be riding for five to six hours.