When arriving in the Val d'Orcia, the first thing to learn is to start living slowly, completely detaching yourself from the hectic pace you are accustomed to in the city. The beauty of this place lies in restoring peace and serenity to the soul, and to truly embrace the spirit of the valley, you must let yourself be carried away and allow the surrounding landscape to change your perspective. For those looking to enjoy a few days of rest in contact with nature, there’s nothing better than taking a horseback ride to explore the entire valley; this activity is perfect even for families with children who will love being around these majestic and elegant animals.
Horseback Riding in Val d'Orcia
Riding through the various hills of the Val d'Orcia on horseback, savoring the silent landscape that surrounds you, is an experience to try at least once. It will stay with you for a lifetime because it’s truly unforgettable. The atmosphere and the scenery give the impression of suddenly being transported into a movie with green and yellow prairies, far removed from a hectic and chaotic world; there’s nothing better than a horseback excursion to explore this area of Tuscany, a region already rich in emotions. One of the most beautiful moments of the day is when the sun is setting, offering wonderful colors, while the silence accompanying the entire ride is priceless.
How to Choose the Best Stable
Many believe that to go horseback riding, you must already know how or have taken some lessons in your life, but this is not true, especially if you turn to experienced professionals who will give you the right tips and always stay by your side without leaving you.
Our Recommendation: Pieve a Salti
Searching online, you’ll certainly find several stables offering this type of activity. However, our recommendation goes to the
Pieve a Salti stable. Pieve a Salti is a beautiful establishment located between the Val d'Orcia and the Crete Senesi, offering a variety of high-quality services, difficult to find elsewhere: wellness center, swimming pool, tastings of local products, cooking classes, restaurant, rooms, apartments, and, here we are, stable. Combining horseback riding with so many services is a much richer experience than just the ride itself. However, the stable itself is undoubtedly among the best you can find, starting with its location. From here, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding hills, and the kilometers of dirt trails created specifically for horseback outings within the establishment will transport you to timeless places and atmospheres. Here, you'll find over 30 horses, all well-trained, cared for, and fed with organic hay and feed produced on-site, prepared with professionalism and passion for all skill levels. For more information about the Pieve a Salti stable and reservations,
visit this link.
The Various Proposed Excursions
When choosing among the various offered proposals, you should consider your level of expertise and how much time you want to spend outdoors; if there are children, rides lasting 1 hour or at most 2 hours are recommended, while if it’s only adults, you can consider even 3 hours or whole days, including packed lunches in the valley. The level of preparation is an important element because experienced riders might get bored with beginner-level excursions, while beginners might feel uncomfortable or unsafe with higher levels. However, these levels would already be strongly discouraged by the stable owners for safety reasons. Regardless, the guides accompanying visitors are experienced horse riders, so for any issues or complications, they always know how to intervene effectively to prevent any accidents from happening to the riders. For more information on the types of excursions and to book the one that suits your level, you can visit
this link.