8 days - Quito to Quito

This varied pace riding holiday on top quality horses takes you to two stunningly beautiful yet very distinct areas of the Andes. Trot through a patchwork of small farms, clatter over the cobblestone roads of a historic colonial town and canter across the open plain below the majestic snow-capped Cotopaxi Volcano.

Follow along ancient Inca highways and Spanish colonial routes, between some of the most magnificent 'haciendas' of South America. Enjoy breathtaking views as you cross vast plains and ride through pastoral valleys in a fascinating region dramatically sculptured by both glacial and volcanic activity. A picture postcard waits as you turn every corner: hanging valleys, perfectly conical hills, wild flower covered grassy slopes, crater lakes and rocky summits. Follow the 'Avenue of Volcanoes', skirting the towering, snow-capped peaks of Cayambe and Cotopaxi (the highest active volcano in the world) and canter through the maze of patchwork fields below.

The days are packed with rides varied in both pace and scenery and with visits along the way to local indigenous markets and craft villages where the customs and rhythm of life have changed little over the centuries. As well as seeing an array of exotic Andean fruits, meet the friendly locals in vibrant traditional dress going about their daily tasks, the children shepherding the unruly pigs and sheep, the farmers working the land in much the same way as their forefathers did - a fascinating insight into Andean country life.