With major anniversaries and awards to celebrate, and a wealth of new horseback adventures on offer from Ranch Rider, 2019 is the year to follow your own trail.


Tony Daly, Managing Director of Ranch Rider comments, “Savour America's backcountry in Montana, focus on your photography in Colorado, treat yourself to a Detox Safari in South Africa or find your inner cowboy poet at an award-winning ranch in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. A genuine journey of discovery, we're also introducing a special self-drive to tie in with the centenary of the Grand Canyon National Park and our “My Western Foal” competition will launch later in the year. Not to be missed, if you book now, you might still have the chance to view July's total solar eclipse on horseback, as Argentina's Estancia los Potreros has limited availability.”

Book before 31 January & save £50 per person on all Ranch Rider riding holidays of six nights or more. Offer only applicable to 2019 riding holidays only and not add adventures or self-drive itineraries. Minimum six night stay. Subject to availability. Offer cannot be combined with other promotions.

An authentic American backcountry experience, Ranch Rider's new tailor-made Adventure in the Rockies takes travellers deep into the Beartooth Mountains and the Custer Forest - the area of great historical and spiritual significance to the Native Americans. Led by a fifth generation rancher who is recognised by the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame*, there is always the promise of a enthralling story round the campfire, a pack of seven horses and 10 pack mules also going along for the ride. Lasting from six to ten days, the tailor-made trips include opportunities to enjoy horseback riding, hiking or fishing, with small groups of between two to eight people, from families to adventure honeymooners. Seven-nights from £2,179pp (two sharing) including ranch (first and last night at the Barron Working Ranch in Montana) and camp accommodation (an outfitted camp complete with cook tent and water supply, but no showers), meals, horses, tack, activities, transfers from Billings. From 10 years. Excludes return flight from £1,149pp. Departures from late July through August 2019.

2019 (24th of October) will mark 50 years since the release of the classic Western, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” and with Colorado's Durango to Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad making an appearance in the 1969 movie, there's no better excuse to jump aboard. Around three and a half hours each way, the scenery is compelling, the vintage steam train winding its way through spectacular canyons in the remote wilderness of the two-million acre San Juan National Forest. Downtown Durango is the perfect place to get into the spirit of the Wild West, as it's filled with historic boutique hotels, Western art galleries, and plenty of shops where you can pick up an authentic cowboy hat. Once you're feeling the part, go "Yeehaw" on a stay at the Colorado Trails (open from beginning of June to mid September), the guest ranch lying just outside the city. Seven nights from £2,195pp (two sharing) including ranch accommodation, meals, most activities, taxes and gratuities. Excludes Durango to Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad excursion and return flight from £859pp. 

Another anniversary, on 26 February 2019, the Grand Canyon National Park will celebrate its 100th birthday. Mark the date with a suitably spectacular helicopter flight, and explore the world famous UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Canyon Spirit. Taking off from the South Rim you'll have a birds eye view of the beautiful Kaibab National Forest, the Painted Desert, the Desert View Watchtower (designed by the Hopi Indians), Marble Canyon, Point Imperial and the Dragon Corridor, the widest and deepest part of the canyon. Experience the Grand Canyon from the skies on Ranch Rider's new 11 night “Desert Discovery” self-drive including three-nights in Las Vegas, three-nights at Arizona's Stagecoach Trails Guest Ranch (open year round), two-nights at the Grand Canyon, one-night in Sedona and two-nights in Scottsdale. From £1,639pp (two sharing) including all hotel nights, three-nights at the ranch (inclusive of all accommodation, meals and most ranch activities including riding), car hire and helicopter flight over Grand Canyon. Return flight from £895pp. 

New for 2019, the Ant Collection is launching a Detox Safari. Departures are available from now through 09 February, the tailor-made riding holiday dedicated to wild moving, wild eating and wild living. Pilates, running, swimming, body weight training, mindfulness, meditation, walking, horse riding and game drives, will be complemented by a healthy menu. (SAVE £328pp) Seven nights from only £1,969pp (two sharing) including accommodation (choice of two luxury bush homes: Ant's Nest or Ant's Hill), meals, drinks, riding safari and game drives, use of facilities and taxes. Excludes transfers, gratuities and return flight from £879pp. Price before discount £2,297pp.

Additional, four-night Savasana Yoga & Horseback Riding Retreat from £1,029pp (two sharing) and £1,195pp (no single supplement) including accommodation, meals, most ranch activities including yoga and riding, taxes and service charge. Excludes return flight from 879pp. Departing 13 March 2019.


At Idaho's Western Pleasure Guest Ranch, children from eight to 18 years can get into character as trail rides, horsemanship lessons, cattle sorting games, horse-drawn wagon rides and participatory rodeos are all part of the kid's programme. Families will be able to recapture fond memories of their ranch holiday on their return, as the Western Pleasure is one of 12 real life ranches to be included in the new 'Fantasy Ranch' board game, which will launch on Amazon this February. The property will also feature alongside Montana's Sweet Grass Working Guest Ranch in Ranch Rider's “My Western Foal” competition (watch out for updates on Ranch Rider's Facebook page), with the specialist's Facebook fans being given the opportunity to name newborn foals at both ranches. Six nights at the Western Pleasure Guest Ranch from £1,610pp (no single supplement) and from £1,230pp (six to 12 years) including accommodation, meals, most ranch activities, taxes and gratuities. Excludes return transfers of £310 (up to four people) and return flight from £889pp and from £774pp (under 12 years). Departures 03 June to 28 September.

Visit the Ranch Rider blog for a list of the Top 10 family riding holidays and the Best Half-term Holiday Deals. 

A 2018 Canadian Tourism Award winner*, Saskatchewan's Historic Reesor Working Cattle & Guest Ranch is the first heritage ranch in the province to receive the Provincial Heritage Property Designation: five intact original buildings helping tell the story of ranching in the Cypress Hills over the course of the ranch's 113 year history. Every holiday on the ranch is a truly authentic journey into the old West - from working the cattle to finding your inner cowboy poet round the campfire with legendary storyteller, Scott Reesor. Modern day additions include ATV tours (a first in the Cypress Hills) and set to open in 2019, two new cabins. Seven-nights from £1,126pp (no single supplement) including accommodation, meals, most ranch activities and taxes. Departing June through September. Excludes return flight from £989pp. 

Explore the landscape of the high prairie, discover abundant wildlife and and delve into the lifecycle of Colorado's 87,000-acre Chico Basin Working Ranch, on a new photography workshop at Ranchlands Camp. The holiday will be guided by Stephen Alvarez, an award-winning National Geographic photographer, filmmaker, and explorer. The five-night special features tailored assignments and group and individual image reviews, and with focus firmly on photography only one day is scheduled to include guided riding. Alternative options include guided hiking or a visit to the local hot springs. From £2,785pp (no single supplement) including tented accommodation, meals, most ranch activities (including riding, guided hike or visit to local hot springs), photography instruction, use of ranch facilities, taxes and gratuities. Departing 19 May. Excludes transfers and return flight from £945pp.


LIMITED AVAILABILITY: A total solar eclipse will pass over Cordoba in Argentina on 02 July, the location for the Estancia los Potreros, the property almost full to capacity around this date. Other weeks with limited availability are the Game Census at South Africa's Ant Collection, with the opportunity to participate in wildlife conservation on horseback (departing 01 June); and the Annual Migration Rides in Tanzania, select dates available in February, March and April. New specials, with select departures include the seven-night and ten-night Arizona Ranch & Round-up adventures (departing 07 and 04 March respectively), the holidays ideal for more serious riders and cowhands-in-training, and the small group Range Rider weeks (experienced riders only) - the Bitterroot Working Guest Ranch running two summer departures: 07 July and 04 August 2019.

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Ranch Rider (01509 618 811; ranchrider.com) ATOL PROTECTED No 4660 ABTA 96395/V9150.


Notes to Editors: 
* The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is located in Fort Worth, Texas, US. Established in 1975, it is dedicated to honouring women of the American West who have displayed extraordinary courage and pioneering fortitude.


* Canadian Tourism Awards (last held in November 2018) are presented annually by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada to recognise success, leadership and innovation in Canada's tourism industry, and to reward those people, places, organisations and events that have gone above and beyond to offer travellers superior tourism experiences in Canada.