Weekendin Singapore Jan '14 | Issue 10 | Page 120

intheTRAVEL intheTRAVEL Horseback riding in wild Patagonia Views worth stopping to admire Horseback riding on Chimborazo mountain Imagine galloping over a 100,000 square miles where the landscape of blue, green and silver, of granite spires, glaciers, lakes, mountains and daisy-filled meadows, robs you of words. Revel in a healthy, bracing climate where you are safe from the persecutions of fevers, friends, savage tribes, obnoxious animals, telegrams, letters and every other nuisance. The only lodge of its type at the heart of Torres del Paine National Park, Explora Patagonia’s upscale Hotel Salto Chico is your base for four days and five nights of unique exploration in this dramatic UNESCO Biosphere Reserve park. Whether you’re fording the Chinas River on horseback or ascending the gentle slopes around Lake Toro, there is nothing else that will get you to the heart of this dramatic wilderness quite like these new guided horseback treks led by Explora Patagonia’s guides and native gauchos. An essential element in the life of a gaucho, the horse has been the traditional way of covering the vast distances in Patagonia, among other things making it possible for the few inhabitants on remote estancias in the pampa to stay in touch with one another. The horses have been specially trained for explorations by explora. The rides start at the stables or the quincho and are always accompanied by both a guide and a gaucho. Horses, equipment and routes suitable for those who are new to riding as well as children and expert riders are provided. Only the highest quality of equipment is used: Chilean saddles hand-made by a master craftsman, British saddles, Argentine leather chaps, and helmets. If you are new to horseback riding, they also offer a basic course for those who wish to learn how to ride horseback. Offered By: Explora Patagonia support with the Length: 5 days Price: $3,800 to $6,240 Weekendin 120 of Patagonia’s panoramic sights Lake Pehoe: A wonder of nature 121 Weekendin