Stéphane Durand
7 Exceptional Hotels Where Horses Reign Supreme
These horse-themed hotels offer a unique experience where horseback riding, nature, and hospitality come together. From tropical ranches in the Maldives to Argentine estancias, and from Moroccan palaces to prestigious Italian stud farms, these exceptional destinations transform horseback riding into a true way of life.
When horses become the heart and soul of a hotel: why Plume loves these establishments where equestrian art reigns supreme
Marwari stallions plunging into the Indian Ocean, Criollos ridden by gauchos crossing the pampas, Lipizzans trotting at the foot of the Alps, peaceful Sandalwood horses in Indonesia, Camargue horses in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, Pura Raza Española galloping through the Tuscan hills, or Arabian thoroughbreds decked out like princes: certain exceptional hotels have made horses their secret soul.
Riding horses, learning to ride, whispering to the horses, galloping into the sea, discovering dressage as taught at the Vienna School: an equestrian luxury that offers a rare sensory experience and the authentic taste of freedom embodied by the horse, inviting the journey to become a true moment of letting go in the heart of nature.
All of these establishments bring together riders, herdsmen, grooms, and stablehands, embodying a unique approach to hospitality. Each location has a strong emotional signature: the horse is the common thread.
It is also, quite simply, Plume’s choice.
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NIHI Sumba in Indonesia
—a legendary resort overlooking the Indian Ocean, famous for its Sandalwood horses galloping along the wild beaches of Sumba Island.
Reschio, Italy
A spectacular estate in Umbria where horseback riding is part of an aristocratic yet contemporary lifestyle, featuring Pura Española horses
Siyam World in the Maldives
The only ranch in the Maldives, where Marwari horses roam the island and gallop along the lagoon
Selman Marrakech in Morocco
A spectacular palace designed around the Arabian thoroughbreds bred by the Bennani Smires family.
La Bamba de Areco in Argentina
A historic estancia in the Pampas where horseback riding is practiced in the true gaucho tradition and where Criollo horses are bred for polo
Les Bains Gardians in the Camargue
In the heart of the Camargue, a place where Camargue horses and the spirit of the gardians embody the soul of the region.
Posthotel Achenkirch in Austria
In the Tyrolean Alps, an elegant hotel where horseback riding and alpine nature come together to create a peaceful retreat featuring Lipizzaner horses, in the true tradition of the Vienna Riding School
Find refuge at Nihi Sumba: a natural paradise in Indonesia near the Sandalwood horses
by Stéphane Durand. In the far west of Sumba, far from the crowds of Bali and the excesses of the modern world, NIHI Sumba feels like a wild retreat where nature sets the pace. Here, the villas are nestled within acres of lush jungle, the sandy beach stretches for over two kilometers, and horses gallop freely along the shore at
In Umbria, an exceptional stud farm featuring the horses of Castello di Reschio
by Stéphane Durand In the heart of Umbria, on a hill that looks as though it has stepped out of a Renaissance painting, the Hotel Castello di Reschio showcases its many attractions, including its stud farm of Spanish horses. An Italian paradise where horses and the gentle charm of Tuscany gallop in harmony. This 1,560-hectare private estate is framed by cypress trees and morning mist,
Gallop through the sea on Marwari horses at Siyam World
by Stéphane Durand. On a natural island somewhere in Noonu Atoll, Siyam World is redefining the very concept of a Maldives vacation with a horse ranch. An almost surreal surprise: a Marwari horse ranch in the Maldives. Huge villas with slides plunging into the lagoon, more than twenty restaurants, a gigantic floating water park… and above all, a surprise
Selman Marrakech: a luxury hotel in Morocco where Thoroughbreds reign supreme
Stéphane Durand In this Arab-Moorish palace designed by Jacques Garcia, everything seems orchestrated to celebrate one of the most beautiful breeds in the world: the Arabian thoroughbred. The Arabian thoroughbred stud farm is the beating heart of the Selman Marrakech. Just a few minutes from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech, the Selman appears as a mirage of refinement where the horse reigns supreme.
La Bamba de Areco: an estancia, polo, and Criollo horses at a Relais & Châteaux property in Argentina
by Stéphane Durand. A grand avenue lined with century-old trees leads the way, like a theatrical prelude to one of Argentina’s oldest estancias. The new Lodge Park transforms this iconic location into an ultra-exclusive retreat. Just an hour and a quarter from Buenos Aires, La Bamba de Areco seems suspended in time. Behind the bright red walls, a world unfolds:
Les Bains Gardians: Galloping Toward Camargue Hedonism
Stéphane Durand In Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, Les Bains has created a unique destination that evokes the scent of warm sand, freedom, and the manes of Camargue horses blowing in the wind. At Les Bains Gardians, you experience the authentic Camargue—the one seen from the saddle. Just a stone’s throw from the Mediterranean, Les Bains Gardians is nestled in the heart of a vast estate where nature
Posthotel Achenkirch: Tyrol to the rhythm of the Lipizzaner horses
Stéphane Durand On the shores of Lake Achensee, nestled among forests, blue-tinged peaks, and vast, rolling meadows, the Posthotel Achenkirch offers an alpine retreat where elegance blends with the grace of the majestic white Lipizzaner horses. A riding school in the Habsburg tradition, a massive spa, nestled among the Tyrolean mountains. In this adults-only retreat, everything seems designed to slow down the
