Horseback Riding with Pic Nic in Lazise Countryside

The best part of this outing is the change of pace. You leave the busy Lake Garda shore behind and ride through the Lazise countryside, passing vineyards before stopping at a family-run farm for wine, honey, and homemade appetizers. It is a gentle way to see the area without turning the day into a hard physical challenge.

I like the very small group, limited to three people, and the calm horses that make this suitable for beginners. I also like the farm visit, where you can learn about wine growing and beekeeping while tasting products made on site. The main drawback is practical: the horseback guide does not speak good English, and helmets are not provided, so ask about safety equipment before booking.

Key points to know before you book

• Three-hour countryside ride: Plan on about one hour on horseback through the Lazise and Colà area, followed by time at a local farm.
• Smallest possible group: The activity accepts a maximum of three people, making it more personal than a large riding excursion.
• Farm-made tasting: Expect local wine, Lazise honey, and other products from a family-run agricultural business.
• Beginner-friendly horses: The horses are described as calm and good-natured, with a prudent guide leading the ride.
• Meeting point outside Lazise: You meet at A.S.D. CS Ranch EventiSC delle Fontanelle di Saletto in Castelnuovo del Garda at 9:30 am.
• Safety and diet notes: Moderate fitness is needed, vegetarian food can be served, vegan food cannot, and wine is available only to people over 18.

A quiet ride beyond Lake Garda’s busy shore

Lazise is one of the prettiest towns on Lake Garda, known for its medieval castle and old town enclosed by defensive walls. This tour does not focus on the central streets or offer a guided castle visit. Instead, it uses Lazise as the doorway to the quieter countryside around it.

That choice gives you a different view of the area. From horseback, the appeal is not a list of monuments. It is the slower passage through rural roads, open fields, and vineyards around the lake’s southern shore. You get time to notice how the area produces its food and wine, rather than simply stopping for a quick photograph.

The tour lasts about three hours, with the morning start set for 9:30 am. That timing works well in warm weather, when a ride is usually more pleasant before the midday heat. You need to organize your transport carefully, since the meeting point is at the riding center in Castelnuovo del Garda rather than directly in central Lazise.

You may be able to check bus connections from Lazise or Peschiera del Garda, but the activity instructions place the responsibility for arriving on time with you. Allow extra time for finding the ranch. Missing the start would be especially costly on such a small-group outing.

What the ride through Lazise and Colà is really like

The first part takes you through the area around Lazise, then toward Colà, a small hamlet belonging to Lazise. The route gives you a rural look at a part of Lake Garda that many day visitors pass without seeing.

You should expect the horses to be the center of the experience, not a fast trail ride. The animals are described as calm and good-natured, and the outing is considered manageable for beginners. That makes it a reasonable introduction if you have little or no riding experience, provided you are comfortable spending time in the saddle.

A moderate fitness level is still required. Riding can work muscles you do not use often, and you will need to mount, sit steadily, and follow the guide’s instructions. The supplied information does not give an age range, riding-speed schedule, or detailed accessibility information, so ask the provider if you have mobility concerns or specific riding needs.

The English situation is worth understanding before you pay. The guide on horseback does not speak good English, while the host at the tasting does. If you need detailed spoken instructions, tell the provider in advance and make sure you understand the basic riding and safety directions before setting out.

The group limit is a real advantage here. With no more than three people, the guide can keep the pace manageable and the ride personal. It also means this is not the right choice if you want a large social group or a lively, animated guide speaking English throughout the ride.

One safety point deserves direct attention: helmets are not included. A previous rider specifically wished one had been provided, noting that even calm horses can behave unpredictably. I would ask the ranch whether you may bring or use a helmet before booking, especially if this is your first horseback ride or you are traveling with a child.

Colà vineyards and the wines of the area

As you pass through Colà, vineyards become an important part of the scenery and story. The area is suited to wine production, especially Bardolino and Chiaretto.

Bardolino is a light red wine associated with the Lake Garda area. Chiaretto is a fresh rosé that is especially pleasant in warm weather. The tasting gives you a chance to connect these wines with the fields you have just passed, which is more satisfying than ordering an anonymous glass at a restaurant.

The ride itself lasts about an hour before the stop at the farm. The schedule is not built around covering a long distance. Instead, it combines a gentle horseback outing with a food and wine visit. That makes it a good fit for you if you want a taste of rural life without committing to an entire day on horseback.

Wine is served only to people over 18. The information does not say that a nonalcoholic substitute is available, so ask ahead if you do not drink. Also remember that the tasting is part of the included farm visit, not a separate winery tour with a long cellar presentation.

Apicoltura Morati and the tasting under the vineyard

The final stop is Apicoltura Morati, an educational farm managed by a family with a focus on nature and small-scale production. Here, you stop under the vineyard for a tasting of local products.

Beekeeping is central to the farm. The bees produce Lazise honey, and the property also grows fruit and vegetables and makes a small amount of wine. This gives the stop a useful sense of place. You are not only sampling food, you are seeing how several farm products fit together.

The host at the tasting speaks English and can explain wine growing and beekeeping. That matters because the riding guide’s English is limited. The second half of the outing is therefore the part where you can ask more questions and get fuller explanations.

The farm visit can include wine and homemade appetizers. A previous participant described drinking two bottles with a friend and receiving home-baked snacks. That should not be treated as a promised amount of wine or food, since the exact tasting menu may vary, but it does suggest a generous, informal setting rather than a formal restaurant meal.

The word picnic can set a particular expectation, so keep it in perspective. This is a tasting under the vineyard, with local products and wine, rather than a clearly described packed lunch with a basket and blanket. If you need a full meal, ask exactly what food will be served before departure.

Food requirements also need attention. Vegetarian food can be served, but vegan food cannot. You should communicate allergies or intolerances in advance. Since the tasting takes place at a working farm, advance notice is the sensible way to avoid an uncomfortable surprise.

Is the $156.20 price good value?

At $156.20 per person, this is not a cheap way to fill three hours. The price includes the horseback ride and the tasting of local products and wine, but not transportation to the ranch. You are paying for a small group, a guided rural activity, and a personal farm visit rather than for a long riding route.

The value improves if you would otherwise pay separately for a wine tasting and a short riding lesson. The group size is unusually limited, and the farm stop adds something beyond a basic trail ride. For a couple or a pair of friends who want a peaceful morning with food and wine, the combination can make sense.

The value is weaker if your priority is sightseeing in Lazise itself, a long time in the saddle, or a polished English-language tour. The activity does not include admission to the medieval castle, and only about one hour is specifically described as horseback riding. You should also factor in the cost and effort of reaching the meeting point.

I would compare this with your other Lake Garda plans. If you already have a full day of wine tasting, the horseback portion may be the reason to choose this outing. If you are mainly seeking a castle visit or a classic lake cruise, this is a different kind of morning.

Timing, transport, and the small details that matter

The meeting point is A.S.D. CS Ranch EventiSC delle Fontanelle di Saletto, 37014 Castelnuovo del Garda VR, Italy. The start time is 9:30 am, and the activity ends back at that same meeting point.

That return arrangement is useful if you have a car or are building the tour into a day near Castelnuovo del Garda. It is less simple if you are staying in central Lazise or Peschiera del Garda. Bus transport may be possible from those towns, but you need to check the route and timetable yourself and leave a cushion before the start.

The ticket is mobile, and confirmation is sent when you book. The activity averages being booked 38 days ahead, which suggests you should not wait until the last minute if your Lake Garda dates are fixed. With a maximum of three people, a popular morning can fill quickly.

The activity depends on good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.

Those terms are fair, but only if you keep the cutoff in mind. Lake Garda plans often shift with weather, so decide early if this is no longer workable. Do not assume a late change will be accepted.

Who will enjoy this morning most?

I would recommend this outing to a couple, a pair of friends, or a solo rider who wants a quiet rural activity and is comfortable with a small group. It is especially well suited to beginners because the horses are calm and the ride is led at a manageable pace.

It also suits people who care about local food production. The honey, vineyards, vegetables, fruit, and small wine production at Apicoltura Morati give the farm stop more substance than a simple glass of wine at a tasting room.

You may want to choose something else if you need fluent English from the riding guide, dislike the idea of riding without a provided helmet, or want a full meal. It may also disappoint you if you expect to spend most of the three hours in the saddle.

Families should ask the provider about age limits and helmet arrangements, since those details are not provided. Anyone with food allergies or dietary restrictions should write ahead. Vegetarian food is possible, but vegan food is not.

The best way to prepare

Wear clothing that lets you sit comfortably for an hour and shoes suitable for riding. The provided information does not list a required dress code or equipment list, so ask what the ranch supplies before you go.

Arrive early enough to locate the meeting point and settle in. The guide’s English is limited, so make sure you understand the essential instructions before the ride begins. If you are nervous, tell the guide. Calm horses help, but clear communication still matters.

Bring water and plan for outdoor conditions, though the activity details do not specify what refreshments are available before the farm stop. If you want wine, remember the over-18 rule and do not assume a second tasting option will be available for someone who cannot drink alcohol.

Most of all, treat the tour as a slow morning in the countryside. The pleasure comes from the combination of horse, vineyard, farm, and conversation. It is not designed as a high-speed adventure or a packed sightseeing schedule.

Should you book the Lazise horseback ride?

Book it if you want a gentle, intimate morning with calm horses, a maximum group of three, and a farm tasting tied to the countryside around Lake Garda. The chance to see Colà’s vineyards on horseback and then learn about honey and wine from the English-speaking tasting host gives the outing a clear local character.

Think twice if you need a helmet supplied, fluent English throughout, a full picnic lunch, or a longer ride. At $156.20, the experience earns its price through the tiny group and the farm visit, not through hours in the saddle.

For the right person, this is a pleasant change from Lake Garda’s crowded waterfront. Check transport, food needs, and helmet arrangements before booking, then keep your expectations simple: one hour on calm horses, followed by an informal taste of the farm.

FAQ

Where does the horseback riding experience start?

It starts at A.S.D. CS Ranch EventiSC delle Fontanelle di Saletto, 37014 Castelnuovo del Garda VR, Italy.

What time does the activity begin?

The start time is 9:30 am.

How long does the experience last?

The activity lasts approximately three hours and ends back at the meeting point.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is three travelers.

Is the experience suitable for beginners?

Yes. The horses are described as calm and good-natured, and the activity requires a moderate level of physical fitness.

Can the farm serve special diets?

You should communicate food intolerances or dietary needs in advance. Vegetarian food can be served, but vegan food cannot. Wine is served only to people over 18.