All Reviews for Horseback Riding Tours

This is the best hawaiian experience ever…I have done this twice! Not the typical tour, a local hawaiian Mika, takes you on a personal tour, with local folklore about the menehunas, he shows the local fruit, plants, how the hawaiian grew the taro plant..and then we can eat and taste the local fruit. I ride horses, and have ridden many a tourist rides, all over my travels, but this my favorite, the spiritual Waipio Valley with a local guide. Local horses (and you ride by wild mustangs in the valley) amazing to see.! ,Even my co-worker, from NY who has never been on a horse, loved it and feeling so close to nature and the culture. I will go on this ride every time I come to Big Island!
My favorite Hawaiian experience..you feel very connected with the culture, and nature.

I participated alone, but I was with a Japanese couple. The guide, who didn’t speak much English, just walked silently at a slow pace. Although it was supposed to be a 2.5-hour course, it felt quite short, and I was disappointed. This is my third time horseback riding in Hawaii, but is this how it usually is? I won't be horseback riding in Hawaii again.

一人参加でしたが、日本人のご夫婦と一緒でした。　英語があまり出来ない私達に、ガイドさんは、無言でただ常歩で歩くのみ。時間も2,5時間コースだったのに、かなり短かったしがっかりしました。ハワイ乗馬3回目ですが、こんなものなんでしょうか？もう、ハワイでは乗馬しません。

Being in Waipi'o Valley itself was wonderfully refreshing. It would be tough to walk since you have to cross rivers and navigate bumpy paths, but I don't like cars, so it was a fun experience unique to horseback riding. However, since we were moving slowly and following the person in front of us, it was a bit boring that we couldn't go ahead or run.

ワイピオ渓谷にいること自体がすばらしく気持ちよかった。川を渡ったりでこぼこ道を行ったりするので歩くのは大変だろうけど、車は好きではないので乗馬ならではの楽しい経験でした。ただ、前の人にくっついてゆっくりなので、先に行ったり走ったりができないのでその点はちょっとつまらないです。

I participated because I wanted to ride in a wide open space, as the riding club was only within a circle. Since the riding styles were different, both the horses and I were a bit confused at first, but we quickly got used to it and started moving. The horses were calm and well-trained, knowing the route, so they responded well to just a little cue. The feeling of galloping across the vast grasslands was the best!

Before starting, regarding the rental coats, it was more of a "feel free to use them if you want" attitude. The weather was nice, and we were wearing jackets, plus the rental coats weren't very clean, so we intended not to borrow one. However, since many people (we were the only Japanese) were borrowing them, I asked, "Should I wear a coat?" and was told, "It's better to wear one because it's cold." Indeed, once we got out to the grasslands, the wind was very strong, and it was the right decision to borrow a coat.

In Japan, there would likely be polite advice given at the beginning... They were very nice people, but I definitely felt the culture of personal responsibility in America.

乗馬クラブではサークルの中だけなので、広いところで乗馬がしたくて参加しました。
乗馬スタイルが違うので、最初は人間も馬も少し戸惑いましたが、すぐに慣れて動きました。
馬は性格もおとなしくよく馴れていて路も知っているので、少しの合図でよく言うことを聞いてくれます。
大草原を駈ける気分は最高でした！
スタート前に貸出のコートについて「使うんだったらどうぞ」という感じでした。
天気も良く私達は上着を着ていたし、貸出コートもあまりきれいではなく、借りないつもりでしたが多くの人が(日本人は私達だけ)借りていたので「コートは着たほうがいい？」と聞くと「寒いから着たほうがいい」との事でした。確かに草原に出るととても風が強く、コートを借りて正解でした。
日本だったら最初に丁寧なアドバイスがあるだろうに・・・
とても感じの良い人たちでしたが、さすがにアメリカ自己責任の文化を実感しました。

Last time it started to rain halfway through, but this time the weather was nice, and we were able to enjoy horseback riding at a leisurely pace. Everyone who went with me was satisfied.

前回は途中で雨が降ってきたんですが、今回は天気も良く、のんびりと乗馬を楽しむことができました。　一緒に行ったみんなも満足してました。

As a horseowner I am always a little leery of trail riding at unknown stables but I was pleasantly surprised to see the good condition and decent manners of these horses. They were very suitable to carry a wide variety of sizes and experience of riders. The ride itself was well escorted by friendly staff and the scenery was beautiful and enjoyed at a steady walking pace with the opportunity to take photographs of the beautiful and unique valley. The van ride down into and up out of the valley was an adventure in itself with amazing views. Shop at the art/gift store where you park as they have lots of lovely stuff at good prices.

I would rate this a "must do" on your trip to Big Island.

All four of us in the family were beginners, but it felt great to ride on a gentle horse. We moved slowly through the grasslands, so it wasn't scary at all. I definitely want to ride again next time.

家族４人みんな初心者でしたが、大人しい馬に乗ってとても気持ちよかったです。草原の中をゆっくりすすんでいくので怖くもなかったです。次回も是非乗りたいと思います。

I participated for the first time two years ago, recommended by the hotel concierge. We had no horseback riding experience and our English was not great, but it turned out to be an incredibly fun activity, so this is our second time joining. Just like last time, everyone else in the group was from Europe or America, but that was not a problem at all. The instructions are in English, but I think you can get the general idea. Additionally, there are explanations in Japanese posted on the stable walls, so you can understand how to ride the horse from that.

The group consists of about 12 people, with one guide at the front and one at the back, and we ride through the canyon for about 1.5 hours. The horse I rode this time was a 10-year-old stallion named "Rocky," who seemed to be the leader of the group, always walking right behind the front guide. Because of that, even though I couldn't understand the guide's English, I was able to listen to the explanations well.

This activity offers a wonderful experience of exploring the natural beauty of Waipi'o Valley, sometimes splashing through the river with the water up to the horses' bellies, making it so enjoyable that I want to go back for a second or third time. Also, when getting out of the car at the end, I noticed that the Europeans were giving tips to the guides, so don't forget that. We also gave a $30 tip for the two of us.

初回の参加は2年前で、ホテルのコンシェルジェに薦められて参加しました。乗馬経験も無く英語もダメな私たちですが、参加してみたら最高に楽しいアクティビティだったので、今回で2回目の参加です。前回と同様、私たち2人以外はすべて欧米人でしたが、全く問題ありません。説明は英語ですが、なんとなく雰囲気はわかると思います。それと厩舎の壁に日本語の説明書きが貼ってあるので、馬の乗り方はそれでわかると思います。1回あたり12人位のグループの先頭と最後尾にガイドさんが１人づつ付いて渓谷を約1.5時間の乗馬散策です。今回乗った馬は「ロッキー」という10歳の牡馬で、グループのリーダー格のようで、常に先頭のガイドさんの次を歩いていました。そのため、ガイドさんの英語がわからないながらも、説明をよく聞くことが出来ました。ワイピオ渓谷の自然の中で、時には川の中をジャブジャブと馬のお腹まで水に浸かりながら散策できるという、すばらしい体験ができるアクティビティなので2回、3回と行きたくなるくらいお薦めです。それと、最後に車を降りるときに、欧米人たちはガイドさんにチップを渡していたのでお忘れなく。私たちも2人で30ドルのチップを渡しました。

Compared to Dahana Ranch and Waipi'o Valley, the weather is often relatively good on the western slope, allowing for views of not only the vast grasslands but also the Pacific Ocean. The sun was strong, and I ended up with sunburned arms after a two-hour ride. All the horses were quite greedy, munching on grass all around. Aside from the fact that I fell off when my foot slipped out of the stirrup during a trot, leaving a bruise on my thigh, it was a satisfying tour.

ダハナランチやワイピオバレーに比べると西側斜面にあるため、比較的天候が良いことが多く、大草原だけでなく太平洋も見ることができる。陽射しが強かったこともあり、2時間のライドで腕だけ日焼けした。馬はみな食いしん坊で途中でそこら中の草を食べまくっていた。トロットで鐙から足が外れて落馬し大腿部に大字が残ったことを除けば満足のツアーである。

It's difficult to visit Waipi'o Valley without a tour. It's a very beautiful place. While horseback riding, you will splash through streams. However, horses are living creatures. They are well-trained, but they might graze, drink water, or stand still. If you can enjoy that aspect as well, it will be a very fun tour. The tour guides were really cool!

ツアー以外で行くのは難しいワイピオ渓谷。とても美しい場所です。乗馬では小川もじゃぶじゃぶと渡っていきます。ただし、馬は生き物。よくしつけられてはいますが、草をはんだり、水を飲んだり、じっとしていてはくれません。そこも含めて楽しめればとても楽しいツアーになります。ツアーガイドのお姉さんたち、とってもかっこよかったです。

I participated on the morning of July 29, 2014. It took less than an hour to drive from Waikoloa Beach Resort to Kahua Ranch by rental car. Along the way, as we ascended towards the ranch, we enjoyed a wonderful drive with views overlooking the coastline.

When we arrived at 9:30, the ranch was truly vast. We were the only participants, so we quickly chose helmets and boots (both optional) and got ready. Our bags and cameras could be placed in bags provided by the ranch that hang on the horses' backs. They also lent us parkas, which were just right for horseback riding in the cool ranch with wind at high altitude.

The guide was a young girl who didn't speak Japanese, but she seemed accustomed to Japanese people. The horse prepared for me was matched to my weight and height, which I had communicated in advance. After a brief explanation of how to handle the horse, we mounted and set off. I was anxious as a beginner, but the experienced girl said, "They are well-trained to be able to be handled with one hand." As we started walking, I quickly felt that was true and was able to relax. My horse was named Stormy, and being young, it always wanted to stay right behind the guide, sometimes trotting to overtake other horses, but other than that, it was very well-behaved.

At certain spots on the ranch, we were able to gallop, and the experienced girl enjoyed it. When I asked the guide to stop for photos, she kindly accommodated my request and took pictures for us.

Overall, we spent an hour and a half riding around the vast ranch, with the grass swaying in the wind, and along the way, we encountered sheep, cows, and free-range horses, which was very relaxing. (For my backside and back, I think the hour and a half course was just right! (laughs))

I truly felt liberated and had a wonderful time. Thank you very much.

２０１４年７月２９日午前中に参加しました。
ワイコロアビーチリゾートからレンタカーでカフア牧場へ１時間弱。途中、牧場に向けてどんどん高度があがっていくと、海岸線を見下ろす素晴らしい眺望のドライブができます。
９時半に現地に着くと、そこは本当に広大な牧場でした。参加者は私達だけで、さっそくヘルメットやブーツ（両方とも任意）を選び準備支度。荷物やカメラは、牧場側で用意している馬の背中にかけるタイプのカバンに入れて持って行けます。パーカーも貸してくれ、高所で風も吹く涼しい牧場で、ちょうど良く乗馬ができました。
ガイドさんは若い女の子で、日本語はできませんが、日本人に慣れている様子でした。
あらかじめ連絡しておいた体重、身長にあわせた馬が準備されていて、まず簡単に馬の操り方の説明があり、すぐに馬に乗って出発です。私は初心者で不安でしたが、経験者の娘は「片手で操れるようになっているのでよく調教されている」と言っていました。歩きはじめて、すぐにその通りだと感じリラックスできました。私の馬はストーミーという名前で、若いのか、いつもガイドさんのすぐ後ろに付きたがり、他の馬を追い越すためにトロット（速足）になったりしましたが、それ以外はとっても良い子でしたよ。
牧場の一定の場所ではギャロップ（駆け足）も可能で、経験者の娘は楽しんでいましたし、写真を撮るために止まってほしいとガイドさんに頼むと、写真を撮ってくれたりと、希望に沿った対応をしてくれました。
とにかく、牧草が風にたなびく広大な牧場一周を、１時間半かけて馬とともに回れ、途中、羊や牛、放し飼いの馬に出会いながら、のんびり癒されました。（お尻や背筋にとっては、１時間半コースでよかったと思います（笑））
本当に気持ちが解放されて、楽しい時間を過ごすことができました。ありがとうございました。

Riding horses in the great outdoors for about two hours at this price is something you rarely find in Japan, so I think it's a fantastic cost-performance value. There’s a river along the way, and I think it’s unique to splash through it. Although I was satisfied with the riding experience itself, there is one thing that really bothered me. That is the smell of the helmet, which was overwhelmingly bad. It was filled with the odor of sweat and dampness, and it almost made my nose go funny. While not wearing it is a personal choice, I would prefer to wear it for safety reasons. However, I couldn't stand that smell. Those who need to wear it should be prepared for that.

大自然の中をおよそ2時間、このお値段で乗馬することは日本ではなかなかできないので、コストパフォーマンスとしてはすばらしいと思います。途中に川があり、じゃぶじゃぶと突き進んで行くのも珍しいと思います。めったにできない経験でも、乗馬そのものは満足したのですが、どうしても気になることがあります。それはヘルメットがあまりにも臭いことです。汗が醗酵した生乾きの臭いにあふれ、鼻がおかしくなりそうです。かぶらないのは自己責任ですが、安全のためにもかぶりたいものです。でも、あの臭いには耐えられませんでした。必要とされる方はそれなりの覚悟がいります。

I've been horseback riding many times, but I usually get bored on monotonous courses. However, this time I finished without even looking at the clock. The instructor made me laugh with his broken Japanese from check-in, and he repeatedly gave me tips on how to ride, which was a unique experience. The smell of sweat from the coat and helmet, as well as the mold on the coat, were a bit off-putting, but I highly recommend this course that crosses the river multiple times.

乗馬は何回もしていますが、単調なコースだとあきてしまうんですが今回は時計を見ることも無く終わりました。インストラクターはチェックインから片言の日本語で笑わせてくれたし、途中も何度も乗り方を注意してくれたりで他では無い感じです。コートとヘルメットの汗
臭さとコートのカビは　うーん　でしたが、川を何回もわたるこのコースはお薦めです。

My husband and I took our 9 and 8 yr. old grandkids on this tour. It was spectacular! Our guides were wonderful. The valley is so beautiful and seeing it on horseback is awesome. None of us are experienced riders, but we had no problem with the horses. They are very well trained. I highly recommend this tour.

This was a great tour. Our guides had a lot of knowledge and were great guides. They also took the time to help us both when getting on and off of the horses.

I had my grandmother, who has always wanted to ride a horse at least once, experience it. There were about ten people from overseas, and at first, she seemed quite anxious, but it seems her dream came true, which was great. She mentioned that she was a bit sore for a few days after getting off the horse.

一度でいいから馬に乗りたい！という祖母に体験してもらいました。10名程度の海外の方が一緒で最初は不安が強かったようですが夢かない良かったようです。馬を降りてしばらく数日筋肉痛？だったようですが。

There were a total of five of us, including myself. The weather was cloudy, and it rained partway through. Last time (about five years ago), the guide was cheerful and prepared photo spots for us. This time, there was no such consideration, and it felt like we just walked around and that was it. I don't know if it was the guide's personality or the company's policy, but I was very disappointed.

　私ども入れて全部で５人で参加でした。天候も曇り空で途中雨も降りました。前回（５年前ぐらい）はガイドさんも明るく写真スポットも用意してくれました。今回は、そのような配慮もなく散歩してお終いでした。ガイドの性か会社の方針かしれませんが、非常にがっかりしました。

This was fun. It rained and my horse really really liked to run and eat grass, but it was an experience that I will not forget.

The horseback riding experience in nature is very pleasant and healing. The riding time is over an hour, making it a fulfilling tour that I would recommend. It seems that wearing a helmet during the ride is optional.

自然の中での乗馬体験はとても気持ちよく、癒されます。
乗馬時間も１時間超と充実しており、オススメできるツアーだと思います。
乗馬中のヘルメットはかぶらなくてもOKみたいです。

In conclusion, I had a great time!
I'm not very good at English. My friend who joined me doesn't speak any English at all...
So I was quite anxious before going.
But when we arrived, we were given a consent form in Japanese!
I read it carefully and signed it. There was a section at the end about wearing a helmet, stating that if you don't wear it, they won't take responsibility in case of an accident, so I marked "yes" for wearing it. However, someone said, "What do you think? Adults usually don't wear it!" So I casually said, "Oh, then No!" and decided not to wear it.
The kids were wearing helmets, but no adults were, although I recommend wearing one if you're worried since it can be bumpy. However, there were no incidents of anyone falling off or almost falling off.

You can't take your belongings while riding, so I think it's best to leave everything except water and a compact camera in the rental car. We thought we could carry our backpacks, but we were told to "leave them!" and ended up placing them on a shelf in the stable.

The riding instructions are in English, but they also use some broken Japanese in between. I felt there was less to worry about than I expected.
While riding, once we started walking, the guide would shout instructions like "fumi! right! left!" if there was any concern. When they were shouting something in Japanese, I thought they were saying something to us and listened closely.

It was my first time riding. At first, my horse was quite restless, which made me anxious, but gradually we connected and were able to enjoy the ride.
It felt longer than I had anticipated.

I was thrilled to see a giant (bigger than a person's face!) bright blue frog climbing a tree!

I had a lot of fun!
However, the next day my butt was sore (laughs).

If I go to the Big Island again, I definitely want to participate again!

結論から言うと、とっても楽しかったです！
自分は英語があまり得意ではありません。一緒に参加した友達は英語全くできず…。
なので行く前はとても不安でいました。
でも行って受付で渡されるのは、日本語の同意書でした！
よく読んでサイン。最後のところにヘルメットについての同意があるのですが、
着用しないともし万が一の時の責任は負いませんよ、的なことが書いておるので、着用するに○をして提出したのですが「どうする？大人はあんまりしないかな！」って言われて、「あ、じゃぁNo！」って言ってあっさり着用しないことにしてしまいました。
お子さんはかぶってましたが、大人は誰もかぶっていませんでしたが、揺れるので心配な方は着用をお勧めします。でも、落馬した人も、しそうだった人もいませんでした。

荷物は持って乗馬できないので、水とコンパクトカメラ以外はレンタカーに置いて行くといいと思います。自分たちはリュックは背負えるだろうと持って行ったのですが、「置いて！」って言われて、馬小屋の棚に置いて行くことになりました。

乗馬の説明も、英語になりますが、合間合間で、片言の日本語を使って教えてくれます。
思ったより心配することはなかったなという印象です。
乗馬し、歩き始めてからも馬が「fumi!みぎ！ひだり！」などと心配な時はガイドさんが大きな声で指示してくれます。日本語で何か叫んでいるときは私たちに何か言ってるなって思って聞いてました。

乗馬も初めて。最初は自分の乗った馬がなかなか冷静になってくれず焦ったのですが、
次第に心を通わせられて(?)楽しく歩くことができました。
思っていたより時間が長く感じられました。

特大の(人の顔よりも大きい！)真っ青な蛙が木を登っていて、それを見れたのが最高にうれしかった！


とても楽しかったです！
ただ、翌日はお尻が筋肉痛です(笑)

次またハワイ島に行ったら、ぜひまた参加したいです！

The weather wasn't great, but I had a good time. I leisurely walked through the valley, and crossing the river was a bit thrilling and fun.

お天気がイマイチでしたが、楽しめました。渓谷の下をのんびり散策し、川を渡るのはちょっとドキドキで楽しかったです。

This was my second time horseback riding at Kohala Coast. I remember it being quite cold during my previous visit since it was up in the mountains, but this time the weather was warm enough that a short-sleeve shirt was sufficient. I had a great time riding well-trained horses. We even got to canter uphill, and although the guide spoke English, it was totally fine if you didn't understand it—smiles go a long way! I highly recommend it.

ここのコハラコーストでの乗馬は２回目でした。
以前お邪魔した時は山の上との事もあり寒かった覚えがあったのですが
今回は半そででいいくらいお天気も気温も高くしっかり調教された馬達と楽しく乗馬する事ができました。登りでは駈足もできガイドさんは英語ですが英語がわからなくても全然大丈夫笑顔でなんとかなるものです。お勧めですよ。

Our annual family trip to Hawaii. This time, we participated as a couple. Horseback riding is a regular optional activity in Hawaii. This time, we used Naalapa Staples for the first time. Usually, horseback riding gives the impression of well-behaved horses lined up quietly, but this course was interesting!! Not only did we cross a gently flowing river, but we also splashed through water deep enough to soak the horses' bellies, making us exclaim, "We're going through here!?" Along the way, we encountered wild horses, and our guide even decorated our hair with flowers, making it thrilling and very enjoyable. The ranch dogs accompanying us on the tour were also incredibly adorable.

毎年恒例のハワイ家族旅行。今回は、夫婦２人で参加しました。乗馬はハワイでの恒例オプショナル。今回はナアラパ・ステープルズを初めて利用しました。乗馬は、たいていお利口さんなよく人に慣れた馬が１列になって黙々と…というのが常な印象でしたが、このコースはおもしろい！！チョロチョロと流れる川を横切るだけでなく、「川って、ここを行くのっ！？」と馬の腹まで浸かるほどの水深をジャブジャブ。途中で野生の馬に遭遇したり、ガイドさんが花を髪に飾ってくれたりと、スリリングでとてもおもしろかったです。牧場の番犬たちが、一緒にツアーコースを回ってくれたのも何とも愛らしいです。

The horses were very well kept, and decent training. Wrangler gave very good riding instructions (we are both experienced riders & recognized this). The valley is beautiful, but this ride basically just followed the road, so not the "trail ride" experience we were hoping for since were dodging vehicles (not lots, but it would have been nice to be off the road & in the woods).

The horseback riding tour was great. You'll see beautiful nature but don't expect a "real" horseback riding tour. Although they ask you about your horseback riding experience, they mixes all experience levels. 12 year old girls who have ridden only once in their life joined our tour. So the ride itself was a bit boring but the Waipio Valley was beautiful.

This was my 4th adventure with Waipio on Horseback, and as always, the guides / handlers and the horses were the best! Despite the frequent rains in Waipio Valley, the horses are in wonderful condition and well matched by the guides based on the skill of the rider from novice through advanced rider. The horses and the valley make for a great adventure and enjoyment in a very special environment.

We participated with a total of seven people: my parents in their late 60s to early 70s, their friends, and our family. Almost everyone was riding a horse for the first time. My mother was very worried because she struggles with exercise, but the horses were very gentle and friendly, and everyone enjoyed an hour and a half of horseback riding with the biggest smiles. The scenery was magnificent, and I think it's a very rare experience to be able to ride without a lead horse, even for beginners. The cats were adorable too!

60歳後半～70歳前半の両親、その友人ご夫婦、家族の総勢7名で参加しました。
ほぼ全員乗馬は初めて。
母親は運動が苦手なのでとても心配していましたが、馬がとても人になれていておとなしく、全員最高の笑顔で1時間半の乗馬を楽しみました。
景色も雄大で、初心者でも引き馬でない乗馬が出来るのは大変貴重な体験だと思います。
ネコちゃんも可愛かったです♪

It was a wonderful time, riding horses across the highlands and having photos taken against beautiful scenery.

馬に乗って高原を駆け巡ったり、きれいな景色をバックに写真をとってもらったりいたれりつくせりのひと時でした。

Last year, I participated in a horseback riding tour that went up Waipi'o Valley, so this year I joined a tour that explored the valley below, and the lower course was definitely more fun!
In particular, crossing a river that was about waist-deep on the horse, with my feet lifted up in the stirrups, was truly thrilling and enjoyable.
I have a British-style riding license, but I found Western riding to be very enjoyable as well.
The staff brought a lot of organic fruits like avocados and starfruit to share with us.
The horses were well-trained, so I felt safe while riding.
They were all very well-behaved horses.
I highly recommend it!!

去年はワイピオ渓谷を登っていく乗馬ツアーに参加したので、今年は渓谷の下を散策するツアーに参加しましたが、下のコースの方が断然楽しいです！
特に、馬の腰ぐらいまである深さの川を、足を鐙ごと上にあげて川を渡ったのは本当にスリリングで楽しかったです。
ブリティッシュスタイルのライセンスを持っている私ですが、ウエスタン乗りも非常に楽しかったです。
スタッフがアボガドやスターフルーツなどオーガニックフルーツをたくさん採ってきて振舞ってくれます。
お馬も良く調教されてるから、安心してライディングできました。
おりこうなお馬ばかりでした。
とてもおススメです！！

My wife rode a horse for the first time, and it was so much fun riding through Waipi'o Valley that her worries before getting on the horse seemed like a lie.

嫁は初めて馬に乗りましたが、馬に乗る前の心配が嘘のように、楽しくワイピオ渓谷を馬に乗って楽しめました。