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Horseback riding tours
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Castle Pokvar
Hungary
Hungary
Spend a week in an 18th century romantic castle between Vienna and Budapest. Enjoy long canters across lush green meadows and on sandy trails. Spend the nights in luxurious castle suites with gourmet meals served at the large table with beautiful crystal chandeliers. Returning from a day's ride you can relax in the sauna, take a dip in the indoor or outdoor pool or if you feel energetic play a round of tennis on the clay court. Guests experience a very personal service, where the owners dine with their guests and take care of all the details of the day. During the summer months the table is set outside under the ancient maroon tree on the deck.
Twenty Hungarian Warmblood horses are available at the well-equipped stables and offer the right temperament for all riding levels. Your stay includes 3 half day and 3 full day rides into the countryside.
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Meeting:
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Györ
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Airport:
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Vienna or Budapest
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Transfer:
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Györ train station or from Vienna or Budapest Airport
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Riders:
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Min
1 riders
Max
10 riders
(per riding group)
Max Capacity
20
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Trip Rating
Video
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Rates and Dates for 2009 | 2010
Rates include:
Accommodations in luxury rooms or suites, all meals with hearty Hungarian cuisine, 6 riding days - guide speaks limited English.
Castle Ride Week: ~21 riding hrs
Refresher Ride Week: ~12 riding hrs
| A | 2009 | 8 day Castle Ride Week, AP | 8d / 7n | €895 | $1345 |
| Single supplement | €105 | $160 |
| A | 2009 | 8 day Refresher Week, AP | 8d / 7n | €785 | $1180 |
| Single supplement | €105 | $160 |
Rates Note:
3 half day rides (3 hrs) and 3 full day rides (5 hrs).
Transfer Option:
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2009
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Transfer from Gyor per car (1-4) return
This is a "Group Rate"
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€
55
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$85
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2009
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Transfer from Vienna per car (1-4) return
This is a "Group Rate"
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€
160
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$240
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2009
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Transfer from Budapest per car (1-4) return
This is a "Group Rate"
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€
215
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$325
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There are easy train connections from Budapest or Vienna to Györ. Or a transfer can be arranged from Vienna or Budapest Airports. We do recommend to rent a car for this trip - there are many interesting sights in the area to go and see.
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Arrival is any day of the week.
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Rates do not include:
Massage sessions. Drinks.
The Castle Riding week includes 3 full days and 3 half days of trail riding.
The Refresher week includes 12 riding hours - a combination of instructions and trail riding.
Sample Castle Riding Week
Day 1: You arrive after 4PM, hopefully before sundown, (the castle is somewhat remote). A transfer from Gyor train station or from Vienna or Budapest can be arranged in advance. A welcome drink and dinner awaits you. During dinner, we will plan out the next days.
Day 2: We ride to the ruins of the center where the famous Lesvar horses were once raised.
Day 3: On a day ride (you need to have sufficient riding skills) we cross beautiful meadows in between the two rivers Marcal and Raba. The picnic is near a romantic church from the 13th century. After nice long canters the horses enjoy cooling off in the river.
Day 4: A half day ride is planned and time for some sightseeing in the afternoon.
Day 5: A day set aside for a surprise ride into the country with picnic.
Day 6: We ride across great horse trails to the mountain top offering incredible panoramic views. Picnic is at the historic “Thing-Center”.
Day 7: A day ride to an old vineyard with remnants of grape presses and other interesting facilities is rounded up with a typical Hungarian “Pot-Gulasch”.
Day 8: After breakfast departure to the train station in Györ.
subject to change
Also:
4 day Getaway: 8 riding hours over 3 days
Refresher weeks
For riders, who want to improve their beginner riding skills in beautiful ambiance, we offer this 12 hour program, where you can practice riding infront of the castle with a professional teacher until you are ready to leave the premises. If you get good quickly, you can participate in the half-day rides.
Meeting:
Györ
Airport:
Vienna or Budapest
Train station:
Gyor
Transfer:
Györ train station or from Vienna or Budapest Airport
Distance:
Vienna-120 km.Budapest 150 km
There are easy train connections from Budapest or Vienna to Györ. Or a transfer can be arranged from Vienna or Budapest Airports. We do recommend to rent a car for this trip - there are many interesting sights in the area to go and see.
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Tack:
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English
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Horses:
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Hungarian Warmbloods
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Pace:
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Moderate, long trots and canters. 3 half day rides (3 hrs) and 3 full day rides (5 hrs). You need to be a good rider and high stamina. The rides are pretty fast but controlled.
Refresher Week: all riding levels from beginner to advanced
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Walk |
Trot |
Canter |
Gallop |
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Level:
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(3
to
3
out of 5) Intermediate+
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Weight:
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Max
195
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Riders:
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Min
1 riders
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Max
10 riders
(per riding group)
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Max Capacity
20
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Twenty Hungarian Warm blood horses are available at the well-equipped stables and offer the right temperament for all riding levels.
Passport and Visa Requirements:
Passports Valid passport required by all nationals referred to in the chart except: (a) 1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card. Passport Note Nationals staying for longer than 3. more
Additional ActivitiesCarriage rides, hiking excursions through the forests with its wild mushrooms, tennis. This ride is specially suited for riders with accompanying non-riders (non-riders can meet riders for lunch by carriage ride). The Castle Poklár offers a dream vacation to anyone. If you rent a car, there are lots of sightseeing options, shopping in Gyor, day trips to Budapest, Vienna or to the 1,000 year old Pannonhalma Abbey. The staff speaks limited English.
Hungary has a temperate continental climate with Mediterranean and Atlantic influences. Depending on the location, winters can be cold, cloudy and damp or windy, the summers warm and sometimes very hot. May, June and November are the rainiest months, although more rain usually falls in the west and Southwest than in the east. The number of hours of sunshine a year varies between 1900 and 2500 – among the highest in Europe. From April to the end of September, you can expect the sun to shine for about 10 hours a day. July is the hottest month (average temperature 23.2° C) and January the coldest (-1.3° C). The average annual temperature is 11° C.
The castle does not accept credit cards (you sould bring along some Euros or Forints for tips and any extras ie; drinks).
In Winter you should bring warm riding attire and strong, effective raingear.
| … this list is only a guideline for you |
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| Travel documents and Voucher |
| Flight tickets |
| Passport |
| Visa (check with your consulate) |
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| RIDING GEAR |
| Comfortable, normal riding attire. Also possible are light but sturdy pants without strong seams on the inside, no leggings, please! |
| Riding boots or ankle-high flat shoes |
| Long-sleeved shirts (against sunburn) |
| Riding helmet (recommended for all trips) |
| Light gloves |
| Hat (with chin strip) for sun protection |
| Windbreaker, riding coat or poncho (protective against wind and rain) |
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| PERSONAL CLOTHING |
| Warm sweater for evenings outside |
| Comfortable T-Shirts/Shirts |
| Jeans |
| Shorts |
| Underwear and socks |
| Pyjamas |
| Bag for dirty clothes |
| Trekking boots/ comfortable shoes |
| Swimsuit |
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| ADDITIONAL THINGS TO BRING |
| Personal Toiletries |
| Insect protection |
| Personal medications |
| Sore cream (for an emergency) |
| Sewing kit |
| Camera and enough extra films and batteries |
| Fanny pack for camera, money and all your personal items |
| Address book and pen (for postcards) |
| Sun glasses with strap |
| Sun tan lotion and lip balm |
| Tennis racket (optional) |
*Important Notice: The following ratings have been submitted by guests and do not necessarily represent the views of Hidden Trails, its partners or employees.
Every care is taken to ensure accuracy but Hidden Trails is not liable for any errors or omissions.
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| Name |  |  |  |  |  |  | Date |
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keville keenan
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8/6/2009
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nancy manahan
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6/7/2008
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bonnie lowery
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10/16/2007
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bonnie lowery
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10/12/2007
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conceição trigo
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10/1/2007
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victoria turner
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9/18/2007
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dagmar hoheneck
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3/29/2007
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sharon lerner
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3/15/2007
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maggie kulik
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10/18/2004
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gail otte
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9/11/2003
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susan hekman
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7/18/2002
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sara vajay cserhati morley
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7/18/2002
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judith thompson
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7/18/2002
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regina lapolla
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6/25/2002
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lee banic
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5/22/2002
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ben & magda bronstein-stilmant
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7/7/2001
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sarah crane
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6/24/2001
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..view other reports for different trips
The rooms are spacious and have private baths. We try to upgrade every Hidden Trails client to a suite at no extra charge, but this is not always possible.
The castle was first built in the 13th century as a cloister and then remodeled as a country estate for the aristocrats in the 14th century. In the last few years the castle has been completely renovated and modernized, but it still offers a very special and personal ambiance to the traveler. The country mansion is surrounded by a demesne of 25 hectares (75 acres ) in the heart of West Hungary in plains interspersed with woods and flowering meadows. As you drive through the tree-lined alley in front of the mansion, you sense the magic of the place and the cares of everyday life disappear. On entering through the magnificent portico, one arrives in the grand two-storey high hentrance hall with a solid wooden circular stairway and gallery set off with an open log fire and the waiting staff offering a welcoming drink.
The guest rooms are large comfortable suites, elegantly furnished and equipped with marble baths, bidets, and separate toilets. The bedrooms are equipped with cable-TV, minibars and international telephones. The Castle has been equipped with a stunning new Wellness-facility with a Finnish sauna, an infra-red sauna, a steam sauna and a relaxation area with waterbeds, a swimmingpool in the wintergarden with a view of the park, the castle and our outdoor whirlpool. The dining room is furnished in classic style with everyone seated at the grand dining table as was the custom with large families in former centuries. Traditional Hungarian dishes are carefully prepared with a few concessions to modern tastes. Guests experience the many-sided richness of Hungarian cuisine in the best possible surroundings.In fine weather outdoor barbecues are the rule with an occasional cellarparty with delicious specialities from old-fashioned ovens. For relaxation there is an enclosed swimming pool, sauna, and jacuzzi.
For sport enthusiasts, in addition to riding, there is also a tennis court, table tennis and mountain-biking. The fantastic paths through the forest are a constant invitation to cycle or walk. On the other hand you can enjoy relaxing with a coffee or a drink on the grand balcony overlooking the park and watch the horses enjoying themselves in the paddock.
Note: The castle does not accept credit cards (you sould bring along some Euros or Forints). Beverages, including water, are not included and all drinks are to be paid for locally. At breakfast tea and coffee are included. Wine, beer, coffee, tea, water, etc. are all available at resonable prices.
Twenty Hungarian Warm blood horses are available at the well-equipped stables and offer the right temperament for all riding levels.
|
Tack:
|
|
English
|
|
Horses:
|
|
Hungarian Warmbloods
|
|
Pace:
|
|
Moderate, long trots and canters. 3 half day rides (3 hrs) and 3 full day rides (5 hrs). You need to be a good rider and high stamina. The rides are pretty fast but controlled.
Refresher Week: all riding levels from beginner to advanced
|
Walk |
Trot |
Canter |
Gallop |
|
|
Level:
|
|
(3
to
3
out of 5) Intermediate+
|
|
Weight:
|
|
Max
195
|
|
Riders:
|
|
Min
1 riders
|
Max
10 riders
(per riding group)
|
Max Capacity
20
|
Twenty Hungarian Warm blood horses are available at the well-equipped stables and offer the right temperament for all riding levels.
Passports
Valid passport required by all nationals referred to in the chart except:
(a) 1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.
Passport Note
Nationals staying for longer than 30 days, who are not staying in a hotel, will need to register with the local police.
Note: Hungary joined the Schengen Agreement on 21 December 2007 for overland entry points and seaports, and on 29 March 2008 for airports.
Visas
Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days.
2. EU nationals staying longer than 90 days will need to register with the immigration department.
3. Nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA staying longer that 90 days will need to apply for a long-stay visa.
Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Visa Note
(a) Visitors are not entitled to take any gainful employment. Non-EU visa-exempt nationals need a work permit and working visa in advance.
| Passport Required? |
| British |
Yes |
| Australian |
Yes |
| Canadian |
Yes |
| USA |
Yes |
| Other EU |
1 |
| Visa Required? |
| British |
No/2 |
| Australian |
No/3 |
| Canadian |
No/3 |
| USA |
No/3 |
| Other EU |
No/2 |
| Return Ticket Required? |
| British |
No |
| Australian |
No |
| Canadian |
No |
| USA |
No |
| Other EU |
No |
This information is not being updated on a regular basis. Hidden Trails does not
take any responsibility for the accuracy of the above information. Please, consult
the embassy or consulate for updated info.
Additional Activities
Carriage rides, hiking excursions through the forests with its wild mushrooms, tennis. This ride is specially suited for riders with accompanying non-riders (non-riders can meet riders for lunch by carriage ride). The Castle Poklár offers a dream vacation to anyone. If you rent a car, there are lots of sightseeing options, shopping in Gyor, day trips to Budapest, Vienna or to the 1,000 year old Pannonhalma Abbey. The staff speaks limited English. |
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Castle Pokvar
Tour Code: PR-HVSR
8 days /
7 nights
~$1,180.00
Trip Rating :
Difficulty :
Lodging: 
Introduction
Day to Day Itinerary
Rates |
Dates
Accomodation
Tack:
English
Horses:
Hungarian Warmbloods
Pace:
Moderate, long trots and canters. 3 ha...
Walk, Trot, Canter, Gallop,
Airport:
Vienna or Budapest
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Customer Trip Rating
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What To Bring
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