Horseback Riding Tours Offered Worldwide

There seems to be no end to the travel opportunities available for the mature traveler. Now comes word of the 60+ Club for active senior travelers who are horseback riding enthusiasts.

For the past six years, Fits Equestrian, a full-service travel agency, has developed horse-riding tours in more than 20 countries. Rides are scheduled every year in Great Britain, Europe, South and Central America, New Zealand, Australia, Africa and the United States.

Lengths of rides vary depending on location--from a three-day, two-night camping trip in California to a 30-day sojourn through Spain. Most trips average from one to two weeks and, with few exceptions, all meals are included.

Rides are leisurely, with riders spending about five hours in the saddle daily, stopping at inns, castles or guest houses, with an occasional overnight tenting camp-out along the way. Arrangements can be made for non-riding companions to accompany any trip.

Cost for the excursions varies with trip duration, season and location. Prices $600 to $1,000 for a seven-day trip to $800 to $1,500 for a two-week jaunt, excluding air fare. Air travel can be booked by your travel agent or by Fits Equestrian.

For a color brochure listing components, prices and other information, plus a list of projected itineraries, write to 60+ Club, Fits Equestrian, 2011 Alamo Pintado Road, Solvang, Calif. 93463, or call (805) 688-9494.

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Collette Tours, an Alhambra-based mature travel club, is offering five itineraries covering various parts of Europe in 1990. All include a stay in the Bavarian town of Oberammergau and first-class tickets to the famed Passion Play.

The tours are 14 to 17 days and include most meals and all transportation in Europe, which may be in part by air, boat or rail, depending on tour choice.

The five tours offer a wide choice of countries to visit. For example, the Four Country, 14-day tour includes a five-day Rhine River cruise, plus visits to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Bonn, Heidelberg, Strasbourg and the visit to Oberammergau.

The land portion costs $2,299 per person and includes 27 meals, sightseeing, air-conditioned motor coaches, hotels, site admissions and tour guide.

The other four tours can include the Alps, Yugoslavia, Italy or Austria. From $1,699 to $2,299 per person, depending on tour. Airline transportation to Europe, which is not included in the tour price, can be made through any travel agent, who can also book the complete tour.

For a brochure detailing complete itineraries, tour descriptions, components, prices and dates, contact your travel agent or Collette Tours, 124 Broad St., Pawtucket, R.I. 02860, toll-free (800) 852-4656.

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Costa Rica is growing in popularity with mature travelers, and a Ventura resident who recently built a beautiful villa there, on the country’s Pacific Ocean side, is renting accommodations to visitors over age 50.

The huge home, called Finca Kilimanjaro, has three large guest rooms, each with its own bathroom, renting for $55 a day per couple.

The price includes daily maid service and use of all facilities, including a kitchen that has a refrigerator, oven, microwave, cooking utensils and dishes. Free coffee and fresh fruit are always available.

The villa is on seven acres of landscaped grounds with a view of a valley, mountains and ocean. It is adjacent to a 700-acre coastal national park with many species of birds and animals, while nearby are white-sand beaches for swimming and snorkeling.

Deep-sea fishing is available, and the nearby town of Quepos offers a selection of good restaurants and grocery stores. Bus and taxi service are available, although the town is only a mile walk away.

Finca Kilimanjaro has no TV. Guests usually play table games, listen to music, read, converse in a large living room that features marble floors and cathedral ceiling. Or they go hiking, swimming, boating or just enjoy the view.

For more information, contact Eastman Travel, 1932 Eastman Ave., Suite 103, Ventura 93003, (800) 266-3425 or (805) 644-1932.