Hungary Carriage Driving
Hungarians are passionate about horses and the sport of carriage driving. The country has produced numerous World and European champions and is a regular venue for driving championships. Both of our venues for this tour have hosted the Wolrld Carriage Driving Championships in recent years and your instructor at Kecskemet, Sandor Fulop, is a respected multi title winning driver at international level. Take the box seat and the reins for the drive of a lifetime. Experienced drivers will love the holiday as much as beginners with the chance to drive fantastic horses in both 2 in hand and 4 in hand vehicles. Accommodation in 4 star hotels.
For learning or improving your carriage driving in Hungary we think that Kecskemét and Szilvásvárad are the best places for you! At Kecskemét you can learn from Sándor Fülöp, who is one of the most successful four-in-hand competitors in Hungary and indeed in Europe. You will get 4 hours a day with Sandor with a 2 ibn hand and a 4 in hand. At Szilvásvárad you can drive pure blood Lipizzaners in the splendid surroundings of the Bükk National Park. We offer a 7 day programme with 6 nights accommodation, spending 3 nights at Kecskemét and 3 nights in Szilvásvárad in your choice of comfortable 4 star hotels.
The itinerary:
Day 1: Fly to Budapest and transfer to Kecskemét for your stay in Hotel Aranyhomok.
Days 2 and 3: Have your driving lessons in the morning: 2 hours of 2-in-hand and 2 hours with a 4-in-hand. The afternoons are for relaxing and sightseeing.
Day 4: Leaving the hotel in the morning, have your driving lessons, then transfer to Szilvásvárad and check in at Hotel Szalajka-Liget or La Contessa.
Day 5 : Have 2 hours driving a 2-in-hand in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon.
Day 6: Leaving the hotel in the morning, have 2 hours driving a 4-in-hand in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon.
Day 7: Check out and transfer back to Budapest airport.
Accommodation
Your accommodation is 4* throughout the tour. The modern Hotel Aranyhomok offers panoramic views over one if Hungary's most beautiful Main Squares. Comfortable rooms, a pool, jacuzzi and sauna all await. There is a cocktail bar and two restaurants within the hotel but as it is so central there is also the chance to wander out into the town and discover some great local venues.
In Szilvásvárad you have a choice of hotel. The Szalajka-Liget is a 4* spa hotel with 27 rooms opened 5 years ago. Set in extensive grounds, where there are also larger accommodation apartments for families, the hotel boasts a swimming pool, sauna, steam rooms and various other spa treatments including an aroma cabin, a salt cabin and a relaxation area.
Close by in Szilvásvárad, at Csipkésút-NagymezÅ‘ is the National Stud Farm, famed for breeding of Lipizzaner horses. The Lipica stud moved here in 1952, after moving from MezÅ‘hegyes, Fogaras, Bábolna. One of world's most prestigious studs, it has 240 horses.
Or you can opt for the Contessa Castle Hotel. The history of the Castle of Szilvásvárad was determined by three noble families. In 1666 the worthy waradi manor was given to Lord Keglevich and his family as a feudal tenure. The forerunner of the castle could apparently be bound to Lord Béla Keglevich, according to the plans of Miklós Ybl. The Kegleviches occupied the castle for almost 230 years, until 1894, when it became the possession of the ErdÅ‘dy family for a short period. Later, when the castle occupation passed to the Pallavicini family, it got to be renovated according to neo-barock style. The Pallavicinies remained owners of the castle up to 1944.
Guests enter through a spacious Lobby, equipped with comfortable, luxurious sofas, accompanied by beautifully embroidered drapes and crystal chandeliers. Directly from the Lobby, our guests can get to the elegant a la carte Erzsebet restaurant. The main stairway, with its glistening 5-meter Swarovski chandelier, can be approached from both rooms. The ground floor gives place to the Salon – the place designated for smoking and two smaller conference halls. From the ground floor hall you can admire the Ceremonial yard adorned by magnificent roses. Restaurant Cyrano, offering the feeling of an English pub, is situated close to the wellness spa and swimming pool area, and is a perfect place for both young and old alike. All of the rooms are equipped with elegant Italian furniture, coloured LCD television with more than 50 channels, laptop-sized safe, mini bar, telephone, internet access, bathroom with shower, hairdryer, Yves Rocher cosmetics, vanity mirror.
Please get in touch with us to let us know when you would like to visit, how many people in your party (or if you are travelling alone) and how much time you have available and we will send you your personal quote. Non drivers are also welcome to accompany driving companions and to enjoy this beautiful area of Hungary and will enjoy the great spa facilities and venues of historical interest.
Prices based on 2 sharing twin or double accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis with 20 hours of driving instruction:
Per person based on 2 sharing: £1,860 pp with airport transfers and transport between resorts and to driving lessons.
(£1,605 pp without transfers).
Upgrade to the Contessa Castle Hotel for 3 nights: Add £108 pp
Non drivers: £660 with transfers and £405 without.
Holidays can generally be of any duration and start on any day (except where specified).
Make a reservation / enquiry.
These prices are guidelines only. Please contact us for an exact quote since prices will vary depending on the season, the amount of riding you wish to do and whether you are travelling alone or with a group. To calculate the equivalent cost of your holiday in another currency, please visit XE.com's Universal Currency Converter.
Getting there:
The nearest airport is Budapest . Easyjet, Wizz Air, BA, and Malev are amongst the airlines flying to Budapest from the UK. As the capital of Hungary it is naturally well served by International Airlines from around the world.
We can include transfers or you may wish to hire a car from between 50 and 85 Euro per day.
Environmental issues
You can calculate the CO2 emission of your journey to Hungary at Climate Care and compensate for your 'environmental footprint'. If you let us know how much it is we will be happy to pay this on your behalf.
In the office, we use paper from sustainably managed forests and recycled material where possible.
We encourage you to travel onwards from your arrival airport by rail when possible, and will book seats on your behalf.
How to book
To make a non-binding enquiry or a provisional booking, please fill in the reservations & enquiries form. Once we have checked availability, we will send you a quote with a holiday reference number by email. To secure your holiday, a deposit is required of £200 per person (or half the cost of the holiday, whichever is lower) and forward any insurance premiums to the insurance company. You should book your flights at this stage, and forward details to us so that we can organise your transfers. The balance of payment must be received by us not less than eight weeks before departure. Payment instructions.
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Insurance: all riders must be fully insured. We can recommend this travel insurance policy. The application form may be printed out to send with your premiums direct to the insurance company.
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