Where the ride is, and why it needs a plan
The ranch sits on the beachfront polo field at Mokuʻleʻia, at the far western end of the North Shore. That's about an hour and fifteen minutes from Waikiki, well past where the public bus turns around, with very little around it. The ride is 90 minutes. Getting there and back on your own is most of the logistics problem, which is why we build a day around it.
Group ride vs. private ride
| Group ride | Private ride | |
|---|---|---|
| Who's with you | A small guided group | Your group only, with your own guide |
| Route | Same beach, same horses | Same beach, same horses |
| Time on horseback | 90 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Best for | Most people; the better value | Photos, nervous first-timers, anyone who'd rather not ride in a line |
| Rules | Ages 7+, under 230 lbs | Ages 7+, under 230 lbs |
Rides are booked and paid directly with the ranch, with live pricing in the booking calendar. All equipment and instruction are included, and no experience is needed.
The group ride is the standard and the one most guests book. The private ride is worth it for unhurried photo stops or a rider who wants more hand-holding. Pair it with our private tour and the whole day is private, start to finish.
Which ride time?
Rides start at 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 3:30 PM, and every option becomes an 8-hour private day. A few ways we build it:
Morning ride (9:00 or 11:00). We pick you up in Waikiki at 7:00 or 9:00 AM, stop for coffee at Mele Mele Bakery in Waialua (get the mochi waffle), and you ride while the sand is empty. After that the whole day runs east and nothing is backtracking: Haleʻiwa, lunch, Waimea Bay, whichever break is working at Pipeline or Sunset Beach, and garlic shrimp at Kahuku. The 9:00 ride gets you back to Waikiki around 3:00 PM.
Afternoon or late ride (1:00 or 3:30 PM). We go the other way round: over the Pali, up the Windward coast past Kualoa Ranch, macadamia nuts at Tropical Farms, lunch at the original Giovanni's in Kahuku, then the North Shore beaches before the ride. The 3:30 ride puts the afternoon light straight across the sand, the best light of the day for photos.
Make it a full day
Lunch is your call. Grab a Kua ʻAina burger or Foodland poke and eat on the sand, or sit down at Haleiwa Beach House right on the water (closed Tuesdays). The beach depends on the day: in winter it's Pipeline, Sunset or Waimea Bay while the big swells run; in summer it's snorkeling at Sharks Cove, swimming at Waimea Bay, and turtles at Laniakea. Your guide photographs the whole day and shares a Google Drive folder afterward, included.
The tour is 100% private and fully customizable: just your group, your pace and your stops, adjusted on the day for the wind, the waves and the weather. It's $800 flat for a Toyota Sienna seating up to 6 ($200 each for four, about $133 each for six), or $1,000 for a Sprinter seating 7 to 14. Extra hours are $100 (Sienna) or $125 (Sprinter), and cancellation is free up to 72 hours before. The ride is booked and paid separately with the ranch.
See all our private Oahu tours →
Horseback riding FAQ
Do I need riding experience?
No. All levels are welcome, and equipment and instruction are included.
Who can ride?
Riders must be 7 or older and under 230 lbs.
How long is the ride?
About 90 minutes on horseback. Arrive 30 minutes early for check-in and boot and helmet fitting.
Do I book the ride through you?
No. Book the ride directly with the ranch through the horseback riding page, then reserve your private tour with us and tell us your hotel and ride time.
Is it a private ride if I book your tour?
The tour is always private. The ride is private only if you book the private ride; the group ride is a small guided group.