pony express tours

• Skip to global NPS navigation
• Skip to this park navigation
• Skip to the main content
• Skip to this park information section
• Skip to the footer section

Exiting nps.gov

Alerts in effect, long distance communication.

It is hard to believe that young men once rode horses to carry mail from Missouri to California in the unprecedented time of only 10 days. This relay system along the Pony Express National Historic Trail in eight states was the most direct and practical means of east-west communications before the telegraph. Read More

Do you want to experience the trail? Learn more about where you can go, historic sites you can visit and more!

Take a look at interactive, historic, and trip planning maps to learn more about locations along the trail.

Many folks wonder what a national historic trail actually is. Hear from trail staff about how we define these important parts of history.

Connect on social media, explore deeper on mobile apps, watch videos, and check out other digital media!

Recreation of the Pony Express in a Commemorative 10-day Re-Ride.

Last updated: February 13, 2024

Park footer

Contact info, mailing address:.

National Trails Regions 6|7|8 Pony Express National Historic Trail 1100 Old Santa Fe Trail Santa Fe, NM 87505

Stay Connected

Explore subjects and stories related to this park.

Pony Express Tours

Horseback Rides in Maui, Hawaii

Haleakala Ranch Mauka Ride

1.5 hour ride across scenic historic haleakala ranch. includes refreshments..

These morning and afternoon rides are perfect for those who explore Haleakala earlier in the day! Before you leave upcountry, take in this relaxing 1 1/2 hour ride across historic Haleakala Ranch. A perfect way to top off a Haleakala day!

Reservations required though drop-ins accommodated

$95.00 per person 11:30 am & 2:00 pm

Book 11:30 am Mauka Ride Now for the 10% Internet discount Book 2:00 pm Mauka Ride Now for the 10% Internet discount

What to Bring:

Our Haleakala Ranch horseback rides take place at the 4,000 ft. elevation above sea level. Wear long pants, closed toe shoes (like a sneaker) bring a jacket, hat, and sunscreen. Helmets are provided and recommended though riders may waiver their use. Meet 30 minutes prior to the ride at the Pony Express Ranch Office.

• BBB.ORG ACCREDITATION
• Social Media
• Wind Creek-Wetumpka, AL
• Creek Casino-Montgomery, AL
• NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
• San Francisco
• Minnesota, Minneapolis
• JACKSONVILLE, FL
• 12th Year ANNIVERSARY TOUR
• Little Poney Express
• Authentic Luxury Transportation
• Memorial Day Getaway Tour
• Cancer Awarness Tour
• Customer-Contact

FIND YOUR WINNING MOMENT

Wind creek wetumpka.

Riverside Marketplace Now Open

• A total of $10,000 Free Play will be given away each promotional day

• Skip to global NPS navigation
• Skip to the main content
• Skip to the footer section

Exiting nps.gov

The pony express re-ride.

The Pony Rides Again!

About the Event

A lone rider gallops across a landscape of prairie grass and sagebrush and mountain terrain. The sound of approaching hoofbeats is heard from afar. Another rider and horse awaits in the shade of a tree. The incoming rider reins in and greetings are exchanged. Dismounting, the incoming courier lifts a leather mochila from the saddle. It is placed on the new horse and the fresh rider steps into the stirrup, swings into the saddle and begins a ride over the horizon and back into history!

Each June , members of the National Pony Express Association recreate the Pony Express in a Commemorative Re-Ride over a 10 days period. Letters are carried in a mochila over the original trail. The 1,966 mile, eight state event is conducted 24 hours a day until the mail is delivered to its destination. This national event is an opportunity for all young and old to ride the Pony Trail and to receive mail via the Pony Express!

Over 750 riders participate and around 1,000 letters are mailed each year. Riders come from all walks of life, but are all members of NPEA. You can participate in this exciting event

How can I see the Pony Express Re-ride in person?

As the riders make their way from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California, there are scheduled exchanges were the riders will hand off the mochila and a new rider will continue the delivery. The ride takes place 24 hours a day so some of these happen in the middle of the night!

• See the Ride Schedule

Follow Along Virtually

• National Pony Express Association Re-Ride Information

Members Mount their Horses and Re-Ride History

Follow the Pony Express Re-Ride and the mail as they travel more than 1,800 miles between Sacramento, CA and St. Joseph, MO. The Pony Riders travel day and night to make the 10 day trip. There is a GPS that is carried in the Mochila, which “pings” every five minutes, to mark a Pony Rider icon on the map for you to track.

You also can check the National Pony Express phone Hotline at 1-855-809-8589. This Hotline is updated as soon as reports begin coming in from the trail. These reports come from riders, support staff for the riders, Radio Ham Operators and from the interactive map.

Pony Express National Historic Trail

National Trails

You might also like.

• pony express national historic trail
• pony express
• national trails
• historic trails
• pony express trail
• pony express reride
• horseback riding

Last updated: May 13, 2024

Voted Assateague Island’s #1 Nature Tour

PONY EXPRESS NATURE CRUISE

Travel to assateague’s wild horses.

Wild horses, dolphins, birdwatching, spectacular scenery and wildlife in Virginia. Assateague Explorer’s U.S. Coast Guard Certified tour boat  “Misty” departs from Chincoteague Island, Virginia, by the beautiful southern part of Assateague.

Traveling by boat is the ultimate way to see wild ponies, eagles, shorebirds, marine life and spectacular views. Led by an experienced captain with local knowledge, cruise along the backside of Assateague for the best chance to see the wildlife.

The Assateague Explorer cruise takes you to places the legendary wild horses and migratory birds call home. Since 2001, we have introduced thousands of visitors to these pristine areas on our cruises. Assateague Explorer’s nature cruise offers a balance of relaxation, natural history and outdoor adventure.

If you’re looking for adventure, Assateague Explorer has it. This is a great family vacation in Virginia. Ask about our group tours for a discount.

Advanced reservations are recommended. Reserve now and you are confirmed, we have your name on the list at the dock.

PRIVATE CRUISE is also available.

* Group discounts available. * The pricing listed above is a starting price. It may be different depending on the day (e.g.  weekends, holiday weekends) or availability. * The schedule & price are subject to change. * Pet friendly. There is $15 fee for a pet.

What is the best time of day to see wild ponies and wildlife?

Anytime of day is great. Wild horses graze and move around anytime of the day. Shorebirds, eagles and dolphins are also seen at any time of the day. April through October is awesome.

Assateague Tour Boat

The tour boat fleet consists of a variety of vessels designed to explore the area while also to ensure your safety and comfort. Each is equipped to transport you to the most captivating areas for an unforgettable experience along Assateague Island. All of our tour boats are guaranteed to get you to the best areas (see photos ).

Combo Tour (SAVE 10%)

Get the most out of your vacation..

You can do the cruise & kayak tour or go twice on the boat or kayak (the same day or separate days). Every time we go out is different. Herds of wild horses, dolphins & other wildlife move around all day long. The combo tour is the best way to see the most wildlife & scenery.

Assateague Wild Ponies

The waterways here provide an extraordinary array of protected coves, channels and inlets as we search for wild ponies and other things we discover. The wild horses live in family groups called “bands” and graze on the salt marsh grasses at various remote areas where we see them. These horses are ac tually a registered breed known as  Chincoteague Ponies and are as unique as they are impressive to watch. Each Summer, about 60 new foals are born.  Approximately 150 wild ponies graze in various family groups along the scenic interior coastlines we can reach by boat here.

The smooth waters between the barrier islands of Assateague and Chincoteague are perfect to enjoy the scenery & various wildlife. The sightseeing tour take you in comfort through some of Assateague and Chincoteague’s most spectacular scenery including the lighthouse. Jump aboard and head across to nearby Assateague Island National Seashore and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Visitors of all ages can catch a glimpse into the daily lives of the legendary wild ponies. Travel to the best areas to see herds of the wild horses, bald eagles, dolphins, shorebirds and other wildlife.

Assateague provides safe haven for the legendary horses and is a vital habitat for both resident and migratory bird species. The island is located in a major bird migration route. Visitors see many species of birds during our cruises. The places we visit provide excellent birding. Birdwatching by boat is awesome. If you enjoy horses, birdwatching or photography, you will love it. The cruise offers the most efficient way for pony watching & birdwatching. This is the way to get out to the best parts of Assateague Island. Bring your camera, there are excellent opportunities for outdoor photography.

Dolphins are encountered almost everyday during the cruise. The marine waters and pristine estuaries here set the perfect stage for dolphins and other marine life that we encounter frequently. Dolphins love to hunt for fish and socialize. The waters and land are teaming with life. Horses & wildlife are active in different areas all during the day, you can encounter various forms of wildlife throughout the day, so go twice while you are here. Do the Combo Tour. You will love pony watching and the awesome scenery. Wild ponies, dolphins, shore birds, wildlife & scenery await. Travel to the best part of Assateague in Virginia & see the legendary wild horses & wildlife. The Chincoteague tour to Assateague is a great family vacation.

The Assateague Explorer Chincoteague boat tour to Assateague is the best way to see the wild horses & wildlife along the Wildlife Refuge. Captain Mark (the founder of pony watching by boat) has been called the “pony whisperer” and for good reason. He knows where to look for the wild ponies and was featured on the Good Morning America show as the pioneer of Pony Watching by boat. He has worked as a park ranger for the National Park Service and is a native of Chincoteague. His family has lived on Chincoteague Island since the early 1800’s. His parents were classmates with the children from the famous book “Misty”. Capt. Mark’s grandfather had a starring role in the film “Misty of Chincoteague” and some of his grandfather’s horses (such as “Phantom” Misty’s mother) were featured in the movie. Captain Mark is a nature photographer on the boat as well, you can see his art prints of wild horses and nature at his website:  Photographerimages.com . The history of Assateague’s ponies, wildlife behavior, special adaptations, birdwatching and local ecology are our specialty.

• EUR (€)
• GBP (£)
•   Contact us

• Currency : 
• US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Russian Ruble Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Danish Krone Japanese Yen Norwegian Krone Swedish Krona
• Toll Free 0800 011 2023
• US and Canada United Kingdom Australia Brazil Netherlands Russia Sweden
• Tours by Region Moscow Saint Petersburg Golden Ring Lake Baikal Murmansk Siberia & Far East Sochi & Southern Russia Amsterdam Berlin Copenhagen Gdansk Georgia Helsinki Kaliningrad Kamchatka Karelia Kazan Klaipeda Nizhny Novgorod Northern Europe Oslo Perm Riga Ryazan Stockholm Tallinn Ulan-Ude Veliky Novgorod Vilnius Vladivostok Volgograd Yakutia Yekaterinburg
• Why Choose our Day Tours
• One Day Tours Two Days Tours Three Day Tours
• About Russian tours Private vs Group Tours
• Tours by Region Moscow & St.Peterburg Moscow Saint Petersburg Golden Ring Lake Baikal Trans-Siberian Siberia & Far East Altai Kaliningrad Kamchatka Karelia Kazan Perm Veliky Novgorod Yakutia Yekaterinburg
• Tour Types Small Group Tours Private Tour Theme Tour
• Moscow events St. Petersburg events Events archive
• Events by type Ballet Opera Concert Show All types
• Top theaters Bolshoi theatre - Historic Stage Bolshoi theatre - Small Stage Mariinsky Theater Mariinsky Theatre - Mariinsky II Mikhailovsky Theater
• Direction Moscow - St.Petersburg St. Petersburg - Moscow
• Ships MS Rostropovich MS Volga Dream MS Anton Chekhov MS General Lavrinenkov MS Georgy Chicherin MS Ivan Bunin MS Konstantin Fedin MS Konstantin Korotkov MS Kronshtadt MS Maxim Gorky MS Nikolay Chernyshevsky MS Nizhny Novgorod MS Rachmaninoff MS River Victoria MS Scenic Tsar MS Tikhy Don (MS Alexander Borodin) MS Vasiliy Kandinsky MS Zosima Shashkov Mustai Karim
• Russian Visa Invitation
• Moscow The Kremlin Red Square Golden Ring Tverskaya Street Grand Kremlin Palace (The Kremlin) Christ the Savior Novodevichiy Convent Moscow Subway The Bolshoi Theater Armoury Chamber (The Kremlin) St. Basil's Cathedral The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts Yury Gagarin Cosmonauts training center
• Saint Petersburg Hermitage Museum Peterhof Catherine's Palace (Tsarskoe Selo) Pavlovsk St. Isaac Cathedral Peter and Paul Fortress Nevsky Prospect Yusupov Palace Savior on Blood Amber room Bronze Horseman (Senate square) Hermitage Theatre Kazansky Cathedral Kronstadt Palace Square Spit of the Vasilievsky Island
• 1/7th of the World Volga River Siberia Baikal Kazan Sochi Smolensk Nizhny Novgorod Kaliningrad Ulyanovsk Verkhoturova Island
• uVisitRussia Why travel with UVisitRussia Customers' Testimonials Contact details Cancellations & Changes
• Russian Travel News
• Russian travel advice Advices while packing Advices while travelling

• Shore excursions
• The Best of Two Capitals Private
• The Best of Two Capitals Small Group
• The Best of Two Capitals Gold
• Russia's Ancient Kingdoms
• Cradle of Russia
• Explore Moscow
• Explore St. Petersburg
• Read Customer Testimonials
• Advantages of Traveling with Us

US office 3422 Old Capitol Trail Suite 1252 , Wilmington DE, 19808 USA. US toll-free: 1-888-845-8877 Russian office Ligovsky pr. 57, Office 19, 191040, St. Petersburg, Russia

tel: +7-812-309-5339

© 2001 – 2024 by Northern Crown, Ltd. uVisitRussia  and uVisitRussia.com are registered trademarks .   Terms & Conditions   Privacy Policy

Sign in with your social account

Sign in to our website using your Facebook or Google+ account.

Why Do You Need Our Travel Expert

Contact our experts, and they will help you to plan your best trip to Russia, with attention to every detail!

Our Experts have been in the travel industry for many years, guarantee to offer first class customer service, excellent value for money and unbiased advice. They are standing by to find and build your dream holiday to one of the world's most fascinating destinations - Russia. Your personal Travel Expert will guide you through each stage of the travel process, from choosing a program that fits you best to support during your trip.

Just tell us your e-mail, and we'll take care of everything!

Ask a Travel Expert

Leave your phone number.

Your tour request has been received. Thank you ! We have sent you the confirmation message to  [email]

Please make sure that you receive this message (sometimes e-mail messages may go to the spam/junk mail). If you did not get this message, it means you will not get message with the tours' selection as well. If you use a Yahoo!, Gmail, AOL or Hotmail, we recommend to add  [email protected]   to your address book.

We recommend to leave your phone number. If we will not heard back that you received the e-mail with the tours' selection, we will contact you by phone. And you will not miss the best tour for you.

Thank you ! Your request for Travel Expert assistance has been sent. We will e-mail you within 1 hour.

Sorry, some changes needed

There was a problem with your request.

Expedia Rewards is now One Key™

Elektrostal, visit elektrostal, check elektrostal hotel availability, popular places to visit.

• Electrostal History and Art Museum

You can spend time exploring the galleries in Electrostal History and Art Museum in Elektrostal. Take in the museums while you're in the area.

• Cities near Elektrostal

• Places of interest
• Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center
• Central Museum of the Air Forces at Monino
• Peter the Great Military Academy
• Bykovo Manor
• Balashikha Arena
• Ramenskii History and Art Museum
• Malenky Puppet Theater
• Balashikha Museum of History and Local Lore
• Pekhorka Park
• Saturn Stadium
• Orekhovo Zuevsky City Exhibition Hall
• Noginsk Museum and Exhibition Center

• Yekaterinburg
• Novosibirsk
• Vladivostok

• Tours to Russia
• Practicalities
• Russia in Lists

Rusmania • Deep into Russia

Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

Plan your next trip to Russia

Ready-to-book tours.

Your holiday in Russia starts here. Choose and book your tour to Russia.

REQUEST A CUSTOMISED TRIP

Looking for something unique? Create the trip of your dreams with the help of our experts.