San Antonio to the Saddle: Texas Dude Ranch Adventure

Grab your Stetsons and western boots and practice your ‘Yee ha!’. We’re venturing into authentic cowboy territory on this nine-day Texan adventure.

This journey combines the vibrant culture of San Antonio with the genuine ranch life of the Texas Hill Country. Begin in San Antonio, where Spanish colonial heritage meets modern Texan spirit. Today, five UNESCO World Heritage Spanish missions dot the city including the world-famous and historic Alamo a key site in the Texas revolution, while the famous River Walk winds through downtown, connecting historic sites with outstanding restaurants and lively neighbourhoods.

San Antonio is a blend of culture and vibrancy with Spanish, Mexican and German roots shining through in the fabric of the city, from the festivals taking place through the year including Dia De Los Muertos to the food scene in this UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.

From there, head north-west into the Hill Country to Bandera, which has earned its official State of Texas designation as the Cowboy Capital of the World. Founded in 1853, this small town became a crucial staging area for the Great Western Cattle Trail. Between 1874 and 1894, an estimated 30,000 cowboys drove seven to 10 million Texas longhorns through Bandera, creating a legacy that still lives on today.

What sets Bandera apart is its authenticity. Cowboys still ride through downtown, hitching horses to Main Street posts. Working dude ranches surrounding the town offer ranch experiences including trail rides through cedar-clad hills, evening campfires under star-lit skies, and big helpings of hearty cowboy meals. The cypress-lined Medina River winds through the area, perfect for swimming and fishing.

Downtown Bandera retains its frontier character with Western wear shops, legendary honky-tonks like Arkey Blue’s Silver Dollar, and Saturday gunfight re-enactments. The surrounding Hill Country offers stunning natural beauty, with over 5,000 acres of trails at Hill Country State Natural Area for hiking and wildlife viewing.