Holidays

/ 15 October 2025

Where To Holiday Like A Cowboy

With everyone from Beyoncé to Kevin Costner riding the cowboy core trend hard, perhaps it’s time you jumped aboard. Even if you don’t think you can pull off a ten-gallon hat, there’s something to be said for the slow mornings, cinematic views and fireside slugs of bourbon that define trail life. From Montana to the Mediterranean, here are six spectacular destinations where the Western culture is still strong…

Lone Ranch

IN THE US

BIG SKY

MONTANA

Rugged peaks and widescreen vistas help make Montana a cinematic example of cowboy country. Its landscapes have long drawn skiers and hikers, but lately it’s the ranch fantasy that’s pulling travellers into slow mornings, horseback trails and evenings by the fire.

At the centre of the Montana scene right now is Big Sky. This is where Lone Mountain rises above alpine meadows, dense forest and valleys that are best traversed on horseback. In summer, this is also where you’ll find wranglers offering roping lessons, guided rides and cattle drives. You can also try your hand at fly fishing, white-water rafting and mountain biking, though evenings are strictly for fireside bourbon, stargazing and a slow dinner with a mountain view.

In winter, Big Sky transforms into a snowy playground. Across 5,800 acres, the opportunities for off-piste adventures are many – cross-country skiing through pine forests, dog-sledding across frozen meadows, and snowmobiling deep into the backcountry.

New for 2025, the resort has added the world’s longest eight-person chairlift, a slopeside food and drink hub, and (opening next month) the ultra-luxury One&Only Moonlight Basin hotel.

WHERE TO STAY: If you only have a few days to play with, head straight to Lone Ranch (rooms from $850 per night). A revamped, century-old working ranch, it’s become a place of luxury log cabins, horseback adventures through alpine meadows, and roaring fires. Its Auric Room is open to guests and locals for dinner and drinks. The ranch itself is open year-round, offering backcountry skiing, dog sledding, snowmobiling and more during ski season.

For something more affordable, Colorado-based Gravity Haus has recently opened a hotel-come-summer-lodge in Big Sky’s town centre ($275 per night). Its 29 rooms are simple but functional, and there’s easy access to the resort’s outdoor pursuits. On site there’s a taco bar, a coffee shop and a wellness and recovery zone with plunge pools and saunas.

Moonlight Basin Hotel

YELLOWSTONE

WYOMING

Wyoming is right on the Great Western Cattle Trail that used to run from Texas to Montana. It’s a place where the spirit of the West lives on today. Close to the Montana border, and just over an hour’s drive from Big Sky, Yellowstone is an obvious destination for road trippers chasing wide skies, wild landscapes and a taste of old-time adventure.

As the backdrop to Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone series, it has become synonymous with cowboy core. But Yellowstone is also a geological marvel, where erupting geysers, vast canyons and roaming bison define a unique landscape. Spanning two million acres across three states, the park’s scale is staggering, so a bit of planning is essential to make the most of its diverse terrain and wildlife sightings.

As you’d expect, hiking is a serious business: trails range from gentle boardwalks around geysers to multi-day backcountry treks through bear country. You’ll need to plan ahead, carry bear spray, and know your routes – popular hikes include the Lamar Valley for wildlife spotting, Fairy Falls for geothermal views and Mount Washburn for panoramic views.

Just outside the park, towns like Cody and Jackson offer a slice of Western life. In Cody, the nightly rodeo is a summer staple, drawing crowds with bull riding, barrel racing and local delicacies. Jackson feels slightly more polished. You’ll want to spend some time in its saloons, where craft whisky is served alongside live country music.

The Mountain Yurt

WHERE TO STAY: If there was ever a place to make the most of Airbnb’s unique homes, this is it. You can find everything from yurts and retro airstreams to design-led guesthouses with epic views. This guest house in Livingstone (from £100 per night), just outside the park, sleeps two amid modern amenities and rustic design. For something more high end, The Mountain Yurt (from £340 per night) sleeps up to six (though is better suited to couples) with a separate living area home to an indoor wood burner and a hot tub on the deck. Detailed oak panelling, floor-to-ceiling windows and incredible mountain views make it a true bucket-list stay.

Hotel Yellowstone at Jackson Hole (from £1,300 per night) is an adults-only property that feels both contemporary and traditional – picture timber, stone and leather accents throughout. Just steps from the town square, it’s in a great location for browsing galleries, sipping cocktails at the bars or just gearing up for a day in the park. The hotel can help plan bespoke experiences, including park tours, fly fishing, white-water rafting down the Galletin River, shooting and winter pursuits like snowmobiling.

andrew meehan/unsplash

TUCSON

ARIZONA

Tucson sits in southern Arizona, framed by the Sonoran Desert and sandwiched between two national parks. One of the most visually striking and culturally layered destinations in America’s Southwest, its blend of dramatic landscapes, rich Indigenous and Hispanic heritage, and access to authentic ranch experiences sets it apart from other desert towns, offering travellers a quieter, more immersive take on the Western escape.

The appeal here lies in the contrast. Downtown Tucson is home to a mix of typical adobe architecture with a growing arts and food scene. Just beyond the city, the desert opens up to endless trails and panoramic views. Saguaro National Park surrounds the city on both sides, offering hikes through cactus forests and rocky ridgelines. Bear Canyon and Sabino Canyon are well-trodden paths for day hikes, while Mount Lemmon provides cooler air and pine-scented trails just an hour’s drive up. Again, preparation is key – desert hiking means early starts, plenty of water, and bear spray if you’re venturing into more remote areas.

Tucson is also a city for foodies. Recognised as a Unesco ‘Creative City of Gastronomy’, dishes here are rooted in heritage and shaped by the desert. You’ll find mesquite-grilled meats, hatch chile everything, and tacos served in low-lit cantinas and roadside diners. Bars are casual but characterful: mezcal flights, desert-inspired cocktails and sunset views are standard, but you should also explore the prickly pear margaritas on offer and try native ingredients like tepary beans and cholla buds.

Finally, Tucson might also be the place to commission a pair of bespoke boots. For hand-cut leather, custom stitching and a tailored fit, head to Tecovas at La Encantada.

The Mountain Yurt

Laila Skalsky/UNSPLASH

WHERE TO STAY: You might not associate this part of the world with wellness, but Tucson is home to one of the world’s top retreats. Set against the backdrop of the Sonoran Desert, pioneering Canyon Ranch (from $900 per night) blends integrative medicine with luxury spa treatments, movement classes and desert-inspired therapies. Guests come for everything from sleep optimisation and nutrition coaching to guided hikes and sound healing.

If that doesn’t appeal, Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch Resort (from £250 per night) should fit the bill. This smart, historic property in the Catalina Foothills was once a boarding school for society daughters, and is now home to hacienda-style suites, desert gardens and panoramic views, with a restaurant that’s consistently ranked among Tucson’s best.

Over in downtown Tucson, newly opened Leo Kent Hotel (from £320 per night) is part of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio. There are nods to the desert within the design, as well as fantastic mountain views. Guests can unwind at the lobby lounge and on-site restaurant, while the location puts you steps from the city’s best bars, galleries and Sonoran cuisine.

GETTING THERE:

For Yellowstone and Big Sky, the easiest route from the UK is via Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN). Fly from London Heathrow to Denver, Chicago or Dallas with a major carrier, then connect to Bozeman (total travel time is around 13-15 hours). From there, it’s a scenic one-hour drive to Big Sky, and Yellowstone’s north and west entrances are easily accessible by car. Alternatively, Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) offers direct access to Yellowstone’s south entrance via connecting flights from Denver or Dallas.

For Tucson, fly from London Heathrow to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), then take a short domestic hop or a 2-hour drive south to Tucson. British Airways and American Airlines offer reliable connections, and car hire is recommended for exploring the desert surrounds and wellness retreats.

Hotel Yellowstone, Jackson Hole

BEYOND THE US

The US doesn’t have a monopoly on authentic cowboy experiences. Here are three other destinations to have on your radar…

FOR THE CALGARY STAMPEDE

Alberta, Canada

Every July, Calgary puts itself at the centre of one of the great Western spectacles. The Calgary Stampede is the world’s largest rodeo – ten days of bull riding, chuckwagon races and cowboy fashion that turns the city into a boots-and-denim playground. It’s a celebration of the ranch lifestyle, with live music, pancake breakfasts and high-octane events. Canadian tuxedos are obligatory.

FOR HORSEBACK TREKKING

Patagonia, Argentina

In Patagonia, at the southern tip of South America, cowboy culture becomes gaucho culture. Numerous tour operators, as well as independent brands, offer horseback trekking journeys across wind-swept plains and glacier-fed valleys, offering, as you can imagine, unbelievable views. Staying at an estancia (Argentina’s version of a working ranch) means languid mornings, open fires and riding alongside local horsemen in some of the most dramatic scenery on the continent.

FOR A SHORT-HAUL BREAK

Andalusia, Spain

Andalusia offers a Mediterranean take on cowboy life that’s rooted in Spanish vaquero traditions. In the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, there’s romance as well as rodeo, with horse fairs and cattle herding rituals meeting flamenco dancers and sun-drenched landscapes.

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