How to Maximize PTO in 2026 Using Federal Holidays (and Travel on Horseback)
Are you perpetually short on PTO balances, wondering how your Instagram friends are ALWAYS in a different country? One thing I’ve realized is that PTO days matter less than how you use them. Combine your vacations with federal holidays, and suddenly you’ve saved enough time for an entire extra trip over the year.
This guide breaks down the best federal holidays in 2026 to maximize PTO, showing how to turn limited vacation days into longer trips—plus real riding holiday ideas for each long weekend.
Fair warning: optimizing for time usually means paying a little more. Holiday airfare can sting—but on a riding holiday, flights are often a smaller piece of the total cost than you’d think.
And now for our top 5 PTO-maxing holidays of 2026!
1. Memorial Day - 3 days of PTO for 6 days off
I never do anything special for Memorial Day, so spending it in Iceland on an adorable Icelandic horse sounds way better than the alternative. I went to Iceland for Thanksgiving last year and only managed to do a few short rides at Hestheimar. Iceland is one of the most diverse natural landscapes I've encountered and I imagine doing it mostly on horses would be even more interesting than by car. Plus it's surprisingly close to NYC!
Trek option
Iceland is a short plane ride, so I'm suggesting a self-guided progressive trip through a few amazing spots based on how much time you want to take off. Base yourself near Hestheimar for a few days (the owner is a champion show rider and really fun to be around), then treat yourself to a luxe stay at Hotel Geysir and do a day trip around the Golden Circle. Finish with a final ride at Laxnes Horse Farm near Reykjavik and a stop at a nearby spa like the Blue Lagoon before catching the plane home. Because nothing says 'I'm a sophisticated traveler' like drinking champagne in a geothermal spa after spending the day on a fuzzy Icelandic horse!
Stay option
The best of Eldehstar has you staying at the Eldehstar hotel every night, allowing a more comfortable experience than the other Iceland treks. It leaves on Sunday and finishes on Thursday, and allows you to see some of the highlights of Iceland in just a few days. The Blue Lagoon near Reykjavik should be worth a stop in before if you fly in a day early as well. It’s around $2400, which is not too bad!
2. Juneteenth + July 4th - 10 PTO days for 18 days off
I know - this strategy is going to go pretty deep into your PTO allowance. If you’re at Amazon, this might be all the PTO you get. In which case, I'm sorry … and check out Silver Spur for their July 4th weekend dates. However, if a Central Asian trek is on your bucket list, this is a prime opportunity to get a really unique and really remote trip in. Like Iceland, I’ve only managed a day trip in Kazakhstan—so a proper Central Asian trek is very high on my future list. It's just hard to pick the right one since they all involve a hefty PTO sacrifice!
Trek option: Reindeer Herders tour in Mongolia
Mongolia trekking is on many equestrian traveler bucket lists, so I’m going to suggest this Equitour trip that visits the reindeer herders AND allows you to check out Nadaam. Switch out American pride for Mongolian pride this year - Nadaam is the national festival where you will get to experience the best of Mongolian culture, from games on horseback to eagle hunting. And who needs fireworks when you’ll be going deep into the taiga, discovering the way of life of these unique people who herd and ride reindeer?
It’s pricey in total (almost 7K), but if you calculate the daily rate, it comes to $428/day. It’s expensive, especially for a mostly-camping trip—but extreme remoteness, logistics, and Equitours’ reputation likely explain a lot of that cost.
Stay option: Taiburyldyn Shanbysy Ranch
If you want to ride in Central Asia but don’t want to do the whole camping/trekking thing, this is a good option to look into. The nature looks beautiful, and while the accommodation isn’t luxe, it’s got all the basics covered. The prices (around $175 a day?) look very reasonable as well.
3. Labor Day - 4 PTO days for 7 days off
Take a break from your hard labor over the year and head on a fun vacation!
Trek option: Trans Wales Ride
A week-long trek through England’s most beautiful area? Yes, please!
At $3740 it’s not exactly cheap, but it sounds absolutely amazing - the description mentions trekking through forgotten bridleways, riders that must be comfortable with speed…this one is definitely on my list.
Stay option: Castle Leslie
This is definitely a splurge (around $1250 a day), but I’ve heard from many people that it’s completely worth it. You can choose between lessons (including cross country training) and hacks, and they accommodate all levels so this is a great idea for a romantic couples getaway. Plus, there’s plenty of non-riding activities, and apparently, the village nearby is considered the cutest in Ireland. This is ideal if one of you rides and the other mostly wants vibes, food, and a fireplace. Once I win the lottery, I’ll definitely be spending time there!
4. Thanksgiving - 5 PTO days for 10 days off
Truthfully, I've never been big on Thanksgiving - I'd rather skip the family drama and travel instead. Not only do you get two days off instead of one, but most other countries don’t celebrate this one, so you don’t have to worry about things being closed. This ranch in Argentina has been on my radar for its relative affordability, romantic pictures and rave reviews. Note that you might need an extra travel day since its a long bus ride from Buenos Aires.
Trek Option: Estancia Don Joaquin Horse Trek
This weeklong trek is offered year-round as long as you can find at least one other person to ride with you. Can’t find anyone? Send me a message, and I might be the one. You’ll get to be a gaucho for a week, riding through the wetlands of Argentina. Way more fun than family drama! No awkward political debates, no passive-aggressive comments about your life choices, just horses and wine. Living the dream. I couldn’t find the price for this, but given the overall rates at Don Joaquin, I suspect it will be reasonable.
Stay Option
Just do a stay at Estancia Don Joaquin without the horse trek! It looks amazing, and this will be spring in Argentina. Ride horses, drink Malbec by the pool, and eat some steak instead of turkey. $300 a day is very reasonable, although flights to Argentina can be quite long and expensive, depending on your destination.
5. Christmas and New Years - 5 PTO days for 13 days off
We’re too old for Santa, and frankly, most adult gift exchanges feel like a chore. And if one more person asks me what I want for Christmas, I'm going to scream 'A WEEK IN EGYPT ON AN ARABIAN HORSE' until they leave me alone. Fair warning, most providers have not posted December 2026 dates this far in advance, but I’m assuming the ones below will have something around that time :) I studied abroad in Egypt and I also learned to ride at an Arabian stud barn in Canada, so both the country and the horses are close to my heart, and I’m long overdue for a return.
Trek option: Desert Dreams
Riding Arabians through the desert sounds way better than watching snow fall. I have no idea what they’ll have around the Christmas holidays, but if I could combine some New Year's and Christmas to do the Luxor-Cairo-Siwa 11-day megatour with my few remaining PTO days, I will be one happy horse girl! At around $4K, including a single supplement, it’s not badly priced either!
Stay option: Rancho Las Cascadas
Christmas with a margarita, a pool, two adorable German Shepards (who are honestly better company than most of my relatives anyway), and two daily vaquero rides through the Mexican landscape. Sounds pretty ideal to me! Be sure to check out the weekly market for some presents to bring back home to those not fortunate enough to join you!
And there you have it! For 27 PTO days, you could actually go on 5 epic trips this year! I don't know anyone who actually gets that much, but if you have 20 days of PTO that means that you can go on 3-4, which is amazing! Time is the one thing you can’t earn more of—but you can steal it back strategically. If you’re going to burn PTO, you might as well do it somewhere unforgettable, preferably on horseback.