If you’re looking for a fun summer activity with friends or family without hitting the beach or hiking trails, glamping is a unique option. While most of us have tried the usual tent camping, glamping combines the appeal of being outdoors with safety, security and access to creature comforts.
You don’t need to be a hardcore hiker to enjoy sleeping in a tent. Glamping is an easy and glamorous introduction to camping for those who haven’t really tried pitching a tent up in the mountains. Plus it’s a fun bonding activity for groups.
During our first night of #LakbayNorte8, our group of travel writers and bloggers enjoyed roughing it out in style at El Kabayo Clark Stables Picnic Grounds in Clark, Pampanga. The facility is best known as a Western-themed town with replica store fronts resembling saloons of the Wild West.
They’ve been offering horse rides and riding lessons in their stables for years now and have organized numerous sport horse events and western food festivals. The campsite on their spacious picnic grounds is their newest feature. They can arrange camping and glamping packages for guests who’d like to stay overnight or hold events.
After a jam-packed day exploring other attractions in Angeles City and Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, we arrived to the lovely picnic grounds where a row of tents were already set up under festive banners. Each tent contained three mattresses inside and a personalized amenity kit with a towel, toiletries and bottled water.
After dumping our bags near our assigned tents, we attacked the grazing table laden with assorted cold cuts, cheese, crackers, nuts, chips and dips.
The gorgeous spread was catered by Amante Ribs x Steak, a steakhouse, barbecue and buffet restaurant in the premises of El Kabayo.
Sparkling wine and soft drinks were passed around. It was fun to just put our phones down and enjoy chatting around a bonfire and roasting marshmallows.
Our hosts prepared different outdoor activities to keep us occupied including horseback riding, carriage riding and archery.
It got really cold at the campsite at night, but that just added to the fun of holing up inside the tents and chatting with friends.
The campsite had portalets and an outdoor shower where we could freshen up. There were also three enclosed bathrooms with decent restrooms and showers in a building on the grounds nearby. Since we had been on the road the whole day, we took advantage of a couple of sockets nearby so we could recharge our phones and other gadgets.
The whole glamping experience at El Kabayo is a good alternative for special events, birthday parties, family reunions, company outings and team-building sessions this summer. There’s no need to bother bringing a lot of camping equipment like tents or prepare food since everything is taken care of for you.
Aside from being a fun bonding activity for barkadas, I think it’s a way that families traveling with younger kids or older family members can enjoy being outdoors while still in a safe, secure setting and having access to restrooms, running water and good dining options nearby.
Rates & Contact info
Glamping packages at El Kabayo Clark Stables Picnic Grounds are tailor-made for clients. Rates depend on the number of pax, inclusions and activities. For inquiries, please contact them directly.
- Contact person: Sherriff Gabby Lao: 09178344055
- Facebook: El Kabayo Horseback Riding
Location
How to get to El Kabayo Clark
El Kabayo is located inside Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, approximately 80 kilometers north of Manila. It is accessible by private and public transportation.
By private transportation
- Driving by car from Manila to Clark takes an 1.5 – 2 hours.
- Take the North Luzon Expressway and exit at Dau, Mabalacat City, Pampanga.
- Make a left turn toward Angeles City and then a right turn toward Clark.
- Clark may also be reached via the new Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).
- From the North Luzon Expressway, continue the drive leading to the SCTEX exit. You may use either the Clark North Interchange (Panday Pira access road near Nayong Pilipino) or Clark South Interchange (near Yokohama and Clark Main Gate) to enter Clark.
By public transportation
- Public buses ply the routes on a daily basis.
- Ride a Victory Liner bound for Dagupan and alight at Dau Bus Terminal.
- Walk to the intersection of the highway with KFC and a gas station and cross to the opposite side.
- Take a jeep bound for SM Clark. Get off at Clark Main Gate Jeepney Terminal. Tricycles are also available from the intersection.
- Check for the Route 3 Terminal and take a jeep for that route. Ask the driver to drop you off at Clark Picnic Grounds. The jeep should pass directly in front of El Kabayo towards the end of the route.
Photo credits: All photos by Mac Dillera of North Philippines Visitor’s Bureau (NPVB)