On my recent visit to Corolla in the Outer Banks (OBX), I wanted to visit the wild horses and snap some wildlife photography so I was seeking a fabulous Corolla wild horse tour.
My tour operator of choice provided hands-down the safest, most captivating, off-road, on the beach, a safe quest I could ever have imagined.

Which means I needed the #1 Corolla wild horse tour operator right?
Who is the #1 Corolla Wild Horse Tour Operator To Book With?
I’ll share that right now, but I also want to share the story, which is most intriguing.
First, the #1 Corolla wild horse tour I am about to share operates year-round, so be sure to check their website to seek out the date and time that works for you and your party (that you might be traveling with).
I often get a lot of questions about my photos and what cameras I used to capture them.
For this even I used an iPhone 12 ProMax, a Panasonic (LUMIX) DMC GX85, as well as a Nikon D3300.
Corolla Outback Adventures the Conservationist Operator You’ll Want To TOUR with.
Quite obviously I had a checklist that had to be met and it was and then some.
The tour operator I chose was Corolla Outback Adventures and I did so for the following reasons and EVERY One of them matters!
- I was traveling with my parents and my 2 young adults ✔️
- A tour guide who had in-depth and vast knowledge of the area we would ride to as well as the beach tendencies to change as we were driving on it. ✔️
- Tour operator which has genuine respect for the wildlife, area and conservation ✔️
- I’d toured with Corolla Outback Adventures not long ago, in the summer and wanted a feel for the Fall/Winter trips to see if they were the same or different so I could recommend them to others and my readers. ✔️
- Photos were a priority on my checklist ✔️
- A SAFE off-road ride was necessary ✔️
- To enjoy an off-road ride on the beach that was not out of hand, but yet still adrenaline pumping enough to satisfy. ✔️
- Access onto the private access into the “Wild Horse Conservation Easement which is situated on secluded land”* donated by the owner’s family which affords an additional habitat area for the Colonial Spanish Mustang! ✔️
- Come close to Virginia & North Carolina Border plus experience Carova Beach and Falst Cape State Park ✔️
- Actually see horses in their most natural habitat without putting them in harms’ way or driving myself. ✔️
- See the new foals ✔️
Book Your Corolla Off-Road Quest Today
Don’t let the words Corolla off-road quest fool you becuase we are not on a hunting expedition, rather the horses make unstaged appearances and the other wildlife just creates a fabulous 2 hour guided tour.
To be very clear:
- At no point in time were we invading the horses’s natural space, habitat, herding, moving, or touching them.
- Rather we viewed them from the vehicle at a very safe, but photographable distance.
WOW We are in the thick of the Corolla off-road quest to see Wild Horses
Admittedly it took a bit longer to find the horses, but there was plenty of scenery and fun riding until we struck upon wild horse gold!
Yee-haw, and no the horses you are seeing and one foal do not belong to the property owner.
Rather all the renters and homeowners understand that the 4×4 home area is where the horses roam freely and they will visit their yards, carports, etc, freely.
Look at how the horses just cohabitate and in the most natural environment. ♥♥♥
Our Corolla Off-Road Quest Just Got EVEN MORE Exciting
We ventured on a bit more, down so many different roads, only known to Edna, and we then stopped.
And this is why she stopped, a group of horses.
I was not NEARLY this close and I did have a telescopic lens on or if using my iPhone it was on mega Zoom as I refer to it for any captures you see throughout.
A group of 3 or 4 wild horses was there. And this one was an iPhone photo, the graininess gives it away.
I’ll be honest I can’t remember because I got SO excited.
Pure amazement no matter how many times we saw a wild horse
It just does not get old, no matter how many times you see a wild horse, it just becomes a magnetic-like force that your eyes can’t stop staring at.
I was entranced at the manes, the stature, and totally in disbelief that each wild horse in the yards was not just a horse owned by the homeowner.
In fact, I had to keep reminding myself that these are the wild horses of Corolla, it is so surreal to be in their presence.
Expect To Be Amazed on the Corolla Off-Road Quest
We had just passed another guide who did not see what EDNA saw.
And just like that, the most captivating moment for me of the trip while we were on the Corolla off-road quest.
I literally had grabbed whatever camera I could the fastest AFTER taking a minute to enjoy it from in front of the camera rather than behind the lens.
Epic Sweeping Scenery on the Corolla Wild Horse Tour
The Corolla wild horse tour is so much more than just the wild horse.
While the younger kids may simply delight in the quest to seek and find the wild horses, adults that love scenery and photography and crave the road less traveled will treasure this ride.
In fact, the wild horses are a gripping entity that draws you to the ride, but the back roads and ride on the beach make you feel as though you are not even in the country anymore, and just somewhere else.
Soothing, serenity, and areas where you will experience profound feelings of disquiet becuase you’ll just want to see and know more (like, what else is there, and where is it? )
2 hours will pass as though they are a New York minute and yet, you’ve visited the protected areas of the outermost Outer Banks area and unbelievably have even traveled as far as Virginia and North Carolina border.
The Best Banter happens when you pass this home
I’ll refer to this house as the most chattered about on the beach house in Corolla.
No matter who I speak with, or who has been on the Corolla Outback Adventure trip, this is the house everyone chatters about.
It’s also the house that either let you by or has the tide too close to not let you by!
Everyone talks say the same thing, “the person that put this house right on the beach, what were they thinking?”
All I can think about is Waterworld, and maybe it is actually a home that converts into a boat!
But, there’s also this house and it too provides an interesting trek when leaving the furthest point of this tour.
Honestly, both of these homes give new meaning to ‘life’s a beach!”
Fall + Winter Trips with #1 Corolla Wild Horse Tour
I will be the first to admit it was definitely blustery, even more than I had expected.
The weather does not hamper the adventure itself, but it might bother you.
Watching the wave rip in and out was awesome as we glided on the beach via Edna’s driving skills.
There are bumps but you are on sand and at the mercy of who has driven before you, and how their tire treads leave dips in the sand, plus the blowing sand! Wildly fun!
Tips for Dressing for the FALL/WINTER Corolla Wild Horse Tour
But, dress in layers, wear a hoodie or a cap and some gloves and you will be fine.
Do make certain to wear some close-toed shoes, especially if you get to step out of the vehicle (to the rest stop in Carova)
Hats will fly off.
Sunglasses are a great idea.
My parents really were layered up and probably the warmest on the ride, lol!
Now, as I mentioned, I just visited the Outer Banks for a Fall trip and it is so very different from the summer.
In fact, I might go as far as to exclaim that if you have not experienced the OBX after the summer you will definitely want to try this experience, as it’s one in a million, IMO.
My Thanks To Corolla Outback Adventures
Edna and Jay thank you so much for the incredible November tour.
My parents have never experienced this adventure until just now and they absolutely LOVED every minute of it.
I can’t say enough about how much I love taking this adventure in Corolla it is never the same and there’s something new to see every time.
As always, this is a family-perfect ride, that is relaxing, eventful, nature-filled, and always brings a smile to even the most difficult of customers, the young adults! ♥
Your work, and tour share what makes the Outer Banks such a special place to vacation and the story unfolds ride after ride and throughout your families’ (Jay) donated land. Thanks for what you do and give to each of us each day!
* https://corollaoutback.com/tours/
Transparency
My tour was provided, but images, opinions, and stories are based on my experience and knowledge of Corolla Outback Adventures.
Leave a Reply