Feted by royalty and friends with other intellectual luminaries of his day, George Forster was one history’s greatest explorers. An early advocate of racial and gender equality, retracing his journeys is an eye-opening way to see the world.

These trips let you discover some of the world’s most iconic horse-riding cultures and traditions — and explore wild landscapes straight from the saddle.

The less-visited corners of Kyushu Island are home to dramatic landscapes and hidden sanctuaries linked to Shinto creation legends. Here’s where they are—and how to visit them.