Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box

Puzzle 038: Moving Day

Original diagram for Puzzle 038: Moving Day

Move four horses that take 1, 2, 4 and 6 hours across, two at a time and riding one back, in the shortest time.

Chapter
Chapter 2
Location
Farm Entrance
Picarats
35 picarats
Type
Write Answer
Region
Same in all versions · Also called Four Horses in Europe
Hint 1: A gentle nudge. Tap to flip.
Hint 1

Sending the fastest horse back every time isn't the best plan.

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Hint 2: The key idea. Unlocks after the previous card is flipped.
Hint 2

Try to make the two slowest horses travel together, so you only pay for the slow one once.

Tap to flip back
Hint 3: Almost there. Unlocks after the previous card is flipped.
Hint 3

Get the 1- and 2-hour horses across first, so a fast horse is waiting at B to come back.

Tap to flip back
Answer: See the answer. Unlocks after the previous card is flipped.
Answer

The answer is 13 hours.

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Solution, FAQ and sources

Solution

1. Take the 1- and 2-hour horses to B: 2 hours. 2. Ride the 1-hour horse back: 1 hour. 3. Take the 4- and 6-hour horses together: 6 hours. 4. Ride the 2-hour horse back: 2 hours. 5. Take the 1- and 2-hour horses across: 2 hours.

Total: 2 + 1 + 6 + 2 + 2 = **13 hours**. We checked every possible sequence by computer, and 13 is the minimum.

About this puzzle

Four horses take 1, 2, 4 and 6 hours to travel from A to B. You can take at most two at once, travelling at the slower horse’s pace, and you have to ride a horse back to A each time. What’s the shortest total time to get all four to B?

Unofficial fan guide, not affiliated with LEVEL-5 or Nintendo. Puzzle description, hints and solution written by Hint by Hint.

Similar puzzles: Puzzle 037: World's Best Golfer, Puzzle 047: The Mayoral Election, Puzzle 024: A Strip of Paper, Puzzle 044: Tangled Ropes

All Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box puzzles

FAQ

What is the answer to Puzzle 038, Moving Day, in Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box?

The answer is 13 hours.

Where do you find Puzzle 038 in Diabolical Box?

Puzzle 038 appears in Chapter 2, in the Farm Entrance area.

How many picarats is Diabolical Box Puzzle 038 worth?

35 picarats.

What is Puzzle 038 called in Pandora's Box?

In the European version, Professor Layton and Pandora's Box, it's called Four Horses. The puzzle itself is the same.

Sources

Facts checked on November 14, 2026

Unofficial fan guide. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by LEVEL-5 Inc. Professor Layton, The New World of Steam, and all related names, characters, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.