Ride itinerary - Horses, tack & riding experience
Guides - Accomodation - Dates & rates - Book this ride

Day 1
Meeting directly in Couze Saint Front village at the guesthouse in the end of the afternoon.
Possibility to arrive at Bergerac train station or aiport and then to be transfer to Lalinde.
Typical dinner and overnight stay in guest house.

Day 2 - 5 hours riding
Progam presentation at breakfast. Departure from Bannes' castle (15th century's private castle) at about 10.30 am. We pass through the bastide of Lalinde, then we ride along the canal. Arrival at the village of Mauzacon, place of our picnic, on the right side of the Dordogne. In the afternoon we ride to Limeuil, ancient fishing port at Dordogne and Vézère confluence. Dinner and overnight stay in guesthouse.

Day 3 - 5 hours on horseback
We ride trough woods and forests before lunch in St Cyprien, a village which is like hung on the rocks.
In the afternoon, we ride towards the Milandes' castle, the older property of Joséphine Backer (from 1947 to 1968). Dinner and overnight stay in guesthouse.

Day 4 - 4,5 hours riding
To reach our picnic place in the bastide of Domme, we ride from the castle of Tayac to Castelnaud's castle through a medieval path. From Domme’s headland, you can cast an eye over he whole valley of the Dordogne, from the castle of Montfort in the east, to Beynac in the west. In the afternoon we ride down into the valley to join Sarlat, the medieval city and its famous small streets and nice half-timbered houses. Dinner and overnight stay in guesthouse.

Day 5 - 3 hours riding
Today, we only ride in the morning. We cross Sarlat on horseback and join castle of Campagnac for the lunch.
The afternoon is free. You can take your time to visit the beautiful city of Sarlat. It is possible to have a guided tour in the afternoon or at noon after the dinner. Dinner and overnight stay in guesthouse.

Day 6 - 5 hours on horseback
To get to the village of Meyral, we cross forests with chestnut trees. We can see the Puymartin's castle, wich has been built in the 15th century. We have lunch in front of Meyral's church. In the afternoon we ride down into the valley of the Vézère before end up at Limeuil. Dinner and overnight stay in guesthouse.

Day 7 - 5 hours in the saddle
In the morning we ride along the Dordogne towards Cadouin. The picnic spot take place near Cadouin’s abbey built in the 7th century. The Gothic cloister has columns with Renaissance's capitals. In the afternoon, we ride through the La Béssede's forest, the most important forest of Périgord. We end up in Monpazier, a typical local english bastide. Built in 1284 during King Edouard 1st era. Monpazier is be seen as a model among the 300 bastides of the south-west. Transfer back for dinner and overnight stay in guesthouse.

Day 8
The riding tour ends after breakfast. If needed, transfer back to Bergerac train station or airport.


Attention: the above itinerary might be modified depending on climate, riding level of the group and availability of accommodations.

Horses

Most of the horses (number of 35) were born at our stable and are used to live together in a herd on our praries. This way they enjoy a life as natural as possible.
Each has its own character but all are gentle and well tempered. There are different arab cross breeds and pure arabs. They do work in our riding school as well as on the trail rides.

Tack

We use leather trail saddles (French brands, i.e. Forestier, JMS, Gaston Mercier).
Simple bridle or hackamors, depending on the horse. Saddle bags are provided.

Riding experience

To participate in our trail ride, we ask all riders to be confident at all gaits in the open and to be in a good physical condition (able to ride thirty kilometers per day, an average of 5 hours riding).
On this tour we have dynamic pace, varied terrain and some technical difficulties, but our well trained horses grant total security.

Children accompanied by an adult are welcome on this ride from the age of 12 and from 14 if they come on their own (with parental consent).

Weight limit is 115kg (254 pounds)

Possibility to bring your own horse on this ride.

The non riders are also welcome. They can follow in the support vehicle and participate in the visits.

Guiding

Your guide is a professional horseman, used to guide trails in the area. In love with the region, he'll make you discover those wonderful landcapes in the best conditions.

Logistic

Transportation of luggages and equipments will be made by our support vehicule.
He will join us every noon and nights.

Accommodation

Along this riding tour, the 7 nights are provide in guesthouse and Inn in double or single room with private facilities.

Possibility to booked a single room in advance. To be paid at the same time of your reservation.

Meals

The lunch is bring by the logistic vehicle in middle of nature. In case of bad weather, the vehicle is fitted to put the table under and allow us to eat shelter from the rain.
Dinner are taken at the accomodation, with local product. The diversity of the menu is one of the special point on this ride.
The drinks are include for breakfast and lunch only.

Small group supplement to make departure guaranteed from 2 riders. This supplement will decrease depends of number of rider booked on the tour :
- from 2 riders, supplement of 590 euros per person.
- from 3 riders, supplement of 390 euros per person.
- from 4 riders, supplement of 295 euros per person.
- from 5 riders, supplement of 240 euros per person.
From 6 riders, there is no supplement.


Single supplement : 200 euros
if you are willing to share your room, even if we don't find another rider to share with you, this supplement won't be apply.

 

For non rider who would like to follow the ride, a discount of 300 euros will apply.
For riders who would like to come with their own horse, a discount of 235 euros will apply.

- Trail ride as described on full board basis (in double room basis), from dinner of day 1 to breakfast of day 8,

- Total and unlimited financial guarantee (APS) of all payments made to us (see "why ride with us ?"),

- Protection of the French Law for travel consumers who book through French travel agencies (see "why ride with us ?").

- transportation to the departure of the ride,

- drinks at dinner,

- visits and wine/local product tasting,

- transfers from and to Bergerac train station (20 euros return trip to be paid directly on the spot),

- any other service or optional visit entries, personal expenses,

- tips,

- a tour to discover other regions of France before or after the trail (castle life, golf training, thalassotherapy spas...), see our "after ride proposals".

- optional insurances.

You will be meet directly at the first guesthouse at about 05.00 pm.

Possibility to have a transfer from Bergerac train station. In that case, plan an arrival in the middle of the afternoon on the first day and a departure after 10.00 am on day 8 (about 30mn drive)

Although situated on the same latitude than Montreal or Vladivostok, the Perigord enjoy an ocean climate and a little bit temperate due to Gufl stream influence.

But, many continentale influence make the winter temperature lower.