Renowned for its sumptuous castles, vestiges of a royal past, the famous Loire Valley is in the same time rich in history and in architecture.

Chambord, Chenonceau, Cheverny, the greatest castles of the Renaissance lay like a spring of perls along the Loire and the Cher rivers. But Nature also is well represented by the big forests of the Sologne with their high trees and the richness of game which is known worldwide.

Welcoming host tables invite you to enjoy game, fish and the numerous vegetables of the region washed down with some Gamay or Cheverny vine. Gluttany is not a sin in this wealthy region!
Spend a week with us to discover the beautiful castles on horseback.

Day 1: Sunday
Meeting of the riders directly to the guesthouse "Larabouillere" in Contres (30 min drive from Blois) around 5pm to meet the other participants and the guides. Possibility to be transferred from Blois train station. Dinner and presentation of the program for the week. Night at the guesthouse.

Day 2: Monday
After breakfast, we meet the horses. We ride to the castle of Chemery dated from the medieval period. After lunch picnic, we visit the castle. We ride through this beautiful part of the Sologne with woods and ponds during the afternoon to reach the Cher river where we spend the night in a comfortable guesthouse in Menthou sur Cher. 5 hours on horseback.

Day 3: Tuesday
Crossing the Cher in the morning, we leave the heart of Sologne to join the Abbey of Aiguevive for a nice picnic lunch. In the afternoon, we ride through fields and copses, we reach the castle of Montpoupon, a middle-age fortress. The 25 rooms of its venery museum keep the bearing witness of an age when the gentlemen hunters were living here. Transfer of riders by minibus to Faverolles sur Cher. Overnight and dinner in guesthouse. 4.5 hours on horseback.

Day 4: Wednesday
After breakfast, we leave on horseback to the magnificient castle of Chenonceau, the jewel of the Renaissance architecture. Picnic lunch on the site. After visiting the castle, we pass through the forest of Amboise to reach late in the afternoon our guesthouse in the countryside. 5 hours on horseback.

Day 5: Thursday
This morning, we ride to the Loire banks for a picnic lunch close to the castle of Chaumont (end of 15th century). The banks of the Loire are a perfect place to have fast canters. In the evening, dinner and night in Chaumont guesthouse. Depending to the time of arrival at the guesthouse, we should have time to visit the castle of Beauregard by minibus. 4.5 hours on horseback.

Day 6: Friday
Today, we leave on horseback in the direction of the small fortified castle of Fougères sur Bièvre where we stop for a picnic lunch. We continue our ride in the afternoon to reach the castle of Cheverny. This, splendidly furnished castle welcomes us for a visit. Dinner and night in guesthouse. 5 jours on horseback.

Day 7: Saturday
This last day on horseback leads usback to the heart of Sologne. Picnic stop to the castle of Villesavin. We end the trail with a last canter around the castle of Chambord. Overnight in guesthouse.

Day 8: Sunday
Departure after breakfast.

Castle ride in the Loire Valley - Chambord Castle - Randocheval / Ride in France

Loire Valley castles horse riding tour : discover the famous Renaissance Chateaux from horseback (Chambord, Chenonceau...)

Horses

Most of the horses (number of 35) were born at our stable and are used to live together in a herd on our prairies. 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.

Riding experience

This ride about 5 hours and 25 to 30 km per day, with long trots, canters and gallops so you should be comfortable at all paces and have good stamina. Riders will be asked to look after their horses and will be assisted if required by the guides.
Maximum weight : 115 kg
Children are welcome from 14 years old.
Non riders are welcome to follow the ride.

Hot lunch meals are served by the logistic team. Dinner in the guesthouses. Drinks are included for lunch but not for dinner.

Single supplement : 330 €
Supplement does not apply if you are prepared for sharing, even if we do not find another rider for sharing your accomodation.
Non rider price : 1230 €

- trail ride as described on full board basis (except drinks in the evenings), from the dinner of Sunday until the breakfast of the following Sunday,
- 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 ?").

- transport from and to the meeting point (we can organise return transfers from and to Blois train station if required : 35 € per person to pay on location),
- drinks,
- any other service or 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.