Ride itinerary - Horses, tack & riding experience
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Day 1: Pech Merle Equestrian Farm – Marcilhac sur Célé: approx. 25 km ( 15 miles) and 5 hours on horseback.
Stony terrain with climbs and descents. This first leg provides a good warm-up and is the steepest and wildest of the route. We will ride along the Célé Valley as far as Marcilhac on GR (hiking trail) 651. A part of this trail is used in the international Vigan equestrian endurance competition. We will ride through Cabrerets and its châteaux: the 8 th century troglodyte Château du Diable (Devil’s Castle) and the 13 th and 15 th century Gontaud Biron Château; picnic and visit to the Cuzals open air museum; view over the pretty 15 th and 18 th century Génies Château from the old Sauliac overhanging path; arrival in the medieval village of Marcilhac sur Célé. Possibility of a guided tour of the village and the old 10 th century abbey. Bed and breakfast (chambre d’hôte).

Day 2: Marcilhac sur Célé – Béduer: approx. 30 km ( 19 miles) and 5 hours on horseback.
There is less climbing on this beautiful leg which will take us to the edge of the green Limargue region and will be dotted with major sites and remarkable views over the Célé valley. We will cross Saint Sulpice, the ancient 12 th and 14 th century fortified town and Brengues, the 8 th century Château des Anglais hanging on to the rock face. Lunch at the foot of the ancient 13 th century Val Paradis priory of Espagnac. We will leave the banks of the Célé at Saint Eulalie (10 th century church) to return to the Causses (limestone) plateau) with its walled pathways and its “cazelles” (dry stone huts). We will arrive late afternoon at our evening stopover at Michelle and Jean-Claude Chassain’s Pech Ibert campsite, where we can enjoy the pool, weather permitting. Night spent in a chalet with dinner at our hosts’ restaurant.

Day 3: Béduer – Saint Jean De Laur : 35km ( 22 miles) and 5 hours on horseback.
"Nous saluons de loin Béduer… souvenirs féodaux" (Paul Valéry - we will wave farewell to Béduer, with its feudal memories), as we join the track GR 65. This is the main route of Compostela pilgrims in France and where we will cross the massif separating the Lot and Célé valleys. Lunch in Gréalou, a village dominating the Causses. After a few hidden pathways dotted with “cazelles” we will go down to swim in the river Lot with the horses. An arched path will take us to Cajarc, the lively medieval town where we will tie up the horses and have a well deserved break on the terrace of one of the town’s cafés. We will end the day with a ride up the rock to our evening stopover, the Domaine de Gaifié. Night in individual houses with supper on site.

Day 4: GR 65 St Jean de Laur – Lalbenque: 35 km ( 22 miles), 6 hours on horseback. This leg involves less climbing.
Having reached Varaire, we will take the ancient Roman way, the “Cami Gasco” or “Cami Ferrat” which linked Caylus to Cahors. We will go further onto the limestone plateau, wooded with oaks, maples and junipers, from the Limogne Causse to Quercy Blanc. Night and dinner at Mas de Ceres B & B (chambre d’hôtes).

Day 5: Lalbenque – Concots. 32 km ( 20 miles).
An insight into the garrigue shrubland and dry grasses of the Quercy Blanc, with a strong Mediterranean character and rich in orchids, before returning to the pathway through dolines (sinkholes), chasms and dry valleys. We will pass by the picturesque 12 th century Château de Couanac before arriving at La Loge, owned by Jean Marie and Jacqueline Aillet, our hosts for the evening. Night spent in a large Quercy house (gîte rural), with a country meal shared with our hosts and an evening spent around the huge ancestral fireplace (“cantou”).

Day 6: Concots – Cabrerets: 30 km ( 19 miles) and 5 hours on horseback.
We leave GR 65 shortly after Concots, riding through “ouvalas” (giant dolines) to return to the magical beauty of the Lot valley and the unique village of Saint Cirq Lapopie. A stop here to stroll and get a taste of the gentle way of life in this museum village, chosen by painters and writers, is a must. The warm setting and gastronomic cuisine of L’Atelier Restaurant will make happy guests of us. This is the last leg, when our mounts will sense the stables. We’ll ride along the towpath cut into the rock, a witness to the period of glory of a once flourishing boating business.
Arrival at Pech Merle Equestrian Farm late afternoon to round the trip off with a delicious home-made cake.


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

Horses

Saddle horses, part-breed Arabs and Barbs for example, all courageous, calm, hardy and comfortable. Some were born on the farm, all were raised on the farm and chosen for hacking. They will guarantee you comfort and safety.

Tack

We use leather trail saddles (French brands, i.e. Gaston Mercier).
Simple bridle. 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 country 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 15 if they come on their own (with parental consent). But we advise them to participate on our special junior ride in the same area.

Weight limit is 90kg (254 pounds)

Possibility to bring your own horse on this ride. In this case, the horses are accomodated in a separate paddock. It is important that the horses are used to trail riding.

The non riders are also welcome if they are independant. That allows them to discover the area and the differents highlights of the country. It is possible to join the group every night with their own car.

Guiding

Pascal, qualified equestrian guide and grandson of the man who discovered the Pech Merle caves, will lead you along the stone pathways to discover his countryside and its culture.

Logistic

Transportation of luggages and equipments will be made by a support vehicule.

Accommodation

Along this riding tour, the 7 nights are provide in double room with shared facilities, in different kind of accomodation : guesthouse, individual house, cottage (saddle bag required)
No possibility to have a single room every nights.

Meals

All the meals are prepared by the owner of the accomodation, which allow us to have varied and good quality food.
For lunch, we will stop at the restaurant 3 days and the rest of the times we will have picnic.
Dinner are taken at the accomodation, with local product. The diversity of the menu is one of the special point on this ride.
Water and win provided for lunch and dinner.

It is possible to arrive the day before and/or the day after the ride : 35 euros per night, half board basis (at the riding farm, in dormitory)

Small group supplement (for 2 or 3 riders): +150 €
This supplement allow us to guarantee the departure till 2 riders. It will be refunded if there are at least 4 riders booked on the same departure.

For non rider who would like to follow the ride : 450 €
For riders who would like to come with their own horse : 675 €

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

- Water and wine at lunch and dinner,

- 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 other than wine and water at lunch and dinner,

- transfers from and to Cahors train station (30 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.

From 4 to 8 riders

If the group is less than 4 riders, the departure could be guaranteed with a supplement. See our dates and rates part.

You will be meet directly at the equestrian farm at 09.00 am.

Possibility to have a transfer from Cahors train station. To be booked and paid in advance (30 euros per rider).
In that case, plan an arrival the day before the ride (04:00 pm for the people who arrived from Paris and 06:00 pm from Toulouse), and a departure after 12.00 am the day after the ride.
That will let you the time to visit the Pech Merl caves - to be organized and paid directly on site.

Lot and Dordogne experiences mild winters and moderate summers, which can be long and very warm at times, making it the best time of year to visit Lot and Dordogne.
Average summer daytime highs range from 77°F to 95°F (25°C to 35°C) with occasional storms and showers.
Spring and autumn are mild with a higher chance of rain while in late spring heavy rainfall can occur. Winters are generally mild with short periods of cold weather with frequent rain.