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PROVENCE: SPRINGS AND HILLS HORSE RIDE

RIDE ITINERARY

 

Day 1 - Sunday

Meeting at Marseille airport or Aix-en-Provence train station, or directly at the departure point of the ride.

Accommodation, introduction to the trail ride and dinner.

Day 2 - Monday: Luberon & cooking lesson
This morning will be dedicated to the introduction of horses to their riders. After getting your horse ready, you will leave for an hour and a half ride in the surrounding country side.

You will be back to the riding center for a pic-nic lunch made out of fresh local food.

 

This afternoon, you will spend some time with the Chef, Gaël, who will introduce you to the local cooking tradition. Together, you will prepare tonight’s dinner, before going out again for a short ride in the surrounding hills.   After taking care of your horses, you will quickly get changed and meet up again with Gaël for the final preparations and table setting. And after a well deserved aperitif… you will taste together your own home made dinner !

 

Day 3 - Tuesday: Typical villages of Pagnol's Provence

A half-day ride which will take you through famous Lourmarin and onto the small village of Vaugines, first village of the eastern side of the Luberon.

Lunch near Vaugines.

On the afternoon, your guide will take you for a walk through this tiny provencal village to show you its history.

This village was also the shooting place for two famous provencal movies, part of the french culture : “Jean de Florette” and “Manon des Sources”, movies adapted from the novels of famous writer Marcel Pagnol. These two movies will be shot for you in the evening at the riding center, just before dinner.

Day 4 - Wednesday: Cucuron village A full-day ride which will take you to the local lake called « l’étang de la Bonde » where you will have lunch, and a refreshing swim, weather permitting!A brand new itinerary which will take through the village of Cucuron, and then down towards the Durance Valley, to Villelaure. Shooting of the second movie in the evening, dinner and night at the riding center.

Day 5 - Thursday: Durance river

A totally new route again today : you will follow the Durance river banks towards Cadenet. Lunch and dip in the river, maybe with the horses !

Back to the riding center still following the river bank.

Dinner and night at the riding center..

 

Day 6 - Friday: Lourmarin, Peter Mayle's village for "One Year in Provence" A morning break after the last two days adventurous rides. You will be taken to the village of Lourmarin to visit the local street’s market, the village itself and its 12th century castle. Lourmarin is also the village of famous Peter Mayle, who wrote “A Year in Provence”. In the afternoon, you will ride to a local wine producer for a taste of the local Luberon Wine, a Robert Parker selection ! Dinner and night at the riding center.

Day 7 - Saturday

End of the trip after breakfast. Transfers to train stations and airport.

 

HORSES, TACK AND RIDING EXPERIENCE

Horses

Our travel companions ! We will live at our horses’ pace ! Our horses are Spanish or barb mix, adapted to trail riding. Well balanced and wilful, they live in a herd, outdoors, and only trail ride. They are our guarantee for a relaxing and safe ride.

Tack

Our saddles are designed for trail riding and allow a laid back style of riding.

Riding experience

Intermediate level. You must have already practiced the 3 different paces (Walk, Trot and Canter) and to have some experience in horse riding.

The pace will vary according to the terrain. During the ride, we advise you to take care of your horse, in order to get to know him better, and to create a  special relationship with him.

In order to make the most of the ride, we require riders to be at ease with walk, trot and canter, in outdoor riding. For riders willing to discover the pleasures of trail riding in a more progressive way, we have created the Stationary Ride allowing guests to become comfortable with the three gaits step by step.

YOUR GUIDES

Guides are certified, and are friends who made a job of their passion. They will share with you this passion and the pleasure of trail riding. Whether on the Alpes or on the beaches of Camargue, amongst odorant thym, rosemary and lavander, our guides insure riders safety in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

All our guides speak English.

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation

Your will be accommodating to the riding center in dormitories but you can also choose to be in double or single room with supplement.

Meals

At lunch, our assistant will prepare a substantial buffet. A “pastis”, a glass of red wine a barbecue by a mountain stream, a refreshing salad, a nap before leaving again: as many small pleasures which will add to the friendliness of our rides. In the evening everyone meet around a nice table, to discover local food. We will have dinner in small hotels and guesthouses.

DATES AND RATES

Rates based on shared dormitory bedrooms (3-6 beds)

Optional 2 pers. bedroom: +50 €

Optional single supplement: +250 €

The supplement applies only if you required a double or a single room.

- Trail ride as described on full board basis in shared 3-6 pers. bedrooms, from the dinner on Sunday until the breakfast on the following Saturday,

- Transfers are included in 2010 from and to Marseille Airport or train station and from and to Aix en Provence Train station,

- 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 ?").

- drinks out of meals,

- 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.

BOOKING - MORE INFORMATION

Contact Anne, the specialist for this horse riding tour ...

GENERAL INFORMATION

First day

Sunday evening at the riding center at 6 p.m.
Optional transfer from Marseille airport (5 p.m.), Aix-en-Provence TGV station (5:30 p.m.) or Aix-en-Provence central train station (5:45 p.m.).

Last day
End of the stay on Saturday morning.
Optional transfer drop off at Aix-en-Provence central station (10:15 a.m.), Aix-en-Provence TGV station (10:30 a.m.) or Marseille airport (11 a.m.).

Provence is blessed with mild weather throughout most of the year, particularly those areas along the coast. It isn't all sunshine though, as the winter months can be quite cold when the Mistral wind begins to blow.

In general though, the climate in Provence is fairly moderate and is often what draws people to the area.

HEALTH

There are no specific health formalities and emergency medical treatment is as widely available in the country.

ENTRY FORMALITIES

A valid passport is required of all foreigners entering France, except people living from a Schengen agreement country for who a valid ID card is enough.

All foreign citizens who wish to come to France must be able to present regulatory proof of the purpose of their stay, means of support and accommodation. In some cases, they need a visa to enter France. Visas must be applied for before leaving for France at a French consular office.

France is a member of European Union. No visa is required for citizens of other EU states.

No visa is required for US visitors staying less than 3 months.

Please check these informations at your local French embassy.