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PROVENCE: VINEYARDS HORSE RIDING TOUR...

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: Merindol historic village and vineyards
After breakfast, you will meet your horse, tack and leave at about 10 a.m. You will follow the hills, to the vinyards sheltered by the southern side of the Luberon. On the way, a wine tasting visit in a “Domaine vinicole” (a wine producer). Picnic in a pine grove: a copious buffet prepared by our assistant.

The afternoon ride will take us through the hills, to the historical village of Mérindol: inhabited by the Vaudois community, which was considered as heretic, the village was burnt in 1545, and the population killed. You will arrive at the guesthouse later in the afternoon. Enjoy the swimming pool and home made aperitif, before setting for a nice provencal dinner (on some dates, accommodation might be back at the riding center).

Day 3 - Tuesday: Durance Valley
Ride through pine forests with wonderful views of the Durance valley with orchards, whose fruit you will taste at the picnic.

Ride along the Carpentras channel, before getting to lunch nearby the village of Robion.

In the afternoon, landscapes of cliffs where eagles and other birds of prey nest. Arrive at Maubec.

After the ride, the choice is yours: a dip in the swimming pool, or a visit to Gordes and the Sénanque abbey.

Dinner will be a real culinary experience, accompanied by a selection of North Luberon wines.

Day 4 - Wednesday: Cotes du Ventoux wine region Today, you enter the “Côtes du Ventoux” producing area, via the Vaucluse mounts. You will cross Cabrières d’Avignon, before reaching the “mur de la peste”, a wall constructed in 1720 to protect the populations from the great epidemic that spread from Marseille up to the north. Night in a B&B near the historical village of Vénasque. Dinner in the village.

Day 5 - Thursday: Mount Ventoux vineyards

Countryside of rolling hills, facing the “Mont Ventoux”.

A long ride that will take us through hills, forest and cherry orchards to the village of Blauvac. Wine tasting in a "domaine", and short ride to lunch, by the lake of Mormoiron.

A flat ride in the afternoon, with nice possibilities of canters. You will arrive late afternoon to an equestrian centre, home for the horses. You will be driven to a typical French Auberge for the night in the tiny village of Sainte Colombe.

Day 6 - Friday: Beaumes de Venise vineyards

You will ride on the foothill of Mont Ventoux. A hilly ride offering beautiful views, to the “Chapelle du Paty”.

Lunch by the lake of the same name. In the afternoon, you will cross the village of “Le Barroux”, dominated by its beautiful castle.

You will then slowly make your way to Beaumes de Venise, final destination of the ride. You will have the choice between a wine tasting in Beaumes de Venise or after a 20 minutes transfer with our minibus, a wine tasting of the famous and great “Chateauneuf-du-Pape”. Minibus transfer to the riding center. Depending on the dates, accommodation in a hotel or at the riding center's guesthouse.

 

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

You will ride an average of five hours everyday, at all gaits. 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

Double or triple bedrooms, in hotels and guesthouses. Single bedrooms are optional.

We select our accommodation according to their beautiful setting and friendly atmosphere, for riders to enjoy a pleasant stay.

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

Optional 2 pers. en-suite bedroom: +100 €

Optional single supplement: +250 €

Optional single supplement: +250 €

The supplement applies only if you require a single room.

- Trail ride as described on full board basis in shared 2-3 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 ?").

- transport from and to the meeting points (optional return transfers = 50 €),

- 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.