Our equestrian tours in France

Horseback vacations in France are a chance to indulge in the charms of this iconic country.  Whether you are drawn to France by the chic boulevards of Paris, the sparkling ski slopes of the Alps, the country allure of Provence, or the sun-baked coasts of the South of France, France offers every kind of escape.

Hidden Trails bring together some of France’s most breathtaking horse riding holidays, covering some of the most beautiful locations.  Castles in the Loire, Mediterranean hideaways, and culinary tours in Provence are but a selection of the French horse riding tours we have on offer.

Horse Riding in France
France has a long tradition of horse riding - the French term 'randonnée' was in fact the original definition for “riding tour”. France has an extraordinary network of cross country trails, and endless opportunities for relaxation, fun and experiencing French culture.

Of course, French Cuisine is always high on our horse riding holiday agenda. Come and try it for yourself and see why the French cuisine makes grown men weep. We travel in style with overnights in cozy country inns and picturesque castles.

Hugely popular horse riding holidays in Loire offer laidback horse riding amongst the grandiose renaissance castles of the region – with plenty of time for sightseeing and indulgence.  Provence, too, offers an array of indulgent horse riding escapes, mixing fine food and riding with the glorious landscapes that inspired the likes of Cezanne.

Other lesser known regions have just as much to offer. Perigord, Armagnac, Gascony or Berry, deep in the green heart of France, are all regions firmly rooted to the land, whose sleepy villages offer visitors a chance to sample life in provincial France. You can also discover on horseback the unspoilt and rugged Pyrenees in the Pay Basque, bordering Spain.

In addition to our longstanding tour "Castles of the Loire", Hidden Trails now offer a horse riding tour of the Bordeaux Castles. Bordeaux needs no introduction as a region famous for wines such as Lafite, Latour, Mouton, and Margaux. The wineries in the Medoc provide the frame for this winery-tour in the Bordeaux area, and offer many opportunities to taste the delectable wine of some very famous cellars. This is a riding tour for lovers of French culture.

On the “Castles of Perigord” trip you will visit some of the 1200 castles located only in the area Lot & Dordogne. This is where the "Perigord Noir" (the black Perigord), received its moniker from the spacious, dark oak forests. Who wouldn't want a castle between the lovely rivers Dordogne and Végère? This is France out of a picture book. In addition to wine, you will become familiar with the cuisine of the region including goose liver paté, cheese of Rocamadour and, of course, the wines of the Cahors.

France Climate & Weather
France is a large country with many regional weather patterns.

Burgundy and Alsace experience hot dry summers, usually around the mid to high 20’s (°C).  It can sometimes reach 30 or 35°C in the height of summer.

Loire is mild most of the year, with the climate considered the most pleasant in northern France. The Loire experiences warmer winters and the summers rarely exceed 38 °C.

The Basque climate depends on the prevailing wind, but generally temperatures are not extreme. In the coast, temperatures are an average of 19 ºC in summer and 9 ºC in winter. The highest temperatures can hit the mid 30's ºC when the Foehn wind blows.

Provence and the South of France generally experience Mediterranean weather patterns.  In summer temperatures can reach 30 °C, whilst winters average around 10 °C (but can go as low as 2°C)

Bordeaux and Southwest France experience generally very pleasant weather. Summers range between 15 and 26 °C, whilst winters can drop to around 2 °C, but generally average around 10°C.  

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