Provence Lavender

Introduction
Provence France

Accomodation
Accommodations during the trail will be in guesthouses and country inns. They are basic, but clean.  We select our accommodation according to its beautiful setting and friendly atmosphere, for riders to enjoy a pleasant stay.

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 : many small pleasures which will add to the enjoyment of our rides.

In the evening everyone meets around the table, to discover local food - or should we say "cuisine" - don't count on losing any weight.

This trip includes some wine with dinner and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding

You will ride an average of five hours everyday. 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. At lunch, our assistant will prepare a substantial buffet. A “pastis”, a glass of red wine (don’t abuse it !), 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 order to make the most of the ride, we require riders to be at ease with walk, trot and canter, in outdoor riding. Groups are made out of 5 to 12 riders. This limited amount of riders – often rich of several nationalities – allows each person to make the most of the trip.

Guides are certified, and are friends who made a job of their passion. They apply themselves to share this passion and the pleasure of trail riding. Whether on the Alpes or on the beaches of Camargue, amongst odorant thym, rosmary and lavander, our guides insure riders safety in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. All the guides speak English.

Itinerary

Lavender Road and Wine Trail Route

Lavender Road
Day 1: Transfer  to Mas de Recaute in the afternoon. Meet your guide and assistant who will tell you about the ride around a welcome drink.
Day 2: Lauris – Buoux. The ride starts on the southern side of the small Luberon. A small rocky trail will take you up on the hills of the Luberon. Nice view on the Monts Ventoux (localy called “the giant of Provence”) and the Lure Mountain. A dense green oak forest will then guide you towards the Plateau of Claparèdes, famous for its production of lavender. Lunch in the hills. On the afternoon, you will ride down to the Aiguebrun Gorges, the border between Small Luberon and Big Luberon.
Day 3: Buoux – Simiane la Rotonde. This morning you are riding back up on the Plateau of Claparèdes and follow lavender fields and dry stone walls and « bories » (small shepherds’ pen). You will stop in the perched village of Saignon to water the horses at the fountain. Ride down towards the Valley of Apt on ancient paved trails. After lunch you will follow a forest trail above the ochres of Rustrel and Gignac, before climbing the Vaucluse Mounds, across a dense forest of white oaks. Beautiful view on the perched village of Simiane la Rotonde and its fields of lavender. Dinner and night in a guesthouse.
Day 4: Simiane la Rotonde – Montlaux. A long ride today ! From Simiane, you will head north to the border of the Plateau of Albion, a high spot for lavender. You will ride by the ruins of the village of Monsallier, onto Banon, famous for its production of goat cheese. Hills of oak trees will then take you near St Etienne les Orgues, on the foothill of the Lure Mountain. Dinner and night in a guesthouse, looking onto a nice lavender field.
Day 5: Montlaux – Peyruis. This morning you will visit a distillery of lavender. You will then get your horse ready for a short morning ride to Cruis and Malefougasse. Nice canters after lunch. Discover the chapel “Sainte Magdeleine”, before making your way towards Peyruis and the Durance Valley. Before arriving to the guesthouse, you will stop by the chapel “Saint Donat”, a jewel of romanesque art. From the horses paddock you will admire strange rock formations and discover the legend of the “pénitants des Mées”…
Day 6: Peyruis – Lurs. This morning, you are riding in the forest of Ganagobie, a fragrant Mediterranean forest which will take you up on the mystical plateau of Ganagobie. Lunch on the plateau close to the priory, founded in the 12th century. On the afternoon, small forest trails will take you to the historical path called “the bishops’walk”, over-looking the beautiful village of Lurs as well as the whole country of Forcalquier. Minibus transfer back to Lauris.
Day 7:  End of the ride after breakfast. Transfer to airport or train station.

Wine Trail Route
Day 1: Transfer  to Mas de Recaute in the afternoon. Meet your guide and assistant who will tell you about the ride around a welcome drink.
Day 2 :  Lauris – Merindol. You will follow the vines, sheltered by the southern side of the Luberon. On the way, a wine tasting visit in a “Cave de Vins”. Picnic in a pine grove: a copious buffet prepared by our assistant. In the evening, dinner and night spent in an auberge, or return to the “Mas de Recaute” in the minibus (on certain dates). A pleasant meal accompanied by a “Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence”.
Day 3 :  Merindol – Maubec. Ride through pine forests with wonderful views of the Durance valley with orchards, whose fruit you will taste at the picnic. In the afternoon, landscapes of cliffs where eagles and other birds of prey nest. Arrive at Maubec at Collette’s place. The choice is yours: a dip in the swimming pool, or a visit to Gordes and the Sénanque abbey. Dinner prepared by Colette, accompanied with her home produced wine.
Day 4 :  Maubec – Venasque. Today, you enter into the “Côtes de Ventoux” producing area, via the Vaucluse mounts. You will reach the “mur du peste” a wall constructed in 1720 to protect the populations from the great epidemic that spread from Marseille. Night at Vénasque a historical village.
Day 5 :  Venasque – Bedoin. Countryside of rolling hills, through pine forests and cherry trees, facing the “Mont Ventoux” called the "Giant of Provence". In the late afternoon, you will arrive at the inn where you will have an other good dinner.
Day 6 :  Bedoin – Beaumes-de-Venise. Cross through villages, with the “Mont Ventoux” in the background. Picnic near the Barroux village and chateau. In the afternoon you will discover the “Dentelles de Montmirail”, needle thin spikes and ridges (“dentelle” means lace). You will end at Beaumes-de-Venise, famous for it's red wine and aperitive. Transfer back to Lauris.
Day 7:  End of the ride after breakfast. Transfer to airport or train station.

 

 

Rates and Dates for Provence Lavender

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Mas de Recaute
Airport: Marseille
Transfer: Marseille

Climate:

A Mediterranean climate is witnessed in the Rhône valley south of Valence and the coastal areas of Languedoc and Provence at the foot of the southern Alps.

The glamour, class and fame of this region is accompanied by a glorious typical Mediterranean climate of warm summers and mild winters. The hot summer days are broken up by the evening sea breezes which waft over the city and provide a cooling breaking from heat and create an ideal atmosphere to enjoy what this alluring picturesque area has to offer.

Along the coast, summers are hot, with scarce rain for a 3 month period in the midst of summer. However, when it rains – it pours and often associated with thunder. Sunshine is plentiful- up to eleven to twelve hours a day in summer and around five in midwinter.

Winters in the region are generally mild and sunny but this pleasant weather is often interrupted by very unsettled cold and squally weather brought in by the famous northerly ‘mistral’ wind. The mistral blows with particular strength through around Marseille and through the Rhône Valley.