Rates Note:

Transfer Option:

From Provence to the Mediterranean Coast

Day 1 Sunday : Meeting at Marseille Airport or Aix-en-Provence train station or directly at Mas de Recaute. Welcome aperitif and presentation of the trail ride. You will be introduced to your guide and spend a first friendly dinner at Mas. Overnight at Mas de Recaute.

Day 2 Monday : From Lauris to Mérindol. You will ride in the hills of the « Small Luberon », covered in green oak trees. Everyday, lunch will be brought by our assistant : a beautiful buffet with local products and wine. The afternoon ride will take you to the historical village of Merindol. You will pass by the ruins of the old village which was destroyed during the religious wars in the 16th Century. Dinner at the the host's table. Overnight in a bed & breakfast. (On certain dates, return to the Mas de Recaute in the minibus).

Day 3 Tuesday : From Merindol to Eygalieres. You will follow the foothill of the Luberon towards the west and make your down towards the Durance Valley, to the South. After lunch, follow your guide closely as you cross the Durance river on horse back! You will then make your way out of the valley, towards Van Gogh’s country: les Alpilles. You will reach the Roman village of Eygalières late in the afternoon, and stop by the beautiful « Chapel St Sixte » to take pictures. Dinner and overnight at a guesthouse near Eygalières.

Day 4 Wednesday : From Eygalieres to Les Baux de Provence. A very cultural day as you will ride in the landscape Van Gogh liked to paint. You will stop near St-Rémyde-Provence, in front of the hospital in which Van Gogh stayed and made his most famous paintings. Admire beautiful Roman monuments, before you make your way towards lunch, by a gorgeous little lake, hidden in the hills. The afternoon ride will take you on the crests of the Alpilles: a striking panorama of the surrounding area. We will even see the gleam of the Mediterranean sea in the distance. At the end of the trail, discover a breathtaking sight of the medieval village of «Les Beaux-de-Provence ». We load the horses in the truck to meet them later on at the hotel...in front of your room! Visit  the village and transfer to Le Paty, the gate of Camargue. Dinner and overnight in a typical Camargue hotel.

Day 5 Thursday : From Le Paty to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. You will take your first steps in the marsh land of the Camargue Nature Park: peacefulness, silence, stillness. You will feel lost in the wild, as you ride in this most remote part of Camargue, off the toursist track. Admire the rich wildlife among which the pink flamingos and herons. The flat terrain will allow you to enjoy long trots and canters, before you arrive to the village of « Les Stes Maries de la Mer », right by the sea. You will have lunch by the hotel and give a well-deserved rest to your horse and yourself, before jumping back on the saddle for an exciting ride on the beach. Beautiful canters and gallops, before heading back to your hotel. Shopping in the village and dinner in a restaurant. Overnight in a hotel near the village.

Day 6 Friday : A stunning day ride to discover more of Camargue. You will cross the « Small Rhône » river on a ferry boat to reach a very protected part of the Nature Park. The marsh land will slowly give way to sand dunes and pine forests as you ride towards wild beaches. Lunch on the beach. You will end the ride with an gallop. Back to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. Transfer to Mas de Recaute in Lauris, for a last dinner and party all together, share memories, pictures, addresses...and more wine !

Day 7 Saturday : End of the trip after breakfast. Transfers to train stations and airport.
 **subject to change

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.

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

Tack:		Trail Saddles
Horses:		Arab/Spanish cross
Pace:		Moderate - with walk, trot and canters, 5 riding hours per day | Walk | Trot | Canter | Gallop |
Level:		(3.5 to 4 out of 5)    Good Intermediate
Age:		Min 12	Max 80
Weight:		Max 220 lbs
Riders:		Min 5 riders	Max 10 riders

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.

Passports
Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except:
(a) 1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.
Passport Note
France is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement.

Visas
Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for the following durations:
(a) nationals of EU countries for an unlimited period;
(b) nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA for stays of up to 90 days.