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A Taste of Provence -  (7 days Spring and Fall)

A Week in Provence  (7 days July and August)

A Taste of Provence -  (7 days Spring and Fall)
4 riding days and 2 half days of sightseeing

Day 1: After airport or train collection, riders will gather at the “Mas de Recaute” your lovely French Farm Home late in the afternoon. Introduction to your accommodation, an aperitif in front of the fire place, and a presentation of the ride will mark the start of your week in Provence. Dinner and overnight.

Day 2: In the morning, meet your equine partner and “get acquainted” on an introductory trail ride in the vineyards surrounding the Farm. Enjoy a French lunch on the grounds of the Farm. In the afternoon the group leaves for another one hour and a half hour ride into the rolling hills of the Luberon Mountain range. You will see White Oaks, olive trees and the great perfume filled countryside of Provence. This area was home to the shooting of two very famous Provencal movies of French culture, "Jean de Florette" and "Manon de Sources" adapted from the novels of the famous author, Marcel Magnol.  The movies will be played at the farm after the dinners during the week if you wish to view.  A wonderful dinner and overnight.

Day 3: This morning you will follow in the footsteps of Cezanne by minibus. You will discover the most famous places painted by Cezanne in the Montagne Sainte-Victoire and around the great city of Aix-en-Provence, and visit his work studio. You will then spend the rest of your morning in the famous Aix-en-Provence street market: the best place to buy local products and handcrafts! You will be free to have lunch in one of the numerous café or restaurants in Aix, before meeting everyone again and being driven back to the Farm. Optional ride in the afternoon, to keep exploring the surrounding area, among all the quintessential Provence herbs: thyme, rosemary, savory, sage, wild lavender. Return for your next French lessons. Dinner and a restful evening at the Farm are the perfect ending to the day. “Jean de Florette” will be played for you in the evening after dinner.

Day 4: Today, you will ride to the Durance river bank for a lovely picnic lunch with aperitif, cheeses, salads, local pies, local wines and coffee. Riding down the hills, you will discover the entire Durance Valley, and take a glimpse at the village of Lauris, perched on the cliff. The ride back will be an easy ride through lovely agricultural landscape. You will discover the rich soil that permits this area to have the best production of wine, asparagus, olives, truffles, cherries, apricots, melons, and many other of the Provence treasures! Take care of the horses, dinner and overnight.
Day 5: This morning is dedicated to the discovery of all the famous local products, you will thus exercise your palate at the Farm, around a good fire. You will taste olive oil and olives, honey, grilled chestnuts in the fireplace (depending on season), goat cheese, and everyone will be able to participate in preparing a good Provence lunch and making together the famous truffle omelette that you will then devour for lunch, with delicious local wine! The afternoon hosts a half day ride up to the crests of the Luberon with a very nice view down onto the surrounding hills and the Valley. Beautiful limestone cliffs looking down on you, and hosting the plateau of the cedar forest, will follow you on your ride. You will get back to the Farm late in the afternoon. The film "Manon des Sources” will be played for you in the evening at the Farm after dinner.

Day 6: This morning you will visit Provencal villages such as Lauris and Lourmarin, Cezanne’s local market and where Peter Mayle – the Author of “A Year in Provence”, is now living. In the afternoon enjoy your last ride to a local cellar producing “Cotes du Luberon”. This little family cellar has been promoted by Robert Parker, the famous American Wine Writer. Don’t drink too much, just enjoy the tastes, before once again riding through the nice pine tree forests and bringing your horse home to the pasture in the woods, where they will have a weekend rest.  Your last dinner and overnight at the Farm.

Day 7: After breakfast, transportation to train station or airport is organized.

A Week in Provence  (7 days July and August)
4,5 riding days

Day 1 : Meeting in Marseille and transfer to the Provencal farm. You will meet your guide, your chef and all the team and enjoy your first dinner.

Day 2 : The week will start with explanations on how to take care of your horse. After tacking, you will get more acquainted with your horse on a short hack in the surrounding area. After lunch discover the hills of the « Small Luberon », covered in a dense oak tree forest.

Day 3 : A whole day ride today! You will leave in the morning through a pine tree forest, and make your way down towards the Durance valley. Discover the Durance river and its clear waters. The riverbanks will be ideal for small canters, and will soon lead you to a beautiful lunch, prepared and brought by your chef in a nice shady area, right by the river! Before leaving again, enjoy a well deserved nap under a tree or take a swim with your horse ... The choice is yours ! The afternoon ride will take you back to the Mas through forests, vineyards and cherry orchards.

Day 4 : This morning, your horse will take you to a wine cellar. Ride among olive trees and vineyards to a local wine producer close by. Stop to taste the local Luberon Wine, a Rober Parker selection! You will then enjoy another delicious French lunch. You will take the afternoon off riding and either stay at the farm to relax in the garden, or take a trip in the minibus around the Luberon Regional Nature Park, to visit some pro-vencal villages : Lauris, Lourmarin, Ansouis.

Day 5 : Today you are off for a two-day ride in the Luberon Nature Park. The morning ride will take you towards Lourmarin through Provencal landscapes of olive trees, cherry orchard and Mediterranean forests. Lunch by Lourmarin and nap before leaving again in the afternoon to climb up the hills of the « Big Luberon ». Breathtaking panorama on top oft he hill to the Alps on the northern side, and the Mediterranean sea on the southern side. Accommodation tonight will be in an Inn in the heart of the Luberon hills.

Day 6 : You will head back following the Aiguebrun stream, the only permanent water course of the whole of the Luberon hills. On the way, admire the perched village of Bonnieux. After a good lunch, your horse will take you through rolling hills to admire beautiful views on the Durance valley and the surrounding hills, such as the Montagne Sainte Victoire: Cezanne’s mountain. You will arrive late afternoon and take good care of your horse before letting him loose for a well deserved rest. Dinner party for your last night !

Day 7 : End of the trip and departure after breakfast.

 **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 glamor, class and fame of this region is accompanied by a glorious typical Mediterranean 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 break 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.

Your accommodation is located in the heart of Provence, in the Regional Natural Park of the Luberon, at the foot of the south side of the massif.
Your accommodation for the week is a simple and lovely guesthouse inn at the heart of Provence - Luberon with excellent cuisine! Set in a beautiful natural surrounding, this old farm has been restored and operates as guesthouse accommodations for all our riding guests.
The inn has a large common room with fireplace with a small bar and lounge.
In one guesthouse there are five individual rooms with private bathrooms and a private terrace - these are the rooms we generally reserve for our clients.
The five additional bedrooms are available in the main house for up to 3 people (dormitory style) - with view of the Luberon.

Meals:
Typical Provençal meals are served in the large dining room with its stone walls and fire place, or in the garden below pine and cherry trees.

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 some canters, 3 to 5 riding hours per day | Walk | Trot | Canter |
Level:		(2 to 3 out of 5)    Low Intermediate
Age:		Min 12	Max 80
Weight:		Max 220 lbs
Riders:		Min 2 riders	Max 10 riders

Suitable for beginners (with a little experience) to intermediate riders.
The horses are Spanish or Barb mixes, well adapted to trail riding. Well balanced and willing, they live in a herd, outdoors, and only trail ride. They are our guarantee for a relaxing and safe ride.
The saddles are designed for trail riding and allow a laid back style of riding.

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.