Alsace Villages Alsace France The Alsace region has many well-maintained trails and tracks, allowing riders to discover it from the back of a horse. From the mountains of the Vosges to the plains of Alsace, this trip has you wandering from South to North, passing through the vineyards, quaint villages (Riquewihr, Ribeauville, Kayserberg...), forests and mountain passes. Your guide will tell you everything there is to know about the local flora and fauna and his trained endurance horses. You will ride fit Anglo-Arabs allowing for many fun gallops on the way! This is a fast paced ride that will satisfy any experienced rider. During the trip, you will stay in small, traditional and typical French hotels / guesthouses or country inns and enjoy the famous French cuisine to the fullest. Progressive Ride (no camping) Meeting: Colmar or Wintzfelden Airport: Basel, Freibourg or Mulhouse Transfer: Colmar train station Riders: Min 6 riders Max 12 riders Trip Brochure (PDF) Trip Rating

Packages and Options

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Transfer and Other Charges:

Pick-up is available from Colmar train station at 6:30 pm on Day 1. If you do not choose to take the transfer, you will need to make your own way to Wintzfelden on Day 1.
On the last day of the trip, you can choose to be transferred to Strasbourg train station (departure after the ride, around 5pm).

Sample itinerary - subject to changes

Day 1: Arrival
Arrival in the late afternoon to Wintzfelden (southwest of Colmar). Guests arriving by train to Colmar can be picked up at the train station at 6:30 pm. Welcome dinner and trip briefing in the evening.
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight at Hotel in Wintzfelden

Day 2: Birkenwald to Oberhaslach
After breakfast, we finally get into the saddle for a full day ride. We stop for lunch in Cosswillers and then ride up to Oberhaslach, where we spend the night.
Riding approx. 35 km
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Gite near Neufeld

Day 3: Oberhaslach to Climont
Beautiful views will accompany you on your way up to the Champ du Feu, where we stop for lunch. We ride through Grendelbach forest, crossing the Bruchberg pass and Rothlach.
In the afternoon, we ride down to the Col de la Charbonniere and the Col de Steige in ordef to reach Climont.
Riding approx. 40 km
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Gite near Climont

Day 4: Climont to Aubure
Today's ride goes mainly through forests with many opportunities to canter. We will come across the Cold de la Hingrie and Sainte Croix aux Mines before reaching Aubure.
Riding approx. 30 km
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Gite in Aubure

Day 5: Loop Ride around Aubure
Since yesterday, we ride through the Ballons des Vosges Natural Park. At the end of the day, we reach the wine growing villages of Riquewhir and Ribeauville, some of the most beautiful villages in France.
Riding approx. 36 km
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Gite in Aubure

Day 6: Auburel to Orbey
This beautiful stage allows us to ride on lovely crest trails (at about 1000 m high), passing through Bagenelles pass, Bonhomme pass and Louschbach pass. We eventually arrive at the Lac Blanc ski resort, near the Col du Calvaire.
We spend the night in the lovely village of Orbey
Riding approx. 35 km
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Gite in Orbey

Day 7: Orbey to Kayserberg
The last riding day offers a smooth ride. We ride down the Munster valley to Kayserberg, a beautiful Alsatian village. Depending on your departure time, we might be able to go to Kientzheim or Sigolsheim.
Riding approx. 30 km
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

                                                Kayserberg area

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Average High Temperature (°F)	40	44	53	60	69	74	79	78	70	60	48	42
Average Low Temperature (°F)	29	29	34	39	47	53	56	55	49	42	34	31
Average High Temperature (°C)	5	7	12	16	20	24	26	26	21	15	9	6
Average Low Temperature (°C)	-2	-2	1	4	9	12	13	13	9	6	1	-1
Average Precipitation (days of rain)	7	7	8	9	11	10	9	9	7	9	9	8

Source: NOAA


Seasons
Alsace is one of the regions of France with less the rainfalls. This is because it is protected by the Vosges mountains. For instance, Colmar, with about 550 mm of rain a year, is the second driest city of France.

Spring
There may be some snow left on the Vosges mountains, but the plains are starting to warm up and flowers are starting to bloom.

Summer
Summer in Alsace is usually quite warm with many sunny days. If you want to find cooler weather, you can always go up the Vosges mountains.

Autumn
This season is usually very sunny with comfortable temperatures. However, in the morning, mist is quite frequent and can bring a small chill in the air.

Winter
Winter sees the arrival of snow, mainly in the Vosges mountains, but also in the plains from time to time. It is not uncommon for temperatures to drop below 0 degrees Celsius.

Wear layers of clothing so that you are ready for cooler mornings and hotter afternoons. Waterproof outer layers are wise on longer day trips if the weather forecast is changeable.

Preferably, you will carry several small bags, not exceeding 10 kg each.  Please no large, hard shell suitcases. Saddlebags are provided. 
 

This list is only a guideline for you

Hidden Trails Travel Documents and Trip Voucher (contains important local tour contact info.)

Flight tickets

Passport

Visa (check with your consulate)

RIDING GEAR

Riding pants or Jodhpurs

Riding boots (short) + Minichaps

Riding helmet  (recommended for all trips)

Riding gloves

Hat (with chin strip) for sun protection

Lightweight Rain coat

PERSONAL CLOTHING

Jacket or sweater for cool evenings

Comfortable T-Shirts/Shirts

Jeans

Shorts

Underwear and socks

Pyjamas

Bag for dirty clothes

Trekking boots/ comfortable shoes

Swimsuit

ADDITIONAL THINGS TO BRING

Personal Toiletries

Insect protection

Personal medications

Sore cream (for an emergency)

Sewing kit

Torch/ Flashlight

Adapter for electric appliances

Camera and extra film or batteries

Belt pack

Address book and pen (for postcards!)

Sun glasses with strap

** No trip reports found with the tour ID you provided.

Accommodations
This is a progressive ride, so you will be staying in different locations during the trip.

Description
The overnight stays take place in small, traditional and typically French hotels / guesthouses or country inns.

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1: Hotel in Wintzfelden
Night 2: Gite in Oberhaslach
Night 3: Gite near Climont
Night 4 & 5: Gîte in Aubure
Night 6: Gite near Orbey

Hotel in Wintzfelden 
This small hotel offers 22 rooms of different sizes (1 to 4 pax per room). Each room features an ensuite bathroom, cable TV a phone and internet access. Some rooms have a balcony with a magnificent view over the Vosges mountains and the garden. Facilities include a patio, a small garden and an indoor pool.

Gîte in Oberhaslach
This beautiful country house located on the edge of the forest offers cozy guestrooms. Each room is uniquely decorated with original wooden furniture, typical of the region. Bathrooms are shared.
Guests are welcome to take a dip in the swimming pool or to relax in the garden. Internet access is available and some rooms have Wi-Fi.



Gîte in Aubure
Opened and renovated in 2019, this former hotel built in 1879 offers a stopover gîte for up to 25 people. You will be staying in one of the 6 private rooms with a beautiful wooden floor reminiscent of mountain chalets.
There are 4 bathrooms shared between the guests.
Guests also have access to a relaxation room (with books, games and Wi-FI), a patio and a garden.

Gite near Orbey
Located at an altitude of 850m, this lovely gîte will offer you a comfortable accommodation for the night in their guest room (capacity 2-6 people), located on the second floor. The guest room is made up of a spacious bedroom with a double bed and 2 single beds, a living room with a sofa bed for 2 people (with a real mattress and a real box spring), a bathroom and an independent WC. A TV corner is available in the common room and there is a library in the bedroom. There is also free Wi-Fi access at this property.
From the patio, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Orbey Valley.
Breakfast and dinner is taken in common with the other holidaymakers and with your hosts, in the former stable, now converted into a dining room.
The meals are made with fruits and vegetables from our orchards and vegetable gardens, supplemented by a weekly organic basket. The region's traditional cheeses (munster, organic barikass, goat, etc.) come from local breeders.

Room Occupancy
Single rooms are sometimes available (based on availability) and a single supplement fee applies. The single supplement fee does not apply if we cannot find another rider to share a room with you.



Meals
All meals are included with this trip.
Evening meals and breakfasts will be taken at the hotel. Lunch will be generous, inspired by traditional country cooking, warm or cold according to the weather. 
At noon, it is always a pleasure to see from far away a well-dressed table, in the middle of a field, waiting for us.

Alcoholic beverages are not included with this trip but you can purchase your own at the local restaurants.

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to most dietary restrictions with prior notice.

Tack:		English
Horses:		Anglo Arab
Pace:		Fast paced ride | Walk | Trot | Canter | Gallop |
Level:		(5 to 5 out of 5)    Advanced
Weight:		Max 195 lbs
Riders:		Min 6 riders	Max 12 riders

Horses
We know that the key to a horse trip is the horses.  That is why we have chosen and breed our own. They are all born in the Morvan region and they have lived all their life in the same region.  They are calm, well in their heads but when need be or when requested, they are fast and generous.  They are capable of anything, they will surprise you and they will allow you to experience a unique riding trip.

Pace
We will cover about 30 to 40 mile journeys every day with long and frequent canters and, at times, abrupt downhill sections.

Riding Experience
Riders need to be confident and in control at all paces on varied terrains. They also need to be physically fit, as this is a demanding ride.
You should have ridden regularly for more than 5 years and also feel comfortable trotting and galloping for a long time. There are some downhill canters. 

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.

Passport Required?
British	Yes
Australian	Yes
Canadian	Yes
USA	Yes
Other EU	1
Visa Required?
British	No
Australian	No
Canadian	No
USA	No
Other EU	No
Return Ticket Required?
British	No
Australian	Yes
Canadian	Yes
USA	Yes
Other EU	No

This information is not being updated on a regular basis. Hidden Trails does not take any responsibility for the accuracy of the above information. Please, consult the embassy or consulate for updated info.