Lavender Fields of Provence on Horseback
2024 Dates:
Fixed dates throughout July
Duration:
6 days / 5 nights
Difficulty:
Intermediate / Advanced
The lavender horseback ride in Provence is a fragrant and colorful riding trip from the South of the Luberon Nature Park to the Provence lavender fields: the country of Banon and Sault: the lavender capital of the world. A perfumed trail ride among the lavender and sage widely cultivated in the region, and riding in the garrigue filled with herbs of Provence. A colorful riding trip: the white limestone cliffs of the Luberon, the greenery of the the pine and oak forests, the blue of the sky, the purple of lavender, the red of poppies. Varied landscapes from Mediterranean Provence to the upper Provence, as far as the foot of the Giant of Provence: the Mont Ventoux.
Horses
Varied local crossings, of medium size, selected for their character and adapted to the type of rides we offer. All our horses are trail riding "professionals": they only do this activity. They are never locked in boxes, they live in herds all year round, out of season from November to March: in semi-freedom on more than 500 ha. For these reasons, they are balanced, kind and willful. Horses are allocated after discussion with your guide, according to your height, weight, level and experience.
Riding
Intermediate to Advanced
Riders should be capable of spending long hours in the saddle, tacking and untacking their own horse, and controlling the horse at all paces, even though rides will mainly consist of the walk and tölt.
Tack
Comfortable trail ride saddles equipped with saddle bags. Trail ride saddles are especially designed for long rides as well as for the gaits employed on this type of terrain. The saddles are comfortable for both the horse and the rider.
Terrain
This tour encompasses all types of terrain, from rolling hills to enchanting forests to quaint villages, with room for riding at all paces.
Accommodation
Dormitories: 1 night in a large dormitory up to twenty people, other nights in shared 2-6 people dormitories.
Rooms: 2-3 person rooms or single rooms by request/single supplement.
The Inn to Inn ride does not guarantee the same level of comfort every night: one of the pleasures of traveling on horseback is the variety ! Accommodations have been chosen for their location on the route and for the quality of their welcome. More or less comfortable, you will always have a memory: a good meal, a particularly pleasant atmosphere, or an exceptional setting. Some accommodations have a swimming pool.
Dining
Breakfasts in the guesthouses are traditional French breakfasts: hot drinks with bred, butter, marmalade, honey, cereals, fruit juice (no cheese, eggs, ...). More complete breakfasts in the Camargue hotels. At noon, an assistant prepares hearty picnic buffets. Dinners at the host tables in the guesthouses, in local restaurants in the Camargue. Local cuisine, varied and refined.
Special diets can be accommodated with advance notice. Wine is included with meals.
Itinerary
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Meeting at noon at Lauris. Welcome aperitif and presentation of your ride and lunch. We start on horseback from the southern slope. We ride up to the the crests of the Petit Luberon before descending the northern slope towards Bonnieux: a very beautiful perched village with stone houses. Then we head towards the Claparedes plateau and the first lavender fields. We then descend towards the Aiguebrun canyon which mark the boundary between Petit and Grand Luberon. We pass near the Priory of St Symphorien, then follow the Aiguebrun river to reach the first accommodation at the foot of the high climbing cliffs of Buoux. You can enjoy a swim in the pool before dinner.
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This morning you are riding up on the Plateau of Claparèdes, follow lavender fields, dry stone walls and " bories " (small shepherds' pen). You will cross the cute perched village of Saignon where horses will be able to drink at the fountain in the center of the village. You will then ride down towards the Valley of Apt on ancient paved trails. After lunch, you will ride down in the valley before reaching Rustrel. You will leave your horse in a field before going to your accommodation in the center of the village.
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You quietly get into a valley shaded by oak trees, onto the Albion Plateau, high spot for lavender. Picnic near a chapel before browsing the plateau, former nuclear missiles site for the French nuclear force from 1971 to 1996. Ride among the lavender and sage fields. Arrival at the guesthouse where you can relax and take a swim in the pool before visiting the village of Sault, lavender capital, do some shopping, enjoy a drink on a typical cafe terrasse.
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This morning, you will ride in direction of Saint-Trinit. The lunch will wait for you in the shade near Sault. In the afternoon, you will leave in the direction of Aurel, charming medieval village at the foot of the Mount Ventoux. In the afternoon, the colors of lavenders, fields of cereal and the shadows of the Mount Ventoux may tempt you to imitate the numerous painters who felt in love with this region. You will arrive the afternoon near Montbrun-les-Bains, surrounded with green hills and dominating a plain of perfumed lavenders: one of the most beautiful villages of France.
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This morning, the Giant of Provence: the Mont Ventoux, dominates us to the south. We follow the Toulourenc, a pleasant refreshing stream, cross some typical villages, and enter the Drôme Provencale: an alternation of wooded hills and lavender fields. In the afternoon, we head to Mevouillon, where the truck and minibus await us, for the horse and rider transfer back to Lauris, in the Luberon.
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End of the trip after breakfast. At 9:30 am, transfer to Aix en Provence tgv station or Marseille airport.