Point-to-Point through the South of France
Dates:
Fixed dates March to June and September to October
Duration:
7 days / 6 nights
Difficulty:
Intermediate / Advanced
Horseback riding from Provence to Camargue, from the Luberon hills, across the Alpilles painted by Van Gogh, to the Mediterranean sea in the famous Camargue: the land of flamingoes, black bulls and white horses. A unique human and equestrian experience, a trip rich in history and culture, a week-long trail ride full of excitement, finishing with a gallop on the long beautiful sand beaches of the Mediterranean coast. The variety of landscapes is the highlight of this unique horseback trip through the Provence and three natural parks.
Horses
Varied local crosses 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.
Tack
English and trail/endurance saddles, equipped with saddle bags.
Terrain
This tour encompasses all types of terrain, from rolling hills to sandy beaches, enchanting forests to quaint villages, with room for riding at all paces.
Accommodation
Accommodation in simple guesthouses and hotels. All nights in shared 2-3 person bedrooms or single bedrooms with supplement.
Inn to Inn trips cannot guarantee the same level of comfort every night: one of the pleasures of a horseback riding trip is the variety ! We chose the accommodations for their location on the itinerary and for the quality of their welcome. With varying degrees of comfort, you will always have a memory: a good meal, a particularly pleasant atmosphere, or an exceptional setting.
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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Free transfer from Marseille airport or local train station. Welcome aperitif and presentation of the trail ride. You will be introduced to your guide and spend a first friendly dinner at the host’s table. Overnight at at Les Gargoulettes guesthouse.
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Departure from the southern foot of the Luberon, its pine forests and cliff landscapes, along orchards, olive groves and vineyards to the Durance river which we follow by pleasant trails, and cross (on a bridge in the event of a flooding river) before a pleasant shaded picnic brought by our assistant on the other side of the Durance river. In the afternoon, we will ride along the Alpilles canal to the farm where the horses will stay for the night. Transfer with minibus to your accommodation in Lauris, dinner at the host table.
Overnight at Les Gargoulettes in Lauris.
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After breakfast, transfer to the horses. We will ride in a rich valley among fruit trees to Lamanon where we will enjoy the lunch buffet. The afternoon, we will enter in the Alpilles Nature Park, Van Gogh’s country. We will ride in hiils and we will reach the Roman village of Eygalières late in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at a guesthouse near Eygalieres.
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From Eygalieres to Les Baux de Provence. Morning: 4 hours on horseback. Picnic at the ancient site of Glanum. Loading of horses into the truck. Visit (not included) of the Saint Paul de Mausole Monastery: Vincent VAN GOGH was interned here from May 8, 1889 to May 16, 1890. Transfer and visit of Les Baux de Provence. After your visit of the village: transfer by minibus to the heart of the Camargue. Night in a hotel, some four hundred years old, built on the remains of a 12th century abbey.
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On horseback to a Camargue ranch. After an hour on horseback in the heart of the Camargue, we will arrive at a "manade", a bull and horse ranch in Camargue. Mathieu, a passionate "guardian", Camargue cowboy, welcomes us in front of the enclosure of one of his bull herds. We accompany him on horseback to get the bulls, push them through the marsh to a sorting enclosure. Then he tells us about the "Camargue bull and horse races", the breeding methods, the traditions linked to the Camargue bulls, then he sorts a few bulls in front of us and ends his performance by offering us an aperitif. Picnic prepared by our assistant. Then we leave on horseback to Les Saintes Maries de la Mer. After your installation at the hotel, you can go for a walk in the the village streets and do some shopping, take a stroll to the beach, or enjoy the hotel swimming pool. Meeting for dinner in a lively bodega in the village. Night at the hotel.
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A morning ride on the beaches. Nice gallops and walk in the sea. The lunch will be prepared at the hotel by your assistant, and the afternoon you will ride along the Vacares lake: you will discover a lot of flamingos and wild birds on a pleasant trail. Transfer to Lauris, for a last dinner, share memories, pictures, addresses ...
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End of the trip after breakfast. At 9:30 am: departire of the free transfer to Aix-en-Provence TGV station and Marseille airport .
Planning and Packing
Dates
Equescapes Exclusive Staff-Accompanied Trip: May 4-10 2025