Ride Overview
The very name of Bordeaux has come to mean great wines. No part of France is able to produce a wider variety of the noblest wines than the Gironde area surrounding the city of Bordeaux.
Riding through this area, you will have the opportunity to taste great wines such as Medoc, Cote de Blaye, Cote de Bourg, Bordeaux Superior, Bordeaux Lalande, Pomerol, Saint-Emilion, Cadillac, Graves, Sauternes.
You will ride through landscapes of some of France’s richest architectural land, You will pass near picturesque farms, rolling meadows, ancient villages, churches and castles. Much of the area has not changed significantly for the last several hundred years …
2023 Rates: $2,925.00 USD per person in a shared room (Single Supplement: $615.00 USD)
Non rider rate in a shared room with a rider: $2,035.00 USD
Dates: Sept. 23-30, Oct. 1-8, Oct. 14-21, Oct. 22-29
2024 Rates: $3,260.00 USD per person in a shared room (Single Supplement: $615.00 USD)
Non rider rate in a shared room with a rider: $2,135.00 USD
Dates: May 11-18, May 19-26, Sept. 28-Oct. 5, Oct. 6-13, Oct. 19-26, Oct 27-Nov. 3
NOTE: the level of riding for this ride is for an experienced rider who has mastered all 4 gaits (walk, posting trot (posting is mandatory), canter/gallop in a forward seat on varied terrain and in open spaces. You must be able to control the speed and direction of your horse without being rough on their mouth or back. There are many long trots and canters, so you need to be physically fit. You must also be able to mount unaided. If, on the first day of the ride, the guide does not feel you have adequately met these guidelines, you will not be able to continue by horseback but may travel with the support vehicle. A 300 euro fee will be charged for transporting your horse back to the farm. No refunds will be issued in the event you are not able to ride to these guidelines.
Included
- 7 nights accommodation
- 6 days of guided trail riding
- All meals
- Horse and all tack
- Guiding services
- Luggage transfers
- All taxes
Not Included
- Airfare
- Travel insurance
- Visits/Tastings outlined in the itinerary (c. 30€)
- Drinks with evening meals (bottled water, wine, beer, soda)
- Airport transfers
- Gratuities for the team at the end of the stay
Day 1
Arrival and pick up at Bordeaux airport at 6:30PM at HALL B at the "Brioche Dorée" snack bar .
Transfer to the bed and breakfast in Moulis en Médoc and enjoy a briefing and dinner.
Day 2
Breakfast at 8AM and then transfer to the horses at 9AM. The ride begins after all are introduced to their horses and head out at 10AM.
The morning ride starts in a flat landscape between vineyards and forests and winds its way through lovely scenery before arriving to the lunch spot. A picnic lunch awaits you on the borders of the Gironde. After lunch you will taste a Medoc at the wine museum of Maucaillou.
Afterward, you will cross the Gironde, with your horse, on a ferry, towards Blaye (crossing time of 40 min). Upon arrival you will ride to the citadelle Vauban (18th century).
Dinner and Night in a hotel.
Day 3
Breakfast at 8AM, departure from the hotel at 9AM and then mount up to ride out at 10AM.
Today, you will ride through the Côtes de Blaye and the Côtes de Bourg in hilly and lush landscape. Lunch will be a picnic at a wine producers’ place at Lamothe castle and showcase tasting of the Côte de Bourg.
At around 3PM, you’ll mount back up and ride toward Cubnezais through a flatter landscape good for longer trots and canters. You’ll enjoy the micro climate en route, with distinct areas of humid zones.
The evening will be a delight as you’ll visit the winegrower of the vineyard Gravette’s where you will enjoy a tasting during the evening meal. Overnight on site.
Day 4
Breakfast at 8AM and again on the horses by 9:30AM. Today you’ll explore a region where vineyards alternate with small forests which will lead you to the castle Mayne Veil, for a tasty picnic lunch and tasting of Fronsac wine.
After lunch you will ride toward Libourne, where you will pass through the famous region of Pomerol. It is at the castle Belles Graves that you will leave your horses to enjoy tasting the famous Lalande de Pomerol wine.
Dinner and overnight in a hotel in Libourne.
Day 5
Continuing your ride in the direction of Saint Emilion and passing through the famous properties of château Pétrus, Cheval Blanc and château Figeac you will arrive to your picnic lunch at the castle Robin des Moines – complete with a tasting of this wine followed by a free visit of the city of St Emilion.
In the afternoon you will leave St Emilion to ride through the large valley of Dordogne and arrive in Saint Jean de Blaignac by 7PM.
Dinner and overnight in a bed and breakfast.
Day 6
You are now in the region of the "Entre deux Mers", with its varied landscapes, hilly and wooded, and its beautiful wineries.
You will stop at the castle of Rauzan (13th century) with a tasting of Entre deux Mers and then continue on in the afternoon to ride through vineyards alternating with forests, which will lead to the castle of Broustaret (Bed and Breakfast).
Dinner in the city of Cadillac where you will taste the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux before an enchanting nocturnal visit of the city.
Day 7
Again riding out by 9:30AM, you’ll be amazed by the scenery. Until reaching Cadillac, the region is quite hilly but then you will pass through the valley of Garonne to reach the vineyards of Graves and Sauternes.
Another flavorful picnic, today at the castle of Myrat is in store. The count of Pontac will personally show you his castle and will delight you with a tasting of this gold-couloured wine.
In the afternoon, gallops between vineyards and forests will lead you to Sauternes. From the top of the tower of the oenological school “La Tour Blanche” you will take in the view on the wineyard of Sauternes.
During dinner you will taste the wine of Graves and spend the night at the hotel.
Day 8
After breakfast, transfer to Bordeaux airport at pre set time.
Deb R.
I’ve done quite a few rides with this company and every one is my favorite until I do the next one! Having said that, this one really was my favorite! I knew Bordeaux would be nice, but I really had NO idea how wonderful this trip would be.
The guides David and Britta were superb! Their expertise and care of the horses were remarkable. The routes taken were carefully planned and modified easily if needed, you never felt there was a change in plans as it all went so smoothly. Britta was incredibly knowledgeable about the history of the places we visited and had great fun stories to tell as well.
The chateaus where we stayed were above and beyond. The food and flavor or the region was so well prepared by the warm accommodating families at the chateau…and then there were the wines! C’est magnifique!
The horses were mainly Lusitano and Arabian with some crosses mixed in but ALL of them were amazing! The sure footedness and sound minds of these well taken care of horses made everyone so comfortable that all that was left to do was enjoy!!
Mandy J.
I loved so many things about the ride! First, Britta and David were very kind to their horses. The horses came from varied backgrounds, yet they were all trained so well for the ride that there was never an issue. They and were very sweet and safe and easy to handle both on the ground and in the saddle.
Britta shared extensive knowledge of the wine industry, the land and the history of Bordeaux. She was an excellent tour guide. I was confident in David’s navigation skills – he kept us on course and on time to all our wine tastings and lodgings and meals.
We stayed at many beautiful small wineries and chateaus and castles. Every host and hostess we met were so friendly and the meals they prepared for us were fabulous. We stayed at several very nice hotels as well and meals were always memorable.
I still can’t believe all the planning that went into that trip and how the timing always worked out. Our horses were always ready for us to start the day, lunch was always waiting for us to arrive, and our destination was never disappointing.
PS – my only regret is that I didn’t spend a few days like you did exploring the Bordeaux area. Your photos were beautiful! And so different from the vineyards and towns that we saw from horseback!
Evelyn P.
I recently went on my first equestrian excursion with Active Riding Trips and Cheval Voyages in the Bordeaux area of France.
Although it was my first time on an equestrian tour, I always felt confident and safe. Our hosts, Davide and Brita, were knowledgeable horse professionals. The horses were well cared for and fun to ride. Brita is a professional horse woman with wonderful horse stories to satisfy the horse lovers’ soul, but in addition she was so knowledgeable about the history of the area, the vineyards, the making of wine, and even the wildlife and foliage that we encountered.There was no question she couldn’t answer.
The route was challenging, fascinating and informative. The wonderful accommodations were different every day. The three man crew of Brita, Davide and Pierre kept us well fed and happy, and looking forward to the next days’ adventure!
I would definitely travel with Active Riding Trips and Cheval Voyages again.
Henriette G.
Riding horses through the vineyards of the Bordeaux region; well trained horses, beautiful landscape, sampling wines. What could be better than that?
A very well organized week with attention to every detail, run by Davide and Britta (our hosts); we stayed in a new place every night, either a small hotel or a charming B&B. A great and fun week was had by all.
Thank you!
Betty R.
Castles, vineyards and wine all while sightseeing on a horse thru Bordeaux. Our guides were great and gave us some history of the area as we rode thru vineyards and towns.
The most memorable part for me was riding up the ramparts and entering Blaye Castle under the arch. Of course loading the horses onto the ferry to cross the Girobde River was also special. Our accommodations were grand.
Did I mention the wonderful food? And Wine!!
Another perk of these rides is meeting new people who share the love of riding and often join you on your next adventure.