Ride Overview
See and smell the fragrant lavender while it is in full bloom. Lush purple fields await you each day on this ride which has wonderful food each day and fun long canters through the countryside. Call us today as space is limited on these dates. Our lavender horseback trail ride in Provence … a fragrant and colorful horseback riding trip from the South of the Luberon nature park to the Provence lavender-growing places: the country of Banon and Sault: the lavender “capital”.
This is a perfumed trail ride among the lavender, but also the sage widely cultivated in the region, and riding in the garrigue filled with herbs of Provence. A colorful horse 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.
2025 Dates: June 30-July 5, July 7-12, July 14-19, July 21-26, July 28-Aug. 2
2025 Rate: $2,270.00 USD per person (or 1,800€) in a shared room (Single Supplement: $395.00 USD or 300€)
2026 Dates: July 6-11, July 13-18
2026 Rate: $2,315.00 USD per person (or 1,850€) in a shared room (Single Supplement: $410.00 USD or 325€)
Included
- 5 nights accommodation
- 5 days of guided trail riding
- All meals
- Horse and all tack
- Airport transfers
- Tours as indicated in the itinerary
- All local taxes
Not Included
- Airfare
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities for the team at the end of the stay
- Beverages outside of meals
- Visits or tips not outlined in the itinerary
Pre-day: Sunday
Sunday: We suggest to arrive on Sunday and spend one night in Aix en Provence (shuttle bus from Marseille airport or Aix TGV is easily available), visit this cute city loved by Cezanne, and take our free transfer from Aix TGV station at 11AM on Monday (bus shuttle from Aix center). Recommended hotels: Hotel Cardinal ** - Hotel des Quatre Dauphins *** - Hotel Mercure Paul Cezanne ***
Day 1 (Monday) - Lauris to Buoux
Meet at noon at farm in Lauris. Enjoy a welcome aperitif and presentation of your ride and lunch.
We start this horseback ride in the Luberon, starting from the southern slope. We climb the crests of the Petit Luberon before descending the northern slope towards Bonnieux: a very beautiful village perched with stone houses. Then we head towards the Claparèdes plateau and the first lavender fields. We then descend towards the Aiguebrun gorges 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 large climbing falsies of Buoux. You can enjoy a swim in the pool before dinner.
Day 2 (Tuesday) - Buoux to Rustrel
In the morning, we follow the stream to its source by a pleasant green pathway, then we reach Saignon where we stop to water the horses at the fountain, on the square of this charming Provençal village. We then join our steward who will have prepared a beautiful buffet for us for lunch.
In the afternoon, we take paths in the pine forests and scrubland, to reach Rustrel. After installing the horses, you join your accommodation for dinner in an inn in the heart of the village.
Day 3 (Wednesday) - Rustrel to Revest du Bion
Your ride begins by quietly descending into a valley shaded by oak trees, onto the Albion Plateau, a high spot for lavender.
Picnic near a chapel before browsing the plateau, a 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, the lavender capital, where you have time to do some shopping, enjoy a drink on a typical cafe terrasse.
Day 4 (Thursday) - Revest-du-Bion - Montbrun les Bains
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, a charming medieval village at the foot of the Mount Ventoux. In the afternoon, the colors of lavenders, fields of grain 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.
Day 5 (Friday) - Montbrun les Bains - Mévouillon
This morning, the ride passes at the foot of the Giant of Provence: Mont Ventoux. We follow the Toulourenc, a pleasant refreshing stream, cross typical villages, and enter the Drôme Provençale: an alternation of wooded hills planted with lavender.
In the afternoon, we head for Mévouillon where the truck and minibus are waiting for us to bring horses and riders back to Lauris, in the Luberon.
Day 6 (Saturday) - Departure
End of the ride after breakfast. Transfer to Marseille airport or Aix en Provence TGV train station at 9:30AM.
PH
The trip was beautiful and we had a most wonderful time. Everyone involved was gracious and the hospitality was great. The Cap Rando Equestrian Centre horses were well kept. The accommodations each night were spectacular; some a bit more rustic than others but all were clean and comfortable. The food was also well prepared and plentiful except breakfast which was toast and coffee except for one of the places we stayed had a more, they provided some cheeses, granola and yogurt, etc.
Each day at lunch we had a hot meal and a two hour break both for the horses and our benefits. The country side was spectacular as well. We were also grateful for the two d’Hotes that had pools, yea; the weather was a bit warmer that usual for the area!
As far as riding through lavender fields, we did ride alongside and near a lot of lavender fields and other flowers, etc, which were beautiful. We did ride by some cherry orchards also; the cherries were delicious.
All in all it was a great vacation. If you ever need a volunteer to check out a ride that you are advertising keep me in mind. Riding vacations are great fun.
Happy Trails
DS
The accommodations each night were spectacular; some a bit more rustic than others but all were clean and comfortable. The food was also well prepared and plentiful except breakfast which was toast and coffee except for one of the places we stayed had a more, they provided some cheeses, granola and yogurt, etc.