Ride Overview
Try something new in this year and join us on a true horse drive – you can join in the adventure of assisting the guides as they bring the horses back from winter pasture to begin the new season.
Called a “transhumance” in European lexicon, this is a fun way to see the countryside, watch horses in their natural environment and test your riding a bit as you help encourage the horses to “start their school year” – you’ll laugh as they try to tell you “no” but you’ll enjoy the challenge all the same as they are such a good natured herd.
2023 Date: Nov. 5-11
Rates: $2,105.00 USD per person in a shared room (Single Supplement: $415.00 USD)
2024 Date: Nov. 3-9
Rates: $2,230.00 USD per person in a shared room (Single Supplement: $495.00 USD)
***NOTE: If less than 5 riders there will be a surcharge of $390.00 USD per person and if only 2 riders of $750.00 USD per person.
Included
- 6 nights accommodation
- 4.5 days of riding
- Horse and all tack
- All meals
- Wine with meals
- Luggage transfers
- Support Staff
- Guiding services
- 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
France’s Pre and Post Season Round Up Itinerary
SPRING ITINERARY
Day 1
Meet at Marseille airport, Aix en Provence TGV train station or center station, or directly at Cap Rando at the end of the afternoon. Welcome drink and presentation of your trip, dinner and overnight.
Day 2
Peyruis (the herd winter pasture) - Cruis. Breakfast. Transfer by minibus (about 1h30) to the horse pasture in upper Provence. Gathering the herd, preparing the horses, checking the fittings, choosing the mounted and unmounted horses that will follow in hand and at liberty, and picnic: our assistant will prepare a pleasant buffet as you will have earned it after a busy morning.
After lunch, we leave and begin moving the herd by riding south of the Lure Mountain to end at the guesthouse and its pleasant bed and breakfast near Cruis, with views of the lavender fields. Dinner at the host table and night.
Day 3
Cruis - Simiane-la-Rotonde. Breakfast. Early departure for a relatively long day (about 7 hours riding) through the lavender fields with the Lure Mountain in the background. Nice mid-stop buffet break before heading back to Simiane-La-Rotonde through green oak forests.
Arrival at your pleasant guesthouse at the foot of the village, for a home prepared meal at the host table. Night in a nice comfortable bedroom.
Day 4
Simiane-la-Rotonde - Céreste. Breakfast. Departure to Oppedette among the lavender fields. crossing through the beautiful village, typical of the upper Provence. The assistant will wait for you with a pleasant Provencal meal, a scramble, a ratatouille, at the edge of the Oppedette Canyon, at the entrance of the Luberon nature park.
You continue and ride to the Carluc Priory, of the 11th century where you take a break before arriving to the accommodation where a new friend Olivier awaits you for an aperitif, followed by a festive dinner and night in his bed and breakfast or in a small hotel in the heart of the village.
Day 5
Céreste - Buoux. Breakfast and departure on trails through the fragrant Provencal scrubland, with its thyme and rosemary scents. Then you will join a very pretty Provencal village and take a break at the fountain of the village to water the horses. Lunch break under oaks.
After lunch you will reach the prehistoric sites of the Gorges de l'Aiguebrun and join the Auberge des Seguins, nestled at the foot of the impressive cliffs along the Aiguebrun stream: a peacefull haven in the heart of the Luberon!
Day 6
Buoux - Lauris. After breakfast, on horseback, you ride on the crests of the high Luberon from where you discover a superb point of view on a clear day: of the alpine peaks in the north, to the Mediterranean in the south!
Picnic near Lourmarin, the charming village where Albert Camus lived and is buried. The return to Mas de Recaute is along the foot of the Luberon. The trails are pleasant, in the pine forests and along vineyards and orchards of peach, apricot, cherry and almond trees that are already blooming with a spring that arrives early in Provence, overlooking the Durance valley, with a beautiful view of the Sainte Victoire mountain, very dear to Cézanne.
Last festive evening and night in your bed and breakfast at the Mas de Recaute.
Day 7
End of your trip after breakfast. Free transfer to Aix en Provence center or TGV train and Marseille airport.
FALL ITINERARY
Day 1
Meet at Marseille airport, Aix en Provence TGV train station or center, or directly at Cap Rando at the end of the afternoon. Welcome drink and presentation of your trip, dinner and overnight.
Day 2
Lauris - Buoux. After breakfast, choose the horses mounted and unmounted that will follow in hand and freedom, and start riding along the foot of the Luberon. The trails are pleasant, in the pine forests and along vineyards and orchards that take their fall colors, overlooking the Durance valley, with a beautiful view of the Sainte Victoire mountain dear to Cezanne.
Picnic near Lourmarin, the charming village where Albert Camus lived and is buried. Then, you ride to the Luberon crests where on a clear day: you can see the alpine summits in the north, to the Mediterranean in the south, before going down in the Aiguebrun canyon where you reach the Auberge des Seguins, nestled at the foot of the impressive cliffs along the Aiguebrun stream: a peaceful haven in the heart of the Luberon ! Dinner and overnight at the inn.
Day 3
Buoux - Cereste. Breakfast and departure discovering the prehistoric sites of the Aiguebrun Gorges on a pleasant trail along the only stream crossing the Luberon: the Aiguebrun. Then you will join a beautiful Provencal village and take a break at the fountain of the village to water the horses.
Lunch break under the oaks. And then you leave on trails through the fragrant Provencal scrubland, with its scents of thyme, rosemary ... to join your accommodation near Cereste. Dinner and festive evening with your host Olivier.
Day 4
Cereste - Simiane-la-Rotonde. Breakfast. Departure to the 11th century Carluc Priory where you take a break before entering the town of Oppedette leaving the Luberon nature park among lavender fields. crossing the beautiful village, typical of upper Provence.
The assistant will be waiting with a pleasant Provencal meal, a scramble, a ratatouille, at the edge of the Oppedette Canyon. After lunch, you leave to move the horses and end at your evening accommodation: a beautiful guest house in the middle of the lavender fields at the foot of Simiane la Rotonde hilltop village. Aperitif and dinner at the host table and overnight in beautiful guest bedrooms.
Day 5
Simiane-la-Rotonde - Cruis. Departure for a relatively long day (about 7 hour riding) through the lavender fields with the Lure Mountain in the background. Pleasant mid-stop buffet break before heading to Cruis through the evergreen oak forests to reach the guesthouse and its comfortable guest rooms near Cruis, overlooking the lavender fields. Dinner at the host table and night.
Day 6
Cruis - Peyruis (the herd winter pastures). Departure on horseback south of the Montagne de Lure to arrive to the horse winter pastures around noon, where you’ll have a pleasant buffet lunch.
After this break, you prepare the horses (release of the mounted horses and release of the herd that leaves the journey cavorting, galloping and happy to find their freedom and their "holidays" after their season in Provence.
Transfer by minibus to Lauris .Aperitif and festive evening at Mas de Recaute, dinner at the host table and overnight.
Day 7
End of your trip after breakfast. Free transfer to Aix en Provence center and tgv train station, and Marseille airport.
* Indicative programs that can be modified if necessary.
