Camargue Mountains and Beach Trail

7 Days | From £1460pp

France ( Best airport: Marseille)

Discover the beauty of the south of France with this expedition through the natural parks of the Luberon, the Alpilles and Camargue. Start your trip in the heart of the aromatic region of Provence and ride through the most beautiful lavender fields of France before reaching the marshes and beaches of Camargue.

The Riding

The trail takes you through various landscapes from the foot of the Luberon in the heart of Provence, across the Durance river on horseback, up the low mountain range of Alpilles and to the marshes and beaches of Camargue. Learn how to round up bulls in Camargue and enjoy the warm southern coastline of France.

Level of Riding and Fitness

The trail is suitable for intermediate and experienced riders. All participants must be confident and in control at all paces and in open spaces (walk, trot, canter). A reasonable level of current riding fitness is required as you’ll be spending 4-6 hours in the saddle each day and enjoy a 2 hour lunch break everyday.

The weight limit is 90 kg / 14,2 stones.

Guides and Group Size

All guides are bilingual french/english, they are experienced and qualified.

Group size is 4-8.

Any questions?

The Horses

The horses are from the region, and of medium size selected for their character: kind, responsive and easy to ride. They live outside and in a herd all year around. They work from April till November and enjoy a well deserved holiday in a 5000 ha field in the winter.

Horses are assigned to their riders onsite after a discussion with your guide and based on your height, weight, level and experience.

You will ride in comfortable trail-riding saddles with saddle bags and simple bridles.

Accommodation and Dining

On this trail riding expedition you will be staying in comfortable and welcoming guesthouses and hotels along the trail and will spend each night in a different location. You can expect a hearty meal at each destination. Some hotels have pools and most bedrooms have a private ensuite bathroom.

For your holidays you will be able to choose to share a room of 2 – 3 people with other riders, or book your own room for a supplement.

The meals are shared together, and you’ll enjoy local and refined cuisine at the table of your host or in restaurants. Special diets can be accommodated. Wine is included with the meals. Your lunch will be taken on the trail and prepared by one of your guides. Enjoy copious and hearty buffets every day.

Get a free Camargue Mountains and Beach Trail mini-brochure in PDF format.

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Gallery

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Lauris between 6 pm and 7 pm, or get transferred from Marseille airport (5 pm), the Aix-en-Provence TGV (5.30 pm), the Aix-en-Provence station (5.45 pm). Meet your guides for a drink and discuss your week. Spend the night in Lauris.

Day 2 After breakfast, go to the tables to meet your horses and get ready for your first day out on the trail. Head south towards the flank of the Luberon and ride across pine forests, orchards, olive groves and vineyards until you reach Durance. Follow a trail along the river, cross the river, or take the bridge depending on the river level, and enjoy a picnic by the river. In the afternoon you will follow the valley’s many streams until you get to the horses grazing. Get transferred to your guesthouse in Lauris.

Day 3 After breakfast, you will be transferred to meet the horses in Mallemort. Begin your ride on the plains and orchards of the area in the direction of Lamanon where your copious picnic awaits. In the afternoon, you’ll ride towards the Alpilles, a gorgeous limestone, low mountain range, and enjoy the view and contrast between the rock formations and green pine forests before arriving near Eygalières.

Day 4 Today your ride takes you to the Alpilles on mountain trails across the pine forests to the sound of cicadas. Enjoy views of Saint Paul monastery and the Roman arch of Glanum. In the afternoon, ride along the ridge of the Alpilles and explore les Baux de Provence. In the afternoon the horses are loaded into the horsebox and transferred to Camargue. In the afternoon, you can go visit the village or see the exhibit of Carrières des Lumières, an audiovisual and screening show in the heart of Baux de Provence (to book: www.carrieres-lumieres.com) Get transferred to the heart of camargue and spend the night at your hotel. The hotel building is four hundred years old and built with the remains of a 12th century abbey. Or spend the night at a typical Camargue Inn.

Day 5 Today you get to round up the cattle the Camargue way. Ride an hour in the heart of Camargue until you get to your host ranch. The owner Mathieu will teach you how to round up the bulls and push them into the sorting enclosure and onto their next marsh field. You will learn everything about the "Camargue race", and the Camargue breeding methods and traditions around an "apéritif" - the drink of friendship. Picnic in the marshy fields at the ranch. After lunch, get back on your horses and ride to Saintes Maries de la Mer. After 2-3 hours on horseback, you will get to your hotel. You can take a stroll in town, go to the beach or enjoy the hotel's swimming pool before dinner.

Day 6 Spend your morning on the beach and enjoy long gallops with your trusty horses before returning to the hotel across the imperial ponds. Have lunch at the hotel before getting back the horses for the last ride through this beautiful region. Head for Les Méjanes along the Vaccarès pond, Camargue's largest pond (6,500 hectares). There you’ll see flocks of flamingos. Enjoy the beautiful scenery in Méjanes. End of the day, the horses and riders get transferred back to Lauris for the night.

Day 7 Enjoy breakfast before being transferred at 9:30 am to Marseille airport or Aix en Provence train stations.