Chateaux of the Loire
8 Days
France ( Best airport: Bordeaux)
The great castles of the Loire Valley are an incredible example of French legacies. Chenonceau, Cheverny, and Chaumont offer examples of the tremendous flowering of French culture during the Renaissance period and can be visited on this seven night trail ride offering fast riding through the royal hunting forests. You will journey across the Loire Valley, stopping at its majestic castles en route. Beautiful scenery, responsive horses and great food and wine, this is the ideal trail for lovers of French history, culture and architecture (not to mention food!).
Level of Riding and Fitness
All riders should be experienced at all paces and should be in good physical condition to participate in this trail. This is important for the safety and enjoyment of the group and especially for the health of the horses. These are active horse rides where you will be riding for 5 to 6 hours a day.
Guides and Group Size
As well as being experienced horsemen and women, your guides on this trail have a thorough knowledge of local history. All guides are multilingual French/English and the group size is between 5-10.
Tack and Riding Equipment
Tack: You will use JMS French trail saddles, which blend the best of English and western style saddles to create a comfortable trail saddle. Horses are all in bridles with gentle Myler bits.
Accommodation and Dining
Accommodation on this trail is in small, boutique hotels, nestled into the rural surroundings. Youโll stay in a different location each night of the trail, some have swimming pools. Most of the rooms will have an en suite bathroom although this cannot be guaranteed. Rooms are twins or doubles with single rooms available for a supplement. The luggage is transported in the support vehicle and transferred to each accommodation so you only need to carry daily essentials in your saddle bags.
Continental breakfasts are served at your hotel each morning typically consisting of a hot drink (tea, coffee, hot chocolate), juice, breakfast pastries (croissant, pain au chocolat, pain aux raisins), bread, butter and jam, and sometimes yogurt. Lunches are traditional french pique-niques, expect white tablecloths covered in fresh baguettes, sumptuous cheeses, salads and tasty charcuterie, along with a bottle of something local. Dinner will be typical French fare comprising several courses of regional specialities. Please note that wine is not included with dinners.
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Itinerary
Chateaux of the Loire
8 days / 7 nights / 6 days riding
Single occupancy ยฃ380
Flights & Airport transfers
Do not book flights until you have received the Booking confirmation email from saddletravel.com.
Please arrange to arrive at Montrichard train station in time for the group transfer at 18.30 on Day 1.
- 6 days of riding
- 7 nights accommodation in twin or double rooms
- Breakfasts
- Lunches
- Dinners
- Coffee, tea, water
- Wine with lunch
- Accommodation in twin or double rooms
- Luggage transport
- Airport transfers
- International flights
- Drinks other than wine with lunch
- Wine tasting (not more than โฌ10)
- Entrance fees to castles