Reunion : Discover the Reunion island on horseback

SEJOUR EQUESTRE A LA REUNION
PROGRAMME INDICATIF *

Day 1 (1 hour on horseback) - Arrival at Roland Garros Airport where a member of the team will be waiting for you. A 1-hour transfer by car will take you to the equestrian center, from where a short 15-minute walk will lead you to Canopée, your accommodation. Greg will show you your unique lodgings nestled in nature. Transfers between the lodges and the equestrian center will be by 4x4 or on foot. A friendly lunch will be provided. In the afternoon, you will meet your horse, which will be assigned to you based on your riding level and size. We will take the time to get to know you; the bond you create with your horse is very important to us. A short horseback ride around the property will bring you back to the lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.

Day 2 - Wake up early to the sound of birdsong. A hearty breakfast will give you the energy you need to start the day. This will be followed by a 2-hour walk in the typical highland forest of Réunion. This majestic coniferous forest exudes a mysterious and wild atmosphere that will surprise you. Enjoy a vegetarian lunch at Bruno's, our neighbor, a farmer and distiller passionate about aromatherapy. In the afternoon, visit the gardens, the still, and the essential oil distillery workshop. Return to the stables where we'll meet our horses and ride to the gîte. Dinner and overnight stay at Greg's.

Day 3 - Breakfast at Greg's. Today, we're off on a full-day horseback ride with Clément, a local guide, who will share the history and exceptional botany of the island with you. You'll ride through the legendary tamarind forest before arriving at the breathtaking viewpoint overlooking the Mafate cirque, one of the most beautiful viewpoints on the island. After tending to our horses, we'll have lunch: a delicious curry cooked over a wood fire, a typical Reunion dish. The afternoon will be spent riding back through a wild, mountainous forest. After caring for your valiant companions, you'll walk back to Greg's place where a hot meal will be waiting for you.

Day 4 - Breakfast at Greg's. This morning, we'll have an introduction to horseback archery. A brief explanation on foot will be necessary to familiarize you with your bow before you try it on horseback. Guaranteed excitement! We'll then drive to a lovely restaurant in the hills above St. Leu for lunch before visiting the Mascareignes Botanical Conservatory, an iconic garden of Reunion Island. We'll return to the stables where we'll meet Greg on horseback. Dinner at Greg's.

Day 5 - Breakfast at Greg's. This morning, we'll set off on a day hike that will take us to the lower reaches of Réunion Island. Breathtaking views will accompany us along fields planted with sugarcane. You'll discover completely different vegetation and landscapes. We'll have a delicious curry for lunch with a beautiful view of the coastline before returning to the equestrian center via trails that offer opportunities for exhilarating gallops. We'll then ride back to Greg's. Dinner at Greg's.

Day 6 - Breakfast at Greg's. This morning, we'll leave our horses and head out on a whale or dolphin safari. We'll have lunch at one of the island's most beautiful open-air markets, the Saint Paul market. This market is overflowing with Creole crafts, multicolored spices, unusual fruits, and extraordinary aromas. We'll then remount our horses for an evening ride that will allow us to enjoy the special atmosphere of the sunset. We'll return to the guesthouse at the end of the ride. Dinner at Greg's. 

Day 7: Breakfast at Greg's. Pack up your belongings. Return to the club by 9:30 am at the latest for your introduction to TREC (competitive trail riding). You will participate in one of the three events of this discipline, the "PTV" or Cross-Country Course, with obstacles that can be jumped or not, depending on your preference (opening a gate, slalom, jumping a log, either in hand or on horseback, etc.). At midday, we will descend to St. Gilles les Bains to share our last meal together. The afternoon is free in the seaside town before departing for the airport.

* Program indicated subject to modifications if necessary.