Cap Rando Organization : Trips organized by Cap Rando in Provence with our guides and horses
Type
In line progressive trail rides
Comfort
En chambres et dortoirs
Level
Level 3 :You must be able to walk, trot, canter and gallop outdoor
From (offer)
1400€
Highlights
  • A real journey on horseback crossing the Vercors from north to south between Drôme and Isère
  • Variety of landscapes between mountains and meadows
  • Assistant preparing generous lunch buffets
  • Small groups of maximum 8 riders
  • 1 or 2 weeks of horseback trip

44.83694441579, 5.3994444

The Vercors: a vast limestone plateau has long been inaccessible. Only a few mule trails allowed to penetrate into the mountain. The Maquis du Vercors was a rural Free French resistance ("maquis") group who resisted the 1940-1944 German occupation of France in World War II. The Maquis du Vercors used the prominent scenic plateau known as the massif du Vercors (Vercors Plateau) as a refuge. Many members of the maquis, called "maquisards" died fighting in 1944 in the Vercors Plateau. We will cross the Vercors from the South to the North (part 1), starting from the Provence Drome, up to Autrans between the Drôme and Isère. The week after, from the North to the South (part 2). A different route to return for those who wish to make the 2 weeks: an incredible ten-day trip on horseback. Climatic crossroads between the Alps and Provence, the variety of landscapes, fauna and flora protected by the Vercors natural park, makes this region a paradise for riders.
 

Itinerary
Image programme
voyage a cheval dans le vercors
Programme intro

INDICATIVE ITINERARY *:
randonnee acheval vercors

PART 1 - FROM LA VACHERIE TO MEAUDRE

Day 1: Meeting at the foot of the Vercors at La Vacherie, in the Drome, at the foot of the western flank of the Vercors. Free transfer possible from Valence TGV train station. Welcome meal and overnight .

rando cheval VercorsDay 2: La Vacherie - Lente. Departure of your horseback riding in the Vercors. La Vacherie is located at the foot of the Vercors, on the southwest flank of the massif, in Drome Provencale. We will quickly leave the still Provence landscapes to ride up following mule tracks and forest tracks to Lente. Dinner at the inn, overnight at the lodge.

Day 3: Lente - Col du Rousset. A very nice ride starting in the Lente forest and along the southern edge of the Vercors plateau, with superb views of the Drôme Provencale, through forests and meadows. In the evening, we will join the Col du Rousset, a small ski resort.  

Day 4: Col du Rousset - Pré Grandu. To day you will ride  at 1800 m altitude,, with a breathtaking view of the South to the Drome valley. Beautiful lawns, among the herds in the mountain pastures, up to the Roman quarries. The blocks of limestone that were cut there were shipped on the back of mules on steep paths to the cities of the south, and were used in particular for paving the streets. We will spend the night in a refuge, bivouac in an unforgettable setting.

randonnée à cheval vercorsDay 5: Pre Grandu - Correncon en Vercors. We are heading towards the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors Nature Reserve. Crossing this natural, wild, preserved area, access to which is only authorized for horseback and pedestrian hikers. Passage through "the battlefield" where in 1410 the armies of the bishops of die and the royal armies clashed to push the limits of their territory where the "fleur du roy", a stone engraved with the fleur-de-lys royal testifies more of those past struggles. A breathtaking view of the Grand Veymont, the Isère valleys and the Alpine peaks. In the evening, accommodation in a pleasant hotel.

rando à cheval dans le VercorsDay 6: Correncon en Vercors - Meaudre. We will ride up in superb forests up to almost 1500 meters of altitude. Picnic in the mountains before descending to Maudre and its superb plateau, famous for its cross-country ski trails which we will follow on horseback before arriving in a pleasant gite for our evening.

Day 7: Maudre.  End of the first part of the trip. Free transfer to Valence TGV station for those who only do the 1st part. Rest, walks, shopping in the pleasant resort of Meaudre, AUtrans and Villard de Lans, for those who do the 2nd part.

PART 2 - FROM MEAUDRE TO LA VACHERIE

Day 1: Meaudre. Free transfer possible from Valence TGV train station. Meeting in the evening for those who are only doing the 2nd part. Dinner and night in the comfortable gite.

Rando cheval VercorsDay 2: Meaudre - Correncon en Vercors. Departure from the Autrans plateau following the cross-country ski trails. Then climb in beautiful forests up to nearly 1500 meters above sea level. Picnic in the mountains before descending to Lans en Vercors, beautiful paces on the Plateau des Allières above Villard de Lans, before arriving at the hotel.

Day 3: Correncon en Vercors - La Chapelle en Vercors. Ascent to the magnificent plateau of Herbouilly, then to the plateau of Château Julien. At 1600 meters above sea level, on the balconies of the East Vercors, we will discover a panorama of the whole massif, passing by the glacier, a natural ice reserve exploited until the beginning of the century. Visit of the village of La Chapelle en Vercors before a pleasant dinner and night in a gîte

Vercors à chevalDay 4: La Chapelle en Vercors - Font d'Urle. Pleasant day in the forest: more than 3000 hectares where it would not be surprising to see deer reintroducing themselves in the 1950s. We arrived at Font d'Urle at the end of the afternoon. Night at the hotel in the ski resort.

Day 5: Font d'Urle - Lente. Magnificent ride in the heart of the forest on the plateau of Ambel. Pastures, lawns, forests, ... alternate vegetation and landscapes to reach the Col de l'Infernet, 1692 m. Stunning views before arriving at our equestrian hostel in Lente

Day 6: Lente - La Vacherie. Already the end of the tour, return to La Vacherie. Those who have done the first part will not be disappointed to follow this stage in the opposite direction, in superb landscapes !
Day 7: End of your horse riding in the Vercors after breakfast. Free transfer to Valence TGV train station.

* Indicative itineraries which may be subject to modifications if necessary.

MEETING/DEPARTURE

image-20220805125217-1MEETING:
Part 1: On Monday.
Part 2: On Sunday.
Integral (part 1+2): On Monday.
If you come by car:
For part 1 or part 2:
Meeting at Valence TGV train station at 6 p.m. Free transfer for the first accommodation.
Cars stay in the TGV station parking, to book on:
www.effia.com/parking/parking-gare-de-valence-tgv-p2-rhone-effia
For the full ride (part 1+2):
Meeting at the first & last accommodation (cars stay at the accommodation):
Gite "La Colo", La Vacherie, 26190 Le Chaffal
Google maps: http://go.cap-rando.com/url/vacherie
GPS: 44.88632 – 5.18234
If you come by train:
For part 1, part 2, the full ride (part 1+2)
Meeting at Valence TGV station at 6 p.m. Free transfer to the first accommodation.
If you come by plane:
Tgv from Lyon Saint-Exupery airport to Valence TGV: only 30mn.

DEPARTURE:
Part 1: Sunday after breakfast.
Part 2: Saturday after breakfast.
Integral (part 1+2): Saturday after breakfast.
For all rides: Free transfer to Valence TGV station, arrival after ± 10:30 am.

Riding
LEVEL:

image 117
You must be able to walk, trot, canter and galop outdoor on open spaces. Some passages in difficult terrain can be done on foot next to the horse, especially on part 1 which passes through the high plateaus of Vercors.

RYTHM:

5 to 7 hours riding every day.

NUMBER OF RIDERS:

5 to 8 riders and the guide.

GUIDE & ASSISTANT:

1 qualified guide speaking French and English + 1 professional assistant ensuring luggage transports and preparing lunch buffets.

HORSES:

rando a cheval en provenceEssentially crosses of Spanish, Arab, French breed. Horses are allocated according  to each rider weight, height, riding level and experience. All our horses are trail riding “professionals”. Living throughout the year in a herd, trail riding is their only work activity. For these reasons, they are well-balanced gentle, yet wilfully engaged.

TACK:

Comfortable trail ride saddles equipped with saddle bags. Trail ride saddles are especially designed for long rides as well as for the gaits employed on this type of terrain. The saddles are comfortable for both the horse and the rider.selle de randonnee

Comfort

rando a cheval vercorsand randonnee a cheval vercors
ACCOMMODATION:
In bedrooms and dormitories, in guesthouses and hotels. 
Both rides ‘(part 1 and part 2) offer very simple accommodation. Most nights are in dormitories. Some nights in hotels in shared bedrooms. Single bedrooms are not offered. Showers are available all nights, unless one night on part 2, in a very rustic mountain refuge privatized for our group. Riders need a sleeping bag


MEALS:
horseback riding vercorshorseback riding in the vercorsOur assistant prepares nice buffets at picnic places. Some days (no access with cars), picnics are taken in saddle bags. Dinners in hotels, guesthouses or prepared by the assistant.



LUGGAGE TRANSFERS:
Provided by the assistant in minibus.

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horseback trail ride in the vercors natural park horseback trail ride in the drome horseback trail ride drome horseback trail ride south of france  

Rates
Infos tarif

2023 PRICE / PER PERSON:
Part 1 or Part 2: 1500 €
Part 1 + Part 2: 2500

Booking fees: 15 €

PRICES INCLUDE:
Horse and tack rental, guide, assistant, accommodation, all meals, luggage transfers, transfers from/to Valence or Grenoble train stations at fixed times, our travel agent bond to guarantee your payments.

PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE:
Individual insurance, drinks out of meals, visits, tips, all that is not indicated in "PRICES INCLUDE".

INSURANCE (if you don’t already have one):
We offer to European citizens (only) Chapka insurances:
Cap Security: full insurance with cancellation. Cap Cancellation: cancellation only.
See prices & information

Dates
Dates From Infos Contact
- 1500€ PART 1 Information request
- 2500€ PART 1+2 Information request
- 1500€ PART 2 Information request
- 1500€ PART 1 Information request
- 2500€ PART 1+2 Information request
- 1500€ PART 2 Information request
Booking
How to book

HOW TO BOOK :
By booking with Cap Rando, you get the benefit of the French travel agency law, one of the strictest in the world: an unlimited financial guarantee for all your payments !


BOOKING PROCEDURE:

1. CHECK THE AVAILABILITY, PRICE, DISCOUNT:
Check the availability and price (depending on the type of accommodation and after possible discounts) by contacting us through the availability & quote request form or by phone +33 (0)483431321, whatsapp +33(0)609520324, or e-mail: contact@horsebackridingvacations.eu
If you already have received the confirmation of the availability and the price, you can proceed directly to your booking:

2. BOOKING:
Fill out the online registration form: https://www.horsebackridingvacations.eu/form/booking-form

3. INSURANCES:
Cap Rando is covered for its professional civil liability: GENERALI contract n ° AL974010.
To register on a Cap Rando holiday, you must be covered by an individual liability insurance covering your activity, individual accident, assistance, repatriation, and possibly cancellation (strongly recommended not to lose your payment in case of cancellation for a reason covered by a cancellation insurance).
We offer to Europe Union & Switzerland citizens (only) to subscribe the "Cap Security" insurance from Chapka Insurance. This covers you for cancellation, interruption of stay, individual accident, assistance 24h / 24h, repatriation, medical expenses abroad, luggage insurance, civil liability. You can also only subscribe a "Cap Cancellation" cancellation insurance if you have insurance covering other risks. 
See all information about our cancellation policy and Chapka insurance offer.
For non Europe Union citizens: if you pay by credit card, depending on your card, you may be fully covered: check your contract.
You can subscribe directly an insurance for instance on: https://www.axatravelinsurance.com/

4. PAYMENT:
A 30% deposit is required upon booking, the balance being due 60 days before the stay date. Less than 60 days before your departure date, full payment is requested at registration.
You can pay:
- By credit card on our secure payment website: You will be directed to the payment link after completing the online booking form: https://www.horsebackridingvacations.eu/form/booking-form
- By bank transfer: Our bank information will be sent to you after reception of your booking form.

Your payments are guaranted by our GROUPAMA travel agent bond.
If you book a trip through Cap Rando, you have the guarantee not to loose any payment. 
The French law is the strongest and requires all French travel agencies to have an unlimited financial guarantee for their customers in case of financial failure.


5. CONFIRMATION:
You will receive a confirmation file and contract with the invoice and all practical information within 24 hours after reception of your registration form and payment.

6. CANCELLATION POLICY:
See the cencellation policy: cancellation conditions.
Please note: Any stay may be canceled in the event of insufficient bokkings to ensure the stay up to 21 days before the starting date. In this case, a replacement stay may be offered to you, if it does not suit you: full refund is guaranteed without compensation. We advise you to book refundable transports.