INDICATIVE ITINERARY *
Sunday: After airport or train collection, riders will gather at the “Gargoulettes”, your lovely French guesthouse late in the afternoon. Introduction to your accommodation, an aperitive, and presentation of the ride will mark the start of your week in Provence before dinner at the host’s table.
Monday: In the morning, meet your equine partner and “get acquainted” on an introductory trail ride in the vineyards surrounding the farm. Enjoy a French lunch on the grounds of the farm. In the afternoon the group leaves for one hour and a half to ride the rolling hills of the Luberon Mountain range. You will see white oaks, olive trees and the great perfume filled countryside of Provence. A wonderful dinner and accommodation at your guesthouse ends your first full day in this wonderful area of France which was also the shooting place for two famous provencal movies, part of the French culture: “Jean de Florette” and “Manon des Sources”, movies adapted from the novels of famous writer Marcel Pagnol.
Tuesday: Morning horseback ride between the Luberon and Durance mountains: along vineyards, fields of olive trees, almond trees, cherry trees, peach trees ... Lunch at the equestrian center. In the afternoon, horseback riding in the scented trails of the Luberon, among thyme, sage, rosemary. Dinner and overnight at the guesthouse.
Wednesday: Today, you will ride to the Durance river bank for a lovely picnic lunch with aperitif, cheeses, salads, paella, local pies, local wines and coffee. Riding down the hills, you will discover the entire Durance valley, and take a glimpse at the village of Lauris, perched on its cliff. The ride back will be an easy ride through agricultural landscape. You will discover the rich soil that permits this area to get the best production of wine, asparagus, olives, truffles, cherries, apricots, melons ... the Provence treasures ! Dinner and overnight at the guesthouse.
Thusday: Day horseback trail ride to the Luberon ridges. Picnic in a cedar forest. Views to the "mont Ventoux", called the "Giant of Provence" and to the South Alps. Return through a valley to the equestrian center. Dinner and overnight at the guesthouse.
Friday: This morning you will visit an other famous and classified Provencal village: Lourmarin, Cezanne’s local market and where Peter Mayle – the Author of “A Year in Provence”, used to live. Free lunch in Lourmarin. In the afternoon enjoy your last ride to a local cellar producing “Cotes du Luberon”. This cellar has been promoted by Robert Parker, the famous American Wine Writer. Don’t drink too much, just enjoy your taste, before riding through nice pine tree forests and bring your horse to the pasture, in the woods, where they will have a week-end rest. Last dinner in a Provencal friendly atmosphere.
Saturday: After breakfast, transfer to Aix train station or Marseille airport.
* Indicative itinerary.
