An original program which allows you to discover the contrasting landscapes of Provence: the Luberon hills, the Camargue beaches and marshes ... and bulls !
This program is offered to replace the ride from the Luberon to the Camargue, in the event of an exceptional risk of fire in the Alpilles in summer. This trail ride will make you discover two contrasting aspects of Provence on horseback, in two protected Natural Parks: the Luberon hills and the Camargue beach and swamps.
In the Luberon, the three first days, you will ride our horses with our guide in hills to discover the protected nature of the natutal park with it's fauna and flora, fruit cultures (olive, peach, apricot, cherry, almond), wineyards. A day with a picnic on the banks of the Durance will introduce you to a wide variety of migratory birds including the superb gray heron, and perhaps the bee-eater or beaver ... and an optional day to the Luberon ridges.
In the Camargue, the two last days, you will ride with bulls, accompanied by a local picturesque Camargue cowboy and horseman, who will explain the Camargue bull and horse traditions. Then, you will ride among flamingos, Camargue horses and bulls, to reach the Mediterranean beach for a great gallop: a contrasting flat landscape with the Luberon hills !
INDICATIVE ITINERARY :
Sunday: Free transfer from Marseille airport (5 pm), Aix en Provence tgv train station (5:30 pm), Aix en Provence center train station (5:45 pm). Or meeting directly at your accommodation in Lauris at 6 pm. Welcome aperitif and presentation of the trail ride. You will be introduced to your guide and spend a first friendly dinner at he «host’s table». Overnight at at Les Gargoulettes guesthouse.
Monday: After breakfast, attribution of your horse for the three days in the Luberon, preparation, departure for a 2 hour trail ride. Lunch. In the afternoon, ride 2 hours in "combes", litlle canyons, in the Luberon. Back to your accommodation, excellent local dinner prepared by Marie-Noelle.
Tuesday: Departure for a day ride to the banks of the Durance river. Pleasant ride that allows you to discover a variety of landscapes, pine forests, wild scrubland of the Luberon massif to the edge of the Durance, its beautiful shady trails at which you can discover many birds, including the majestic gray heron or sometimes the superb "Rainbow Bee-eater". Picnic at the edge of the Durance and chance for swimming with the horses. Back to your accommodation, where you will be able to enjoy the pool or jacuzzi. An other great dinner, and overnight.
Wednesday: In the morning, visit by minibus of the village of Lourmarin. Lunch on a pleasant restaurant terrace in the village.. In the afternoon, half day ride in the pine forests and along the vineyards, olive groves and other orchards. If the majority of the group wishes, a full day trail ride to the Luberon ridges with picnic in a cedar forest, can be offered. At the end of the afternoon, transfer by minibus (about 1 hour) to the Camargue with a stop for a visit to the classified village of The Baux de Provence. Dinner in typical local restaurant and overnight in a hotel in the heart of Camargue: a four hundred years old house, built on the remains of a 12th century abbey.
Thursday: Astouin - Bull cattle drive - Les Saintes Maries de la Mer. On horseback to a Camargue ranch. After an hour on horseback in the heart of the Camargue, we will arrive at a "manade", a bull and horse ranch in Camargue. Mathieu, a passionate "guardian", Camargue cow-boy, welcomes us in front of the enclosure of one of his bull herds. We accompany him on horseback to "grab" the bulls, that is to say push them through the marsh to a sorting enclosure. Then he tells us about the "Camargue bull and horse races", the breeding methods, the traditions 
linked to the Camargue bulls, then he sorts a few bulls in front of us and ends his performance by offering us an aperitif "the friendship glass". Picnic on the place, prepared by our assistant. Then we leave on horseback to Les Saintes Maries de la Mer. After your installation at the hotel, you can go for a walk in the the village streets and do some shopping, take a stroll to the beach, or enjoy the hotel swimming pool. Meeting for dinner in a lively bodega in the village. Night at the hotel.
Friday: A morning ride on the beaches. Nice gallops and walk in the sea. The lunch will be prepared at the hotel by your assistant, and the afternoon you will ride along the Vacares lake: you will discover a lot of flamingos and wild birds on a pleasant trail. Loading of the horses in the truck, and minibus transfer back to Lauris.
Saturday: End of your horseback ride in Provence after breakfast. Free transfer to Aix en Provence train stations or Marseille Provence airport.
* Indicative itinerary, may be changed if necessary.
Sunday afternoon at your accommodation in Lauris at 7pm. Free transfer from Marseille airport (5 pm), Aix en Provence TGV station (5:30 pm), Aix en Provence center train station (5:45 pm).
Saturday morning after breakfast. At 9:30 am, departure of the free transfer to Aix-en-Provence center train station (±10 am), Aix-en-Provence TGV station (±10:30 am), Marseille airport (±11 am).
RIDING LEVEL: 
To participate and enjoy this trip, it is imperative to be comfortable at the three gaits (walk, trot, rapid gallop) outdoors on balanced horses. This ride requires a very good equestrian level, with gaits that can be fast, especially on the Camargue beaches.
RYTHM:
5 hours per day on horseback on average: about 2-3 hours in the morning, 2-3 hours in the afternoon, with a long break of about 2 hours at noon. At the three gaits: walk, trot, canter when the terrain allows it. Quieter paces in the Luberon especially for the parts in the massif, more active on the Camargue with flat and soft sandy ground, especially on the beach !
GROUP SIZE:
4 to 8 riders + the guide.
GUIDE & ASSISTANT:
1 qualified guide speaking French and English + 1 professional assistant ensuring luggage transports and preparing the lunch buffets.
HORSES:
Local crossings (Spanish, Arab, French breed), of medium size, selected for their character and adapted to the type of hike we offer. All of our horses are "professionals" in trail riding: they only do this activity. They are never locked in boxes, they live in herds all year round. Out of season, from November to March, they leave in semi-freedom over more than 500 ha. For these reasons, they are well balanced and willful. Horses are allocated after discussion with your guide according to your height, weight, level and experience.
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.
ACCOMMODATION: 
In guest houses and simple hotels (equivalent to the 2 * French standard). The rooms have private bathrooms.
INDICATIVE ACCOMMODATIONS (subject to availability):
MEALS:
Taken at the guest table in the Luberon, in typical restaurants in the Camargue: local cuisine, varied and refined. Special diets can be adapted. Wine is included with meals.
At noon, an assistant prepares copious buffets (see pictures).
2022 PRICE / PER PERSON:
1650 € / person in 2-3 person bedrooms
Single bedroom supplement: + 300 €
Booking fees: 15 €
THE PRICE INCLUDES:
Equipped horse, guide, picnics, accommodation, evening meals, bool activity in the Camargue, free transfer of riders from the Luberon to the Camargue and back from Camargue, horse transfers from Luberon to Camargue and back from Camargue to Luberon, free arrival and departure transfers from/to Marseille airport and Aix en Provence train stations at the fixed times, the financial guarantee of your payments by our travel operator deposit.
THE PRICE DOESN'T INCLUDE:
Individual insurance, drinks out of meals, any visits, all that is not indicated in "THE PRICE INCLUDES".
This trail ride is offered as a replacement for the Luberon - Alpilles - Camargue ride if the Alpilles are closed for exceptional fire risk in Summer.