A luxury version of our horseback trip from the Luberon to the Camargue. 3 * and 4 * hotels and gourmet or gastronomic dinners (not included).
Horseback trip in Provence that will take you from the Luberon hills, across the Alpilles of Van Gogh hills, to the Mediterranean sea in the famous Camargue: the land of flamingoes, black bulls and white horses. A unique human and equestrian experience, a trip rich in history and culture, a week full of excitment as you will galop on the long beautiful sand beaches of the Mediterranean coast. This ride is the same as our Provence, Luberon to Camargue regular Inn to Inn horseback trail ride, but in 3 and 4 star hotels with gastronomic dinners.
INDICATIVE ITINERARY *:
Day 1: Meeting at Marseille airport or Aix-en-Provence train station, or directly at your Domaine de Fontenille 4 star hotel in Lauris. Welcome aperitif and presentation of the trail ride. You will be introduced to your guide and have your first gastronomic dinner (not included).
Day 2: From Lauris to Mallemort. Ride from the foot of the Luberon mountain in pine and oak forests to the Durance valley where we will cross the river. Picnic brought by our assistant on the other side of the Durance river. In the afternoon, we will ride along the Alpilles canal to the farm where the horses will stay for the night. Transfer with minibus to your 4 star hotel: Le Moulin de Vernègues. Gastronomic dinner (not included).
Day 3: From Mallemort to Eygalieres. After breakfast, transfer to the horses. We will ride in a rich valley among fruit trees to Lamanon where we will enjoy the lunch buffet, The afternoon, we will enter in the Alpilles Nature Park, Van Gogh’s country. We will ride in hiils and we will reach the Roman village of Eygalières late in the afternoon. Gastronomic dinner (not included) and overnight at the 3 star Hotel Bastide near Eygalieres.
Day 4: From Eygalieres to Les Baux de Provence. A cultural day as you will ride in the landscape Van Gogh liked to paint. You will stop near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, in front of the hospital in which Van Gogh stayed and made his most famous paintings. Admire beautiful Roman monuments, before you make your way towards lunch, by a gorgeous little lake, hidden in the hills. The afternoon ride will take you on the crests of the Alpilles : striking panorama on the surrounding area. We will even see the gleam of the Mediterranean sea in the distance. At the end of the trail, discover a breathtaking sight on the medieval village of «Les Beaux-de-Provence ». Load the horses in the truck. Visit of the village and transfer to Saintes Maries de la Mer in Camargue. You will stay 2 nights in the Auberge Cavaliere 4 star hotel.
Day 5: 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. Picnic on the place, prepared by our assistant. Then we leave for an hour ride to the ranch where our horses will stay tonight. Transfrer Auberge Cavaliere in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. Gastronomic dinner (not included) and night at the hotel
Day 6: 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. Transfer to Lauris and your Domaine de Fontenille hotel in Lauris, for a last great dinner (not included) and night.
Day 7: End of the trip after breakfast. Transfers to Aix-en-Provence train stations and Marseille airport.
* Indicative itinerary: May be subject to modifications without compensation if necessary (weather, flood of the Durance, fire risks, imponderables, ...). Accommodations are indicative, may be changed depending on availabilities.
MEETING:
Sunday afternoon at your hotel in Lauris between 4pm and 7pm. Free transfer from Marseille airport (5 pm), Aix en Provence TGV station (5:30 pm). with SNCF or Trenitalia No transfer from Marseille center: take the bus shuttle to the airport. No transfer from Aix en Provence center: take the bus shuttle to Aix tgv station.
* Please note: the shuttle cannot keep groups waiting, especially if your train or plane is late: plan to arrive ahead of the meeting time to avoid having to take a taxi in the event of a delay.
DEPARTURE:
Saturday morning after breakfast. At 9:30 am, departure of the free transfer to Aix-en-Provence TGV station (±10:30 am), Marseille airport (±11 am).
No transfer to Aix center (take the Aix tgv shuttle bus), nor to Marseille center station (take the airport shuttle bus).
* Please note: no departure possible before 9:30 am, plan a train or plane departure sufficiently after the scheduled arrival time to avoid having to take a taxi. Tgv train: not before 11 am, flight: not before 12:30 pm. Caution: tgv called “inoui” (low cost), require a registration 30 mn ahead at the train station.
LOW COST FLIGHTS TO MARSEILLE:
Many low cost companies serve Marseille airport: see the low cost companies and connections
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 on the Camargue beaches.
RYTHM:
5 hours a day on horseback on average: 2-3 hours in the morning, 2-3 hours in the afternoon, with a long break of around 2 hours at noon. You will ride the three paces: walk, trot, and canter when the terrain allows. Nice gallops in Camargue on beaches.
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 lunch buffets.
HORSES:
Varied local crossings, of medium size, selected for their character and adapted to the type of rides we offer. All our horses are trail riding "professionals": 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: in semi-freedom on more than 500 ha. For these reasons, they are balanced, kind 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 3 stars and 4 stars hotels. Standard bedrooms. Single bedrooms and/or superior bedrooms available with supplement.
This horse riding trip is also offered in simple but comfortable guesthouses and hotels: see the regular accommodation program.
Links to the accommodations (may be changed, depending on availabilities):
Fontenille (Lauris) - Nights 1 & 6.
Moulin de Vernègues (Mallemort) - Night 2.
Bastide (Eygalieres) - Night 3.
Auberge Cavalière (Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer) - Nights 4 & 5.
MEALS:
Dinners (not included in the price) are taken every evening in the gastronomic restaurants of the hotels.
Drinks & dinners are not included in hotels so you can choose your meals, wines and other drinks.
At noon, an assistant prepares simple but hearty buffets (see pictures).
Except for 1 midday not accessible by car in Camargue.
LUGGAGE TRANSFERS:
The assistant transfers luggage every day by car.
2025 PRICE / PER PERSON *:
In 2 person bedrooms: 2950 €
Single bedroom supplement: On request
Booking fees: 15 €
* Prices are based on standard type rooms, they can vary according to the comfort and the desired period. Contact us to check the price for your desired comfort and period.
2026 PRICE / PER PERSON *:
In 2 person bedrooms: 3000 €
Single bedroom supplement: On request
Booking fees: 15 €
* Prices are based on standard type rooms, they can vary according to the comfort and the desired period. Contact us to check the price for your desired comfort and period.
THE PRICE INCLUDES:
Tack and horse rental, guide, assistant ensuring the preparation of lunch buffets and luggage transport, accommodation, breakfasts, lunch picnics, drinks at lunch picnics, horses and riders transfer from Les Baux to Camargue, horses and riders transfer back from Camargue, arrival and departure transfers from/to Marseille airport or Aix-en-Provence TGV train station at the fixed times, the financial guarantee of your payments by our travel operator deposit.
THE PRICE DOESN'T INCLUDE:
Individual insurance, dinners, all drinks in hotels and restaurants, any visits, tips, anything not indicated in "the price includes".
INSURANCE:
A civil liability and travel insurance (assistance/repatriation) is compulsory. A cancellation insurance is strongly recommended.
A payment by credit card can make you benefit from its possible insurance (check your contract).
We offer to Europe Union, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway residents: the Chapka insurances.
Cap Security: full insurance with cancellation. Cap Cancellation: cancellation only.
See prices & information
THIS RIDE IS OFFERED ON REQUEST AND QUOTE IN MARCH, APRIL, OCTOBER & NOVEMBER
SEE OUR REGULAR ACCOMMODATION VERSION & DATES