Trekking in France for connoisseurs: This horse riding tour in the region of the world famous Bordeaux wines is a mixture of nature, architecture & Grands Crus.
You will ride through some of the most famous wine regions of the world. The Château are also well known to the wine connoisseur. But this is not only a horseback riding tour for wine lovers! The area is varied with forests, vineyards and quiet trails. The culinary delights are an additional highlight of this ride, e.g. the lavish French picnics or the multi-course menus in the evening - of course with a glass of good wine!

Itinerary

Day 1: Pick-up at Bordeaux Mérignac airport. Transfer to the B&B Hotes en Vigne in Ruch. You will meet your guide over dinner and discuss the upcoming tour.

Day 2: This day's ride takes you through the Entre-deux-mers region with its varied, hilly and wooded landscapes and beautiful vineyards. You will pass the 13th century Chateau de Rauzan before reaching the picnic area. In the afternoon, continue through the vineyards of Bordeaux and return to the Chateau du Courros for a wine tasting. The Chateau du Courros was built on the site of a pre-6th century religious community dedicated to St. Vincent (the patron saint of winegrowers) and is located a few kilometers south of St. Emilion. Overnight stay and dinner in a B&B in Ruch.

Day 3: This morning to ride you cycle along the Dordogne to Merlande. You will travel through the vineyards to Saint Emilion, where you will have lunch. You will see the Chateau de Pavie vineyard. Its wines belong to the Premier Grand Cru classé A, the highest level. Picnic at the Chateau Franc-Mayne vineyard in Saint Emilion. The château is located on the slopes of the Franc, from which it takes its name, and has 7 hectares of vineyards. The old Gallo-Roman road runs alongside the vineyard. An old inn bears witness to the passage of pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. Tasting and discovery of the 2 hectares of underground wine cellars. In the afternoon, visit the famous wine estates of Chateau Petrus, Cheval Blanc and Chateau Figeac before arriving in the Pomerol appellation, where you leave the horses. Overnight stay and dinner at the hotel.

Day 4: The morning is free. You can enjoy Saint Emilion. This unusual medieval town opens its doors all year round to adventurers, wine lovers and the curious. Steeped in history and perched on a rocky outcrop, town Saint-Emilion and its vineyards derive their originality from the limestone that has shaped their identity. The 200 km of underground tunnels that supplied the limestone for the construction of numerous buildings in the region, including Bordeaux, bear witness to this. You will picnic where you left your horses the day before, on the grounds of Chateau le Gay. In the afternoon to ride you cycle through vineyards with small forests to Chateau Mayne-Veil (Fronsac), where you leave the horses. Overnight stay and dinner at the hotel in Libourne. 

Day 5: On this day to ride you cycle through varied landscapes with vineyards, meadows and forests to Mouillac. Picnic in the small Romanesque church of Mouillac, where you will have time to find the 9 canonical dials. The day continues to Cubnezais. Here the landscape is divided into the vineyards of the "Blay - Cotes de Bordeaux" appellation and the pine and deciduous forests. At the end of the day, leave the horses at the Domaine de la Gravette. Overnight stay and dinner in a B&B in Civrac de Blaye.

Day 6: This morning to ride You will cycle through the rolling hills of the Cotes de Bourg. Picnic and tasting at Chateau Lamothe (Côte de Bourg). Continue to the Citadelle de Blaye at around 3 pm. You will enter the 18th century Vauban citadel on horseback (visit). With its 1.5 km of ramparts, gates and underground passages, the citadel has preserved the defensive system designed by Vauban as well as the buildings necessary for the proper functioning of the garrison: former convent, prison barracks and powder magazine. Overnight stay in a hotel and dinner in Blaye.

Day 7: After breakfast, cross the Gironde on horseback on the ferry to Lamarque and the Medoc (duration 40 min.). You to ride through the vineyards of the Medoc for a picnic in Moulis en Medoc. The afternoon is at leisure, tasting at Chateau Maslescasse (Haut-Medoc). Located in Lamarque, between Margaux and Saint-Julien, Chateau Maslescasse was built in 1824 in the purest neoclassical style. Overnight stay and dinner in a bed and breakfast in Moulis en Medoc.

Day 8: After breakfast, collective transfer to Bordeaux airport and journey home.

Subject to change without notice!

Accomodation

You will be accommodated in middle-class hotels and guest houses with shower/WC. Depending on availability, the group can occasionally be split between two different accommodations.

Saddle & Tack: Trekking saddles and English bridles.

Experience: 3-5 years of regular riding required. You should be able to ride new horses without instruction in all gaits. Max. 90 kg. Number of riders: 5-10.

Horses: Very well-kept trekking horses including Anglo-Arabians, persevering, forward going, well trained and very sociable - excellent tour horses!