Horseback Riding in the VERCORS: 3 TO 4 DAYS BETWEEN THE PROVENCE & THE ALPS

WEEKEND ON HORSEBACK IN THE VERCORS
INDICATIVE ITINERARIES*

2 DAYS:

Day 1: From ridges to valleys. Meet at 8:30 am in Chichilianne. After a coffee to get to know each other, you prepare the horses for these 2 days of adventure on the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors. Personal belongings are stored in waterproof bags (provided) which will be attached to the back of the saddles. A few horses equipped with saddlebags carry the collective belongings and meals. The route crosses a typical mountain village: Chichilianne. A gradual climb via the Col de Menée allows you to stay on horseback to reach the Hauts-Plateaux between Drome and Isère. Sheltered from the wind, with a 360 degree view (on sunny days), this is the time and place for a picnic break. The horses also take advantage of this break to graze and rest peacefully. The Crête de Grande Leirie and the Tête de Praorzel have many surprises in store for the afternoon. To reach the Vallon de Combeau refuge, you have to lose a little altitude. Steep passages require you to dismount for the comfort of the horses. After taking care of the mounts: unsaddling them, pampering them and then putting them out to pasture: the early evening allows you to enjoy this beautiful place to rest. A generous meal composed of local specialties is served by the keeper.

Day 2: In the footsteps of the Romans. Once the business is done, the ritual of preparing the horses can begin. Brushing, saddling, balancing the luggage and tidying up the park. Then it's off on the Vercors trails. The largest terrestrial nature reserve in metropolitan France offers varied landscapes for this new day. The route crosses the High Plateaux from Vallon de Combeau to Chaumailloux, crossing the Col de la Chèvrerie. One of the most beautiful panoramas for the gourmet lunch break at the top of the Pas de l'Aiguille. After lunch, the rapid (and steep) descent allows you to reach La Richardière, a hamlet of Chichilianne. Arrival expected in the middle of the afternoon. After the traditional end-of-ride ritual: unsaddling, tidying up, caring for and feeding the horses... the faithful hiking companions are taken back to the meadow for a well-deserved rest. End of your ride in the Vercors and departure.

* Indicative itinerary: may be subject to change if necessary. Depending on the period, the Vercors High Plateaus may not be passable on horseback if the snow is late. In this case, a replacement ride on the Vercors and in the Trièves will be offered to you.

3 DAYS:

Jour 1: First steps at the foot of Mont Aiguille.
We will meet at 2pm at the Ferme équestre des 4 Chemins, in Chichilianne, to begin this beautiful adventure. Upon arrival, you will discover your gîte for the first night. The afternoon will be an opportunity to go for a horse ride at the foot of Mont Aiguille, emblem of the Vercors, to familiarize yourself with your mount. This introductory ride will allow you to get your bearings as you move through the surrounding landscapes of Triéves. At the end of the afternoon, we will look together at the itinerary for the following days and make a final adjustment of the equipment. The evening will continue with dinner and a comfortable night at the accommodation.

Day 2: Immersion in nature.
After an invigorating breakfast at the lodge, we will pick up our horses for our two-day trek in the mountains. Everyone will carefully equip themselves, placing their belongings in the waterproof bags provided, while the horses will carry most of the equipment. We will cross Chichilianne, a charming mountain village, before starting a gentle climb via the Col de Menée. Midday, we will stop for a picnic lunch in the middle of this wild setting. After the break, we will continue to explore varied landscapes, punctuated by panoramic ridges and steeper trails, to finally reach the Vallon de Combeau refuge at the end of the day. Once the horses are pampered and comfortably installed, we will enjoy a mountain meal served by our host.

Day 3: Crossing the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors Nature Reserve.
After breakfast at the refuge, we will prepare our horses for the last stage of this beautiful adventure. The day begins with a crossing of the Hauts Plateaux, along ancestral paths that reveal the richness and history of this region. Passing through the Col de la Chèvrerie, you will enjoy varied landscapes and, if the weather permits, beautiful viewpoints. Our lunch break will take place at the Pas de l'Aiguille. After this gourmet break, the fast and technical descent will take us to the hamlet of La Richardière, in Chichilianne. In the afternoon, after having looked after our horses and brought them back to the park, it will be time to close this beautiful adventure. End of the ride and return planned for the afternoon.

* * Indicative itinerary: may be subject to change if necessary. Depending on the period, the Vercors High Plateaus may not be passable on horseback if the snow is late. In this case, a replacement ride on the Vercors and in the Trièves will be offered to you.

4 DAYS:

Day 1: Meet your travel companion.
Meet at 2 p.m. at the Ferme équestre des 4 Chemins in Chichilianne. After a presentation of the premises and settling into the gîte, the afternoon will be devoted to a first ride at the foot of the famous Mont Aiguille. This saddle-up will allow you to get to know your horse, a companion who will guide you through the landscapes of Trièves and the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors. At the end of the afternoon, after having taken the horses back to the park, we will take a moment to discuss the upcoming itinerary and check the equipment together. The evening will end with a friendly dinner and a night in a dormitory at the farm's accommodation.

Day 2: Heading for the high plateaus.
After breakfast at the gîte, we will pick up our horses from the park to begin our three-day adventure through the Vercors High Plateaux. Your personal belongings will be carefully stored in waterproof bags (provided) attached to the back of the saddles, while some mounts will carry the group equipment and meals. We will pass through the charming village of Chichilianne before starting a gradual climb via the Col de Menée, allowing us to reach the High Plateaux, on the border between Drôme and Isère. A well-deserved picnic break, with a breathtaking view of the surroundings, awaits us on the mountain pastures, while our horses rest peacefully. The afternoon has some nice surprises in store for us, including the crossing of the Grande Leirie ridges and the Tête de Praorzel. We will end the day at the Vallon de Combeau refuge, where after taking care of our horses, we will be able to enjoy a delicious meal of local specialties. Night in a dormitory, hot showers and toilets at the refuge.

Day 3: Crossing the nature reserve.
After breakfast at the Combeau inn, we will begin the crossing of the Hauts Plateaux du Vercors Nature Reserve, towards our accommodation for the evening, a forest house nestled in the heart of this preserved territory. This rustic refuge will offer a comfortable night in a dormitory, without the modern luxury of a hot shower, but with the authenticity of dry toilets and the management of drinking water at the last fountain crossed on the way. After installing the horses in the park, we will share a warm dinner around the stove.

Day 4: Return to the Equestrian Farm.
Early breakfast at the forest house before setting off on a beautiful stage through the Hauts Plateaux. We will pass by the Pas de l’Ours where we can admire the famous Plaine de la Queyrie. We will return to the Ferme des 4 Chemins in the middle of the afternoon, around 4 p.m. It will then be time to say goodbye to our faithful companions and take them back to the park, marking the end of this adventure.

* Indicative itinerary: may be subject to change if necessary. Depending on the period, the Vercors High Plateaus may not be passable on horseback if the snow is late. In this case, a replacement ride on the Vercors and in the Trièves will be offered to you.