- Ride in the foot of Cezanne
- All landscapes painted by Cezanne
43.561724699818, 5.62070845
A horseback trail ride in Provence across the famous Montagne Sainte-Victoire. You will discover why such famous painters as Cezanne and Picasso fell in love with these contrasting landscapes. The bright white limestone cliffs, the blue of the sky, the green of pine forests and the red clay at the foot of the mountain offer a mosaic nature where you can discover about 900 vegetal, 27 mammalians, 126 birds species.
SEE ALL OUR PROVENCE OFFER AND ALL OUR PROVENCE RIDES WITH OUR HORSES :
PROVENCE CEZANNE INN TO INN TRAIL RIDE
INDICATIVE ITINERARY *:
Day 1: Transfer from Aix-en-Provence train stations or Marseille airport, or meeting directly in Lauris. Welcome aperitive with your guide.
Day 2: Ride in the Luberon nature park to try your horse. After lunch you will load your horse in the truck and you will be transfered with our minibus to Saint-Paul-lès-Durance, old Roman fluvial harbour used to transport wood and many goods from the Alps to Marseille and the Mediterranean coast. You will start your ride on pleasant trails in woods and along vineyards to arrive in Jouques following an old roman way. After riding through the village we will reach the wonderfull Catalan guesthouse.
Day 3: You will ride in the typical Mediterranean forest . Pine trees, green oaks, and many herbs such as rosmary and thyme will perfume your ride. You will follow the old Verdon canal, built in 1865 to bring the Alps water to Aix-en-Provence and it’s numerous fountains. Riding to the North of the Sainte-Victoire, you will discover many sheepfolds and Roman ruins. A copious lunch prepared by our assistant will wait for you under pine trees shade. The afternoon, you will ride among brooms to the Bimont lake. Overnight near the village of Vauvenargues, famous for it’s castle, bought in 1958 by Picasso, where he used to live until 1962, he is lying in the park of the castle.Bus transfer to go to eat and sleep to the Catalan guesthouse.
Day 4:After breackfast transfer to Vauvenargues where the horses are waiting for us.You will start your ride on the North of Mount Sainte-Victoire, to reach the Sinne pilgrim oratory, now a sheep pasture. You will follow the Gardiol forest and ride along the Vacon stream toward Rians, important crossroads between the Alps and the coast. The tradition says that Hannibal took this road to pass the Alps before his Rome conquest. Dinner at the restaurant and night at the hotel in the village.
Day 5: You will leave the vineyards and ride toward the South sunny side of the Sainte-Victoire. You will discover high white limestone cliffs contrasting with the green forests, and you will imagine Cezane walking on these perfumed trails before arriving to the village of Beaurecueil. Dinner at the restaurant and night in a guesthouse or hotel.
Day 6: You will end your ride around this fascinating Sainte-Victoire mountain on the west. Spectucalar point of view while riding on the Bimont barrage, retaining the Verdon river. The ride will finish near Aix-en-Provence. Transfer to Aix-en-Provence center with our minibus for a lunch in a restaurant in the city. After lunch, free time to walk in the town and enjoy some shopping. Chance to visit the Cezanne workshop on request. In the afternoon, you will be transfered to Lauris if you left your car, or to the train station or airport.
* Indicative itinerary: may be changed if necessary.
MEETING:
Day 1 afternoon (usually Sunday, check dates) ain Lauris at 7 pm. Free transfer from Marseille airport (5 pm), Aix-en-Provence TGV station (5:30 pm), Aix-en-Provence center train station (5:45 pm).
DEPARTURE:
Day 6 in the afternoon (usually Friday, check dates). Free transfer to Aix en Provence center station (3 p.m. if you do not want to visit Aix en Provence or 5 p.m.), Aix en Provence TGV station (5:30 p.m.), Marseille Provence airport ( 6 p.m.). Return to the Mas de Recaute if you left your vehicle in the afternoon depending on the departure times of other participants.
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, you must be comfortable at the three gaits (walk, trot, canter) outdoors. This ride requires a good equestrian level. Maximum weight: 90kg.
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. The last day: about 3 hours the morning, free afternoon in Aix en Provence. You will ride the three paces: walk, trot, and canter when the terrain allows.
GROUP SIZE:
4 to 6 riders + the guide.
GUIDE & ASSISTANT:
1 qualified guide speaking French and English + 1 professional assistant ensuring luggage transports and preparing lunch buffets.
HORSES:
Essentially crosses of Spanish, Arab, French breed. Horses are allocated according to each rider weight, height, riding level and experience. All our horses are trail riding “professionals”. Living throughout the year in a herd, trail riding is their only work activity. For these reasons, they are well-balanced gentle, yet wilfully engaged.
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.
All nights in 2-3 person bedrooms in hotels and guesthouses. Single bedroom available with supplement.
Indicative accommodation websites:
Les Gonnettes (no website)
MEALS:
Dinners at the host tables in guesthouses or in local restaurants. Local cuisine, varied and refined. Special diets can be adapted. Wine is included with meals.
At noon, an assistant prepares hearty buffets (see photos). For small groups, some picnics can be taken in the saddle bags.
LUGGAGE TRANSFERS:
Provided by the assistant in a minibus.
2024 PRICE / PER PERSON:
The price is calculated for departures with minimum 4 riders.
1650 € in 2-3 person bedrooms
Single bedroom supplement: 300 € *
Departure supplement for 3 riders: + 400 € / person
Departure supplement for 2 riders: + 1150 € / person
* If you book in shared bedrooms and if their is no other rider to share the supllement will be applied.
Booking fees: 15 €
THE PRICE INCLUDES:
Horse and tack rental, guide, assistant, accommodation, all meals, luggage transfers, transfer back to Lauris, transfers from/to Aix-en-Provence train stations and Marseille airport at pre-set times, financial bond for your payments by our travel agent guarantee.
THE PRICE DOESN'T INCLUDE:
Individual insurance, drinks out of meals, visits, tips, all that is 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
ON REQUEST & QUOTE MARCH TO JUNE & SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER FOR MINIMUM 2 RIDERS
Hello. I'm back in Scotland, but it's very cold and humid. I would have preferred to stay in Provence! I wanted to thank the whole team again for this fantastic holiday and for all the care you have given us. I renew my very serious invitation to you to come and stay in one of my three hotels in Scotland!
As always, the ride went super well: The group was nice, Paul and Olivier are a very good duo guide / assistant. The weather was good and the sun was there. The horses were all very good. So in summary: happiness. So once again a big thank you to the whole Cap Rando team and especially to Paul (this is the first time I hike with him, and frankly I'm very happy, don't be shy to tell him) and to Olivier (who made us all laugh).
A quick word of thanks to the entire Cap Rando team for this new week of horse riding holidays in the perfectly successful Sainte Victoire. Jean-François and Pierrot were on top form and it was a pleasure to find them. The sun was there in sufficient quantity to make us forget the freshness of the mornings and evenings. Once again congratulations to all and see you soon for new adventures. Friendships.
Dear Didier, Thank you for these extraordinary horse riding holidays, the ride in the Sainte Victoire Mountain and the landscapes of Cézanne last week. It was superb, the horses extra, the accommodation and the food were exceptional. Paul and Pierrot took great care of us, and I really enjoyed everything on this horseback ride. I hope to come back soon for horse riding in the Camargue!