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The Cap Rando horse transhumance at Fall: our horses spend the winter for a well deserve rest in more than 500 hectares fields on the Southern slope of the Lure mountain in the Upper Provence, in a low mountain: a sheltered area marked by the mildness winter climate. Early November, enjoy the end of the pleasant fall in the heart of Provence where the vegetation is adorned with beautiful colors: the herd lives the Luberon to the Upper Provence. A superb horseback trip through the Provence in a festive atmosphere to mark the end of our riding season. Each rider can be asked to lead a horse at times and to control the tracking of some horses following freedom. An equestrian experience !
HORSE TRANSHUMANCE IN PROVENCE
INDICATIVE ITINERARY *
FALL TRANSHUMANCE IN NOVEMBER FROM THE LUBERON NATURE PARK TO THE UPPER PROVENCE
Day 1: Meeiing at Marseille airport, Aix en Provence TGV train station or center, or directly at Cap Rando at the end of the afternoon. Welcome drink and presentation of your trip, dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Lauris - Buoux. After breakfast, choose the horses mounted and unmounted that will follow in hand and freedom, and start riding along the foot of the Luberon. The trails are pleasant, in the pine forests and along vineyards and orchards that take their fall colors, overlooking the Durance valley, with a beautiful view of the Sainte Victoire mountain dear to Cezanne. Picnic near Lourmarin, classified village where lived and iwas burried Albert Camus. Then, we ride to the Luberon crests from where we discover a superb point of view on a clear day: on the alpine summits in the north, until the Mediterranean in the south, before going down in the Aiguebrun canyon where we reach the Auberge des Seguins, nestled at the foot of the impressive cliffs along the Aiguebrun stream. The horses stay at the inn (closed in November) with the guide, transfer of the riders to spend the evening and night in Lauris
Day 3: Buoux - Cereste. Breakfast and departure discovering the prehistoric sites of the Aiguebrun Gorges on a pleasant trail along the only stream crossing the Luberon: the Aiguebrun. Then we will join a beautiful Provencal village and take a break at the fountain of the village to water. Lunch break under the oaks. And we leave on trails through the fragrant Provencal scrubland, with its scents of thyme, rosemary ... to join Cereste. Dinner and night at the hotel in the village.
Day 4: Cereste - Simiane-la-Rotonde. Breakfast. Departure to the 11th century Carluc Priory where we take a break before joining Oppedette leaving the Luberon nature park among lavender fields. crossing the beautiful village, typical of upper Provence. Our assistant will be waiting for us with a pleasant Provencal meal, a scramble, a ratatouille, at the edge of the Oppedette Canyon. After lunch, we leave to join our evening accommodation: a beautiful guest house in the middle of the lavender fields at the foot of Simiane la Rotonde hilltop village. Aperitif and dinner at the host table and overnight in a beautiful guest house.
Day 5: Simiane-la-Rotonde - Cruis. Departure for a relatively long day (about 7 hour riding) through the lavender fields with the Lure mountain in the background. Pleasant mid-stop buffet break before heading to Cruis through the evergreen oak forests to reach the guesthouse and its pleasant guest rooms near Cruis, overlooking the lavender fields. Dinner at the host table and night at the guest house.
Day 6: Cruis - Peyruis (our herd winter pastures). Departure on horseback south of the Montagne de Lure to join the horse winter pastures around noon, where awaits us the pleasant buffet prepared by our assistant. After this break, we prepare the horses (release and release of the herd that leaves us galloping and happy to find their freedom and their "holidays" after their season in Provence.) Rider minibus transfer to Lauris . Aperitif, dinner at the host table and night at the guest house.
Day 7: After breakfast, free transfer to Aix en Provence center or tgv train station, and to Marseille airport.
* Indicative itinerary that can be modified if necessary.
MEETING:
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).
* 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 center train station (±10 am), Aix-en-Provence TGV station (±10:30 am), Marseille airport (±11 am).
* 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 pm. Caution: tgv called “inoui” (low cost), require a registration 30 mn ahead at the train station.
RIDING LEVEL: 
To participate and enjoy this trip, you must be comfortable at the three gaits (walk, trot, canter) outdoors on balanced horses. This ride requires a good equestrian level.
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.
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:
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.
ACCOMMODATION: 
All nights in 2-3 person bedrooms in hotels and guesthouses. Single bedroom available with supplement.
Indicative accommodation 'depentding on availabilities):
 | Les Gargoulettes - Nights 1,2 & 6 |
 | L'Aiguebelle - Night 3 |
 | La Fontaine - Night 4 |
 | Grand Champ - Night 5 |
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 pictures). 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:
1750 € in 2-3 person bedrooms
Single bedrooms supplement (if you don't want to share with other riders): 300 €.
Upgrade accommodation with swimming pool in Lauris 2 nights option (1st and last night): 70 € / person in 2 person bedroom, 150 € / person in single bedroom.
Registration fees: 15 €.
THE PRICE INCLUDES:
Horse and tack rental, guide, assistant, accommodation, all meals, luggage transfers, free transfer between Lauris and Upper Provence horse pasture, free transfers from/to Marseille airport, Aix-en-Provence TGV station, Aix-en-Provence center train station 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.
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