An exceptional horse riding trip to enjoy the colors of the sunny Provence !
- From the Luberon nature park to the Ventoux nature park
- Riding along lavender fields
- The perfumes of Provence herbs and lavender, with the sound of cicadas !
44.077486996861, 5.3892275
The lavender horseback trail ride in Provence ... a fragrant and colorful horseback riding trip from the South of the Luberon nature park to the Provence lavender-growing places: the country of Banon and Sault: the lavender "capital". A perfumed trail ride among the lavender, but also the sage widely cultivated in the region, and riding in the garrigue filled with herbs of Provence. A colorfull horse riding trip: the white limestone cliffs of the Luberon, the greenery of the the pine and oak forests, the blue of the sky, the purple of lavender, the red of poppies. Varied landscapes from Mediterranean Provence to the upper Provence, as far as the foot of the Giant of Provence: the Mont Ventoux.
SEE ALL OUR PROVENCE OFFER AND ALL OUR PROVENCE RIDES WITH OUR HORSES :
PROVENCE LAVENDER INN TO INN HORSEBACK RIDING TRIP
INDICATIVE ITINERARY *:
Day 0 - Sunday: We suggest to arrive on Sunday and spend one night in Aix en Provence (bus shuttle from Marseille airport or Aix TGV), visit this cute city loved by Cezanne, and take our free transfer from Aix center train station at 11:15 am on Monday. Recommended hotels: Hotel Cardinal ** - Hotel des Quatre Dauphins *** - Hotel Mercure Paul Cezanne ***
Day 1 - Monday: Lauris-Buoux. Meeting at noon at Lauris. Welcome aperitif and presentation of your ride and lunch. We start on horseback from the southern slope. We ride ut to the the crests of the Petit Luberon before descending the northern slope towards Bonnieux: a very beautiful perched village with stone houses. Then we head towards the Claparedes plateau and the first lavender fields. We then descend towards the Aiguebrun canyon which mark the boundary between Petit and Grand Luberon. We pass near the Priory of St Symphorien, then follow the Aiguebrun river to reach the first accommodation at the foot of the high climbing cliffs of Buoux. You can enjoy a swim in the pool before dinner. On certain dates, if you have chosen bedroom accommodation, you will be transferred to the Lauris gîte, the horses remain at the inn. Dinner and night.
Day 2 - Tuesday: Buoux - Rustrel. This morning you are riding up on the Plateau of Claparèdes, follow lavender fields, dry stone walls and " bories " (small shepherds' pen). This morning you are riding up on the Plateau of Claparèdes, follow lavender fields, dry stone walls and "bories" (small shepherds' pen). You will cross the cute perched village of Saignon where horses will be able to dring at the fountain in the center of the village. You will then ride down towards the Valley of Apt on ancient paved trails. After lunch, you will ride down in the valley before reaching Rustrel. You will leave your horse in a field before going to your accommodation in the center of the village.
Day 3 - Wednesday: Rustrel - Revest-du-Bion. You quietly get into a valley shaded by oak trees, onto the Albion Plateau, high spot for lavender. Picnic near a chapel before browsing the plateau, former nuclear missiles site for the French nuclear force from 1971 to 1996. Ride among the lavender and sage fields. Arrival at the guesthouse where you can relax and take a swim in the pool before visiting the village of Sault, lavender capital, do some shopping, enjoy a drink on a typical cafe terrasse.
Day 4 - Thursday: Revest-du-Bion - Montbrun-les-Bains. This morning, you will ride in direction of Saint-Trinit. The lunch will wait for you in the shade near Sault. In the afternoon, you will leave in the direction of Aurel, charming medieval village at the foot of the Mount Ventoux. In the afternoon, the colors of lavenders, fields of cereal and the shadows of the Mount Ventoux may tempt you to imitate the numerous painters who felt in love with this region. You will arrive the afternoon near Montbrun-les-Bains, surrounded with green hills and dominating a plain of perfumed lavenders: one of the most beautiful villages of France.
Day 5 - Friday: Montbrun les Bains - Mevouillon. This morning, the Giant of Provence: the Mont Ventoux, dominates us to the south from its 1910m. top. We follow the Toulourenc, a pleasant refreshing stream, cross some typical villages, and enter the Drôme Provencale: an alternation of wooded hills and lavender fields. In the afternoon, we head to Mevouillon, where the truck and minibus await us, for the horse and rider transfer back to Lauris, in the Luberon.
Day 6 - Saturday: End of the ride after breakfast. At 9:30 am, transfer to Aix en Provence tgv station or Marseille airport.
* Indicative itinerary: may be changed if necessary without any compensation (weather conditions, fire risk, ...)
Please note: in case of high level fire risk, some forest massifs may be prohibited from access overnight on the first part in the Luberon, implying possible changes to the itinerary, without financial compensation.
MEETING:
Monday at noon in Lauris. Free tansfer from Marseille airport (10:30 am), Aix en Provence TGV station (11 am), Aix en Provence center train station (11:15 am). No transfer from Marseille center train station (take the bus shuttle to the airport).
We suggest to arrive on Sunday and spend one night in Aix en Provence (bus shuttle from Marseille airport or Aix TGV), visit this cute city, and take our free transfer from Aix center train station at 11:15 am on Monday.
Recommended hotels: Hotel Cardinal ** - Hotel des Quatre Dauphins *** - Hotel Mercure Paul Cézanne ***
* 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 bus shuttle from Aix tgv) and Marseille center train station (take the bus shuttle from the airport).
* 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 & CONDITIONS: 
To participate and enjoy this trip, you must be comfortable riding at the three paces (walk, trot, canter) outdoors on balanced horses. This ride requires a good equestrian level. Maximum weight: 90kg.
RYTHM:
About 3-4 hours riding the first day, 5 hours a day on horseback on average the following days: 2-3 hours in the morning, 2-3 hours in the afternoon, some days can go up to 7-8 hours riding. With a long break of around 2 hours at noon. You will ride the three paces: walk, trot, and canter when the terrain allows: slow the first days in the Luberon.
GROUP SIZE:
4 to 8 riders + the guide.
GUIDE & ASSISTANT:
1 qualified guide speaking French, English, German (on some departures) + 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: 
On choice: In 2-3 person bedrooms (3 persons: some nights 1 double bed + 1 single bed, 2 have to share a double bed), single bedrooms with supplement. Or in dormitories.
Dormitories: 1 night in a large dormitory up to twenty people, other nights in shared 2-6 people dormitories.
The Inn to Inn ride does not guarantee the same level of comfort every night: one of the pleasures of traveling on horseback is the variety ! We have chosen the accommodations for their location on the route and for the quality of their welcome. More or less comfortable, you will always have a memory: a good meal, a particularly pleasant atmosphere, or an exceptional setting. Some accommodations have a swimming pool. The price is not justified by high comfort accommodation, but by the high logistical on an online horseback trip.
INDICATIVE ACCOMMODATION (depending on availabilities)
Night 1:
Les Seguins or : 
Les Gargoulettes
Night 2:
Le Rustreou or: 
Le Chateau
Night 3:
Le Petit Labouret
Night 4:
Le Mas de Reilhanette or: 
Hotel des Voyageurs
Night 5:Les Gargoulettes or : 
Le Mas de Recaute
MEALS:
Breakfasts are traditional French breakfasts: hot drinks with bred, butter, marmelade, honey, cereals, fruit juice.
At noon, an assistant prepares hearty buffets (see photos). For small groups, some picnics can be taken in saddle bags.
Dinners at the host tables in the guesthouses and in local restaurants. Local cuisine, varied and refined.
Special diets can be adapted. Wine is included with meals.
LUGGAGE TRANSFERS:
Provided daily by the assistant by minibus.
2025 PRICE / PER PERSON:
1700 € in dormitories
1800 € in 2-3 person bedrooms
100 € discount to be deducted by registering before November 30, 2024
Single bedroom supplement: 300 € * (to add to the bedroom price)
* If you book in shared bedrooms and if there is no other rider to share bedrooms with you, the single supplement will be applied.
Booking fees: 15 €
THE PRICE INCLUDES:
Horse and tack rental, guide, assistant, full board accommodation from day 1 (Monday) lunch until day 6 breakfast (Saturday), drinks during meals (table water and wine), luggage transfers, free transfer back to Lauris, free arrival transfer from Marseille airport or Aix-en-Provence TGV or center train station at the fixed days & times, the financial guarantee of your payments by our travel operator deposit.
THE PRICE DOESN'T INCLUDE:
Individual insurance, drinks out of meals and not included drinks (mineral water, sodas, hot drinks), any visits, personal expenses, tips, arrival and departure transfers from/to Marseille center, departure transfer to Aix-en-Provence center train station, transfers out of the fixed days & times, 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
THIS TRIP IS ONLY OFFERED IN JULY: IN FULL BLOSSOM OF THE LAVENDER AND BEFORE THE HARVEST WHICH STARTS MID JULY !
IN AUGUST WITH WILD LAVENDER AND SOME FIELDS NOT YET HARVESTED, SEE OUR PERFUMES & PERCHED VILLAGES RIDE :
100 € discount to be deducted by registering before November 30, 2024
| Dates | From | Infos | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | 1700€ | CONFIRMATION IN PROGRESS | Information request |
| - | 1700€ | CONFIRMATION IN PROGRESS | Information request |
| - | 1700€ | LAST SPACES | Information request |
| - | 1700€ | Information request | |
| - | 1700€ | Information request |
RECOMMENDED HOTELS IN AIX EN PROVENCE & MARSEILLE TO EXTEND YOUR STAY :
Aix-en-Provence (1):
Hotel Mercure Paul Cézanne *** Hotel Saint Christophe *** http://saint-christophe.leprovencehotels.com Hotel Cardinal ** Hotel des Quatre Dauphins *** |
| Marseille center:
Hotel Alizé ** New Hotel Vieux Port *** Hotel La Résidence Vieux Port *** |
| Marseille airport
Hotel Ibis Budget Hotel Novotel *** Hotel Best & Western *** |
(1) Sorted from closest to farthest from Aix center train station.
Better than a comment: A nice video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NErS2wl1Qs4
Très belle balade en Provence dans les champs de lavande avec Didier notre guide. J'ai été très bien reçue et bien logée tout au long de notre itinéraire. Les chevaux sont adorables et soignés.
Je réserverai avec plaisir une autre balade avec Cap Rando
Je recommande vivement
« The Lavender ride in Provence is absolutely fantastic, the trail runs through the mountains, forests and lavender fields. The lovely scent of lavender and the beautiful views from the mountains, it´s breathtaking. A wonderful week on the saddle, nice and clean accommodations, excellent cuisine and lovely people and horses. This is my second time at Cap Rando and I will for sure come back ! »
« Here is the word that for me sums up this ride: Wow !!!
It was perfect. The days are very homogeneous with sometimes time to visit.
The two nights in the same accommodation are good, this allows you to enjoy the place.
The horses are good in their heads and dynamic.
The meals are good and plentiful.
One of my most beautiful rides !
I hope to come back for the Luberon-Alpilles-Camargue horseback ride »
« I just spent a week of horse riding, I would like to thank you. It was a wonderful stay like the last time. I send you bottles of wine from Germany to thank you and some photos.
Thank you again and see you soon ! »