- Discover the heart of Provence
- Varied landscapes in 2 natural parks: Luberon and Ventoux
- Provence gastronomy and the best Provence wines !
A horseback trail ride in the heart of Provence, through the Luberon natural regional park to the Rhone valley, at the foot of the Mont Ventoux, called "the Giant of Provence". This is a country basked in sunshine; a famous wine country. You can discover the “Cotes de Luberon”, the “Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, the “Cotes du Ventoux, as well as the famous “Cotes du Rhone” such as the Beaumes-de-Venise and Gigondas, where the trail ride ends. You ride five days in the perfumed Provence hills, from the Luberon natural park to the foot of the Mont Ventoux, whose summit is feared by cyclists on the famous "Tour de France" !
SEE ALL OUR WINE TRAIL RIDES AND ALL OUR PROVENCE RIDES WITH OUR HORSES :
PROVENCE WINE TRAIL RIDE
INDICATIVE ITINERARY
Day 1: Meeting in Lauris at 7 p.m. Free transfer from Marseille airport (5 pm), Aix en Provence tgv train station (5:30 pm), Aix en Provence center train station (5:45 pm).
Day 2: Lauris – Merindol. You will follow the vines, sheltered by the southern side of the Luberon. On the way, chance of a wine tasting visit in a “Cave de Vins”. Picnic in a pine grove: a copious buffet prepared by our assistant. In the evening, horses stay in Merindol, riders are transfered to the accommodation in Lauris. A pleasant meal accompanied by a “Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence”.
Day 3: Merindol – Oppede. After breakfast, transfer bach to the horses in Merindol. Ride through pine forests with wonderful views of the Durance valley with orchards, whose fruit you will taste at the picnic. In the afternoon, landscapes of cliffs where eagles and other birds of prey nest. Arrive at Oppède where the horses will stay for the night. For the riders transfer to Coustellet. Dinner at the restaurant and night at the hotel.
Day 4: Oppède – Venasque. Today, you enter into the “Côtes de Ventoux” producing area, via the Vaucluse mounts. You will reach the “mur du peste” a wall constructed in 1720 to protect the populations from the great epidemic that spread from Marseille. Night near Venasque, a historical village.
Day 5: Venasque – Crillon le Brave. Countryside of rolling hills, through pine forests and cherry trees, facing the “Mont Ventoux” called the "Giant of Provence". Before lunch wine taste at the Domaine des Anges. In the late afternoon, you will arrive at the Moulin d'Antelon or other guesthouse near the village Crillon le Brave. The village takes its full name of Crillon-le-Brave from the most legendary of its dukes: Louis des Balbes de Berton de Crillon or "Le Brave Crillon" (1541–1615) was one of Henri IV's fiercest and most valiant generals during the French Wars of Religion in the late 16th century. The same Crillon family also gave its name to the famous Hôtel de Crillon in Paris. Before dinner you can enjoy the swimmig-pool.
Day 6: Crillon le Brave – Gigondas. You will ride through villages, with the “Mont Ventoux” in the background. Picnic near the Barroux village and chateau. In the afternoon you will discover the “Dentelles de Montmirail”, needle thin spikes and ridges (“dentelle” means lace). Wine taste at Domaine de Cassan, in the heart of this beautifull range. End of the ride at Gigondas. Transfer to Lauris.
Day 7: End of the trail after breakfast. Free transfer to Aix en Provence train stations or Marseille airport (departure at 9:30 am).
* Indicative itinerary: may be changed if necessary.
MEETING:
Day 1 (Sunday) afternoon (usually Sunday, check according to the dates) in Lauris. 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 7 (Saturday) morning after breakfast (usually Saturday, check according to the dates). 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).
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 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: 
In simple guesthouses and hotels (equivalent 2 * French standard). All nights in shared 2-3 person bedrooms (triple may be 2 double beds some nights) or single bedrooms with supplement. Most bedrooms are ensuite: 1 night can not have enough ensuite bedrooms for all guests.
Inn to Inn trips cannot guarantee the same level of comfort every night: one of the pleasures of a horseback riding trip is the variety ! We chose the accommodations for their location on the itinerary and for the quality of their welcome. With varying degrees of comfort, you will always have a memory: a good meal, a particularly pleasant atmosphere, or an exceptional setting. The price is not justified by luxury accommodation, but by the high logistical costs on an online horse riding trip).
Les Gargoulettes
Nights 1, 2 and 6
Le Relais du Luberon
Night 3
Moulin d'Antelon
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 photos).
LUGGAGE TRANSFERS:
Provided by the assistant in a minibus.
2024 PRICE / PER PERSON:
1 750 € in 2-3 person bedrooms
Single bedroom supplement: 360 € *
* If you book in shared rooms and there is no one to share, the supplement for 1 person rooms will be charged, refunded if a person wishing to share subsequently registers.
Booking fees: 15 €
THE PRICE INCLUDES:
Equipped horse, the guide, assistant ensuring the preparation of the lunch buffets and the transport of the luggage, accommodation, all meals, drinks (water and wine) during meals, transfer back to the point of departure, the transfers from / to the airport of Marseille or Aix-en-Provence stations at the fixed times, the financial guarantee of your payments by our travel operator deposit.
THE PRICE DOESN'T INCLUDE:
Individual insurance, drinks out of meals, any visits, tips. Everything that is not indicated in "the price includes".
INSURANCE:
We offer to European & Swiss citizens (only) Chapka insurances:
Cap Security: full insurance with cancellation. Cap Cancellation: cancellation only.
See prices & information
ON REQUEST FOR GROUPS OF MINIMUM 5 RIDERS
FROM APRIL TO NOVEMBER
SalutDidier,
And one more ride (the twelfth in total) which once again went well. From a weather point of view you couldn't expect better, the sun was there all week. Regarding the guide: with Paul it's always great: sympathy, efficiency and safety are always there. Regarding the group: the riding level was good and it was a super nice group, we all got on well and had a great time. In short a great success and a very pleasant vacation week. Thank you to the entire Cap Rando team, and of course especially to Paul and Pierrot. I wish you all a good end of season while waiting to meet you next year for a new adventure (I look forward to discovering your program for next year).