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If you dream of traversing immense forests at a lively
pace, savoring one of the finest wines in the world, exploring on
horseback the heart of one of the most beautiful chateaux in the
Southwest of France, cantering through the waves of the Atlantic Ocean
and the largest sand dune in Europe, this may be just the riding tour
for you this year.
GASCOGNE A forest of pine and oak and gentle relief through sandy soil.
The smell of heather and resin surrounded by a rich fauna of ferns. The
impressive Chateau d Roquetaillade.
SAUTERNES 40 square kilometers of vineyards. A small area for a wine of
such exception. The nectar of soft white wines; visits and wine tasting.
ATLANTIC OCEAN From Sanguinet to Arcachon, we pass the inland lakes of
Cazaux and Biscarrosse. Immense fine, sandy beaches along the coast of
Landaise, reach the Dune du Pilat. The Arcachon oceanic basin; delicious
platters of seafood.
 IT-FRGAS01
Rates include accommodation in hotels; evening dinners in regional
restaurants, wine with lunch, 6 riding days
8 days/ 7 nights $ 2,065 Single:+$
260
-- based on € 1,450 / € 180
2008 Date: 09/20-09/27
availability
& reservation
Meeting Point: Marmande train station or Bordeaux airport
Airport: Bordeaux
Transfer: Marmande train station included or
from Bordeaux (Merignac Airport) at 4 PM
at $45 pp (€30) rt
Level:
Intermediate
- comfortable in walk, trot (posting trot) and canter
Pace: Moderate, nice canters
Tack:
French Trekking
Horses:
Selle
Francais / Arab Cross
Min/Max: 3-12 riders
Weight: Max 240 lbs
Note: Accommodations are in private chateaux and charming hotels,
gourmet lunches with regional wine included, prepared by the personal
chef. Evening dinners in tasteful regional restaurants to savor
traditional French cuisine, wine with dinner not included.
Itinerary
Day 1: Your host picks you up at the Bordeaux Merignac airport and
brings you to the lovely village of Casteljaloux (about 1 hour drive).
Dinner and overnight at the hotel ** Les Cordeliers.
Day 2: Breakfast at 8 a.m. and transfer to Tourette. Presentation and
distribution of the horses. On the peaceful national forest trails of
the Landes, the largest forest in Europe, you ride through the region of
Gascogne, to the lake of Clarens for the lunch. In the afternoon, you
ride to the Chapelle de St. Clair de Gouts, an old fortified church from
the 13th
and 14th centuries, located in the middle of the wood.
Transport (15 min.) to the beautiful Domaine de la Haute Lande for
dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Breakfast and short transfer back to the horses. You ride
through the Landes forest along the meanders of the Ciron river. Enjoy
your lunch under oak trees near the river. In the afternoon your ride
takes you on through pine and oak forests on sandy trails until you
arrive at Dousud, a typical restored Landaise farm for dinner and
overnight.
Day 4: After breakfast you ride to the vineyards of Sauternes.
Lunch at the majestic Chateau de Roquetaillade which you get to visit
later. The ride takes you on through the vineyards to Budos. There you
visit the Chateau Premier Cru Classe Sauternes-Barsac and enjoy a
winetasting. Transfer (10 min.) to the Hotel de Charme in La Cremalliere
for the dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Breakfast and transport back to the horses. You leave the
vineyards for the forest to the lake of Bousquet where you have lunch.
In the afternoon, through the forest, you arrive at the equestrian
center of Le Volcelest. Overnight in Chambers d’Hotes and gascon dinner
(typical meals of Gascogne) at the Volcelest club house.
Day 6: Breakfast and transfer to the stable
where the horses are (15 min.). You ride through the forest and along
the Etang de Sanguinet, a lake that is 20 km long. Partly along the
forest, partly along the water we ride to the Navarosse beach for the
lunch. Sand dunes and forest alternate in the afternoon until we reach
the ocean again. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel *** La Cremalliere.
Day 7: Breakfast and departure depending on the tide. We ride the
last 20 km along the waves to the Dune du Pilat, the highest sand dune
in Europe, near the Bassin d’Arcachon. Transfer to Arcachon (10 min.).
Here you can taste various seafood and later you have dinner and stay
overnight at the Hotel *** Roc Hotel Modern.
Day 8:
Breakfast and transfer to the airport (1 hour).
Subject to change |
Chateau Roquetaillade
Vineyards
Château de Roquetaillade
   
Spa Casteljaloux
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