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France, Aquitaine - Perigord and Beach Combo

This route offers the chance to experience the Aquitaine region’s rich history and passes through walled cities and fortified castles. Riding through the beautiful valleys takes you through a magnificent forest, which was a refuge for locals during the One Hundred Years War. The last days of the ride are spent in Mimizan, so in addition to an historic experience, you also get some fantastic beach rides!

The marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II (Henry Plantagenet) in 1152 drew Aquitaine into a long conflict known as the One Hundred Years War. Many walled towns and castles were built during this period in response to the regions strategic, political and economic needs. This ride takes you back in time, through deep, mysterious valleys and a maze of old forest paths, which provided refuge for many of the locals during the war.

For three days of the ride, you will return each evening to the Hameau de Peyrie where you can enjoy good food from the Perigord region. You will spend four nights in this beautiful location. Each evening, you will get the opportunity to taste some amazing French wines at dinner. Three provinces border on this area - Lot, Lot et Garonne and Dordogne, so every day you get to discover new areas, new flora and fauna and, last but not least, some magnificent castles.

After four nights at Hameau de Peyrie, you will travel to Mimizan where you spend three nights in a gite in Mimizan and you get to experience beautiful beach rides and the chance to explore this amazing area.

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The Program

Sunday: Arrival day. Transfer from Bordeaux airport at 2.00 pm to Bonaguil and the Hameau du Peyrie, a beautiful Manor House. Here you can meet the horses and enjoy a pleasant evening by the pool and eat at a local restaurant (dinner not included).

Monday: Full day ride in “ Dordogne “  5 to 6 hours on horse 
08h00 Breakfast 
8h30 Discovery of their horses for the riders, and time to test how they react at the different paces.
09h00 Start for a full day  of quick evolution in the chestnut trees forest, wonderful ground for long canters. The goal of that day is also the preparation at the endurance rythm of the tird day, with offering advantage of  the local and typical Périgord architecture built from natural stone. 
12h00 Lunch at the feet of the Castle of Sauveterre. 
15h00  On the way back to the Guest House the famous Bonaguil Castle, genuine great work of military architecture, the last of the great fortified castles in France. That castle has never been besieged and stays in a perfect state of preservation.   
19h00 Relaxing time beside the swimming pool of Gite de Charme Le Hameau du Peyrié 
20h30 Dinner                                        

Tuesday: 4 hours Day Ride in “ LOT “ around St Cirq Lapopie 
08h30 Start with the Horse trailer and minibus to the Medieval village of ST CIRQ LA POPIE Place of  exception, Unique in the world !  Classified Most beautiful Village of France but also elected as the favourite village of the French after “Rocamadour “ .  Straight out of the Middle Ages, this village partially listed as historical monument !
10h00  Visit of the village
12h00  Lunch  with the horses at the feet of the village  along the river.
13h00  Treck on the bench of the “ LOT river “ with one pass  unique in the world. Ascent to the summit above the village and crossing of a forest coming out of a tale of Grimm.
18h00  Visit of the village and way back to Bonaguil 
20h30 Dinner in the Guest House 

Wednesday: Endurance Day in “ Lot et Garonne “ - 7 hours riding with trotting or cantering each time it is possible. 
07h30 Breakfast 
09h00 Early start for the endurance day trip of 45 km, passing by the fortified Bastide of St front sur Lémance and Lacapelle Biron. The rythm is changing a lot and makes the way short and exciting .
12h30 Lunch at the “Auberge of Castel of Biron “
14h00 Visit of the fine and noble Castle of Biron 
15h30 Long and quick Ride Afternoon, passing by the Bastide of St Avit, then the Proud Castle of Gavaudun, later the deep chestnut tree forest of Cuzorn with some  unexpected view point on the Lot valley.
19h00  The group is back to Bonaguil and the manor house.
20h30 Dinner with exchanging about the good feelings of the day .

Thursday: Transfer  to Mimizan with an halt, lunch and 2 hours ride in the Sauternes Vineyard in “Gironde"
08h00 Breakfast and time to pack the luggage .
10h00 Departure for Sauternes (2 hours drive through Lot et Garonne) and reach a new department “La Gironde”  internationally known for its Bordeaux white wine. 
12h30 Lunch
15h00  2 hours ride through the different and Famous vineyard – Chateau Ychem – Chateau Trillon - Chateau Giraud 
17h00 Visit of Chateau Filhot cellar  and wine testing. 
18h00 Transfer to Mimizan 
19h00 Relaxing time in the new Guest House around the swimming pool 
20h30 Dinner             
            
Friday: Endurance in Landes. St Julien – Bias  – Mimizan. 6 hours on horse
08h00  Breakfast 
09h00 Transfer to the horse’s field 
10h00 Start for the first full day trail and new endurance rythm. It is time to discover a new surrounding : the supple and sandy ground of the hugest Forest of Europe, with some large views on the most beautiful beach of France. It’s also the time of exciting gallops on the white sand of the Aquitaine Coast in the morning or in the evening according to the tide of the ocean.   
20h30 Dinner   

SaturdayMimizan – Areilhan – Mimizan Beach. 4,5 hours on horse
08h00 Breakfast
10h00 More relaxing day ride spending the lunch time on the pretty shore of the Aureilhan Lake and ending  the ride in the evening with Sunset on the beach. 
20h30 Dinner 

Sunday: Transfer to the airport. You will be dropped in Bordeaux before 1.00pm. The transfer takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Group size: Min. 4 riders; Max. 9 riders.

Level and good to know:  for experimented to advanced riders    
This ride requires riders with good physical condition. The speed of this trail is sustained and the sequences of trots and gallops are frequent; it is important to be able to cover 40 to 45 km a day in an average time of 6 to 7 hours riding. We ask the rider to keep a minimum of 30 m distance on the quick sequences between horses. To give more comfort and to avoid dust, the evolution with trotting or galloping is generally individually or by group of two, whether it is in forest or on the beach. Some group gallops on the beach are of course available.
 

Dates and prices

DateDaysName of tripPrice from
12/05/20248France, Aquitaine - Perigord - Sauternes and beach comboEUR 1,699Book on request
26/05/20248France, Aquitaine - Perigord - Sauternes and beach comboEUR 1,699Book on request
09/06/20248France, Aquitaine - Perigord - Sauternes and beach comboEUR 1,699Book on request
22/09/20248France, Aquitaine - Perigord - Sauternes and beach comboEUR 1,699Book on request
06/10/20248France, Aquitaine - Perigord - Sauternes and beach comboEUR 1,649Book on request
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