France - Beach Ride in the Medoc
The ride starts through the great wineries of the Médoc and continues through beautiful pine forests to then out onto the Atlantic coast where you can enjoy fantastic beaches.
This is an area that just breathes history and is known for its good food. Médoc covers about a third of the Gironde (the northwestern part). It has the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gironde River Delta on the other and the huge Landes Forest with its pine trees stretching as far as the eye can see. Médoc is primarily known for its vineyards, but the landscape has enormous variety, from the swamps of the lower Médoc to the great beaches of the Atlantic where the ocean mixes with water from the Gironde River. There are also a number of lakes (Hourtin, Carcans, Lacanau) running from north to south and the Gironde Islands (Green Island, New Island, Paté Island ...) like green dots between the two banks of the estuary.
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The Program
Day 1: Participants are met in the afternoon at Bordeaux Merignac Airport. Transfer to Moulis en Médoc. Overnight at the B&B Quitignan Brillette.
Day 2: Departure from Moulis through the vineyards of the Listrac and Moulis Appellations.. Picnic and wine tasting Château Lannessan. We end our the afternoon at Pauillac.
Day 3: Through the Pauillac Appellation vineyard, we pass not far from Lafite Rothschild (first Grand Cru Classé Pauillac) whose vineyard dates from the XVII century, or Cos d’Estournel (Saint Estephe appellation) dating from 1811. Then, we’ll head for a visit and picnic at the archaeological dig site of Brion. There used to be a Gallo-Roman villa there. Afternoon through vineyards, we’ll then reach Begadan (Bordeaux, Bordeaux superior appellation).
Day 4: We’ll head northward on the Palus to get to the banks of the estuary. “Palus” are land ridges between marshes and streams of water. We’ll head for the picturesque seaport of Goulée. Picnic and visit of the Richard lighthouse. From its top (18 m high) we’ll have a beautiful view on the river. Overnight at the hotel a few meters from the ocean.
Day 5: Westward to Soulac. The landscape looks like Camargue; vast expanses of lakes filled meadows and horses on the range. Visit of the church of Our Lady of Land’s End. Then to the beach: a very large one to in L’Amélie for picnic. Same route in the afternoon, long canters on the beach to Montalivet (depending to the tides, the program may change). Night in a hotel.
Day 6: Today we ride southward, beach or forest depending on the tide, picnic at the Pin Sec. In the afternoon on the Gironde moors we’ll make it a day at Hourtin, a small yachting harbour. Night in a hotel.
Day 7: Heading east, through the forests .... long gallops on sandy paths where you have the chance to see deer. The scent of pine trees is intoxicating. Picnic lunch in the village of Bernos. In the afternoon, you will ride south and return to the B&B Quitignan Brillette where you will have dinner and stay overnight.
Day 8: The end of a long ride. After breakfast, transfer to Bordeaux Merignac airport.
Travel Information
Travel: Book flight/rental car >> We help you book your flight if you wish.
Flight or train to Bordeaux.
Directions for driving to Chateau Quitignan Brillette can be obtained when booking.
Transfer: Book in advance with HorseXplore. Paid on location. Price 20 EUR per person round trip.
You can be met and driven to your hotel from Bordeaux airport at 6.30 p.m. HALL B at the “Brioche Dorée” snack bar. Riders arriving at the Bordeaux train station must take the shuttle for the airport https://30direct.com/en/
Misc.: Entrance fees are not included and are paied direct, approx. 25 EUR