Day 1
Riding: No riding.
Pick-up from the Champagne-Ardenne TGV train station near Reims at 6.30 pm, dinner and overnight.
Day 2
Riding: 3 - 4 hours
Today you ride only in the morning. Breakfast is served around 8am and your ride will start at around 10am. This morning brings beautiful perspectives over the vineyards and a route through the forest of Sermiers, also called 'La forêt du Chêne à la Vierge' which means "the woods of Virgin Mary's oak". The name comes from a medieval legend which tells that loggers found a figure of the Virgin Mary in the heart of a tree. Every year, on the third Sunday of September, a pilgrimage takes place to celebrate this miracle. After your ride you will return to your guesthouse for lunch.
In the afternoon you will visit the city of Reims, also known as "the city of coronations" and "the city of kings". On 25th December 496 the first French Christian king, Clovis, was baptised here by Bishop Saint Rémi at the place where Reims Cathedral, Notre-Dame de Reims, would later be built and where all further French kings would be crowned.
As for Champagne wines, they date back to the 17th century and have been one of the main pillars of the local economy for a long time now.
Day 3
Riding: 5 - 6 hours
This morning some relaxed canters will lead you through the woods to the heart of the Verzy forest, 'Les Faux de Verzy', where you will enjoy your picnic. A 'Fau de Verzy' is a dwarf Beech tree (Fagus sylvatica 'Tortuosa'), "fau" meaning "beech" in Old French. Les Faux de Verzy is the world's largest concentration of dwarf beeches and is home to around a thousand trees.
In the afternoon you will ride south to Trepail, a typical wine village of the Champagne region, where the white Chardonnay grape is very much at home. Dinner and overnight in the village of Bouzy.
Day 4
Riding: 5 - 6 hours
After breakfast you will ride through vineyards to the village of Mutigny, taking in a panoramic view of the Marne Valley, the Côte des Noirs (located on the south-east of Montagne de Reims) and the Côte des Blancs, the vineyards located to the south of Epernay.
Your picnic lunch today is in the village of Hautvillers, birthplace of the Champagne wines. The monk Dom Pérignon is said to have created the method which gave Champagne its sparkle. You will head down through the vineyards, crossing the Marne River at the village of Cumières, enjoying some nice canters along the river.
Dinner and overnight in the town of Epernay.
Day 5
Riding: 3 - 4 hours
Today includes riding only in the morning. You will alternate between forests and vineyards, enjoying panoramic views of Epernay. You will enter the 'Blanc de Blancs' vineyards, after stopping for your picnic in the village of Cramant, and will enjoy a wine-tasting there.
This afternoon you will visit Epernay on foot. This town, surrounded by vineyards, is the heart of the Champagne economy and also the starting point for several scenic roads. It lies at the region's epicentre and every famous Champagne brand has a headquarters there, most of them located on the famous Champagne Avenue where 110km of wine cellars lie under your feet! You will be able to admire the eclectic architecture of many buildings which date from the 19th century.
Dinner and overnight in the town of Epernay.
Day 6
Riding: 5 - 6 hours
This morning you will leave Cramant and head for the Mountain of Avize and its chalk cliffs, arriving in the Darcy valley where you have a beautiful view of the village Monthelon. By crossing Epernay forest you will make your way back to the Marne Valley. After your picnic you'll cross the Marne River at the village of Damery before continuing your ride on vineyard slopes. With yet more amazing valley views, you will leave your horses overnight in the village of Montigny.
Dinner and overnight in the village of La Neuville aux Larris with a wine-tasting of Champagne.
Day 7
Riding: 5 - 6 hours
After breakfast your trail continues across sloping vineyards. You will have a magnificent view over the village of Chatillon sur Marne, at the top of which stands a gigantic statue of Pope Urban II (33m tall), otherwise known as 'Odo of Chatillon', who supervises the Champagne vineyards. Your final picnic lunch will be at the Natural Regional Parc House of the Reims Mountains, located in Pourcy, before riding through the forest back to your finishing point.
Dinner and overnight in the village of La Neuville aux Larris.
Day 8
Riding: No riding.
After breakfast, your hosts will drop you off at Champagne-Ardenne TGV station for your journey home.
Note: All programmes and itineraries are weather dependent; in the face of adverse, or unexpected, weather conditions reasonable attempts will be made to provide equivalent riding. All programmes are accurate at the time of writing. However, the team may adapt or modify details, whilst aiming to provide a similar experience.
