Day 1
Riding: No riding.
You will be met at Bordeaux train station or airport and transferred to your hotel in St Emilion (c. 45 mins drive). The medieval town of St Emilion has one of the most important architectural heritages in Europe and is listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO. Standing proudly on top of a hill overlooking the Dordogne valley, the village, with its sun-baked Roman tiled roofs, was built in the shape of an amphitheatre. You will have the opportunity to visit a unique monolithic underground church from the 11th century and a monolithic cellar in the village before your first wine-tasting - a Grand Cru - before dinner at your hotel.
Day 2
Riding: 4 - 5 hours
After breakfast, you are transferred to a chateau where the horses are waiting for you, near the village of Blaye. After a 10am small wine-tasting at the chateau, you are allocated horses and set off riding in a northerly direction along the Gironde river to the Citadelle de Blaye, which was built by a military engineer of Louis the 14th, Vauban, and is set with star-shaped bastions. You will stop for your first picnic lunch within its walls.
In the afternoon you take the horses on a ferry to cross the Gironde estuary (c. 30mins). On arrival at Port Lamarque you continue riding towards Medoc where your charming hotel/chateau is situated. Dinner is in a fine gastronomic restaurant in the nearby village of Margaux, home to the famous Chateau Margaux.
Day 3
Riding: 4 - 5 hours
Today's ride continues through the Medoc region, passing many prestigious and beautiful chateaux: Chateau Lanessan, Beaucaillou, Pichon-Baron, Latour and Lafitte Rothschild to name a few! Stop for a picnic lunch in the grounds of Chateau Lanessan where you will also have the opportunity to taste their wine.
After lunch, there is time to visit their horse museum before setting off on a ride to the famous Chateau Pichon-Baron (Grand Cru Pauillac). After a visit and wine tasting, you and the horses are transferred to your chateau/B&B in Saint Estephe wine appelation where you will spend two nights. Enjoy dinner at a restaurant in a nearby village.
Day 4
Riding: 3 - 4 hours
This morning you ride through vineyards and along the river bank where you can see local fishermen at work. Arrive at Chateau Loudenne where you have a picnic lunch in the grounds of this charming pink manor house from the 17th century with its remarkable view of the Gironde estuary. In the afternoon, ride back to your chateau from the previous night past vineyards, Roman excavations and miles of marshland used primarily as pasture for horses and cattle. Dinner will be at a restaurant in the nearby village of Pauillac.
Day 5
Riding: 4 - 5 hours
After breakfast and some time to relax in your room, you'll have the chance to visit the modern cellar of the chateau where you spent the last two nights, followed by a tasting of their fine Crus Bourgeois wines. At the end of the morning you leave behind the last of the vineyards and transfer to the ocean (c. 50mins) and your four star hotel and spa.
After lunch at the hotel you ride to the ocean, enjoying some nice canters through the pine forests and onto the beach. Back at the hotel you can relax in the pool or spa before dinner. (It is possible to book a massage but this must be booked three weeks in advance so please ensure you let us know so that we can arrange this for you). Enjoy an evening meal at a beach-side restaurant where you can sample more of the regions specialities and wines.
Day 6
Riding: 4 - 5 hours
This morning you ride through the sandy pine forests of the region with plenty of opportunities for long trots and canters. Stop for a final picnic lunch at Le Porge Ocean before riding on the beach. Let the horses cool their legs in the water before enjoying a long canter along the surf. Return to the charming hotel of the previous evening for a farewell dinner of Bordeaux specialities.
Day 7
Riding: No riding.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Bordeaux train station or Bordeaux airport (c. 1.5 hours), arriving at around 11am.
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.
