Perigord Noir Trails

Introduction
Dordogne France
Enjoy our new horseback trips which take you through the beautiful  Périgord region!

The Périgord, which corresponds roughly to the current Dordogne département, is for many people the picture-perfect image of the French countryside, a gentle landscape of patchwork fields, hilltop towns, turreted mansions and jade green woods.  It is also the spiritual home to two of the country's enduring culinary passions - foie gras and the black truffle!  The Périgord region is famous for its stunning cave paintings, as well as for its many fortified chateaux and bastide towns - reminders of the bloody battles waged here during the Middle Ages and the Hundred Years' War.

There are four different geographic Perigord designations: the White Perigord, the Purple Perigord, the Green Perigord and the Black Perigord. This riding tours will take you in the Black Perigord, an area that overlooks the valleys of the Vezere and the Dordogne. This limestone plateau, delimited to the West by the valley of the Vezere and to the South, by the valley of the Dordogne, is covered by forests of chestnut trees, pines and holm oaks, which give it a dark colour and its name "Black Perigord".

The « black » Périgord, named after the black oak forest, largely spread across the valleys of the Vézère and the Dordogne, will seduce you with its centuries old history. Visits
of castles and bastides (medieval fortified villages) in varied landscapes will offer riders memorable sights of this area as well as numerous culinary pleasures.
 

Accomodation

Accommodations
This is a progressive ride, so nights are spent in different locations.

Description
Accommodation is in B&B or hotels. Double or Twin room, possibility of single but with supplement.

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1:  Gite in Lougratte
Night 2:  Au bon Accueilat Limeuil
Night 3:  Hôtel la belle Etoile in Roque Gageac
Night 4-5: Hôtel Naad in Sarlat 
Night 6:  Auberge Médiévale in Audrix
Night 7:  Gite in Lougratte



Gite in Lougratte
This beautiful gite offers comfortable and nicely decorated accommodation. The rooms are divided between 3 cottages and most rooms have their own bathroom. There is free Wi-Fi access on the property and guest can choose to cool off in the pool during the summer months.

Au bon Accueil in Limeuil
This lovely guests house provides visitors with modern ensuite bedrooms including a TV, free Wi-Fi access and a view over the surrounding landscape.

Hôtel la belle Etoile in Roque Gageac
This charming 3-star hotel offers 12 cozy bedrooms. All rooms have air conditioning and private facilities.

Hôtel Naad in Sarlat 
This boutique hotel, located in the heart of the historical city center, has 25 guestrooms. Each room comes equipped with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi access and a private bathroom.

Auberge Médiévale in Audrix
Comfortable family establishment overlooking the valley of the Vézère, in the municipality of Audrix.

Room Occupancy
We try our best to match you with a roommate, but if this is not possible you may be placed in single room with a supplement to be paid.



Meals
All meals are included.

Continental breakfasts served at your accommodation.
The lunches are buffets with a wide choice (adapted to particular diets) with wine.
Dinner in the bed and breakfast, restaurant or hotel (wine not included for dinner, and other extras).

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to most dietary restrictions with prior notice.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding


Riding Ability
This ride is open to riders who are comfortable and in control at all 4 paces (walk, rising trot, canter and gallop in a forward seat) on varied terrain, in open spaces and practice a regular habit of riding. There are certain sections of the trail where we need to lead the horses. It is recommended that you be in good physical condition in order to participate. Previous experience of trail rides over a number of days would be beneficial but is not required.

Pace
The pace is varied depending on the terrain, with long periods of walk and plenty of opportunities to canter and gallop. We ride around 5-6 hours riding each day. We cover about 150km in total.

Horses
Most of our horses were born on the farm. They live in herds in a 70 acre field and this is what makes them strong. This social lifestyle is very close to their ideal living conditions, which is a natural environment.
Every horse has its own character, but all are gentle, balanced, and multi-talented.
The horses are a mixture of purebred Arabian and Paint horses as well as Arabian/Paint crossbreds and Thoroughbreds.
The relationship with the riders and our horses is crucial. Above all, we place attention on the welfare and education of our horses.

Tack
Our saddles are a French trail saddle (JMS brands), which blend the best of English and western styles to make the perfect trail saddle. Horses will work in bridles with Myler bits. Helmets are not mandatory but are strongly recommended.
Our team will take care of tacking up the horses during this ride.

Equipment
Saddlebags, ponchos and water are provided during this trip.

Logistics
There is a support van for the transport of luggage and riders. It is possible for a rider or a non-riding companion to follow along the horse riders in the van.
We ask the riders to have only one suitcase (size 69x47x27) and one handbag.

Group Size & Staff
Riding groups have a minimum of 5 and maximum of 10 riders, plus the Guide and the Translator.
David (GTE/ BPJEPS TE) is a certified Equestrian Tour Guide. He creates the routes and leads all the riding tours. He is also a trainer of apprentice instructors in Equestrian Tourism.
Britta is your riding companion and translator (English, Dutch, German, and Spanish). She is always available to facilitate any language concerns.

Itinerary


Sample-Itinerary - subject to changes

Important note: The specific level required is the "confirmed rider level".
As a qualified professional of equestrian tourism in France, it is important for the safety of the groups of riders we receive that everyone has the required riding level (see description below).
A person, who doesn't have the required level, causes difficulties for the staff and other participants, with consequences on the good progress of the stay for everyone.
Therefore, we will test riders on horseback on the 1st day before departure on the trail.
If from the first day we judge that a rider doesn't have the required level for horseback riding, he/she will not continue on horseback. They will continue their stay with the logistics team. They will be able to make all the scheduled visits, and eat with the riders for lunch and dinner.
This decision will be made without any refund on the stay.
If, due to poor physical condition, riders ask to stop riding, they are still liable for the 300 euros we charge for transporting the horse.

Our rides are for the experienced rider who has mastered all 4 paces (walk, rising trot, canter/gallop in a forward seat) on varied terrains and in open spaces. The experienced rider rides regularly, has good physical fitness, has good soft hands, a good attitude, and self-confidence. He controls the speed and direction of the horse in all circumstances. He can ride long distances including gallops of several minutes in open terrain.
Participants need to have experience riding on English-style saddles.  They need to know how to ride in balance: two point position.


Day 1 (Sunday): Arrival
We welcome the riders at 6:30pm at the Bergerac train station and transfer them to our guesthouse in Lougratte.
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight in Lougratte

Day 2 (Monday): Château de Bannes to Limeuil
After breakfast, around 10:30 am, we will be introduced to our horses at Château de Bannes (private castle from the 15th century). We will ride through Lalinde's bastide, then follow the canal towards Mauzac (village on the Dordogne's right bank) where we will have a picnic before going to Limeuil, an ancient fishing port.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in Limeuil

Day 3 (Tuesday): Limeuil to Castelnaud-la-Chapelle
After crossing the forest, we will have a picnic near the village of St Cyprien at the Dordogne's edge. In the afternoon, we take the direction of Castelnaud la Chapelle. To finally reach the place where we leave the horses to rest for the night (Valley of the Céou), we will go along a medieval path between the Tayac's and Castelnaud-la-Chapelle's castles.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in Roque Gageac

Day 4 (Wednesday): Ride from Céou valley to Dordogne valley
We will ride from the Céou valley to the Dordogne valley where a picnic is awaiting us at the foot of a windmill in the Domme bastide. You will enjoy the beautiful sight of the Dordogne valley from this medieval village before going to Vitrac, night stop for the horses. We drive to Sarlat, a well-preserved medieval city.
-In the morning, visit of Castelnaud-la-Chapelle's castle (12th century) and its museum (war in the middle age). The castle offers a magnificent panorama of various areas (Beynac, Marquessac, La Roche Gageac).
-Before or after the picnic, visit of Domme, royal « bastide » from the 13th century.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in Sarlat

Day 5 (Thursday): Ride around Sarlat
We will ride only in the morning and go through Sarlat before stopping at the Campagnac castle to have a picnic. Free afternoon to fully enjoy the splendid city of Sarlat. Possibility of a city tour in the afternoon or after diner, by night.
- Capital of the « Black » Périgord, city of art and history, Sarlat is considered one of the most beautiful cities of Europe with its sumptuous architecture.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in Sarlat

Day 6 (Friday): Sarlat to Audrix
The path we will follow to reach Meyrals will give us the chance to see the Puymartin castle, built during the 15th century. Picnic at the foot of Meyrals' church before going to Limeuil through the Vézère's valley in the afternoon.
– Visit to the Puymartin castle, first built in the 12th century, destroyed in the 14th century and then rebuilt in the 15th century.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in Audrix

Day 7 (Saturday): Ride back to Bannes Castle
We will ride along the Dordogne river towards Cadouin, where we will have a picnic near its abbey (12th cent). From there, we go through the Béssede forest, the most important forest of the Périgord, and take the time to visit Molière's village, bastide from the 12th century, before going back to the Bannes castle. In the evening, we transfer you back to our guesthouse in Lougratte.
– Visit of the 12th cent. abbey after lunch.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in Lougratte

Day 8 (Sunday): Departure
Departure or transfer to Bergerac train station after breakfast (8:30 / 9 am).
 

Non Riders
Non-riding companions are welcome to join this trip. It is best to have a car in order to do some sightseeing while the rest of the group explores on horseback.

Rates and Dates for Perigord Noir Trails

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: La ferme du Peytavit in Couze
Airport: Bordeaux
Transfer: Lalinde's/ Bernac's train station

Climate:
                                                Sarlat-la-Canéda area