Landes & Perigord

Introduction
Dordogne France
In 1152, the marriage of Eleanor and Henry of Plantagenet leads the Aquitaine region into a long conflict, the 100 year war. Numerous walled towns and castles were built during this period in order to respond to the different strategic, political, and economic requirements.    

We invite you on this journey back in time, at the discovery of different parts of Aquitaine, from fortified castles, jewels of Perigord: Bonaguil, Biron & Gavaudun, to the heart of Gironde through the vineyard of Sauternes, finishing on the Atlantic Coast and across the Landes Forest.

The first part of the trip is spent in a lovely accommodation, strategically located at the crossings of the Lot, Lot & Garonne and Dordogne departments. Thanks to this ideal location we can explore new landscapes every day, learning more about the local Bastides (fortified town) and fortified castles.

Then, we ride through the Sauternes vineyard and have the opportunity to taste some wine before heading to the Atlantic Coast and the Landes Forest, where the remaining part of the trip will be spent.

Accomodation


Accommodation
This is a progressive ride so nights will be spent in different locations.

Description
Bathrooms might be private or shared depending on the accommodation. Free Wi-Fi is available all nights. Laundry can be done for an extra fee in Mimizan.

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to change at tour operator's discretion.
Nights 1, 2, 3 & 4: Hameau du Peyrié in Bonaguil
Nights 5, 6 & 7: Guesthouse in Mimizan

Hameau du Peyrié in Bonaguil
This authentic property offers accommodation in a small village that has been carefully preserved and restored. The buildings were built with local stones that seems to shine, no matter the weather. There are 4 different houses that can each house between 3 and 11 people in different rooms, with a maximum capacity of 27 guests. The cottages are simply decorated and mix perfectly authenticity with comfort. There are shared bathrooms in all the cottages as well as free Wi-Fi access. The property is set on a beautiful 14 hectares park with plenty of trees and an outdoor heated swimming pool.

Guesthouse in Mimizan
The guesthouse has 5 bedrooms with a total capacity of 15 people. The bedrooms are tastefully decorated and provide guests with a comfortable bed. Every room comes with its own bathroom and internet access. There is also an outdoor swimming pool where guest can cool off.
If we do not have enough space, single riders will stay in a hotel on Mimizan Beach or at another guesthouse close to the riding center.



Room Occupancy
No single supplement for those willing to share.
Accommodations are based on 3-4 riders per room. If you would like to guarantee a double/ twin/ single room, additional costs apply.


Meals
All meals are included with this trip, except for the dinner on the first night.
You will have the opportunity to taste traditional dishes of the different areas visited.

Breakfasts are taken at the accommodations.
Lunches are often taken on the trail.
Dinners are usually in a local restaurant.

1/4 wine and soft drinks are provided at all lunches and dinners. You will have the opportunity to taste various wines from the southwest of France, every evening.

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to most dietary restrictions with prior notice. Unfortunately, we cannot cater to vegan diets

This trip includes some wine with dinner and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding


Riding Level
This ride is designed for strong intermediate to advanced riders with good physical condition.
For riders who do not ride on a regular basis, we advise to schedule some riding sessions before this trip in order to get ready for the long riding days.
We only accept adult riders (no children allowed) with experience on this trip. Riders are expected to be in good physical condition.

Pace
The pace of this trail is quite fast and comprises frequent trots and canters. It is important that you feel comfortable riding long distances and spend long hours in the saddle (40 to 45 km a day with about 6 to 7 hours riding). We ask riders to keep a minimum of 30 m distance between horses during faster paced sections, in order to avoid dust.
To give more comfort, 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.    

Horses 
We have 30 horses (mostly Anglo-Arabs) and 5 ponies. Most of them are born in our family farm and they leave as a herd.
Beauty, blood, intelligence, frankness, kindness, and generosity are the essential qualities we seek in the choice of our horses. Our horses are safe, brave and easygoing.
We take great care in providing our horses with a good quality of life.

Staff
Guidance is guaranteed by qualified /certified English speaking equestrian guide (French professional certification: A.T.E., CQP ASA or BPJEPS Tourisme Équestre) having good regional knowledge and willing to let you discover the beauty of this area.

Itinerary


Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

Depending on the tide, we may start the ride in Landes and end in the Perigord

Day 1 (Sunday): Arrival
Transfer from Bordeaux or Mimizan to Bonaguil, arriving to the beautiful manor "Hameau du Peyrié" at about 6:30 pm. Hang out at the pool and relax before our medieval dinner (around 8:30 pm - to be paid extra) at the foot of Bonaguil Castle.
Meals included: N/A
Overnight at Hameau du Peyrié in Bonaguil

Day 2 (Monday): Ride across the Dordogne department
Around 8am we will have breakfast. Then, we will head out to the field and meet the horses. We start our ride around 9am, making our way through a chestnut tree forest with wonderful ground for long canters. It is perfect to get us and the horses ready for the long and fast-paced riding days that await us. Throughout the day, we will see many local and typical Périgord nuildings built from natural stone.
At noon, we stop for our lunch break at the feet of the Castle of Sauveterre. 
Around 3pm, we make our way back to the Guest House and the Bonaguil Castle. this castle displays a wonderful military architecture, and is one of the last of the great fortified castles in France. It has never been besieged and stays in a perfect state of preservation.  
We should be back at the guesthouse around 7pm in time to relax before dinner.
Riding approx. 5-6 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hameau du Peyrié in Bonaguil

Day 3 (Tuesday): Ride around St Cirq la Popie
At 8:30am we load the horses in the trailer and get transferred to the Medieval village of St Cirq la Popie: a unique place! This village has been classified amongst the Most beautiful Villages of France and it is village partially listed as a historical monument! We should get there around 10am, allowing for plenty of time to visit before lunch. We start our riding trek in the early afternoon, by the Lot River. We start riding uphill to get a beautiful view over the village and then continue riding through a mysterious forest.
We are expected to get back to St Cirq around 6pm, and transfer back to Bonaguil in time for dinner.
Riding approx. 4 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hameau du Peyrié in Bonaguil

Day 4 (Wednesday): Ride across the Lot & Garonne
Today we have breakfast earlier than usual, around 7:30 am in order to insure an early start for one of the longest riding days of the week. The day's ride starts passing by the bastides of St Front sur Lemance and Lacapelle Biron. Because we have to cover a lot of kilometers, we try to trot and canter as much as possible, in order to keep a good rhythm.
We will take our lunch break (around 12h30) at the "Auberge of Castle Biron" before visiting the castle in the early afternoon (around 2 pm).
Around 3:30pm we get on our horses again and enjoy a fast paced ride on the way to the bastides of St Avit and the Castle of Gavaudun. Finally, we will ride through the beautiful forest of Cuzorn, populated with many chestnut trees and offering several views of the Lot Valley below. We should be back at Bonaguil around 7pm.
Riding approx. 7 hours (about 45km)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hameau du Peyrié in Bonaguil

Day 5 (Thursday): Sauternes Vineyards in Gironde
After breakfast (around 8 am), we pack our bags and hop on our transfer vehicle. We will drive about 2 hours through the Lot & Garonne before reaching the Gironde and its famous wines.
After lunch, we will start our ride (around 3 pm) across the local vineyards: Chateau Ychem, Chateau Trillon...We will end the day by a visit of the Chateau Filhot, where we will taste some of their wines.
At 6pm, we are transferred to Mimizan (arrival around 7pm), where we will stay for the remaining of the week.
Riding approx. 2 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Guesthouse in Mimizan

Day 6 (Friday): Ride across the Landes
After breakfast, we go to the hoses' field and tack them up. We should expect to start riding around 10am. The Landes is one of the largest forests of Europe and offers amazing views of the Ocean. Thanks to the sandy ground, we will enjoy some gallops. Depending on the tides, we might be able to go for a ride on the beach.
Riding approx. 6 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Guesthouse in Mimizan

Day 7 (Saturday): Aureilhan Lake Ride
Today's ride is more relaxing. Our destination for the day is Aureilhan Lake, where we will stop for lunch. We end our riding adventure by a sunset ride at the beach.
Riding approx. 4.5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Guesthouse in Mimizan

Day 8 (Sunday): Departure
After breakfast, transfer to Bordeaux.
Meals included: Breakfast

Rates and Dates for Landes & Perigord

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Bordeaux
Airport: Bordeaux
Transfer: Bordeaux airport or train station

Climate:
                                            Mont-de-Marsan area