CARCASSONNE PYRENEAN TRAIL - FRANCE

more photos | enquiry | availability check | ride reviews

About an hour south of Carcassonne, into the French Pyrennean Mountains, we have an excellent ride in the rugged countryside near the border with Spain. This is an adventure rides that can be done guided or unguided for experienced riders who are prepared to take full responsibility for themselves and their horses. It is a chance to explore a beautiful, mountainous area of France redolent of history at your own pace if wanted or with qualified experienced guides. For the unguided trail the route is carefully mapped out and arrangements made for riders and horses to spend each night in comfortable lodgings with excellent dinners. Your luggage is delivered to you each night. However you should be able to speak a few words of French for this and have a mobile phone to call for help if lost or in need of assistance on the unguided trail. We highly recommend this excellent horse riding holiday in France.

Trip length 8 days / 7 nights / 6 days riding Ride price detailed prices price promise 2012: double pp £925/€1,025/$1,429 Departure dates Guided trails 2012: 29 April; 20 May; 10 June; 8, 22 July; 12 August; 9, 30 September. Unguided weekly 1st April - 30th October, any day start. Approximate riding time per day Approximately 4- 6 hours in the saddle daily Riding ability required Must be riding fit and able to walk, trot and canter. Minimum age 10. Group size 2-8 - guided 2-6 - unguided Meeting point (getting there) Carcassonne Airport or Town Transfer 2012: €35 return per person payable locally Transfer time approximately one hour from the airport, town or train station. Flight guide London - Carcasonne return from £50 with Ryanair. See below for flight info. Single supplement detailed prices No supplement if willing to share. Otherwise: 2012: £149/€165/$229

SAMPLE ITINERARY - CARCASSONNE PYRENEAN TRAIL

Day 1
Transfer and arrival in Granes in the afternoon and settle into your overnight accommodation with English speaking owners. Your guide will meet you over an aperitif and discuss the week ahead with you over dinner.

Day 2
Granes.
Today is a 'test' ride with a guide to see how well riders read their maps, handle their horses while riding, and on the ground, as tomorrow they strike off on their own! Ride through woods past the mysterious village of Rennes-le-Château. After a picnic lunch, return to Granes through a green oak forest for dinner and overnight as on the previous night.

Day 3
Granes to Puivert (about 5 hours riding).
Traverse the upper valley of the Aude River studded with vineyards and arrive on the plateau of Puivert. Cross the plateau and ride right up into the courtyard of the castle ruin where the travelling troubadours used to enchant the lords of the castle with their songs and tales. Overnight lodging is in the village nearby.

Day 4
Puivert to Labau (5 to 6 hours).
Today's route goes through the forest of Picaussel with its huge hemlock, deciduous and pine trees, climbing to a lake, then down through forests and clearings to the ancient village of Labau on the side of a hill.

Day 5
Labau to Ayguebonnes (5 hours).
Follow the valley of Rebenty where there are some good places to canter and you will begin to really appreciate the qualities of your horse. You have a chance to visit another famous castle called Puylaurens perched high on a mountain, almost in the clouds, which is a textbook example of military architecture. Spend the night in a farmhouse where the owners raise cattle.

Day 6
Ayguebonnes to Cubieres (6+ hours the longest day).
After crossing the valley of Fenouilledes with its small castles, you will ride up to the plateau of Malabrac at the base of Bugarach Peak (4,500 ft.) and then down to Cubieres, a picturesque village where we overnight.

Day 7
Cubieres to Bouchard (5 hours).
Ride through the reserve with deer and wild boar, following the valley of Bugarach at the north base of Bugarach Peak, and on through pine, beech and oak forest, following a small valley with large calcareous rocks before returning to your starting point in Granes.

Day 8
After breakfast a last goodbye as we depart to the airport. This route is for unguided trails. On the guided trail we go directly to Puivert on day 2. The itinerary on this horse riding holiday is for guidance only and may be altered due to weather or other local conditions.

NOTES - CARCASSONNE PYRENEAN TRAIL

Only 2 single rooms are available.

This trip covers steep mountain terrain and you will need to dismount and lead your horse for up to 15 minutes at a time in a few places.

Unguided Trail
On the unaccompanied trek, it would increase your enjoyment if you can speak some French and it is necessary to have a mobile phone. Your luggage is transferred for you by vehicle every day.

The weight limit for this ride is 15 st/209 lb/95 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

FURTHER DETAILS
As we are specialists in our field we have extensive knowledge of all our products from details of accommodation and meals to number/size/type of horses to pace of riding ... and much more.
Should you wish to receive further details of this ride please click here.

WHAT IS INCLUDED
All meals, accommodation, wine with evening meal, riding (including instruction if required) and guiding.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Travel to and from Carcassonne in France and return transfers from Carcassonne to farmhouse. Extra drinks other than with meals.

Riders who booked this ride also considered:

Rhodopes Mountain Trail - Bulgaria
Enjoy mountain scenery in this hospitable country which has a tradition of excellent horsemanship. The riding is at all paces where the terrain permits on responsive, fit horses. For good riders.

Umbrian Summer Adventure - Italy
Enjoy a special riding holiday week at an excellent riding centre in a glorious setting surrounded by woodland and overlooking mountains and valleys on all sides.

Western Ranch - France
A cattle ranch in unspoilt countryside with western tuition for intermediate riders onwards. Also varied riding out.

Reading List
We're avid readers here at Unicorn Trails and have selected several books connected to this ride. If you're interested in reading more about the area before you travel, or want to get into the cultural background, here are some suggestions that may inspire you. Click on the links for more information.

The French - Theodore Zeldin
Bonjour Tristesse - Francoise Sagan
A Year in Provence and Toujours Provence - Peter Mayle
Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes and the Amateur Emigrant - Louis Stevensons

more photos | enquiry | availability check | ride reviews

conditions of access  booking conditions print  back  top

sitemap