SNOWY LANDSCAPES - CANADA

more photos | enquiry | availability check | ride reviews

Enjoy winter trail rides though the cottony snows of Quebec's frosty countryside. The winter landscape encompasses: valley and hillsides, wide frozen lakes, forests of evergreens, maples and birch, old-fashioned villages built around imposing churches. At the inn, your hosts offer a warm holiday welcome, all gathered around the ever so generous dining table. The magic of this snowbound wonderland sparks the imagination and awakens the old myths of trappers, lumberjacks and early settlers. Just for the fun of it, try dog sledding or snow shoeing.

Trip length 8 days / 7 nights Ride price detailed prices price promise 2010: double pp £1,255/€1,389/$1,879 Departure dates 15th Mar, 28th Dec Other dates for groups on request, please enquire. Approximate riding time per day 2-5 hrs Riding ability required walk, trot and canter Group size 5-8 Meeting point (getting there) Quebec City airport (Jean Lesage, YQB) or hotel Transfer C$125 from Quebec (1.5 hour drive) Flight guide London - Quebec return £420 - £725 Single supplement detailed prices No single rooms available. Riders must be prepared to share.

SAMPLE ITINERARY - SNOWY LANDSCAPES

Day 1
Arrive Quebec City airport and transfer to the village of Courcelles (1hr 40min) in the Lac-Megantic region west of the Appalachian Mountains. Settle into cozy lodgings at the equestrian inn, located on a summit of the great valley of Haute Beauce and dominating the snow-covered countryside. Dinner featuring local products and comfortable overnight accommodation.

Day 2
First contact with horses in an old-style barn built of wood. Preparation and departure on horseback following a forest road lined with snow-laden trees. Then cross a cottony countryside dotted with traditional farms. We continue  through the snowy landscape tothe cabin of the trapper Mario Bernier. Enjoy lunch and the warmth of the wood stove. Return to the inn by way of snowy maple groves. Leisure time and gastronomic Quebecois dinner. 4.5 hrs riding.

Day 3
 Departure on horseback, first along a forest trail, then on a snowy, rural country road. Pass through the village of Courcelles with its church at the centre. Here also is the old Bernier Mill built by the town's first settlers and now restored as a museum tracing the area's development and its French colonization. Lunch at a small sugar located in a forest with thousands of maple trees. Return to the inn by tree-lined country roads. Relaxation, jacuzzi and dinner. 4.5hrs riding.

Day 4
Morning trail ride through the woods. Return to the inn for lunch. Afternoon activity of your choice: snowmobiling (option), snowshoeing, ski touring or for a more relaxed pace, choose the jacuzzi and reserve a traditional Amerindian massage with hot stones (option). 2hrs riding.

Day 5
Departure on horseback for two days, crossing hills and dales of Haute Beauce with the Appalachian Mountains as backdrop. Gather round the warm, glowing woodstove of an isolated chalet for lunch deep in the forest and experience first-hand the emotions of "my Canadian cabin". Then ride on the St-Sebastien old rail bed to reach our destination for a night at Doris's place, a traditional Quebec-style cedar shingled farmhouse and barn. Under the starry night sky, enjoy a magic excursion in a sleigh drawn by two majestic Clydesdale draft horses. 5hrs riding.

Day 6
Departure on horseback, heading east to discover the snowy wooded slopes of St-Sebastien's mountain summit called "Le Morne". An enchanted ride through deep powder ! Lunch in Courcelles at the Restaurant Manoir Plaza. Taste the famous "La Galvaude" which is a variation of a traditional Quebecois recipe called "La Poutine". Return on horseback to the inn. Relaxation, jacuzzi and a gourmet dinner.

Day 7
Transfer to Saint Leon de Valracine (1hr) for initiation to dog sledding with an authentic trapper and his family. Everyone will experience and refine his talent for mushing during a few hours. Lunch in a tepee. On the way back for those who wish, a stop-over at Megantic's general store for a delicious taste of celebrated sugar pie. Return to the inn for dinner.

Day 8
Route to Quebec City, the cradle of French civilization in North America. Especially, you won't be able to resist the tempting delicious maple taffy, or a thrilling toboggan descent to the terrace of the Chateau Frontenac facing the St Lawrence River. Transfer to the airport and flight home.

Please note: This itinerary is given for your guidance only and it may be altered in accordance with the prevailing conditions by the organising team.

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 more information on this ride please click here and further details will be automatically emailed.

NOTES - SNOWY LANDSCAPES

Single rooms are avaialble on some but not all nights of this ride due to the nature of the accommodation en route.

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 riding, horses, English guiding, accommodation, meals and returns transfers from Quebec City.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Transfer from Montreal ($200), items of a personal nature, optional gratuities.

more photos | enquiry | availability check | ride reviews

conditions of access  booking conditions print  back  top

sitemap