France - Atlantic Coast Tailor-Made

Please Note: The opinions expressed in these reviews are the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Trails Ltd. These reviews are "directly from the horses mouth" and unedited. Unicorn Trails may make additional comments for clarification clearly identified in red.

Review received from LC of Wimbledon on 25/10/2024

Riding and Horses
This 'a la Carte' horse riding holiday will suit families or groups with varying levels of interest in riding. For those who want to ride there is the option to buy a card valid for 6 or 8 sessions of riding, with each session lasting for 2 hours. For intermediate and advanced riders it is also possible to exchange sessions for a half-day ride of 4 hours (2 sessions of 2 hours) or a full-day ride (3 sessions of 2 hours). More sessions can be purchased on-site.

There are 25 horses of all types available at the riding centre. The majority of horses are Anglo-Arabs although there are also Thoroughbred cross, Quarter horse, Lusitano and Standardbred. There are also 12 ponies available for children. The flexibility of this holiday means that those who want to ride can do so to their heart's content on the beach and in the forests, leaving the rest of the family to enjoy the many other activities available in this area: cycling on miles of cycle paths, tennis, water sports such as surfing, catamarans, canoes, swimming and walking on the beach, golf and many more.

Usually, there is no riding on Sundays.

Accommodation and meals
There are several options for the accommodation with this ride. There is an on-site guest house at the riding centre, and several 3* hotels on Mimizan beach, all of which are available Sunday to Sunday as either B&B or half-board. The rooms are clean and small, all have en-suite bathrooms, flat-screen TV's, free WiFi and balconies or terraces with sea or garden views. Complimentary travel cots are provided for children age 2 and under. There's a garden, a terrace, a TV bar and lounge and bike and surfboard storage and free parking for cars. The owners are helpful and friendly.

Breakfast is continental with juice, coffee, tea or hot chocolate, fresh bread of various kinds/croissant, butter and jams (often homemade). There are also apartments available in near-by resorts from Saturday to Saturday. This leaves you free to explore and sample the delights of the many restaurants and cafes in the town. Please enquire for apartment prices.

If you have chosen to join a half or full day ride then the equestrian centre will provide either a typical French breakfast (French sausage, pâté, cheese, fruits, Bordeaux red wine, fruit juice tea and coffee) or lunch (French aperitif and appetiser, Bordeaux red wine, soup or salad according to the weather, chicken or meat and vegetables, French cheeses, dessert and coffee or tea).

Non-rider and other activities:
The many other activities available in this area include cycling on miles of cycle paths, tennis, water sports such as surfing, catamarans, kite surfing, surfing, canoeing, swimming, walking on the beach, golf and many others.

Please note: All itineraries are given for your guidance only and it may be altered on the ground and in accordance with the prevailing conditions by the organising team.

There are 25 horses of all types available at the riding centre. The majority of horses are Anglo Arabs with one each of Quarter horse, Lusitano and Standardbred. There are also 12 ponies available for children and smaller riders. The horses range in size from 15.3hh to 16.3hh. The saddles are all English with deep seats and are comfortable and well maintained. The horses are schooled in English style and are very responsive and reliable. The numnahs used on trails have saddle bags in them and in addition cantle bags are available for camera, water bottles etc. Mineral water, hats and chaps are provided.

Beginners can have lessons or go on slower rides in the forest or beach, while the riding is faster and allows riders to take their own line in the forest and gallop on the beach for more experienced riders.

Guests can purchase a riding card of 6 or 8 sessions of 2 hours riding for the week for those who want to ride. For intermediate and advanced riders it is also possible to exchange sessions for a half-day ride of 4 hours (2 sessions of 2 hours) or a full-day ride (3 sessions of 2 hours). More sessions can be purchased on-site. This way those who want to ride can do so to their heart's content on the beach and in the forests, leaving the rest of the family to enjoy the many other activities available in this area. Usually there's no riding on Sundays.

Suitable for intermediate riders onwards.

The riding is at all paces and there are many opportunities to trot, canter and gallop for experienced riders.
Riders are encouraged to take their own line wherever possible and can canter ahead and depart for faster riding singly or in small groups spaced about 50-100m apart.

There is a minimum age of 10 years for beginner groups and 13 years for trails.
There is a weight limit of 90kg on this ride.

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

There are several options for the accommodation with this ride. There is an on-site guest house at the riding centre (a short drive from the beach), and several 2* hotels close to Mimizan beach (a short drive from the riding centre, transfers arranged for you), all of which are available Sunday to Sunday as either B&B or half-board.

The rooms are clean and small, all have en-suite bathrooms, flat-screen TV's, free Wi-Fi and balconies or terraces with sea or garden views. Complimentary travel cots are provided for children age 2 and under. There's a garden, a terrace, a TV bar and lounge and bike and surfboard storage. Parking is free for cars. The owners are helpful and friendly with enthusiastic attempts at English. Breakfast is continental with juice, coffee, tea or hot chocolate, fresh bread of various kinds/croissant, butter and jams (often homemade). There are also apartments available in near-by resorts from Saturday to Saturday. This leaves you free to explore and sample the delights of the many restaurants and cafes in the town, be it a fresh seafood dinner, some typical homemade French cuisine or perhaps even a picnic to enjoy on the beach. Please enquire for apartment prices.

If you have chosen to join a half or full day ride then the equestrian centre will provide either a typical French breakfast (French sausage, pâté, cheese, fruits, Bordeaux red wine, fruit juice tea and coffee) or lunch (French aperitif and appetiser, Bordeaux red wine, soup or salad according to the weather, chicken or meat and vegetables, French cheeses, dessert and coffee or tea).

Vegetarian or other dietary requirements within reason can be accommodated with advance notice. Please contact Unicorn Trails with requests before booking.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct documentation in place for your trip. NB: Be sure to check the COVID status of the country you plan to visit including entry procedures and requirements while travelling. Passport and Visa requirements can change regularly depending on diplomatic relations. Please request information from the appropriate Consulate in your home country. Unicorn Trails will assist with any questions you have or supply any necessary supporting documents as required by the consulate should you need a visa. In the UK the British Foreign Office gives advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france In the USA: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/France.html In Canada: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/france

Another useful resource is Sherpa - this summarises any travel and vaccination requirements based on when you are travelling simply by entering your home country followed by your destination country: https://apply.joinsherpa.com/travel-restrictions

The best time to visit this region is from March to November. The Landes region and trail almost always have dry days and when rain falls it is usually in the evening, overnight or before 9am in the morning. This is due to the local sea breezes. Riding is in the extensive shady pine forest or along the beach making for a pleasant temperature even in summer. At the height of summer in late July and August the riding is done early in the morning and the hours before sunset.

COVID: Be sure to check the latest COVID regulations for travelling in any country you visit.

Please refer to your country’s latest health guideline for travel in France and contact your own GP for up to date advice on vaccinations and prophylaxis prior to travel.


Please take along sun cream and anti-allergy medicine for possible insect bites.

The emergency phone number in France is 112. If you need to contact other emergency services, call 15 (medical), 17 (police) or 18 (fire).

No special health precautions are required for visits to France, for further details please see your local doctor. We do advise taking plenty of sunscreen!

In France the supply voltage is 230V. If the appliance is a single voltage rated appliance, it will need to operate at the same voltage as the supply voltage of the country i.e. 230V. If this is not the case it should be used alongside a voltage transformer or converter to allow the appliance to work safely and properly.

There is electricity to charge batteries in the hotels and gites, however we recommend that all necessary equipment is bought with you or purchased upon arrival in France. You should check with your network provider for mobile phone coverage while in France. If using a GoPro ensure to get the group's permission to be filmed.

- Riding Helmet - we strongly recommend that you wear a properly fitted riding helmet of the current standard which is PAS015 or BSEN1384.
- Jodhpurs - jodhpurs, breeches or other comfortable trousers (jeans may rub and can also be quite hot)
- Riding Boots - it is important to have correct shoes or boots for horse riding. Jodhpur or ankle boots with a rubber sole are recommended but sturdy shoes with a definite heel are acceptable (such as walking boots)
- Half Chaps - these are great when worn with ankle boots and help prevent the stirrup leathers rubbing against your legs
- T-shirts
- Long-sleeved shirts
- Fleece - Although the weather is generally very warm, the evenings can be a bit cooler
- Warm layers - At times the evening temperature drops significantly
- Casual Clothes - for when out of the saddle
- Raincoat - it is always a wise idea to pack a waterproof/ windproof jacket!
- Sunhat
- Swimsuit
- Towel
- Sunglasses
- Sun cream
- Personal Items - toiletries, any medicines you require and please be sure to take inset repellent
- Refillable Water Bottle - it's very important to drink a lot of water when it's hot, especially when doing physical activities
- Camera and Spare Batteries/Charger - an absolute must! It is also a good idea to take a camera case you can strap around your waist or onto a belt for whilst you are riding
- A copy of your passport

Programmes last 8d / 7n but longer/shorter stays can be taken in consultation with Unicorn Trails.

2024: Low season: 15, 22, 29 Dec
2025 Low season: 6, 13, 20, 27 Apr
2025 Mid season: 4, 11, 18, 25 May; 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Jun; 7, 14, 21, 28 Sep; 12, 19, 26 Oct
2025 High season: 6, 13, 20, 27 Jul; 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Aug

Depending on availability, rooms may be shared by up to 5 guests. If you would like to guarantee a single or double/twin room supplements will apply. Supplements also apply to individual bookings where no other rider is available to share the room.

Low Season: from November to March
Mid Season: April, May, September, October
High Season: July, August

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The Road from the Past: Traveling through History in France - Ina Caro

Theodore Zeldin ‘The French’,

Francoise Sagan ‘Bonjour Tristesse’,

Peter Mayle ‘A Year in Provence’ and ‘Toujours Provence’,

Louis Stevensons ‘Travels with a Donkey’ and

For the equestrian traveller who would like to see what is possible on horseback, visit www.thelongridersguild.com. An excellent source of equestrian travel books is www.horsetravelbooks.com  

France is easily accessible from most of the UK and offers a large amount of space and totally different regions to explore. The weather in the south of France is almost always warmer than the UK. It is very rider friendly with miles and miles of open space and off road tracks to explore.

The region of Landes:
« Les Landes » is the second largest department in France (9 250 km²), and has 337,012 inhabitants, a mere 36.4 inhabitants per km². It is home to the Gascogne forest, the largest forest in Europe. The main administrative town of the department is Mont de Marsan. More than 93 % of the land is used for agricultural purposes (244 000 ha) or is forested (632 000 ha). It is also home to 250km of protected dunes and beach fronts of the Atlantic Coastal Reserve.

The French wrote the book on la vie en rose and gave the world champagne and camembert, de Beauvoir and Debussy, the Tour de France and the Eiffel Tower. It is a country steeped in history. Staggering monasteries and castles dotted all over the country are a reminder of a turbulent and often violent past, especially in the Carcasonne region where the Gnostic Christian organisation the Cathars, held fast against a crusade launched in the 11th century by an angry and vengeful Catholic church for over twenty years. Despite their vow of non-violence they had a strong support base, including the Knights Templar, and their name often pops up in the legend of the Holy Grail. The French character has undoubtedly been influenced by their past, today they are a proud and patriotic people famed for enjoying the finer things in life and displaying a great generosity in their willingness to share their country with the millions of visitors they receive each year. Food is very important in French culture, almost a passion. Families eat dinner together late in the evening and their diet is usually very healthy, packed with home grown fruit and vegetables. You will hardly ever see anyone eating on the street; if you do chances are they're not French! France is one hour ahead of GMT and they use the metric weights and measures system, so kilometres and kilograms instead of miles and pounds. There is approximately 1.6 kilometres in a mile and 2.2 pounds in a kilogram. The international dialling code for France is +33.