France - Pays Basque and Atlantic Coast Combo

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 KB of Worcester on 05/06/2023

Day 1
Meet at Bordeaux Airport and transfer to Mimizan and on to Saint Etienne de Baïgorry. Overnight in a 3 stars Bed and Breakfast. If arriving early enough the guests will have a chance to explore the city before dinner in a local Basque restaurant (not included).

Day 2
Start today's ride from Saint Jean Pied de Port (or Saint Etienne de Baïgorry) to Banca (dependednt on the weather). Breakfast at 08h00 and departure at 10h00. Visit the famous village of Saint Etienne de Baïgorry on horseback. Today's goal is to reach the summit of Monhoa to enjoy the 360° view on the surroundings. Night in mountain Guest House "Gîte Espila" (or similar). 6.5hrs riding

Day 3
10.00 Departure. ascend to the summit of the nearby mountain to spend 2 hours riding the ridge between France and Spain offering magnificent views from the Lindus pass stretching for hundreds of kilometers. After enjoying a mountain-top lunch, arrive at the village of Urepel in the Aldudes Valley. Overnight at “hotel Erreguina” (or similar). 6.5hrs riding

Day 4
10h30 departure on horseback to discover the traditional life of the Basque people, and to see the black and white Kintoa pigs that were saved from extinction just 20 years previously. Midday lunch in a local restaurant before ascending into the Spanish side of the Harguibel mountain and it's virgin forest. Reach Banca at around 18:30h and overnight at the Hotel Erreguina (or similar). 4 hrs riding

Day 5
Start the ride at 10am by ascending to and crossing the El Elhorrieta pass. View the “Kromlech“ (prehistoric graves from 22000 BC). Enjoy the 360 ° view of the French valley, Spain and the ocean. Descent towards the pass of Ispéguy to have lunch at a typical Spanish restaurant. After lunch, descend via a smugglers path toward the village of Erratzu to cross the picturesque countryside. Load the horses into the trucks for the trip to the coast. Riders transfer by mini-bus will meet them. 20h30 Dinner on the way to Mimizan or at the Guest House. Late check-in at The Guest House of Mimizan (or similar) for the next 3 nights.

Days 6 & 7
This section of the ride is devoted to enjoying long gallops through the largest forest in Europe and on one of the most beautiful beaches of the Aquitaine Coast in France. Depending on tides and the weather, there may be a chance for a sunset and moonlight beach ride. Dinners at the Guest House.

Day 8
Depart after breakfast with a morning tour of the city centre if time allows. The transfer will leave Mimizan at around 08:30am, arriving at Bordeaux airport at around 11:30am. Riders should therefore book departure flight after 13:00.

Please note: It may be necessary to start the trail on the Atlantic Coast according to the weather forecast in order to take advantage of the best weather in the mountains.

Transfers
The transfer is arranged from Bordeaux Airport at 14h00 to Saint Jean Pied-de-Port. In order to have enough time to explore Saint Jean Pied-de-Port in the evening, guests should arrive at the airport BEFORE 14h00.
The ride finishes on Saturday night and guests are transferred back to Bordeaux the next morning to arrive at Bordeaux Airport (or Railway Station according to their departure) before 13h00. Flights must be booked to depart after 13h00.

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 20 horses and 10 ponies available, mostly Anglo-Arabs and all are fit and responsive. Many come from the family stud farm and their wellbeing is very important to the owners. During the trip riders are expected to take care of their own horses. Riding is usually 6 or 7 hours per day over 30 - 40 km. The terrain is varied and sometimes challenging so riders may be asked to walk by the horses at some points. The horses are surefooted and well able to manage this. Every opportunity to ride at faster paces is taken.

Confident, fit riders from intermediate standards onwards. Confident at all paces and able to ride 6 to 7 hours each day over varied and sometimes challenging terrain. Walking on foot may be required over some of the challenging terrain.

A smile and a good sense of humour is required! The minimum age for this ride is 18 years.

The weight limit for this ride is 187 lb/85 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

Accommodation is a variety of 2 and 3 star hotels and the on-site guest house at the riding centre. Lunches are picnics and are relaxed and leisurely, often followed by a short siesta. Lunch and dinner are made from typical food from Pays Basque and prepared by the owners of the accommodation. Please note that during busy periods the rooms may host up to 5 people. Local hotels may be arranged for a supplement if you wish to have a private room - please enquire.

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

This area has a more continental climate, which bears some resemblance to that found in west Germany and Switzerland. The high mountain areas have their own distinctive climates with heavier precipitation, much of it snow in winter. Only along the Mediterranean coast and in the adjacent mountain regions is summer generally settles, sunny and warm. Everywhere else in France the weather can be changeable at all times of the year.

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).

There are no particular health issues associated with this type of ride.

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. Helmets are available at the stables if you do not have your own
- 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 and long-sleeved shirts
- Fleece - for cooler weather
- Warm layers - at times the evening temperature drops significantly
- Casual Clothes - for when out of the saddle
- Raincoat - it is always a good idea to pack a waterproof/ windproof jacket!
- Sunhat
- Swimwear
- Sunglasses
- Sun cream
- Personal Items - toiletries, any medicines you require and please be sure to take insect 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

Provided by hosts
Riding Helmet

8d / 7n programme with 6 riding days available on set dates.

2025: 11, 25 May; 8, 22 Jun; 7, 21 Sept; 5 Oct

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 apply. Supplements also apply to individual bookings where no other rider is available to share the room.

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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  

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.