France - Carcassonne Pyrenean Trail

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 MC of Warrington on 18/09/2019

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.

Please follow this link for a map of the start point of this itinerary: Carcasonne Pyrenean Trail

Only two 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

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.

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 well schooled horses of all shapes and sizes to choose from. From school masters and cobs to fast Arabs and 2 ponies, there is certain to be a horse to suit you. The riding can be at all paces depending on ability. English tack is utilised and the riding style is English. Spanish saddles are used too. Saddle bags will be provided for you to put your water bottle, camera and immediate necessities in. You are advised to bring your own riding helmets as there may not be any available on site. Tack is well-used but serviceable. The terrain is very steep in parts and you will need to lead your horse in some sections.

Participants should be comfortable at walk, trot, canter and have some experience in rough terrain. Expect to spend an average of 4-6 hours a day in the saddle. You must also be fit enough to be able to dismount and lead your horse on steep sections and remount on the trail.

This is an opportunity to see a seldom seen part of France off the beaten track. There is spectacular scenery en route. You will be staying with local families in their comfortable homes. Some French or the used of a French dictionary and phrase book will add greatly to your enjoyment of the hospitality on this trail.

For the unguided trail you need to be comfortable caring for your horse – feeding, grooming, catching and saddling them daily. You need to be able to follow a route on a map, use a compass and will also be given a written trail description. If, after the inital assesment ride, your host feels that a private guide will be necessary a supplement of will apply. It will also be beneficial to be able to speak some French in order to be able to get maximum enjoyment from the unguided experience. You must carry a mobile phone with you at all times.

There is a minimum riding age of 10 years for this ride.

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

Accommodation is in B&B style home stays known as gites. This means a comfortable room and hot shower are available each night of the trail. This also gives a unique opportunity to meet local people, who are invariably delighted to meet you. Bathrooms may be shared and there may be 3 beds in one room. Please note that is the gites are fully booked during peak season, hotels may be used instead where wine is not included.

The food features home cooking, French style. Picnic lunches are prepared by your hosts for you to take along in your saddle bags each day. It is recommended you bring a water bottle to take with you. Dinner is a 3 course affair cooked by your hosts.

Vegetarian or other dietary requirements can be accommodated with advanced notice. Please contact Unicorn Trails with requests.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct documentation in place for your trip. If Visa’s are required the requirements can change from year to year 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 on request.

General information:

Visa are not required for U.K. or other European nationals. In the UK the British Foreign Office gives travel advice on travel insurance, passport and visas, health and vaccinations, legal issues and emergency issues. They can be reached on 0207 008 0232/0233 or at www.fco.gov.uk.

The British Consulate in Paris is at 35 rue de Faubourg St Honore, 75383 Paris Cedex 08. Tel + (33) 1 44 51 31 00. Email: webmaster.paris@fco.gov.uk.

The French Embassy in the U.K can be found at 58 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7JT. Telephone: (020) 7073 1000. Email: presse.londres-amba@diplomatie.fr.

The climate in the mountains are always changeable so you should come prepared with a raincoat and warmer jacket even in summer time. The temperatures below are for the nearest town on the plains and are cooler in the mountains, although it can be hot during the day in July and August.

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!

For up to date information on specific health concerns please contact the Medical Advisors For Travellers Abroad. Their website can be found at www.masta.org.

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!

Voltage is the same as in the UK and most appliances such as battery chargers for videos, hair dryers etc. can be plugged in with appropriate adapters. These are available for purchase at most airports and travel shops.

Good quality film is widely available for purchase as well as batteries (normal, alkaline and lithium).

It is recommended that you bring clothes that air-dry quickly.
Riding pants - jeans or breeches
Endurance type riding boots (for walking beside your horse over rough terrain)
Lipbalm with sunscreen
Half chaps (optional)
Insect repellent
Riding gloves
Sunblock
Riding hat with brim
Sunglasses
Hard hat (recommended)
Plastic bags for wet clothing
T-shirts and shorts
Mobile phone
All terrain sandals
Camera and film
Long sleeved shirts
Binoculars (recommended)
Heavy sweater or sweatshirt
Informal wear for evenings
Lightweight rainwear
Water bottle
Copy of your passport

This is an 8 days / 7 nights programme with 6 days riding. Unguided trails are available on request throughout the year, guided trails are available on set dates. For safety reasons a minimum of 2 persons must book the unguided trail to depart together.


On the guided trail we go directly to Puivert on day 2. On both trails your luggage is transferred by back up vehicle to your accommodation daily.

2020 Guided Trails: 17 May; 14 Jun; 2 Aug; 20 Sep.
2020 Unguided Trails: weekly dates to suit, any start day for minimum of 2 people.

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Theodore Zeldin ‘The French’, Francoise Sagan ‘Bonjour Tristesse’, Peter Mayle ‘A Year in Provence’ and ‘Toujours Provence’, Louis Stevensons ‘Travels with a Donkey’ and Henry James ‘A Little Town In France’. For an excellent selection of equestrian travel and adventure books visit www.horsetravelbooks.com (part of the Long Rider’s Guild).

Walking and with car rental exploring the local towns and villages.

While in Carcassonne you might like to stay on in the town before or after the ride - we have the experience of 2 hotels in Carcassonne;

Hotel L'Octroi
A very basic 2* hotel 2 minutes walk from the main gate of the city. The bus from the airport goes right past the hotel so ask the driver to stop for you. The rooms are small and basic, but clean and have everything you need. There is a lovely breakfast area and a comfortable seating area with loads of information on the area.
email: hotel-octroi@ataraxie.fr

La MontMorency
A lovely 2* hotel with views of the walled city. Very pleasant rooms, some with balconies. A lovely terrace area with plenty of seating. An outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi. A large breakfast area/bar. This hotel is at the foot of the main gate to the city and is one minute walk from where the airport bus stops. Highly recommended.
Website - www.lemontmorency.com

Things to do in Carcassonne. There are lots of things to do in the old city, including a train or horse and cart tour around the outside. Inside are numerous museums as well as the castle itself. There are lots of lovely cafes, bars and restaurants, the nicest being in the main square. A good value and great service restaurant is La Troubadour in the main square where french singers sometimes perform. It has a nice atmosphere in the evening.

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 character in their willingness to share their country with the millions of visitors they receive each year.

Food is very important in French culture, almost puritanical. 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.