8 Day Endurance, Castles, and Vineyards Horse Riding Holiday in Mimizan, Landes

A Bit of History

In 1152, the marriage of Eleanor and Henry of Plantagenet leads the Aquitaine region into a long conflict, the 100-year war. Numerous walled towns and castles were built during this period in order to respond to the different strategic, political, and economic requirements.

Riding Parts

• 1st Part: Stationary Program of 4 Nights and 3 Days of Riding

You will be coming back every evening at the manor house, Hameau du Peyrié; this guest house is situated at the border of three different departments in France: Lot, Lot et Garonne, and Dordogne. This offers to discover new ground, new landscape, and new vegetation every day, leading you through the history from Bastides to Fortified Castle.

• 2nd Part

Lunch and a half-day ride through the "Sauternes Vineyard".

• 3rd Part: 3 Nights and 2 Days of Riding on the Atlantic Coast with a 2-Day Trip Tour

Riders will be coming back every evening at the Equestrian Guest House.

Day 1: Arrival Day

• 12:00 Start from Mimizan to the airport, for those who are arriving by plane or train; then drive to Bonaguil and arrive at the beautiful manor house, the Hameau du Peyrié.
• 18:30 Discovery of the horses and a relaxing evening beside the swimming pool.
• 20:30 Have dinner at the restaurant for a shared a medieval meal.

Day 2: Full Day Ride in Lot (5 to 6 hours of riding)

• 08:00 Breakfast
• 09:00 Discovery of the horses for the riders and time to test how they react at the different paces.
• 10:00 Some trots and canters on the way to the village of Cabanac, a famous vineyard of Cahors and visit of Domaine de Cause and wine tasting.
• 12:30 Lunch on the banks of the Lot river and resting time.
• 15:00 Start for the longest canter of the week (4 kilometers); leading the group to the Bastide of Duravel then passing by the circular fortified village Moncabrier, later, the village of St. Martin de Redon, the group will reach the famous Bonaguil Castle, a genuinely great work of military architecture, the last of the great fortified castles in France; that castle has never been besieged and stays in a perfect state of preservation.
• 20:30 Dinner

Day 3: Day Ride in Dordogne (4 hours of riding)

• 09:00 Start for a full day of quick evolution in the chestnut trees forest, a wonderful ground for long canters. The goal of this day is also the preparation for the endurance rhythm of the next day, offering the advantage of the local and typical Périgourdine architecture built fom natural stone.
• 12:00 Lunch at the feet of the Castle of Sauveterre.
• 14:30 Nice canters on the way to Bonaguil and visit of the castle.
• 19:00 Relaxing time beside the swimming pool of Gite de Charme Le Hameau du Peyrié.
• 20:30 Dinner

Day 4: Endurance Day in Lot et Garonne (7 hours of riding, trotting, or cantering each time it is possible)

• 07:30 Breakfast
• 09:00 Early start for the endurance day trip of 45 kilometers, passing by the fortified Bastide of St. front sur Lémance and Lacapelle Biron; the rhythm will be changing a lot and makes the way short and exciting.
• 12:30 Lunch at the Auberge of Castel of Biron.
• 14:00 Visit the fine and noble Castle of Biron.
• 15:30 Long and quick ride in the afternoon, passing by the Bastide of St. Avit then the Proud Castle of Gavaudun; later, the deep chestnut tree forest of Cuzorn with some unexpected viewpoint on the Lot valley.
• 19:00 The group will be back to Bonaguil and the manor house.
• 20:30 Dinner with exchanges about the good feelings of the day.

Day 5: Transfer to Mimizan with a Halt, Lunch, and ride in the Sauternes Vineyard in Gironde (2 hours of riding)

• 08:00 Breakfast and time to pack your luggage.
• 10:00 Departure for Sauternes (2-hour drive through Lot et Garonne) and reach a new department, La Gironde, internationally known for its Bordeaux white wine.
• 12:30 Lunch
• 15:00 2-hour ride through the different and famous vineyards: Chateau Ychem, Chateau Trillon, and Chateau Giraud.
• 17:00 Visit Chateau Filhot and wine tasting.
• 18:00 Transfer to Mimizan.
• 19:00 Relaxing time in the new guest house around the swimming pool;
• 20:30 Dinner

Day 6: Endurance in Landes. St. Julien - Bias - Mimizan (6 hours of riding)

• 08:00 Breakfast
• 09:00 Transfer to the horse’s field.
• 10:00 Start of the first full day trail and new endurance rythm. It is time to discover a new surrounding: the supple and sandy ground of the biggest forest in Europe with some large views on the most beautiful beach in France. It’s also the time of exciting gallops on the white sand of the Aquitaine Coast in the morning or in the evening, according to the tide of the ocean.
• 20:30 Dinner

Day 7: Mimizan - Areilhan - Mimizan Beach (4.5 hours of riding)

• 08:00 Breakfast
• 10:00 More relaxing day ride spending the lunch time on the pretty shore of the Aureilhan Lake and ending the ride in the evening with sunset on the beach.
• 20:30 Dinner

Day 8: Departure

Transfer back to the airport by crossing the City Center of Bordeaux if there is still time before you take off.

Trail and Trip

This trail is sportive, cultural, and involves nature in the southwest of France features. It has two endurance days of 45 kilometers and 40 kilometers during the week.

Riders

This tour is for adults only. For the riders who did not practice any horse riding for a few months, it is advised to recover on horseback in the week preceding the stay. Finally, it is strongly advised for you to provide Arnica homeopathic for riders without moderation along the way for better enjoyment of the stay.

Level

This is for experimented to advanced riders. This ride requires riders with a good physical condition. The speed of this trail is sustained and the sequences of trots and gallops are frequent; it is important to be able to cover 40 to 45 kilometers a day in an average time of 6 to 7 hours of riding.

You are asked to keep a minimum of 30-meter distance on the quick sequences between horses. To give more comfort and to avoid dust, the evolution of trotting or galloping is generally individually or by groups of two, whether it is in the forest or on the beach. Some group gallops on the beach are, of course, available.

Horses and Tack

35 horses of the equestrian center are in majority Anglo-Arabs or racehorses. They are safe horses, brave and easygoing, well trained, and very well-balanced as they live in herds and outside. They affect nice and friendly connections with the rider; the tack is an English saddle of very good quality, adapted for the trail.

Leader Supervision and Security

There will be an English-speaking guide who has a good knowledge of Landes and Perigord as well; he will be concerned about making you discover his lovely country in the Southwest of France.

• 6 days of horse riding in five different departments of Aquitaine: Lot, Dordogne, Lot et Garonne, Gironde, and Landes
• 2 days of endurance rhythm making 40 to 45 kilometers in around seven hours
• Visit and wine tasting of two famous Vineyards of Aquitaine: Domaine de Cause (Cahors) and Chateau Filhot (Sauternes)
• 2 day trips in the biggest forest of Europe and on the Atlantic beaches

Distances

• Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (BOD) to Bonaguil, 100 miles - 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Bonaguil to Sauternes - 2 hours
• Sauternes to Mimizan - 1 hour
• Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (BOD) to Mimizan, 70 miles - 1 hour 30 minutes

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You will be served traditional food from Perigord or Landes.

In Perigord

On the first Sunday evening, dinner will be taken in one restaurant at the feet of the Bonaguil Castle, this is not included in the package order to leave customers to appreciate the large choice of the menu or to test the medieval main course! The other dinners are organized by the riding center and shared in the guest house.

Wine and soft drinks are provided at all lunches and dinners organized by the riding center without restriction. Customers will have the opportunity of tasting various wines of Aquitaine every evening. 1/4 of wine or soda and tea or coffee is included.

In Mimizan

Dinners are made from local gastronomy will be provided by different restaurants every night. ¼-liter of wine or soda and tea or coffee are all included in lunches or dinners taken at any restaurant. All extra drinks have to be paid at the end of the meal.

• 6 days of horse riding
• Full board meals and drinks
• Services of an English-speaking guide
• Use of horses and tack
• 2 wine tastings

• Additional drinks and meals
• Airfare
• Airport transfers
• Personal expenses
• First-day dinner

Recommended Airports

• A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid 21 days before arrival.