From Luberon to Upper Provence

Transfer to Mas de Recaute Equestrian center. You will meet your guide who will present you the ride around a welcome drink. Dinner is at the host’s table.

Lauris – Sivergue. You will meet your equine partner and tack him up before leaving towards the famous village of Lourmarin. Ride among olive groves, cherry orchards and stop by the village to take a look at its 12th century castle. Lourmarin was home to renowned French writer Albert Camus and has become famous thanks to Peter Mayles’book “A Year in Provence”. Lunch near the village : everyday, your assistant will bring you a beautiful lunch made out of homemade local dishes, local wine and coffee ! On the afternoon your horse will take you on rocky trails up to the crests of the Luberon Mountain Range. On top, you will embrace beautiful views of the Alps to the north, and of the Mediterranean Sea to the south. You will then make your way down a Roman road to an ancient farmhouse of the 12th century, where you will spend the night…in the very heart of the Luberon hills !

Sivergue – Céreste. You will start the ride crossing the small village of Sivergue, and then down on another old Roman road towards the Aiguebrun canyon. Admire the big limestone cliffs and the luxurious vegetation as you ride along the Aiguebrun stream. Coming out of the canyon, the air will be scented with the fragrance of lavender: you have reached the plateau of Claparède, covered in lavender fields! You will cross Auribeau, a typical village of Provence, and stop to water your horse at the fountain. Lunch under oak trees, at the foothill of the Luberon Mountain Range. On the afternoon, let your horse guide you on small forest trails towards Céreste, an old Roman village, gateway to the “upper” part of Provence. You will leave the horses at a horse farm and spend the night in a family run hotel in the heart of the village.

Céreste – Simiane la Rotonde. This morning, your first stop will be the priory of Carluc. Discover this 12th century building and the remains of the chapel and necropolis. You will then leave the Luberon area to discover the rolling hills of Upper Provence. You will enter greener and wilder landscapes as well as a different kind of vegetation. At lunch time, you will reach the magnificent village of Opedette, perched on a cliff and overlooking an impressive canyon. You will admire the stone built houses as you water your horse at the fountain, before leading him to lunch, for a well deserved rest. The afternoon ride will take you on flatter terrain to the village of Simiane la Rotonde, surrounded by lavender fields. After a few nice canters, you will reach your guesthouse, close to the village. After taking care of your travel companion, you will be driven to Simiane la Rotonde, to discover its donjon, its narrow little streets, its local shop, and of course, its local “chestnut beer”. Dinner and overnight in the guesthouse.

Simiane la Rotonde – St Trinit. You will ride up the Albion Plateau, which will offer you great opportunities for canters and more and more fields of lavender. Discover the forest of chestnut trees and its different use: the chestnut beer and the famous goat cheese of “Banon”, wrapped in chestnut leaves. Lunch by a meadow, under oak trees. After a good nap, you will tack up your horse and ride through more chestnut tree forests to the village of Revest du Bion. Stop at the fountain to water your horse, and why not stopping as well for a drink at the local bar? After this last stop, ride in an enchanted stretch of Provence’s natural beauty to a farm near St Trinit, where the comfort of a host table and a swimming pool welcome you.

Today you are riding to the Lure Mountain, the aim of the trip. You enter a completely different type of area: rocky trails leave room to grassy meadows and herds of sheep make their bells heard in the silence. Leaving the Albion Plateau in the morning your horse will take you higher and higher to reach the Lure Mountain, proving one more time their amazing stamina and sure footedness. Beautiful canters on grassy trails will lead you to the pass of Redortier. Breathtaking panorama on the valley and the Alps, a magical place that will give you the special feeling that you are on top of the world. You will then follow the crests of the mountain, before making your way down towards an old shepherd’s pen built out of stones, typical from this part of Provence and called “borie”. Pine and bleech tree forests will then lead you to the beautiful village of Redortier where the ride ends. You will take good care of your horse before loading him in the truck. Transfer back to Mas de Recaute in Lauris. A last Provencal dinner will await you there: you will share pictures and good memories in the Mas’ friendly atmosphere.

End of the trip after breakfast and transfer to airport or train station

You can choose : bedrooms or dormitories. Single rooms available with supplement

Spanish Barb mixed or other mix. Local horses, fit and wilful, adapted to trail riding. French trail riding saddles.

Sunday evening at Mas de Recaute equestrian center at 6 p.m. Optional transfertfrom Marseille airport (5 p.m.), Aixen- Provence TGV station (5:30 p.m.) or Aix-en-Provence central train station (5:45 p.m.).