Description
One week trail ride with great confort to discover the very best of an exceptional world heritage site on horseback.
Itinerary and program 7 days and 6 nights : 6 days on horseback
Day 1 : Arrival
Free arrival from 6 pm. Meet with your guide, your horse and the team of riders. Dinner and night at guesthouse in Courmemin.
Day 2 : Chambord
First day with horses crossing Sologne and discovering beautiful lakes and forests. After your lunch on Beuvron banks in Bracieux, near to little XIVth century church Sainte-Nicaise, you discover your first (but not least !) castle : Chambord ! Hudge hunting lodge built by François 1er in the XVIth century, Chambord is now a main French heritage jewel. Visit as you like (1h30), and then go back on ride to Villesavin castle where horses will spend the night. Dinner and night in hotel*** in Tour en Sologne.
Day 3 : Villesavin
We start by visiting the Villesavin castle where our horses have spent the night. This small Renaissance castle was the Chambord baillif’s seat. You then get in the saddle for a nice ride to Beauregard, a small XVth century castle where we stay for lunch. At Beauregard will discover the famous gallery with 327 different portraits of historical characters. After visiting (1h), you slowly leave the Sologne distric to enter the Touraine region and reach the village of Ouchamps. Dinner and night in Relai des Landes***
Day 4 : Chaumont sur Loire
We leave Ouchamps crossing the Beuvron in Candé, and reach the Loire banks and the magestic castle of Chaumont-sur-Loire which overlooks the river. Indeed, Chaumont-sur-Loire was built on the ruins of an old fortress ordered by the count of Blois, to protect his castle from invasions. We have lunch close by the castle which we then visit (1h30). Don’t miss the extraordinary gardens and the tiny but beautiful castle stables and the circle riding arena. This afternoon you ride along the Loire banks to reach Mosnes. Dinner and night in Domaine des Thomeaux***
Day 5 : Amboise and the Le Clos Lucé
We keep riding along the Loire banks heading to Amboise. You can admire Amboise castle on the top of the village. Lunch in Le Clos Lucé wher the gorgeuse Renaissance mansion has been the last home of the well known Leonardo da Vinci. It also houses da Vinci’s inventions museum. After the visit, you leave the Loire banks toward south to reach another Loire Valley river spanned by one of our favorite castle : Chenonceau. Dinner and night in hotel in Chenonceau.
Day 6 : Chenonceau
After breakfast we start this day by visiting Chenonceau castle and gardens (1h). Then,you ride along the trail “GR du Pays des Chateaux” for a “back-to-nature day” in the middle of hudge forests in Touraine. Country lunch and open air nap, before coming back to Ouchamps. Dinner and night in Relai des Landes***
Day 7 : Cheverny
For your last day, you leave the Touraine district to enter back in Sologne and finaly discover the Cheverny castle : the mansion on which Hergé modelled Captain Haddock’s country house, Marlinspike Hall. Free visit (1H) and then we go back home through game breeding parks where you could be fortunate to sight some deers or wild boars… Arrival at the stable for 6 pm and then free departure from 7 pm.
COMFORT & ACCOMODATION
Riding time – 4 to 6 hours per day.
Your level – Comfortable at all three gaits
Horses – Trail horses, Franches Montagnes and Franches Montagnes crosses. Educated using natural horsemanship, sure and sturdy, respectful and healthy in mind and spirit.
Tack – Trail and English saddles, saddle rugs with bags.
Guide – Ken will be your guide on this tour. Born and bred in the Sologne district, where he is a full-time resident, Ken knows all the nooks and crannies of this magnificent region by heart and his aim is always to help you discover it in the best conditions possible.
Accommodation & meals
We have selected for you full comfort 2 or 3 stars hotels. Most of these hotels have heaten swimming-pools, SPA and hight quality restaurant. You are hosted in twin rooms. Single rooms are available on request, according to availability.
Cold homemade lunches (mixed salads, local cold meats, savoury tarts and breads, traditional goats cheese, seasonal deserts) ; sometime you may also have lunch in local restaurants.
The three-course dinners are provided by hotels or restaurants.
Please, notice on this trail that drinks are not included and have to be ordered on site.
Options
Single room : 30 € / night or 390 € for the entire tour.
Transfers from SNCF Blois Chambord train station.
Extra nights and meals before and after your stay : 130 € (Single), 100 € (Twin)
Night excursion “Deer’s slab” in September and October : 50 €.
