Description
One week trail ride with great confort to discover the very best of an exceptional world heritage site on horseback.
7 days week traveling “Loire castle horse trail”
Day 1 : Welcome
Free arrival since 6:00 PM. Meeting Equinature team and horses. Dinner and night in hotel** in Tour en Sologne.
Day 2 : Chateau of Chambord
First day with horses across the Sologne, his lakes and beautiful forests. This first rythmed morning leads you on the riding paths of Chambord National Park toward the castle, where you take lunch. 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. New dinner and night in hotel*** in Tour en Sologne.
Day 3 : Chateau of Beauregard
Day 3 will start by leaving Villesavin castle where horses had rest. This small Renaissance castle was the Chambord baillif’s seat. You land on saddle to meet Beauregard, little XVth century castle for lunch. Beauregard houses a famous gallery with 327 different portraits of historical characters, including Lapis Lazuli painting walls. After visiting (1h), you slowly leave the Sologne to enter Touraine region and reach the village of Ouchamps. Dinner and night in Relai des Landes***
Day 4 : Chateau of Chaumont sur Loire
Leaving Ouchamps to cross the Beuvron in Candé, and reach the Loire banks and the magestic castle of Chaumont sur Loire watching over them. 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. Your Lunch is followed by this castle and his famous gardens visit (1h30), where you can admire its tiny beautiful stables and its circle riding arena. You ride during the afternoon along the Loire banks to reach Mosnes. Dinner and night in Domaine des Thomeaux***
Day 5 : Chateau of Amboise and the Le Clos Lucé
On day 5, you keep riding along the Loire banks heading to Amboise. You can admire its beautiful castle on the top of the village but we choose for you, in this trail, to have lunch in Le Clos Lucé. This gorgeous Renaissance mansion has been the last home of the well known Leonardo Da Vinci. It also houses Da Vinci inventions museum. After the visit, you leave the Loire banks toward south to reach another Loire Valley river spanned by maybe one of our favorite castle : Chenonceau. New dinner and night in Domaine des Thomeaux***
Day 6 : Chateau of Chenonceau
Day 6 starts with visiting as you like Chenonceau castle and gardens (1h). Then, you ride along the “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 : Chateau of Cheverny
For your last day, you leave the Touraine to enter back in Sologne and finaly discover Cheverny castle : the mansion on which Hergé modelled Captain Haddock’s country house, Marlinspike Hall. Free visit (1H) and then, go back home through game breeding parks where you could be fortunate to sight some deers or wild boars… Arrival at the stable for 6:00 PM and then free departure since 7:00 PM.
COMFORT & ACCOMODATION
Riding time – 3 to 4 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 trail with 3 or 4 stars hotel with Twin rooms. All of hotels have heaten swimming-pools, Spa and hight quality restaurant. Single rooms are available on request, according to availability.
Cold homemade lunches made by our caterer ; you also may have it in local restaurants : depends on stewardship vehicule availability.
The three-course diners are provided by hotels or restaurants. These are gourmet meals with typical french cuisine.
Tariffs taxes included, excluding drinks and monuments entrance, excluding optionnal extras.
Options
Accomodation upgrade (transfers needed)
Taxi from/to SNCF Blois Chambord train station.
Extra nights and meals before and after your stay.
Extra night in half board D7, Twin room : 80.00 € / Single room : 120.00 €
Single room extra (according to avalailability) : 330.00 €. Single room extra is charged for single travelers if we don’t find any other single traveler to share the room.
