PROVENCE – The Lavender Route

Riders are welcomed at 12:00 with a welcome drink. Introduction to the other participants and the week’s programme, followed by lunch at the table d’hôtes. We begin this horse riding trek in the Luberon, at the foot of the southern slope. We ride up to the ridges of the Petit Luberon before continuing on to Bonnieux. We continue towards the Claparèdes plateau and the first lavender fields. We then descend towards the Aiguebrun gorges, which mark the boundary between the Petit and Grand Luberon. We pass close to the Priory of St Symphorien, then follow the Aiguebrun river to reach our first accommodation at the foot of the great climbing cliffs of Buoux. There is the option of swimming in the pool before dinner.

In the morning, we follow the stream to its source along a pleasant green path, then we reach a charming little Provençal village, Saignon, where we can water our horses at the village fountain. We then meet up with our team, who will have prepared a delicious buffet lunch for us. In the afternoon, we set off again on trails through pine forests and scrubland to reach Rustrel. Once our horses are settled, we can head to our accommodation for dinner in an inn in the heart of the village.

We will saddle up again and head for the Albion Plateau, leaving the Luberon Natural Park and entering the Ventoux Natural Park. We will ride gently up a ‘combe’, a valley shaded by holm oaks, to the Plateau, a major centre for lavender cultivation. We’ll have a picnic near a chapel before riding across the plateau among the lavender and sage fields. We’ll arrive at the gîte where you can relax in the pool or visit the village of Sault, the lavender capital, do a little shopping, and enjoy an aperitif on a village café terrace.

Depart on horseback towards the village of St Trinit through moors and forests. Picnic near Sault. In the afternoon, we set off again on horseback towards Aurel, a charming medieval village at the foot of Mont Ventoux. The colours of the lavender, the fields of grain and the shadows of the foothills of Mont Ventoux may inspire us to imitate the many painters who have fallen in love with this region. We arrive in the late afternoon at Montbrun-les-Bains, facing Mont Ventoux, surrounded by green hills and overlooking a pretty little plain planted with fragrant lavender: one of the most beautiful villages in France.

This morning, the ride takes us to the foot of the Giant of Provence: Mont Ventoux. We follow the Toulourenc, a pleasant, refreshing stream, cross the beautiful villages of Savoillan, Brantes and Plaisians and enter the Drôme Provençale: an alternation of wooded hills and lavender fields. In the afternoon, we descend towards Mévouillon, where the truck and minibus await to take the horses and riders back to the equestrian centre.

End of the horseback trek in Provence. Departure after breakfast.

At 9:30 a.m., free transfer to Aix en Provence TGV station or Marseille airport.

This itinerary is provided for information purposes only. Our guide reserves the right to adapt it depending on the season and weather conditions.