Vineyards of Bordeaux Ride The Gironde region, and its major port – Bordeaux, have a rich and varied cultural heritage, most famously known for its prestigious wine-producing chateaux and some of the world’s best Romanesque and Gothic architecture. We will start our ride from the 12th century medieval village of St. Emilion, with an architectural legacy almost without equal, crossing the Gironde estuary by boat, and continuing on through the Médoc vineyards and its most famous chateaux – Pichon-Longueville, Latour and Lafite Rothschild among others. Canter through miles of pine forests before ending on the sandy beaches of the Atlantic. Come and join us for a week of riding, wine tasting and gastronomic meals at 3 and 4 star chateaux/hotels.

ITINERARY Day 1: You will be met at 2:00 pm at the Bordeaux train station or airport and taken to your hotel in St. Emilion for the afternoon/evening. The medieval town of St. Emilion has one of the most important architectural heritages in Europe and it is listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO. Standing proudly on the top of a hill overlooking the Dordogne valley, the village, with its sun baked, Roman tiled roofs, was built in the shape of an amphitheater. You will have the opportunity to visit a very unique monolithic (underground) church from the 11th century. Visit a monolithic cellar in the village before enjoying your first wine tasting - a Grand Cru - before dinner at your hotel. Day 2: After breakfast, we transfer you to the horses near the village of Bourg, where we will start the week’s ride. After allocation of the horses you begin the day’s ride traveling north along the Gironde River to the Citadelle de Blaye, built by Vauban (military engineer of Louis the 14th) in 1689 and set with star-shaped bastions. While riding beside the river, you can often spot the local fisherman at work before reaching the Citadelle, where we will have our first lunch within its walls. In the afternoon you will take the horses on a boat to cross the Gironde estuary (approx 30 minutes). Arriving at Port Lamarque, you set off again to the day’s destination, a charming chateau/hotel in the village of Moulis en Médoc. Enjoy the chateau’s wine with diner in their private dining room. Day 3: Continue through the Médoc region, riding past many of the most prestigious and beautiful chateaux of the area; Chateau Lanessan, Beaucaillou, Pichon-Longueville, Latour and Lafitte Rothschild, to name a few. Stopping at Chateau Lanessan for a picnic lunch on the grounds, you will have the opportunity to taste the chateau’s wine during our meal. After lunch, we take a moment to visit their horse museum before riding off again to the famous Chateau Pichon-Longueville (Grand Cru Pauillac). After a visit and a winetasting you will be transferred to your hotel nearby, Chateau Pomys, which is also a classified Cru Bourgeois appellation St. Estèphe. Enjoy their wines during dinner at their restaurant. (Optional massage can be arranged at the Pomys) Day 4: We will ride in the morning to Chateau Loudenne, a charming pink manor house from the 17th century, with its 18th century Victorian cellar and a remarkable view upon the Gironde estuary. Enjoy a picnic in the garden. In the afternoon you will have the choice between a short ride along the estuary or to take the afternoon off and relax at the Chateau instead (massage optional again). We will taste their wine during a private dinner. Day 5: After the half day of riding from the day before, today will be the longest day in the saddle. We will leave behind the last of the vineyards, on our way to the ocean, continuing on across miles of marshland used primarily as pasture for horses and cattle. We will stop for another wonderful lunch, at Chateau Laujac, where they not only produce a fine Cru Bourgeois, but also raise cattle (Limousin breed) and French Saddlebred horses. Appreciate a winetasting before lunch. In the afternoon we will enjoy some nice canters through the forest before arriving at a local riding center. Transfer to your nearby 4* hotel for the next two nights. Enjoy the delicious evening’s meal where you will have the opportunity, again, to try some of the area’s specialties. Day 6: Today you will ride primarily through the pine forests of the region, with opportunities again for some nice canters before arriving at the sandy dunes and beaches along this portion of the Atlantic Ocean. Before stopping for a last, delicious picnic lunch, we will let our horses relax their legs in the water and then enjoy a long canter along the beach. After lunch, we will have a short ride returning back through the forest to the riding center where the horses will have a well deserved rest. Transfer to your charming hotel of the previous evening for your farewell dinner, and the final night of the ride. Day 7: After breakfast, transfer to Lesparre-Medoc Train Station 8:00 AM or Bordeaux Airport 2012 TOUR DETAILS Departures: June 3 - 9, June 10 - 16, September 9 - 15 and September 16 - 22 Length of Ride: 7 Days, 6 nights, 4 and 1/2 days riding and 1/2 day sightseeing Accommodations: 3 and 4 star Price: 2340 € (The price also includes castle entrance fees and wine tasting) Single Supplement: 400 € Amount of riding each day: 4 - 6 hours Weight limit: 190 lbs. (86kg) Group Size: Minimum 2 riders, Maximum 7 riders Pace: Moderate/Fast Riding Ability: Intermediate Meeting Point: Bordeaux train station 2:00 PM 80 € charge for transfer at time different than specified Or Bordeaux airport Departure point: Lesparre-Medoc train station 8:00 AM or Bordeaux airport