Prehistoric Quercy: A Ride Through Time This riding trip traverses a part of France considered by National Geographic and many others to be one of the worlds ‘unspoiled and undiscovered earthly paradises’. Starting in an area of verdant farmland, woods and pastures you will ride into more and more wild and isolated country. By the middle of the week you will have arrived on the edge of the Lot valley, high on its cliffs, with breathtaking views of the Lot River and the surrounding country below. You will ride to the famous prehistoric caves of Pech-Merle and visit its incredible Magdalenian cave paintings. You will ride along rivers, up into the hills and through the woods and fields, passing troglodyte houses perched on towering cliffs, as you traverse the isolated and picturesque Célé valley. In this isolated region of France, within the cliffs that prehistoric man inhabited, you will feel like you have stepped through time. By the end of the week, you will have been immersed into a world of rugged beauty, history, culture and the fine cuisine of the region - truffles, cheese, foie gras, magret, wine ...

ITINERARY Day 1: Meet at Agen Railway Station at 4pm, than transfer to your hotel in the countryside. Dinner and overnight at this traditional and very comfortable country hotel with swimming pool and beautiful grounds. Dinner is a regional meal with excellent local wines. (40 minute drive from Agen) Day 2: After breakfast and allocation of the horses head off for a short morning ride to Montaigu de Quercy for a picnic lunch. This is a splendid example of a medieval village with it’s typical half-timbered, white stone houses unique to the Quercy region. After lunch continue on to Montcuq, capital of the white Quercy region and the site of much fighting during both the religious wars and hundred years war. There is an opportunity to visit the village before dinner and overnight at a small country house hotel just outside the village. Day 3: The ride is now in more remote country, climbing higher into the hills. After breakfast the ride crosses the calcareous and wild plateau of the Lot with a midday stop at the small village of Labastide-Marnhac. After lunch, continue through varied countryside, valleys and oak woods to arrive at an award-winning vineyard for a visit and a taste. After the wine tasting, riders are transferred to Lalbenque, a typical French village located in the center of the Quercy black truffle region. Dinner and overnight in a nearby, charming bed and breakfast. Day 4: A short morning ride to the small village of Cremps. Enjoy a quiet walk around the village and its 12th century church before another delicious picnic lunch. In the afternoon, head north through the village of Concots to the wondrous 13th century village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, perched on a cliff face with a commanding view of the Lot valley. After settling in at your hotel within the village, you will have the opportunity to visit what is considered to be one of the most beautiful villages in all of France. Dinner will be at one of the local restaurants where you will have the opportunity to try some of the areas traditional cuisine. Day 5: Today we stay close to the Lot River, riding off to the Chateau de Cénevières, an 11th century chateau with an impressive addition and renovations from the 14th century. Located further east along the Lot valley, the day's ride will traverse the plateaus above the valley before arriving at the chateau for lunch. After lunch, enjoy a guided tour of this private chateau before heading back along the river valley to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, where you will enjoy another evening in this beautiful village. Day 6: A spectacular morning ride along the cliffs, crossing the Lot River, to the prehistoric caves of Pech-Merle, decorated with Magdalenian rupestrine (on the stone) paintings. Visit the caves after enjoying another picnic lunch. In the afternoon ride through the beautiful Célé valley before stopping for the day in Sauliac-sur-Célé. The peaceful village of Sauliac-sur-Célé is built in the middle of a cirque of cliffs, with amazing troglodyte houses. The evening will be spent in a charming, rustic bed and breakfast on the outskirts of the village within this beautifully wild and remote valley. Take some time to soak up the tranquility of the place before your last farewell dinner in the private dining room of your chambre d'hote. Day 7: After breakfast riders will be transferred to the Cahors Train station. 2010 Tour Details Departures: Available only on special request for groups with minimum 5 people at any dates from Sunday to Saturday Length of Ride: 7 days, 6 nights, 5 full days riding Accommodations: 2 to 3 star Price: 1630 € Single Supplement: 230 € Amount of Riding Each Day: 5 - 6 hours Weight limit: 190 lbs (86 kgs) Group size: Minimum 5 riders, Maximum 6 riders Pace: Moderate Riding Ability: Intermediate Meeting Point: Agen Train Station 4:00 PM or Bergerac Airport Departure Point: Cahors Train Station 12:30 PM