Day 1:
You will be transferred to your comfortable 3*** hotel. You will meet your guide and fellow riders at dinner.

Day 2:
Your trails will lead  across the lakes and beautiful forests of the Sologne. You will ride through the Chambord National Park to the castle for lunch and a tour. The Chambord hunting lodge was built by François 1er in the 17th century. This structure is now a main French heritage jewel. You will mount up to ride to the Villesavin Castle where horses will spend the night. Dinner and night in Hotel du Chateau** in Tour en Sologne.

Day 3:
Your day will start with a tour of the Villesavin Castle. This small Renaissance castle was the Chambord baillif’s seat. Next, you will ride to the picturesque 15th C. Beauregard Castle for lunch. Beauregard houses a famous gallery with 327 different portraits of historical characters and Lapis Lazuli walls. After a tour of the castle, you will slowly leave the Sologne to enter the Touraine region. Your dinner and lodging will be in the village of Ouchamps at the Relais des Landes****

Day 4:
You will cross the Beuvron River in Candé to reach the Loire riverbanks and the majestic castle of Chaumont sur Loire. 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 a visit to this  castle and famous gardens.  You will be able to admire its tiny beautiful stables and its circle riding arena. Your group will then ride along the Loire banks to reach Mosnes for dinner and lodging at Domaine des Thomeaux***

Day 5:
You will continue to ride along the Loire banks towards Amboise. You will be able to admire this beautiful castle perched over the village. Lunch will be served in Le Clos Lucé. This gorgeous Renaissance mansion was the last home of the well known Leonardo Da Vinci. It also houses Da Vinci inventions museum. After the visit, your trail turn south to reach another Loire Valley river spanned by maybe one of our favorite castle, the Chenonceau. Dinner and lodging will be at the La Roseraie*** in Chenonceau.

Day 6:
Your day begins with a visit to the Chenonceau Castle and gardens. Known as the “Ladies’ Castle,” Chenonceau was the former property of Catherine De Medicis and was built on a bridge spanning the River Cher. This is one of the most impressive of all the Chateaux found in the Loire Valley. Next, you will mount up to ride along the GR du Pays des Chateaux for a back-to-nature day in the middle of a vast forest in Touraine. You will enjoy a country lunch and open air nap before returning to Ouchamps. Dinner and night will be enjoyed in the Relais des Landes****

Day 7:
On your final day, your trail will leave Touraine and reenter the Sologne to the discover Cheverny Castle.   You will then mount  up to ride though the royal game breeding parks where you might see deer or wild boars.  You will arrive at the stable by 6:00 PM.  After you enjoy a friendly à la Française dring, you can depart after 7:00 PM for your home bound flight or post ride hotel.

*The guide reserves the right to change the itinerary based on unforeseen circumstances. 

Dates: April 19th – 22nd, May 12th – 15th, June 13th – 16th, July 11th – 14th, August 8th – 11th, October 17th – 20th
Meeting point: Chambord train station
Length of ride: 6 days
Daily riding hours: up to 5
Ability level: INTERMEDIATE: Confident and in control at all paces including posting trots, two point canters in open country.
Horse: Franches-Montagnes, Arabian cross
Group size: 2 – 8
Saddles: English and trail
Non-riding activity:  castle tours, wine and local produce tasting, troglodyte cave visits, mushroom culture farm and underground village, bike rental
Hotel/s: Night 1 : Le Vieux Fusil, 3-stars, in Soings en Sologne, www.levieuxfusil.fr
Night 2 : Hotel du Chateau, 2-stars, www.hotelduchateau-41.com
Night 3 : Relais des Landes, 4-stars, www.relaisdeslandes.com
Night 4 : Domaine des Thomeaux, 3-stars, www.domainedesthomeaux.fr Night 5 : La Roseraie, 3-stars, www.hotel-chenonceau.com
Night 6 : Relais des Landes, 4-stars, www.relaisdeslandes.com
Price per person: $1,825.00 per person, double occupancy $430.00 single supplement
Pre/post ride hotel: $110.00 per person, double occupancy  $145.00 single supplement
*Prices will fluctuate with the USD/EURO exchange rate and will be fixed at your final payment.

Includes: 7 nights accommodations, 6 days guided trail rides, all meals, horse, tack, guide,
Not included: airfare, entrance fees (20 euros per castle (180 eu total ), transfer to and from the train station (90 euros per person, roundtrip)

ANNUAL TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL: