We GUARANTEE you won't find the same horse riding holiday at a lower price through any other source... and if you do, we promise to refund the difference!
from £745 or €865
Suitable for riders & non riders. A great choice for a special romantic break, like a honeymoon or anniversary.
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Single supplement is 45%.
Additional Packages
Other packages are available on request from 3 nights upwards, please ask.
Restaurant
Please note that during the low season from March 31st until June 16th and September 10th until November 2nd, the restaurant is closed all day Monday and Tuesday to Friday for lunch. During the high season the restaurant in closed on Sunday evenings.
Included
3-night package
Half Board Accommodation in a Standard Double Room, breakfast and dinner, a 2 hour ride in the Camargue and a 2 plus hour ride with the Gardians, called the ‘Gardian Experience’ (herding bulls, cutting the cattle and loading them into a lorry to market).
5-night package
Half Board Accommodation in a Standard Double Room, breakfast and dinner, 3 – 2 hour rides in the Camargue and a 2 plus hour ride with the Gardians, called the ‘Gardian Experience’ (herding bulls, cutting the cattle and loading them into a lorry to market).
Excluded – Flights, tips, transfers, lunches & drinks.
NOTE: There are more room upgrades available, from Deluxe to Suites accommodation.
Camargue Riding Days by Julian
For longer days in the saddle, owner Frederic has teamed up with local horseman, Julian and they have produced three unique rides focussing on fantastic riding and exploring the local area. Lunch and drinks are included. A car is essential to get yourself to and from the start of the ride. Riding time is 5 hours.
Note: Rates are subject to daily exchange rate fluctuations, please refer to our ‘Terms & Conditions’ for full details.
2023
Open from 31st March to the 2nd of November.
High Season: Predominately from 2nd May to Mid-October and ALL Saturday dates & bank holidays.
Low Season: 2-6 April, 11-14 April, 16-21 April, 23-27 April, 2-5 May, 9-12 May, 14-17 May, 16-20 October, 22-26 October.
Getting there – There are lots of airports serving this region, Marseille is probably the biggest, with more flights to choose, but you may also consider, Montpellier, Nimes & Avignon which are all relatively close.
Transfer
We recommend hiring a car and driving to the Farmhouse Hotel. It will also enable you to drive to places like Arles for a great day out or to Saint Maries de la Mer. We can also easily organise an airport transfer for you, please request at time of booking.
All our horse riding holidays hold a price guarantee. We believe in your piece of mind on price when you book one of our horse riding holidays and will refund the difference should you find the same horse riding holiday elsewhere at a lower price.
The late Jacques Bon was born and bred on this farmhouse property, where in the nineties, him and his wife Lucille decided to open up their farmhouse and invite the world in to experience their unique and fascinating life working and living off the land in this distinct region of France called the Camargue. His legacy resonates throughout the property and with Frederic his son at the helm along with their long serving staff, they continue to keep his dream and work alive. Frederic inspired by his father, brings with him, new plans to develop some further outbuildings in 2020 and offer more of their unique and stunning accommodation.
This luxury 17th century property lies in the heart of Camargue, where you can enjoy one of the most unique riding holidays in the world, riding across the flat marshlands of this windswept land, riding the indigenous horses, called the Camargues.
The riding is spectacular and you have the choice of riding out for hours across the delta marshlands taking in the scenery and spotting wildlife or joining in on the work with the ‘gardians’, the Camargue cowboys; this is great fun, (you must ride well, intermediate plus level to join the ‘gardians’ as the work can be dangerous, on account of the fast pace, the skittish bulls and big horns) It’s a fantastic cultural experience and one the ‘gardians’ love showing off, wearing their unique Camargue saddles and colourful shirts.
The house hotel itself is impressive and up-market, set amid beautiful gardens with a lovely swimming pool area and terrace. The interior is very stylish and adorned with personally chosen French antiques. It’s an unassuming place, where rather than having the reception at the entrance, it sits in a room off the hallway, offering clients the upmost of privacy when checking in or arranging activities.
The food also deserves a huge mention – the restaurant is very well regarded and most ingredients, including the rice, are grown on the estate. It’s an intimate affair served in their large country kitchen in front of an open fire in the colder months and in the garden when the sun shines.
There is also plenty of other sight-seeing activities to keep you amused – visit nearby Arles, famed for its art galleries and Van Gogh, watch flocks of flamingos stalking the salt lakes, canoe down the Petit Rhone, cycle along sandy tracks through the marshes, or simply enjoy the empty beaches on the coast and swim.
There is a vast variety of birdlife in the area, and we can organise a morning Bird Watching tour. Please request on booking for prices and availability.
Victoria Marston from Horse & Hound magazine blogged about her stay in La Camargue in 2011 – here’s what she had to say.
And what did I do today? I was a freakin’ cowgirl baby!
This was no escorted hack with a man in a cowboy hat, either — I arrived at the stables, fetched my own horse in, (admittedly didn’t tack up because by the time I had figured out the saddle it probably would have been dark), was thrown on and expected to get on with it.
Oh, and I am pleased to report that I was riding a Camargue pony today, so they don’t think that I’m fat after all. His name was Elegant (or something along those lines when said with a French accent) and he is usually worked by the gardians (cowboys), so he was rather spritely and fun — at least he was once I had mastered the art of having little to no contact and he had stopped doing rein-back, that is.
So off we set on our mission to round up the herd of bulls which roam the estate. I was, understandably I thought, quite nervous about the horns and such like, but actually it turns out the bulls are more scared of the horses than I am of them. Who knew. I’d like to think that I kept up and joined in without getting in the way, amid much “Come on Victoria!” when they thought I was hanging back too much, and we soon had the bulls safely in the pen we were headed for. Too soon for my liking.
At this point we began separating them. First, we needed to choose three bulls and a couple of calves for the bull games this evening, then separate the rest of the bulls and calves. The bulls were turned back out, while the calves were kept in to be branded later today.
In fact, I really must stop blogging right about now, as much as I would love to go into more detail, as I am expected back at the stables in about half an hour for the branding and games. I have been assured that the games aren’t cruel, which is a relief — they just tie ribbons to the horns and then compete to collect them in an arena.
And hopefully I will be back in time for one last dinner in the restaurant here at Mas de Peint, which really is fabulous. The food, the wine, the service, the gypsy guitarists playing into the small hours… I’m really, truly not hoping that the ash cloud stops me from going home tomorrow. Honest.
The full article was published in Horse & Hound on the 30th of June 2011.
Camargue Blog
You can also visit our latest Blog on a visit made by our own MD, Jill Dolan. Click here https://www.zarasplanet.com/camargue-blog/
La Camargue: Horses – Home Bred Camargue Horses, plus some Andalusian Crosses.
La Camargue: Level of Riding & Pace – Beginner to Advanced.
Tack – Western style.
Weight Restriction – 16 stone / 102 kg / 224 lbs.
La Camargue: Group Size – Maximum 10.
An absolutely beautiful 17th century, country farmhouse, fully restored with a mix of traditional & modern French decor, very tastefully designed. Includes a gorgeous terrace & swimming pool. But the big ‘wow’ factor at this hotel is the food, with a top class restaurant which uses fresh, local produce, some of which is their own home grown, organic delights. Be sure to bring some of the delicious Camargue Olive Oil home with you, plus the home-grown Wild Ride. along with the local Camargue Sea salt.
Here’s an example of one of their menus:
YUM!
Horse Riding Holidays in La Camargue are part of the Zara’s Planet collection of Horse Riding Holidays in France.
Please Ask About
We can easily look at different options on request, add in more hours riding or other activities, like bird watching or a beach ride. Here is a suggested 3 Night Package example.
Day 1
Arrival & settle into your room, have a walk round the gardens, have a late afternoon swim, before getting ready for dinner.
Day 2
Breakfast, morning 2-hour ride. Afternoon go out for lunch and sight see. Return to farmhouse for swim before dinner.
Day 3
Breakfast, morning ‘Gardian Experience’ riding with the gardians, rounding up bulls, 2 plus hours depending on the work. Afternoon go out for lunch and sight see. Return to farmhouse for swim before dinner.
Day 4
Breakfast & departure
Camargue Riding Days by Julian
Riding day 1: “Réserve des Impériaux” ride 5-hour ride – lunch and beverages included – On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only .A day on the theme of biodiversity: departure from the “Méjanes” dyke, near Arles. We will stop in front of a famous breeder bull farm of fighting bulls. Explanations will be given about breeding, traditions, differences with the Camargue bull, etc. We will then follow the “Vaccarès” pond in the “Imperial” nature reserve. The visit of this wild and preserved space will allow us to discover one of the largest panels of Camargue biodiversity rich in exceptional fauna and flora: ducks of all species, waders, flamingos, birds of prey and nutria. The hooves in the water, we will live a breathtaking equestrian and wild experience. Lunch all together facing the pond, at the famous Camargue restaurant, “Le Mazet du Vaccares”. Arrival at Bouvau d’Aubanel, at the entrance to the village of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. Departure at 10 am, arrival at 5 pm
Riding day 2: Discovering the desert beach of “Grand Radeau” A dream day for any rider: At the start of the “Layalle Horseback Ride”, we will cross reedbeds and marshes to reach the “Bac du Sauvage”, a tiny ferry boat to cross the “Petit Rhône” river. Once the latter has been crossed with our mounts, we will have lunch on its shore at restaurant “La Cabanette”. Their specialties: fresh fish and Mediterranean shellfish. In the afternoon and as the highlight of this day, we will discover the immense beach wilderness of “Le Grand Radeau” (literally the big raft) as well as the surrounding pine forests. Clogs in the fine sand, along the sea, we will even meet the so emblematic Camargue bulls. Arrival and end of the day on “La Plage du Grand Radeau”. Departure at 11 am, arrival at 6 pm
Riding day 3: Discovering Camargue horses and bulls and “Gardian” cattle work. A day of discovery of cattle work on horseback departing from “Manade Saint-Antoine”. The morning will be dedicated to the discovery and visit of the estate; explanations on the functioning and activities of a Camargue farm and presentation of three herds: Camargue bulls, Angus cows and Camargue horses. from different cultures, etc. We will cattle our herd of mares and foals on the grounds of the estate. At noon, the Camargue meal taken on site will be provided by our Saintois caterer, Vincent Rouzeau. After lunch, we would learn about the work of the “Gardian”. We will thus proceed to the “Acampado” of our herd of Camargue bulls with the aim to initiate the participants in the sorting of cattle (participation of all the riders one by one accompanied by a gardian). Arrival at “La Manade Horse Ride”. Departure at 10 am, arrival at 5 pm
All our horse riding holidays hold a price guarantee. We believe in your piece of mind on price when you book one of our horse riding holidays and will refund the difference should you find the same horse riding holiday elsewhere at a lower price.
If you are having trouble finding exactly the right horse riding holiday for you from our horse riding holiday collection, please contact us directly using the form below and tell us in your own words what you would like to do and we will use our extensive knowledge to make sure we find that perfect horse riding holiday.
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