French riding holidays are a spectacular way to experience food, wine, horses and French culture with the locals.

Horse ride through the glorious private estates of the Dordogne in Southwest France. Stay in an 18th century manor house and enjoy French cuisine, colorful markets, wine tastings, truffle farms and medieval towns. This trip is great for riders and their non-riding companions and friends.

You'll horseback ride through forests, up hills with great views, down through valleys, with numerous tracks, along corn fields, rivers and more. There is very little road riding on this horse riding vacation.

Take in spectacular Dordogne scenery and French architecture on your riding holiday in France. Ride through medieval villages and fortified towns past 17th and 18th century chateaux, manor houses and farmhouses. The Dordogne region is well known in France for its fascinating history and the beauty of its landscapes.

If want to enjoy the comfort of spending each night in the same place, a lovely 18th century manor, this is the ride for you. You will cover long distances. On three days, the horses stay overnight elsewhere and you are transferred back to the manor, so that you may get further afield and explore on horseback.

Picnics are brought every day from the house or else you'll pop into restaurants en route. If someone wants to only ride for half a day, your host can arrange for your horse to be ridden back or forth by someone else. Your equestrian guide is a great horseman and riding teacher and also very knowledgeable about the area.

On your day off from this French equestrian vacation, explore some of the wealth of tourist attractions of the area- the prehistoric sites of the Vézère valley including Lascaux, Sarlat, the chateaux of the Dordogne valley and more.

Accommodations

The historic 18th century manor house is comfortably furnished and has eight double bedrooms and nine bathrooms, three of which are air conditioned. The bathrooms have baths and showers and wcs and basins.

There is also a pigeonnier (converted dovecote) with another two bedrooms, a bathroom, living room and kitchen about 25 meters from the main house. There is a large living room, a second living room and a large dining room and kitchen. There is a piano, large screen TV and DVD player, iPod docking station, hifi, wifi and a computer and printer for guests use. The house is comfortable. 

Food

The region is well known for its food and wines and the manor cook is extremely good, so you will be well looked after. If you'd like, your host can also arrange visits to a truffle farm or a wine tasting at a local chateau. This French horseback riding vacation is diverse, combining equestrian pursuits with local sightseeing. 

Breakfasts are typically continental Breakfasts served with croissants, bread, butter and a selection of jams, muesli, yogourts, fruit, juices and coffee and tea. Lunches are typically picnics or you may go to a restaurant en route, all included in your holiday price. All dinners are served with the finest local Bergerac wines, red, rose and white, beer and soft drinks in unlimited quantities. Your host does not serve spirits but you are welcome to bring them with you.

Your host aims to eat healthily. All food is cooked fresh every day using locally sourced products. Vegetarians and those with special diets can be well catered for as long as your host receives sufficient prior warning, so please alert us to your special needs at the time of your booking.

Area Attractions / Activities

There is plenty to do at the house and in the surrounding area, such as a visit to a local market at Issigeac, a wine tasting visit, a visit to a local truffle farm ( optional), the day off spent exploring the wealth of the Dordogne area, tennis and swimming in heated pool at the manor house and boating / fishing on lake.

The Dordogne is one of the richest areas for France tourism and a great destination for equestrian vacations.