Four rides in the south of France, from the Camargue to the Gulf of Saint-Tropez

Camargue, from Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

Photo Benjamin Smith, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The Rhône delta lies mostly flat, crossed by river arms, dunes, lagoons and reeds, and the largest pond, the Vaccarès, covers 6,500 hectares. Bulls and horses have long been bred here, and the Camargue horse is described as stocky with a white coat, originally bred for the herdsmen of the region, the gardians. Flamingos stand on the ponds, the coast has wide beaches and lagoons, and the regional tourist board names a special light over the water in winter. The offers start in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, at the western end of the coast where the Petit Rhône arrives. The titles speak of rides between farmland and marsh.

• Confirmed: delta, ponds, horse and bull breeding (MAB France), Camargue horse and location of Saintes-Maries (regional tourist board), mistral (Météo-France).
• From the provider: duration, level, group, pick-up.
• Clarify before booking: whether the ride is moved in strong wind.

Luberon

The Luberon is a regional nature park in Provence with two UNESCO designations, the Luberon-Lure Biosphere Reserve and a Geopark. For walking, cycling and horse riding the park itself points to the joint page of the regional parks. The offer names no more precise start, and the ride leads through the hills of the region. It is the quietest of the four rides, with no coast and no delta, but with the view that Provence has in everyone's mind.

• Confirmed: nature park, two UNESCO designations, riding as an activity (Luberon park), mistral in Provence (Météo-France).
• From the provider: start, route, duration, level.
• Clarify before booking: where the ride begins and how much of it is in the sun.

Maures, wine tasting in the forest

The Massif des Maures in the Var is a crystalline massif in otherwise limestone Provence, about 57 kilometres long along the coast. Its name goes back to the dark rock and the forest of cork oaks and holm oaks, with maquis and old chestnuts. The north slope carries cork and chestnut woods on schist, the south slope maquis with pines. In between grow strawberry trees and orchids, and viewpoints such as the Col des Fourches at 535 metres open up the view. The ride combines forest with a wine tasting.

• Confirmed: rock, forest, length (regional tourist board), access period and fire risk map (regional tourist board, Le Lavandou tourist office), mistral and wildfire (Météo-France).
• From the provider: start, duration, course of the tasting.
• Clarify before booking: whether the ride runs during the restricted period and how riding and tasting are separated in time.

Saint-Tropez, the gulf

Saint-Tropez lies at the end of a peninsula, a good hour from the large airports. The gulf includes places such as Cogolin, Gassin, Grimaud, Ramatuelle and Sainte-Maxime, with beaches and vineyards, and Gassin counts among the most beautiful villages in France according to the tourism association. The offers ride with a view of the gulf, some with a river crossing, with lunch or pizza, with wine tasting or with snacks and wine.

• Confirmed: location, places, beaches, wine growing (Saint-Tropez tourist office, gulf tourism association).
• From the provider: start, duration, terrain, catering.
• Clarify before booking: how deep and how long the river crossing is, and whether the ride falls in the restricted period.

Season at a glance

Two things are confirmed. The mistral can set in on the Camargue and in Provence in any season, more often and stronger in winter and spring. And the forests of the Maures are only partly accessible from 21 June to 20 September. As a hint from that: plan the Camargue and the Luberon with wind, and the Maures and the gulf outside the summer restriction or with a provider who confirms the date.

What to pack

Sun protection, enough water, clothing that does not flap in the wind, sturdy shoes with a heel. Ask the provider what is supplied.

Questions for the provider

1. How much of the time are you in the saddle, how much on the way?
2. Which level and which weight limit apply?
3. How big is the group?
4. What happens in strong wind, heat or a wildfire warning?
5. Where is the meeting point, is there pick-up?
6. How are breaks and water for the horses handled, and is there a replacement date if the ride is cancelled because of wind or the restricted period?