Where Horses, History and World-Class Wine Meet.
The Bordeaux Wine Trail will steal your hearts with its point-to-point adventure, where each day brings new landscapes, sunshine-filled picnic stops, generous opportunities to trot and canter, and the chance to see this ancient wine region unfold between two pricked ears. With knowledgeable French guides, dreamy trail horses and tastings of world-class wines along the way, this ride is an irresistible blend of culture, history and pure Globetrotting magic.
Trip Highlights
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Tiptoeing through the dreamy French countryside famous for its award-winning wines
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Stopping for sunshine-filled picnics beside ancient crumbling castles
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Sampling a fine Médoc at the Wine Museum of Maucailou
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Snacking on pastries with homemade jams
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Feeling like royalty and immersing yourself in history during your stay at a French castle
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Feeling the wind in your hair as you gallop through rows upon rows of vineyards
Details
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Riding levels
Strong intermediate to advanced. All riders must be comfortable and confident at all gaits (including gallop) over varied terrain in English-style tack. Good physical fitness is essential, as you’ll be riding for up to 6 hours each day. Because the riding route takes you from A to B each day, saddle fitness and overall health are very important.
NB: A supplement charge of €300 will apply for additional horse transport should you opt to discontinue riding during the week due to lack of fitness or unsuitable riding ability.
Not sure what your riding ability is? See the definitions below.
- Type of tack
French trail riding saddles (with a gel pad!) equipped with saddlebags. Horses are ridden in ‘Myler’ bits - this style of bit is one of the kindest available. It spreads the rein pressure exerted by the rider over several different areas. Initially, it acts on the nose, poll and back of the jaw, with the mouthpiece ‘floating’. A third of the total pressure will be felt in each of these three areas. Only if the rider continues to pull on the reins will the mouthpiece engage.
- Horse breed
You’ll be riding pure or cross-bred Paint, Arabian, Thoroughbred and warmblood horses varying in height from 15.3hh to 17hh. Most of the horses were bred at your hosts' equestrian farm. They are level-headed, experienced trail horses that connect with all types of riders.
- Accommodation
Accommodation is in comfortable, clean two– to three-star French B&Bs and hotels with double or twin rooms, sometimes shared bathrooms and modest European-sized beds, so a single supplement is recommended if you prefer your own room and a double bed.
*Also note that some nights the group may be split between two accommodation locations, pending room availability, but you’ll always share dinner together.
- Pace
The pace varies depending on the trail, with long periods of walking and plenty of trots and canters. The riding landscape varies from rolling hills to vineyards to French farmland and woods.
- Weight limit
A strict maximum of 90kg / 198lbs.
It is VERY important that you provide your current weight accurately when booking. If your weight is not accurate, we cannot guarantee that your hosts will have a horse for you to ride.
- Group size
A minimum of 5 and a maximum of 10 guests.
- Minimum age
16 years of age
- Time in Saddle
On average, 5 to 6 hours per day.
- When to go
April/May and October/November
- Languages
Instructions spoken in English.
Guides speak French, German and English.
What’s included (and what’s not)
Included
- All meals including wine with lunch
- Accommodation in shared rooms (unless a single supplement has been purchased) with shared bathroom
- Riding, horses, tack, guide, translator
- Luggage transportation
- Excursions as described in the itinerary
Excluded
- International and domestic flights
- Travel insurance (compulsory)
- Transfers to and from the ride (€20 per person, round-trip)
- Drinks other than wine at lunch
- Any applicable entrance fees and wine tastings (approximately €90)
- Staff tips (€10 per day)
Departure dates and prices
Ride length
8 days, 7 nights (6 riding days).
Riding level
Strong Intermediate • Advanced
Booking fee
A fixed Booking Fee of €1,253 EUR
Payment plans
Lock in your ride with a 10% deposit and pay the rest over time – interest-free in 10 easy payments. Learn more.
Accommodation types
Single
Private accommodation for one guest (room, tent, or similar). A supplement may apply on departures where a sharing option is available.
Share
Willing to room share with the same gender or travelling with a companion.
Couple share
Sharing a bed with companion.
Non-rider
Sharing a room with a riding companion.
Per person
2026
April 4 to 11, 2026
May 9 to 16, 2026
May 17 to 24, 2026
October 3 to 10, 2026
October 11 to 18, 2026
October 24 to 31, 2026
November 1 to 8, 2026
The fun bits
Payment details
- A fixed Booking Fee of €1,253 EUR
- All bookings are charged in the local currency of the ride destination.
- Accepted payment method is by credit or debit card only.
Cancellation policy
We understand that plans can change. If you need to cancel your ride, please let us know as soon as possible. Cancellation fees apply based on how close your departure date is, and deposits are non-refundable. We strongly recommend travel insurance to protect your booking. Read our full cancellation policy.
International fees
If you're paying in a currency different from your own, your bank may charge a conversion or international transaction fee.
Please note
Solo globetrotters will be required to pay the single rider rate if we do not have another guest willing to share.
Itinerary
This is a suggested itinerary only. It can be ridden in either direction and is subject to change at the discretion of your guides due to weather and other influencing factors.
This holiday is all about the riding {the part we love most!}. Aside from the excursions mentioned in this itinerary, there is no scheduled time to explore your surroundings off the horse.
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Day 1: Arrival
Non-riding dayToday is the day you’ve been waiting for! You’re in France, tick, you’re in Bordeaux, tick, and you’re about to embark on a week-long riding adventure through the French countryside on horseback, hopping from one vineyard to the next and staying in charming accommodations en route. Does it get any better than this?!
If you’re using the transfer service offered by your hosts, you’ll be picked up from either Bordeaux Airport or Libourne Train Station (depending on the date – see ‘Transfer information‘ below) at 6pm and driven to your first night’s accommodation at a B&B in Ruch, a small prefecture within Bordeaux’s largest winemaking region, Entre-deux-Mers. You’ll have a sumptuous group dinner here with your French guides and hosts, and get a run-down of the week’s riding.
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Day 2: Château du Courros
5 to 6 hours in the saddleHIP, HIP HOORAY – you get to meet your horses today! You’ll have breakfast at around 8am (please note, the majority of your French breakfasts will consist of fresh bread and pastries – there will NOT be a cooked breakfast) before meeting the horses that will carry you through the charming landscapes of Bordeaux. This morning, your hosts will guide you through the tidy rows of vines, forest glades and rolling hills that characterise Entre-deux-Mers. You’ll pass by the 13th-century Château de Rauzan before reaching your picnic area on the banks of the Garonne River.
After replenishing your strength with fabulous French picnic fare, the ride continues through more beautiful vineyards to Château du Courros. Built on the grounds of a pre-6th-century religious community dedicated to Saint Vincent (said to be the patron saint of winegrowers), this winery is famous for its ‘Bordeaux Supérieur’ blend, which you’ll be able to sample. Finally, you’ll reach the horses’ field and bid them adieu before returning to your accommodation in Ruch.
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Day 3: Château Franc Mayne
5 to 6 hours in the saddleAfter breakfast, you’ll get back in the saddle and ride along the Dordogne River towards Saint-Émilion, a charming, UNESCO World Heritage-listed medieval village known for its fabulous wines. Here you’ll dismount and visit Château Pavie, a winery that has been awarded the highest ranking among Saint-Émilion wines: Premier Grand Cru Classé A. Next, you’ll visit Château Franc Mayne, another Grand Cru Classé winery, and enojy a picnic among the 7 hectares of vines. The history here is easy to see, with an ancient Gallo-Roman road running right alongside the vineyard and an old coaching inn that still bears witness to the passage of pilgrims on their way to Spain’s Santiago de Compostela. Once you’ve filled up on lunch, you’ll head inside for a tasting and tour of the 2 hectares (!!) of underground cellars.
In the afternoon, you’ll take in more world-famous estates – Château Pétrus, Cheval Blanc and Château Figeac – before arriving at Château Le Gay, an estate in the neighbouring Pomerol appellation, where the horses will spend the night. You’ll be transferred to a nearby hotel for another moreish French dinner.
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Day 4: Saint-Émilion
4 to 5 hours in the saddleThis morning, the horses (and riders!) get a break as you explore the town of Saint-Émilion on foot. A city steeped in history, perched on a rocky promontory, Saint- Émilion and its wines both draw their originality from the limestone at their feet. Many towns in Bordeaux were constructed from limestone mined underground at Saint-Émilion in centuries past. This is evidenced by 200 kilometres of underground galleries, some of which can still be explored today. Many wineries even use these spaces as cellars.
At around midday, you’ll regroup and head back to the horses at Château Le Gay. Here you’ll have your picnic before riding on through vineyards interspersed with sun-dappled forests until you reach Château Mayne-Veil, a winery in the Fronsac appellation that specialises in Merlot. Leaving the horses here, you’ll head to your hotel in the town of Libourne.
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Day 5: Mouillac
5 to 6 hours in the saddleToday, globetrotters, you head towards the village of Mouillac through a delightful array of landscapes including vineyards (of course!), meadows and forests. Weather and terrain permitting, there’ll be some glorious wind-in-your-hair canters en route.
Your picnic lunch is served at Mouillac’s 1,000-year-old Romanesque church. While exploring, see if you can find the church’s 9 canonical dials.
This afternoon, you’ll ride on to the town of Cubnezais through the vineyards of the Blaye-Côtes de Bordeaux appellation and magnificent old pine and hardwood forests. At the end of the day, you’ll leave the horses at a picturesque estate and take the transfer to your B&B in the town of Civrac-de-Blaye for a much-anticipated evening meal.
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Day 6: Citadelle de Blaye
5 to 6 hours in the saddleDay 6 of your French riding escapade sees you exploring the rolling hills of the Côtes de Bourg. You’ll have some beautiful uphill canters before reaching Château Lamothe, where you’ll dismount for your lunchtime picnic and a tasting inside the grand Château itself.
At around 3pm, you’ll hop back in the saddle for the ride to the coastal town of Blaye. 50 kilometres downstream from the city of Bordeaux, this town is famed for the Citadelle de Blaye, a fortress designed by Louis XIV’s legendary engineer, Vauban, to protect the estuary from enemy vessels. After your grand entrance on horseback, you’ll delve deeper into this architectural marvel with a tour of its 1.5 kilometres of ramparts, gates and underground passageways, topped by a convent, prison, barracks and powder magazine.
Leaving the horses in their overnight field, you’ll head into Blaye for dinner and a good night’s rest.
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Day 7: Moulis-en-Medoc
4 to 5 hours in the saddle -
Day 8: Departure
Non-riding dayAfter a farewell breakfast, you’ll be transferred to either Bordeaux Airport or Libourne Train Station (depending on the date – see ‘Transfer information‘ below). If you’re flying out from Bordeaux today, please ensure your flight departs after 2pm.
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Non-Riders
Should you wish to join this holiday as a non-rider, you will require your own car to transport yourself to the lunch and accommodation locations each day. Having a car will also afford you the freedom to enjoy your own sightseeing throughout the day, before meeting up with the riders. The non-rider price includes all meals and accommodation.
Transfer information
We recommend using the transfer service your hosts offer (€20 per person, round-trip, payable upon arrival).
Transfer locations vary throughout the season. It is very important that you note the pick-up and drop-off locations for your specific departure date below.
April 4-11, 2026: day 1 pick-up at Libourne Train Station at 6pm; day 8 drop-off at Bordeaux Airport for flights after 1pm.
May 9-16, 2026: day 1 pick-up at Libourne Train Station at 6pm; day 8 drop-off at Bordeaux Airport for flights after 1pm.
May 17-24, 2026: day 1 pick-up at Bordeaux Airport at 6pm; day 8 drop-off at Libourne Train Station after breakfast.
October 3 to 10, 2026: day 1 pick-up at Libourne Train Station at 6pm; day 8 drop-off at Bordeaux Airport for flights after 1pm.
October 11-18, 2026: day 1 pick-up at Bordeaux Airport at 6pm; day 8 drop-off at Libourne Train Station after breakfast.
October 24-31, 2026: day 1 pick-up at Bordeaux Airport at 6pm; day 8 drop-off at Libourne Train Station after breakfast.
Please note
If the transfer is picking you up from Bordeaux Airport, please give yourself time to clear customs, get your luggage and be on time for the 6pm transfer so as not to keep other guests waiting. The meeting point is the ‘Brioche Doree’ snack bar in Hall B (NOT Hall A).
We do not recommend self-driving to and from this ride simply due to the fact that it starts and finishes in different locations, which makes it hard to return to your car on the last day.
Accommodation
You will stay in a selection of quintessential French B&Bs and hotels. There are double and twin rooms available. At some of the accommodation houses you’ll need to share a bathroom, including those who have purchased the single supplement for your own room. Please take note that the accommodation is two or three stars, but is comfortable and clean. Oh, and it’s Europe, so be prepared to stay in modest-sized single beds in a twin-share room. If you prefer your own privacy and a double bed, we highly recommend investing in the single supplement.
*Also note that some nights the group may be split between two accommodation locations, pending room availability, but you’ll always share dinner together.
Food
You’ll be served continental breakfasts at your accommodation – think fresh bread and French pastries. Lunches are a buffet prepared by your guides, complete with wine, coffee and water. In the evenings, you’ll enjoy three-course dinners at either your accommodation or a local restaurant (wine not included), and as dinners are often set menus, it’s important to notify us of any dietary requirements in advance.
Reviews
Jessica D.
Tracy Belski
Gina Resch
Beth Blodgett
Taelor Wallace
Pam Goodwin
What's my riding level?
Not sure what your riding level is? Watch our videos to see all our levels.
Beginner
Reasonably confident riding a horse at a walk, a rising trot, and learning to canter.
Intermediate
Confident and in control riding at all paces outside an arena, but not riding regularly. Comfortable and competent using aids {the language of your leg, seat and hands} to communicate with your horse.
Strong Intermediate
An intermediate rider who is currently riding regularly outside of an arena and is fit enough to ride for at least six hours per day. Strong intermediate riders are comfortable and competent in all three gaits; able to post or sit to the trot; have an independent seat while cantering (don’t hold onto the saddle); and can pick up the correct canter lead. They can also navigate more complex terrain, including asking a horse to sidestep and jump over a small obstacle.
Advanced
A frequent rider who is very fit, comfortable in the saddle for at least six hours per day, and has an independent seat and soft hands. Advanced riders are confident on a forward-moving horse at all paces over rough and variable ground on open terrain. They can ride over small jumps and know the techniques used to collect a horse
Not sure? Contact our team to help you figure out your riding ability.
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