The Champagne Ride

Day 1: Arrival

Today you’ll need to make your way to the starting point of the ride. If you’re self-driving, this will be tonight’s hotel, and for those catching the train, you will be collected from the Champagne-Ardenne TGV train station at 6:00pm. This evening, you’ll get to know your guides and fellow guests while enjoying your first taste of Champagne’s cuisine – and maybe even a local drop or two!

Day 2: The Forest of Sermiers

Yippee, it’s ride day! Breakfast is served at 8am (think croissants, fresh fruit and bread), then you’ll get ready to ride. Once you’re matched up with your trusty steed, you’ll hit the trail for a glorious half-day ride through the forest of Sermiers, also known as La forêt du Chêne à la Vierge, which translates to ‘the woods of Virgin Mary’s oak’. This alludes to a local medieval legend that tells of loggers who found a figurine of the Virgin Mary in the heart of an oak tree! Every year there is a pilgrimage in the local area in honour of this miracle. Your ride through this sacred forest offers up fantastic views over the vineyards of Champagne, and as you pad through the quiet trees, it will be easy to imagine that the centuries have slipped away and a dashing knight or a burly logger might just emerge from the woods!

After returning to the hotel for lunch, you’ll explore the city of Reims, also known as the ‘city of kings’. Since the year 496, all French kings have been baptised here, at what is now the Notre-Dame of Reims cathedral. In the evening, you’ll retire to the same hotel for a tasty dinner and a good night’s sleep.

Day 3: Bouzy

This morning’s ride begins with some delightful long canters through the woods to the forest of Verzy, where you’ll come across the most extraordinary dwarf beech trees, called the Faux. Unusually shaped, gnarled and fragile, they bring to mind larger-than-life Japanese bonsais. This is the world’s largest concentration of dwarf beech trees, with around 1,000 in total, and you’ll be able to savour their beauty while enjoying a picnic lunch in their shade.

Later, you’ll remount and head south to Trepail, a quintessential wine village of the Champagne region, home of the Chardonnay grape variety. Your resting place for the evening is a guesthouse in the nearby village of Bouzy, known for its Pinot Noir grapes.

Day 4: Mutigny

After breakfast, you will reunite with the horses and ride through the vineyards to the village of Mutigny, with plenty of free-spirited canters along the way. Photo op alert: Mutigny offers picture-perfect, sweeping views across the Marne Valley! Lunch today is another scrumptious picnic, this time in the village of Hautvillers, the birthplace of Champagne wines. It was here that the monk Dom Pérignon created the method for producing quality sparkling white wines that ultimately led to Champagne – and Dom Pérignon – becoming world famous.

Back in the saddle, you’ll head down through the vineyards to the Marne River, crossing at the village of Cumières, where the horses will be able to stretch out into a nice long canter on the riverbank. You’ll wine, dine and rest your head in the town of Epernay, which you’ll get to explore tomorrow.

Day 5: Epernay

The ride this morning alternates between forests and vineyards, with panoramic views over Epernay. The vineyards here produce the Blancs de Blancs – Champagne made only from white grapes, rather than a blend of red and white. The village of Cramant is well known for this and after picnicking in the sunshine on the edge of town, you’ll visit a local winery to taste what all the fuss is about!

The horses get a break this afternoon while you explore Epernay. Surrounded by vineyards, Epernay is the epicentre of Champagne, a place where epic quantities of wine are bought and sold and where every famous Champagne brand has its headquarters! The UNESCO World Heritage listed Champagne Avenue is known for the endless kilometres of chalk cellars built beneath the street to house millions of precious bottles of champagne – not to mention the stunning and eclectic architecture at street level! Another delicious dinner awaits at a local restaurant this evening, then you’ll return to last night’s hotel to catch some Zs.

Day 6: Montigny

After breakfast, you’ll reunite with the horses in Cramant and set off for the slopes above the village of Avize, passing chalk cliffs that provide a glimpse of the unique terroir responsible for the much-loved flavour of the Champagne from these hillsides. The route takes you through the Darcy Valley, where you’ll have a spectacular view of the village of Monthelon, then through Epernay forest and back into the Marne Valley. The banks of the Marne River provide a perfect location for today’s picnic, then you’ll cross the Damery village bridge and ride on along vine-covered slopes. Climbing higher once more, the view over the valley will have you scrambling for your camera.

Tonight the horses will stay in the village of Montigny, while you and your fellow globetrotters spend the night in the village of La Neuville aux Larris for dinner and a Champagne tasting.

Day 7: Reims

It’s your last day of riding, boo! Not to worry, though, it’ll be a day to remember with more jaw-dropping views as you climb up above the picturesque village of Chatillon sur Marne. The village is crowned by a huge, 33 metre high statue of Pope Urban II, otherwise known as Odo of Chatillon, who watches over the vineyards below. Riding through the Regional Natural Park of Montagne de Reims (a bit of a mouthful, but a stunning area, as you’ll discover!), you’ll reach the House of the Park, which includes an information centre with interactive exhibitions where you can learn about the geology, geography, nature and human history of Champagne. You’ll also be able to wander through the orchard, garden and botanical trail before choosing the perfect spot for one last French picnic. Finally, you’ll ride back along forest trails to La Neuville aux Larris, with plenty of trots and canters on the way.

Tonight’s dinner is a celebration of your extraordinary journey – a chance to raise your glass to the sparkling magic of Champagne!

Day 8: Departure

This morning, you’ll have breakfast at the hotel before packing your bags and either being transferred back to the Champagne-Ardennes TGV train station or, for those who self-drove, departing at your leisure.

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.