castles of the loire valley

spring, summer & autumn | €3990pp | france

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RIDE WILD on a renaissance castle tour

‘A luxury equestrian escape through France’s Loire Valley - riding between historic chateaux, indulging in exceptional food & wine and staying in handpicked castle accommodation’

Overview

Discover the Loire Valley on horseback with a luxury castle-to-castle riding tour through one of France’s most iconic regions. Each day brings a mix of long canters across open valleys, riverside tracks and woodland paths, along with guided visits to six of the Loire’s most iconic châteaux.

You’ll ride through historic castle grounds, take in views of vineyards and forests, and explore the region’s grand architecture up close. Evenings are spent in elegant manor houses, mansions and carefully restored châteaux, where you’ll unwind over gourmet meals and local wines.

Along the way, you’ll stop for lunches in small, charming villages, enjoying classic dishes and a relaxed local atmosphere.

This is a journey that blends refined French hospitality with memorable hours in the saddle — a riding holiday designed for those who love culture, comfort and exceptional horses in equal measure.

Morning scene with a castle in the background, fog over a river, and three birds flying low over the water.

What you need to know

  • Horse riding in France

  • €3990 pp shared room (€850 single supplement)

  • All gourmet meals, drinks, accommodation in luxury hotels, 6 castle visits, riding and transfers during the ride included.

  • May 31 - 6 June, 21 - 27 June (1 space remaining), 12 - 18 July (fully booked), 19 - 25 July 2026

  • 7 days & 6 nights (5 days riding)

  • 1.5 - 3 hours riding everyday

  • Riding around renaissance castles and visiting on foot

  • Shared luxury hotel accommodation

  • Generous and friendly hosts

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A large historic mansion surrounded by a well-manicured garden with hedges, statues, and trees.
Riding holiday in France with a view of a castle in the distance from a horse on a trail, with trees and grassy fields in foreground.
Riding holiday in France where the photo shows a group of tourists riding horses outside a historic castle with tall towers, turrets, and arched doorways on a partly cloudy day.
A castle in the distance across a misty river with three birds flying low over the water.
Group of people horseback riding in front of a historic house with a mixture of brick and white facades, surrounded by well-maintained gardens and a fountain.
Four people riding horses along a dirt path next to a river with lush green trees and cloudy sky.

OVERVIEW

Dates: May 31 - 6 June, 21 - 27 June (2 spaces remaining), 19 - 25 July 2026

Price: €3990pp

Location: France

Operator: Cheval et Chateaux

Riding level: Advanced and experienced. Able to control horse in a group up to a canter within open spaces.

Max group size: 10

Time in the saddle: 1.5 - 3 hours a day

Horses: Franches-Montagnes & Arabian x Franches-Montagnes.

Weight limit: 85kg

Currency: Euros

Saddle type: English

Airport: Paris

Adventure level:

Need to know

  • April 11 - 17, May 2 - 8, May 23 - 29, July 18 - 24, August 8 - 14, September 5 - 11, September 12 - 18, October 3 - 9.

  • Accommodation during the trip in luxury twin hotel rooms / rooms in manor houses

  • All activities including riding and 6 castle visits

  • Gourmet breakfast, lunch and dinner and drinks with meals

  • Transfers during the ride

What’s included:

  • Flights into and out of France

  • Accommodation outside of the trip

  • Tips / gratuities.

  • Travel & medical insurance (this is mandatory)

  • Transfers before/after the ride

  • Single room supplement 850 EUR

What’s excluded:

Food: Breakfast will be had at your hotel everyday. Lunch will be picnics or in small restaurants in charming villages. Dinner will usually be in your hotel for the night.

Accommodation:

Accommodation is in luxury hotels, manors and mansions along the way. This is where you will have many of your evening meals too.

Accommodation and food

The horses at Cheval et Chateaux are the highlight of the holiday. They are calm, confident and reliable, a result of excellent horsemanship and training by Ken and Sophie. Lots of their horses were born at home making them truly a part of the family.

Most of their horses are beautiful Franches-Montagnes and Arabian x Franches-Montagnes.

They all live stabled next to their friends with low walls allowing them to socialise and groom each other. They also spend time out in the fields together and live a very happy life with time off between rides and no work between November - March.

Find out more about the horses are cared for here.

Horses

  • Riding hat, gloves and comfortable riding boots

  • Light and loose layers of clothing.

  • A light rain jacket

  • Sunglasses

  • Sun hat

  • Sun cream

  • A water bottle

  • Bum bag

  • A power pack for charging your phone

  • A charging adapter

  • A book for entertainment

  • Toiletries (remember lip balm, hand cream and moisturiser), towel, jodphurs etc

  • Camera gear

  • See our what to pack guide here for a full packing list.

What to pack:

Apply to join this ride:

request to book
A plated dish featuring a piece of fish topped with scrambled eggs and garnished with edible flowers, pineapple slices, and herbs.
A luxury hotel room with blue and white classic furniture, patterned curtains, a chandelier, and view of greenery outside the windows.
Elegant dessert plate with macarons, fresh fruit, a caramel cookie, and edible flowers.
A large, historic, white brick mansion with multiple dormer windows, surrounded by neatly manicured gardens and shrubbery, with a stone statue in the foreground.

Itinerary

  • You’ll arrive at Chateau de la Borde where you’ll have your briefing and a gourmet dinner. This is where you’ll sleep for the night before beginning your journey tomorrow.

  • You’ll start your journey from Chambord along the Grand Canal with a spectacular view of the Château. You’ll enjoy the beautiful sand paths of Boulonge and Chambord forest before you ride back to Chateâu de Chambord for a royal lunch.

    In the afternoon, you’ll visit Château de Chambord which is the largest and most magnificent of all the Loire valley castles. It was ordered to be built by Francis the 1st and finished in 1519. You’ll stay and have dinner in Chateau de la Borde again.

  • You’ll begin your ride to Chateau de Beauregard via the Boulonge forest. You have the privilege of entering via the front gate of the chateau which is an unforgettable experience. You’ll visit Chateau de Beauregard and its famous ‘Gallerie des illustres’ which has been intact since the 17th century. For lunch, it’s a gourmet picnic in Chateau de Beauregard.

    In the afternoon, you’ll enjoy a lovely ride from Chateau de Beauregard via the forest of Sologne, extensive countryside and the Cheverny vineyards region. You’ll then be driven to Cheverny castle for a visit, viewing lots of its renaissance furniture. You’ll sleep and dine in either Relais de trois châteaux or Relais des Landes

  • Today you’ll ride from Chaumont village through the Loire valley countryside to reach the Beuvron river. You’ll have lunch in a lovely local restaurant and then enjoy a short ride through Touraine towards the Château of Chaumont sur Loire which you’ll visit alongside its famous international garden festival. You’ll have dinner and sleep at Le Clos d’Amboise

  • You’ll start your day on the Loire banks in Mosnes before you ride along the river, appreciating its beautiful biodiversity, classified in UNESCO’s world inheritance. Lunch will be in a local restaurant in Chargé, a charming village.

    In the afternoon, you’ll ride to Chateau d’Amboise by the Loire valley with a special arrival on horseback by the medieval King’s gate. Your gourmet dinner and night stay will be in Chateau de Noizay

  • You’ll start your last day with a visit of the castle, appreciating its gorgeous furniture and decorations. You’ll then begin your last ride on Cher banks with its amazing view Chenonceau castle’s famous arches. Lunch will follow in l’Orangerie of the château.

    You’ll finish the week with some free time in Amboise to visit the lovely château of Clos Lucé, the last home of Leonardo Da Vinci, or the old town and its lovely gift shops. You’ll have a goodbye drink with your guide in Amboise and your last dinner and night stay will be in Chateau de Noizay again.

  • You’ll have breakfast in Chateau de Noizay before you depart. Transfers to nearby train stations / beyond are not included.

Apply to join this ride:

reserve your saddle

why riders love this ride

  • The chance to visit 6 châteaux with guided tours.

  • Beautiful riding through the Loire Valley countryside and castle grounds.

  • Delicious gourmet meals.

  • Stylish and charming accommodation in châteaux and restored manor houses.

  • A refined holiday with a mix of culture & comfort.

this ride is right for you if:

  • You like learning about the culture of countries you visit ✔

  • You like staying in luxury accommodation ✔

  • You enjoy gourmet meals ✔

  • You like exploring historic castles / manor houses ✔

  • You like riding with scenic views ✔

About the loire valley

The Loire Valley is a picturesque area in central France, stretching along the Loire River and its tributaries. It is renowned for its rolling vineyards, fertile farmland, and charming towns, creating a landscape that is both scenic and historically rich.

The region is particularly famous for its châteaux, which range from medieval fortresses to elegant Renaissance palaces, many of which are set within extensive gardens and parklands. These castles reflect centuries of French history, art, and architecture, offering insight into the lives of the nobility who once lived there.

Alongside the historic sites, the Loire Valley’s rivers, forests, and gentle countryside provide a sense of open space and natural beauty, making it a region where cultural heritage and landscape combine.

Weather: what to expect

The Loire Valley in France has a temperate climate with relatively mild winters and warm summers. Daytime temperatures in summer typically range from 20°C to 28°C (68°F to 82°F), while winter temperatures usually sit between 3°C and 10°C (37°F to 50°F). Spring and autumn are generally mild and comfortable, with moderate rainfall and pleasant conditions for exploring the countryside and the region’s famous châteaux.

 

frequently asked questions

  • what kind of experience can i expect?

    This is a refined and memorable riding holiday that combines scenic hacking with the elegance of château accommodation and the charm of the Loire Valley. It is ideal for riders looking for a trip that feels both immersive and indulgent.

  • what is the riding pace like?

    The pace is generally varied, with a mixture of relaxed riding through castle grounds, forests and country lanes, along with opportunities for more forward riding such as canters where the terrain allows.

  • what is the accommodation like?

    Accommodation is one of the highlights of this tour, with stays in beautiful château-style properties that reflect the elegance and charm of the Loire Valley. You can expect a luxurious and comfortable experience, with excellent hospitality and charming rooms.

  • how fit do I need to be for this ride?

    This is a ride where you don’t need to be as riding fit due to the shorter hours in the saddle (1.5 - 3).

  • who does this ride suit best?

    This ride suits someone who wants a mix of riding and exploring the local castles. They won’t mind the shorter riding hours and will be interested in learning more about the history and architecture of the local chateuax.

  • what airport should i fly into?

    For this ride, the best airport to fly into is Paris (either CDG or ORY).

your guides

The team at Cheval et Chateaux will be your guides and hosts during your trip. Cheval et Chateaux is owned by Ken and Sophie, both incredibly passionate about what they do. Ken is an equine osteopath and since 2015 has dedicated himself to leading the rides and teaching a program for future French riding guides. Ken enjoys sharing as much as he can during the rides and always has a smile on his face.

Sophie, Ken’s wife, has always loved teaching and learning about horse behaviour and she graduated from a horsemanship teaching program in 2014. She is currently the sales and business manager at Cheval et Chateaux and her rigorous, friendly and organised nature means she will do everything to make your trip unforgettable.

The horses are truly the star of the show at Cheval et Chateaux, most being Franches-Montagnes and Arabian x Franches-Montagnes. Many were born with Sophie and Ken and they’ve all been trained with them, resulting in calm, happy and confident horses. The horses are stabled next to their friends with low walls, allowing them to groom each other and they all receive time outdoors in the fields together.

A person riding a black horse with a black helmet, riding gear, and a saddle, near a body of water with a tower structure and trees in the background on a clear day.
Person riding a horse along the beach near the water.

How to book

  1. Choose your ride

  2. Submit the application form under ‘request to book’

  3. Wait for us to confirm space with the operator (we aim to get back to you within 24hrs)

  4. Pay your deposit (20%)

  5. Full balance is due 50 days before departure

cancellation policy

Cancellation terms vary by operator and are specific to this ride.

  • Deposit is refundable until 91 days before departure less a £100 cancellation fee

  • If you cancel between 90 - 46 days before departure, a 50% fee will be charged

  • If you cancel less than 45 days before departure, no refund will be provided

why wild mane?

  • Curated, unforgettable & welfare focused riding holidays

  • Personal advice and human support from booking to your return home

  • Clear and transparent booking process with no hidden fees

  • We work directly with established operators, many who are family run

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