Horseback riding on the high plateaus of the Vercors
In summary
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Sports
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Duration7 days
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LevelAdvance
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DestinationVercors Massif / Drome
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AgeFrom 13 - 80 years
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CO₂-Emissions208.92 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages
French
In a few words
Discover a unique nature reserve, remarkable for its size (16,000 hectares): the Vercors high plateaus ! Ride across the Ambel plateau , the Font d'Urle plateau , and the Beurre plateau —names that evoke vast open spaces where you might spot transhumant herds and free-roaming horses . Enjoy breathtaking views , gallop through alpine pastures , and discover a still vibrant pastoral tradition . A discreet yet abundant wildlife will reveal itself over the course of your journey.
The highlights
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The unspoiled nature of this region and its wide open spaces
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Dynamic, robust and sure-footed cavalry
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The guide's passion for his region
Photos
Lauriane - verified review - august 2025
Lauriane - verified review - august 2025
Lauriane - verified review - august 2025
Héloïse - verified review - august 2025
Héloïse - verified review - august 2025
Héloïse - verified review - august 2025
Héloïse - verified review - august 2025
Héloïse - verified review - august 2025
Juliette - verified review - august 2024
Juliette - verified review - august 2024
Sport
Level
Horseback riding
The expert's opinion
This ride is suitable for riders comfortable at all three gaits outdoors and in very good physical condition. It is a mountain ride, so you will need to dismount and walk alongside the horses regularly. This horseback riding trip is not recommended for people prone to vertigo.
Children aged 13 and over, accompanied by adults, are welcome to ride, provided they are in good physical condition and have the necessary riding skills to handle a horse outdoors. During this horseback riding tour in the Vercors region, you will enjoy beautiful gaits. The daily rides are approximately 20 to 30 km, or about 5 to 7 hours in the saddle, depending on the stage.
In figures
Horseback riding
- Average duration/day: 5h30
Management
French
Your equestrian guide is a qualified equestrian tourism instructor. He has been leading horseback riding tours in the Vercors for over 7 years and will share his passion for horses with you.
Program
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Arrival in the Vercors
- Transportation Minibus - 00h30
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
Meet at the equestrian center in the Vercors mountains in the late afternoon (from 6:30 pm onwards). Transfers are available from Valence Saint Marcel TGV train station (please contact us for schedules). Check into the gîte (rural guesthouse) next to the equestrian center. Enjoy a dinner featuring local flavors with our guide and the rest of the group. This is also an opportunity to have a briefing on your program for the week. Overnight stay in the gîte at the equestrian center.Day 1 -
The Chapel - Col du Rousset
- Activity Horseback riding
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
This morning, after a hearty breakfast at the gîte, you'll meet your horse. After preparing your mount, it's time to get in the saddle. Head towards Saint-Martin-en-Vercors, where you'll take the Combe Libouse trail to reach the Col du Souillet. Enjoy a picnic lunch at the summit before getting back in the saddle for the afternoon. Your ride will take you along a forest road leading to Le Collet. From there, you'll follow the Vernaison river valley to the hamlet of Tourtres. This is where you'll spend the night. Dinner and overnight stay at the gîte.Day 2 -
Col du Rousset - Pré-Grandu
- Activity Horseback riding
- Duration of the activity 7h
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Today, you'll ride along a winding path through a beech forest. This path will lead you, by late morning, to the High Plateaus Nature Reserve, a 16,000-hectare natural area. There, you'll discover vast meadows perfect for a gallop. Enjoy a picnic lunch at the edge of the forest, alongside flocks of sheep. This afternoon, your route takes you to the Pré-Grandu forest lodge via the Bacha de l'Ours trail. Arrival at the gîte (mountain lodge) is around 6:00 PM. Dinner and overnight stay at the gîte.
Day 3 -
Pré-Grandu - Col du Rousset
- Activity Horseback riding
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
After breakfast, you'll set off to spend the day in the nature reserve. The morning begins with a ride through the Pas des Chatons pass at the foot of the Grand Veymont mountain. Exceptional views of the entire Alpine range, from the Obiou massif to the Mont Blanc massif, unfold before you, with the Mont Aiguille in the foreground! If you're quiet and observant, you might spot ibex and marmots. Next, you'll reach the Queyrie plain, bordered by Roman quarries, where you can enjoy a short ride. A picnic lunch will be at Pré-Peyret, followed by an afternoon crossing of the Plateau de Beurre. You'll arrive in the late afternoon at your stop for the day at the Col du Rousset, a ski resort in winter and a tourist destination in summer. Arrival is around 6:00 PM. Dinner and overnight stay at the gîte.
Day 4 -
Col du Rousset – Font d'Urle
- Activity Horseback riding
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Breakfast at the gîte, then departure for your day of riding. A brief early morning ride along the southern edge of the plateau leads to a path carved into the rock, taking you to the Col de Chironne. A 360° view of the southern Vercors will be breathtaking, offering opportunities for unforgettable photos. Upon arrival at the Col de Vassieux, you'll stop at the Plainet fountain to allow your horses to drink, followed by a picnic lunch in the forest. In the afternoon, you'll join the Grande Traversée du Vercors (GTV) route. This will lead you to the Font d'Urle plateau, your destination for the day. Check-in at the gîte, dinner, and overnight stay.Day 5 -
Font d'Urle – Slow
- Activity Horseback riding
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
The day begins with a short climb to the Pas de l'Infernet pass, situated at an altitude of 1700 meters. From there, you'll discover the vast Ambel plateau, where you'll spend most of the day. Enjoy a picnic lunch at the Ambel farm, a refuge nestled amidst pastures dotted with numerous herds undergoing transhumance, which you'll carefully avoid. Next, you'll follow the Planotte forest track, leading to your destination for the day: the forest village of Lente. After settling into your rooms, a dinner featuring local flavors awaits. Overnight stay.Day 6 -
Slow - Return to the equestrian center
- Transportation Minibus - 00h30
- Activity Horseback riding
- Duration of the activity 3h
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
To conclude this horseback riding tour in the Vercors, you'll enjoy a long morning in the Lente state forest. Then you'll cross the Loscence plain where you can practice some cantering before descending to the Drevets relay station. This is where your ride ends. After caring for the horses and packing up your equipment, you'll enjoy a final lunch together at the relay station. Riders will depart by personal car or shuttle for the train station at 2:00 PM. The bus to Valence Saint Marcel TGV arrives at the station at 3:00 PM. Please plan your departure accordingly. The itinerary of our programs is provided for informational purposes only. It may be subject to modifications or adjustments based on technical criteria, safety requirements, or current weather conditions. In such cases, only the tour leaders are authorized to make the necessary decisions.Day 7
Note
Accommodation
During this hike, you will be accommodated in various group accommodations, simple places with bathrooms, where you will sometimes sleep in dormitories. Private rooms are not available. One night will be spent in a mountain refuge: a 12-person dormitory with some beds placed close together, without showers (we advise you to bring wipes), no phone signal, and no electricity (bring a power bank to charge your devices).
Access
2026 INFORMATION
Attention: there are two stations in Valence, one at Valence Sud Rhône Alpes (TGV) and one at Valence Ville, do not make a mistake when buying your ticket.
Your request for station pick-up must be submitted at least 4 days before the start of your trip. Detailed arrangements will be provided in your travel documents, which will be sent to you before your departure.
Regular route no. 5 (self-supported) July and August
Cost per trip €2 for juniors and €4 for adults to be paid directly to the bus driver (please have the exact change).
- In the Valence / Vercors direction on Sundays (in service from Sunday, July 5th)
Departure from Valence city SNCF train station at 4:50 PM
Valence TGV station, South Rhône Alpes line, at 5:10 PM
La Chapelle Equestrian Centre at 6:20 PM
- In the Vercors / Valence direction on Saturdays (in service from Saturday, July 4th)
Departure from the Equestrian Centre on Saturday at 1:15 pm
Valence TGV station, southern Rhône-Alpes region, at 3:30 PM
Valence city SNCF train station at 3:50 PM
Transfers are also possible via the equestrian center's minibus all year round. Contact us.
Go to the starting point
2026 INFORMATION
Attention: there are two stations in Valence, one at Valence Sud Rhône Alpes (TGV) and one at Valence Ville, do not make a mistake when buying your ticket.
Your request for station pick-up must be submitted at least 4 days before the start of your trip. Detailed arrangements will be provided in your travel documents, which will be sent to you before your departure.
Regular route no. 5 (self-supported) July and August
Cost per trip €2 for juniors and €4 for adults to be paid directly to the bus driver (please have the exact change).
- In the Valence / Vercors direction on Sundays (in service from Sunday, July 5th)
Departure from Valence city SNCF train station at 4:50 PM
Valence TGV station, South Rhône Alpes line, at 5:10 PM
La Chapelle Equestrian Centre at 6:20 PM
- In the Vercors / Valence direction on Saturdays (in service from Saturday, July 4th)
Departure from the Equestrian Centre on Saturday at 1:15 pm
Valence TGV station, southern Rhône-Alpes region, at 3:30 PM
Valence city SNCF train station at 3:50 PM
Transfers are also possible via the equestrian center's minibus all year round. Contact us.
Price details
The price includes
- Horseback riding as described in the program
- Supervision by a certified guide
- The provision of horses and equipment
- Typical accommodation in guesthouses and mountain refuges (shared rooms: double, triple or dormitory depending on the accommodation - single rooms not available)
- Full board with drinks ( wine with dinner ) from dinner on Day 1 to lunch on Day 7
- The logistics for transferring your luggage every day
- A processing fee of €18 per person is mandatory .
- The guarantee of funds deposited with our partner
The price does not include
- Transportation to the horseback riding destination in the Vercors
- Personal expenses and optional activities
- The FFE license or green license (please contact us)
- Transfers to/from Valence TGV bus station: €15 per person per journey ( Payable on site )
- Additional night's stay with half-board (double occupancy): €60 per person ( Payable on site )
Options
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Specifics
Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).
In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.
It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return) , visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.
ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.
Equipment
Equipment provided on site
- Forestier brand mixed or touring saddles
- Leather saddlebags
- Helmets can be borrowed from the equestrian center.
- Chaps can be borrowed from the equestrian center.
Equipment to bring
- Comfortable and waterproof hiking shoes (hiking type) or riding boots
- Chaps or mini chaps are available at the equestrian center if needed.
- Helmet (mandatory) available at the equestrian center if needed
- Sleeping bag and small blanket
- 1L Water Bottle
- Pocket knife
- Toiletry bag and body wipe
- Bath towel
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Cap or hat
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
Clothing to bring
- Riding trousers
- Windproof and waterproof jacket
- Horse riding T-shirts
- Change of clothes for the evening
- Warm jacket for the evening (evenings can be cool in the mountains)
They traveled with us
The Phoebe, Audrey et Marjolaine team
Led by a team of five horse and adventure enthusiasts, our local expert specializes in ethical equestrian tourism. Committed to developing travel that respects local communities, he forges lasting relationships with partners worldwide. His on-the-ground expertise, equestrian know-how, and technical versatility allow him to offer immersive itineraries, meticulously designed with high standards and authenticity, in a friendly and committed atmosphere.
