Horseback riding on the Pyrenean Cathar Trail
In summary
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Sports
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Duration7 days
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LevelConfirmed
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DestinationPyrénées-Orientales / Occitanie
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AgeFrom 12 - 90 years
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CO₂-Emissions197.05 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages
French
English
In a few words
Let yourself be guided by an exceptional equestrian crossing, linking the high Pyrenean plateaus to the rocky terrain of the Corbières .
From Capcir , your ride winds through the heart of mountain forests , crosses summer pastures and reaches the authentic villages of Donezan . Gradually, the terrain softens towards the Sault plateau , marking the entrance to a region steeped in legends.
Following the legendary Cathar Trail , the scenery transforms into a journey steeped in history. You'll discover the impressive Puilaurens Castle , a true stone sentinel. The route continues through valleys and along forest tracks , leading you to the spectacular Galamus Gorge . The trail reaches its climax opposite the imposing fortress of Peyrepertuse , before a memorable arrival in the renowned village of Cucugnan .
This week-long tour offers a remarkable diversity of landscapes , enhanced by beautiful panoramas and a great connection with your horse . An ideal adventure to combine historical heritage and wide open spaces .
The highlights
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Generous and enduring horses, true companions on this adventure
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Varied Pyrenean landscapes, between forests, summer pastures and high plateaus
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Beautiful panoramas, between high plateaus, forests and the landscapes of the Corbières
Photos
Sport
Level
Horseback riding
The expert's opinion
Riding level and physical condition
The trip is aimed at independent riders at all three gaits, comfortable on varied terrain and able to saddle and unsaddle their horse independently.
The terrain requires frequent dismounting to rest the horses, especially on descents and sometimes on certain ascents. A good level of fitness is therefore necessary to fully enjoy the ride and to navigate mountainous terrain on foot.
Children are accepted from the age of 12, with a minimum level of Galop 3, provided they are accompanied by an adult rider also participating in the ride.
For the well-being of our horses and to guarantee them suitable working conditions throughout the ride, the maximum rider weight is set at 90 kg.
For safety reasons and out of respect for animal welfare, our local expert reserves the right to interrupt your stay without refund if the required riding level is not assimilated or if the weight limit is exceeded.
In figures
Horseback riding
- Average duration/day: 6h
Management
Floriane, a passionate rider and certified ATE guide for over 10 years, has honed her skills in France and abroad. From the Corbières to the Pyrenees, she now shares her passion for horseback riding by guiding you through wild and unspoiled landscapes, in a spirit of adventure, sharing, and conviviality.
Program
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Espousouille
- Transportation Minibus - 01h45 - 80km
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
Arrival at the Cucugnan equestrian farm between 4pm and 5pm , transfer to Espousouille by vehicle. Presentation of the horses, the team and the ride.
Meals and overnight stay in Espousouille, a typical mountain village on the high plateau of Capcir.
Day 1 -
Espousouille - Artigues
- Activity Horseback riding
- Duration of the activity 5h30
- Accommodation Bed and Breakfast
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
For this first encounter with our horses, we ride through a pretty valley before climbing towards the Col des Ares (1608m), the former Spanish border. We cross beautiful beech forests before reaching the rolling plateau of Donezan and its small mountain villages.
Meals and overnight stay in Artigues in a small village hotel.
Day 2 -
Artigues - Espezel
- Activity Horseback riding
- Duration of the activity 7h
- Accommodation Camping
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
A beautiful mountain day awaits us today (we'll be climbing to nearly 2000m altitude), winding through forests and summer pastures with stunning panoramas and a true sense of freedom. We'll then descend into the Rébenty valley before climbing back up to the Sault Plateau.
Meals and overnight stay in a small campsite in the heart of the village of Espezel. (Overnight stay in a 1 or 2 person tent with an inflatable mattress)
Day 3 -
Espezel - Quirbajou
- Activity Horseback riding
- Duration of the activity 4h30
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Today, we follow the "Cathar Trail" towards the Comefroide-Picaussel forest, stronghold of the Picaussel maquis during the Second World War, heading towards Belvis in the heart of the Pays de Sault. Our steps will then lead us into the Camelier forest towards the small village of Quirbajou.
Day 4 -
Quirbajou - AyguesBonnes
- Activity Horseback riding
- Duration of the activity 7h30
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We leave Quirbajou heading towards Marsa and then Cailla. We continue our journey along the famous "Cathar Trail" towards Axat. We arrive within sight of the remarkable Château de Puilaurens, which stands on its rocky spur overlooking the village in the middle of a fir forest.
We continue along the path to reach our destination where Colette and Christian, Aubrac cow breeders, are waiting for us in a small hamlet surrounded by nature at an altitude of 650 m.
Meals and overnight stay in Aigues-Bonnes.
Day 5 -
AyguesBonnes - Cucugnan
- Transportation Minibus - 00h30 - 25km
- Activity Horseback riding
- Duration of the activity 5h30
- Accommodation Unique "bubble-style" accommodation
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
For this final day, we head towards Prugnanes before reaching La Tirounère, a lovely pond nestled in the heart of the forest, ideal for a last break. We then continue our descent towards Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet, where we meet up with the vehicle and leave our horses after this wonderful week of riding. Transfer to Cucugnan.
Meals and overnight stay at the Cucugnan campsite in unusual accommodations.
Thus ends this wonderful journey.
Day 6 -
Cucugnan
- Accommodation Unique "bubble-style" accommodation
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Breakfast and the end of our wonderful week
Day 7
Note
This program is provided for informational purposes only. The itinerary and stages may be adapted according to weather conditions, trail conditions, or any other constraints encountered on the ground. These adjustments are made to best ensure the safety and well-being of the riders and horses.
The times spent on horseback are also given as a guide.
Accommodation
Access
A transfer to and from Perpignan train station or airport can be arranged on Sunday for your arrival and Saturday for your departure. Please contact us to find out the transfer times and arrange your pick-up.
Go to the starting point
Transfer from Perpignan train station: a transfer can be arranged from Perpignan train station on Sunday and for the return trip on Saturday. Please contact us before booking your tickets to find out the pick-up times.
Perpignan Airport Transfer: A transfer can be arranged from Perpignan Airport on Sundays and for the return trip on Saturdays. Please contact us before booking your tickets to confirm pick-up times.
Price details
The price includes
- The hike will be led by a qualified ATE guide.
- The provision of the horse and its equipment for the entire duration of the ride
- Accommodation from Sunday evening to Saturday morning, in gîtes, bed and breakfasts, mountain huts/hotels and staffed mountain huts depending on the stage
- Meals included during your stay, from Sunday dinner to Saturday breakfast
- The Friday evening transfer to collect the vehicles at the starting point
- Luggage transport between accommodations when provided for during the stage
The price does not include
- Transportation to the meeting point and from the departure point at the end of the stay
- Personal expenses
- Drinks and snacks outside of meals
- Personal insurance, particularly individual accident insurance for riders
- Any service or benefit not mentioned in the "What's included" section
Options
- Transfers to Perpignan train station : On request
- 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
- On request: large rain poncho, water bottle, sleeping bag liner
Equipment to bring
- A riding helmet (mandatory)
- One or more water bottles to carry 2L of water
- A sleeping bag (comfort rating 10°C) - for mountain hikes: comfort rating 0°C to +5°C; a sleeping bag liner is also comfortable inside sleeping bags.
- A pocket knife
- A phone charger
- A headlamp
- Toiletries (and towel)
- Earplugs for nights in dormitories
- Personal pharmacy
Clothing to bring
- A cap or hat for the sun
- A waterproof rain jacket covering the thighs
- Waterproof overtrousers
- A pair of waterproof walking shoes with chaps or mini-chaps (riding boots not recommended)
- Riding breeches or comfortable jeans-type trousers
- A scarf or shawl for the neck or face
- A pair of high-protection sunglasses
- Cotton or technical quick-drying t-shirts + long-sleeved shirts
- A lightweight fleece + a warm fleece or equivalent
- A spare pair of trousers
- A swimsuit (optional for "wild showers")
- A pair of sneakers or light shoes for the evening
- Several pairs of socks
- A pair of gloves (sun, cold, friction)
The Floriane team
Our local expert offers multi-day horseback riding tours of 2 to 7 days, from mid-April to the end of October, in small groups of no more than 10 riders. From the Cathar Corbières to the Catalan Pyrenees, he invites you to embark on an adventure on sure-footed, spirited horses, through wild landscapes and exceptional heritage.