• The Cathar castle tour on horseback
  • The Cathar castle tour on horseback
  • The Cathar castle tour on horseback
  • The Cathar castle tour on horseback
  • The Cathar castle tour on horseback
  • The Cathar castle tour on horseback
Aude / Pyrenees

The Cathar castle tour on horseback

Réf : NZVAGG

In summary

  • Sports
    Hiking / Trekking , Horseback riding
  • Duration
    8 days
  • Level
    Intermediate

    Levels

    Beginner
    For those wishing to walk for up to 3 hours with minimal elevation gain (max. 300m) along roads, tracks, trails, or rolling terrain. Suitable for everyone.
    Intermediate
    For those wishing to hike for 4 to 5 hours a day, covering an elevation gain of around 600m on trails. You hike occasionally and are in good physical condition.
    Confirmed
    For those wishing to hike for up to 6 hours a day and/or cover an elevation gain of 600 to 800 meters, both on and off-trail. High-altitude sections are possible. You engage in a sporting activity once a week, hike regularly, and are in very good physical condition.
    Advanced
    For those wishing to undertake multi-day hikes involving over 6 hours of walking and an elevation gain of 700 to 1,200 meters, off-trail or over rugged terrain. High-altitude sections are possible. You engage in endurance sports several times a week, hike regularly, and are in excellent physical condition.
    Expert
    For those who want a challenging hike of 7 to 8 hours per day with over 1200 meters of elevation gain off-trail or on rough terrain. High-altitude sections. You have been practicing high-intensity endurance sports several times a week for several years, and you are training for this event.
  • Destination
    Aude / Pyrenees
  • Age
    From 18 - 90 years
  • CO₂-Emissions
    238.59 kg CO2
  • Type of stay
    This group trip is perfect for travelers who want to experience a sporting adventure with other enthusiasts and be guided.
    Type of stay
    In a group
  • Languages
    French
    German
    English

In a few words

Embark on a captivating immersion in the heart of the Cathar Pyrenees during a horseback riding trek combining wild nature and medieval heritage. This journey through the mid-mountain region takes you in the footsteps of the "Good Men," following the steep paths once used to flee the Inquisition.

Accompanied by sure and sturdy Pyrenean horses , you will explore sites steeped in emotion. Your passionate guide will bring to life the epic story of the Albigensian Crusade at the foot of the impressive Cathar castles , veritable stone sentinels overlooking the valleys.

This route is an ideal introduction to hiking in hilly terrain, allowing you to enjoy breathtaking scenery in complete tranquility. Between mysterious forests and panoramic ridges, this historical adventure offers a journey through time accessible to those who wish to combine a passion for horses with a thirst for culture. An authentic experience to immerse yourself in the soul of a fascinating region.

The highlights

  • Montsegur Castle, theater of the end of the Crusade, a major site in France
  • A visit to Montaillou, a key site in the history of Catharism
  • The Roquefixade castle of Raymond de Pereille, who defied the crusaders
Subscriber benefit save 5% by joining our community
Decathlon Travel Benefits
Best price guaranteed: We offer twice the difference
Free cancellation more than 30 days in advance
Payment in 2 installments
Learn more

Photos

Sport

Level

Hiking / Trekking

Intermediate

Levels

Beginner
For those wishing to walk for up to 3 hours with minimal elevation gain (max. 300m) along roads, tracks, trails, or rolling terrain. Suitable for everyone.
Intermediate
For those wishing to hike for 4 to 5 hours a day, covering an elevation gain of around 600m on trails. You hike occasionally and are in good physical condition.
Confirmed
For those wishing to hike for up to 6 hours a day and/or cover an elevation gain of 600 to 800 meters, both on and off-trail. High-altitude sections are possible. You engage in a sporting activity once a week, hike regularly, and are in very good physical condition.
Advanced
For those wishing to undertake multi-day hikes involving over 6 hours of walking and an elevation gain of 700 to 1,200 meters, off-trail or over rugged terrain. High-altitude sections are possible. You engage in endurance sports several times a week, hike regularly, and are in excellent physical condition.
Expert
For those who want a challenging hike of 7 to 8 hours per day with over 1200 meters of elevation gain off-trail or on rough terrain. High-altitude sections. You have been practicing high-intensity endurance sports several times a week for several years, and you are training for this event.
For those wishing to hike for 4 to 5 hours a day, covering an elevation gain of around 600m on trails. You hike occasionally and are in good physical condition.

The expert's opinion

A very nice first mountain hike for those who want to get started

In figures

Horseback riding

  • Average duration/day: 4h30

Management

During this stay, several supervisors will be present to guide and assist you, ensuring your comfort and safety throughout the trip.
Band : 1 supervisor for 4 to 10 people
Languages ​​spoken:
French
German
English
Claire
Claire

Claire is an ATE and AE, an agricultural engineer, and knows the Cathar Pyrenees like the back of her hand. She leads hikes for adults and teenagers.

Armelle
Armelle

Armelle manages the logistics of the rides brilliantly. She prepares the paddocks and brings food for the horses and riders.

The guides know the routes and the horses perfectly. They are passionate about their region and their local breed horses. They will share their passion and knowledge with you in complete safety.

Management

Security

The horses are born on the farm, trained and developed by us, and undertake several thousand treks each year. They are very experienced and very safe. They are equipped with custom-made, professional-grade riding gear. The guides are very committed to safety.
Learn more about supervision

Program

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
  • map

    Arrival at the La Marmite gîte in Camurac

    • Accommodation Cottage
    • Breakfast not included
    • Lunch not included
    • Dinner included

    Riders are welcomed at the gîte la Marmite in Camurac or at the nearest train station (Ax-les-Thermes) at 5 p.m.

    Airport transfer available.

    Overnight stay with half-board at the Gîte la Marmite

    Day 1

Accommodation

Access

Departure
Gîte la Marmite 11240 Camurac, France
Day 1 : 18h00
End of stay
Gîte la Marmite 11240 Camurac, France
Day 8 - 10h00

Go to the starting point

Access by train
Take the train toAx les ThermesOr
Access by plane
The nearest airport isToulouse Or
Access by car
Travel to the place of stay with parking available
Would you like to travel on other dates?
Create an alert and we'll notify you by email if new departures are added.
Notify me of upcoming availability

Bonus: You can also let us know the date that interests you and we will do our best to offer it to you!

Price details

The price includes

  1. Accommodation and meals from day 1 to dinner and breakfast on the last day
  2. Guided horseback riding tours
  3. Any visits included in the stay
  4. A free shuttle service from the nearest train station

The price does not include

  1. Possible options

Options

You will be able to select these options when booking.
  1. Airport transfer : CHF68.61 / person
  2. 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

  1. A 4x4 carrying all the luggage
  2. A steward will set up and take down the bivouacs, install the horse paddocks, prepare lunch and dinner, and will also be at your service for any small errands you may need.


Equipment to bring

  1. Suitcase or sturdy luggage (please no small bags that open and nothing outside of luggage), be mindful of space!
  2. Your personal belongings (underwear, change of clothes, toiletries, etc.)
  3. A pair of mini-chaps
  4. Comfortable hiking shoes for horseback riding and walking
  5. Swimsuit
  6. A flashlight or headlamp
  7. A pair of gloves
  8. Tennis shoes or light walking shoes (for the evening)
  9. Minimum 1 liter water bottle
  10. His camera (at his own risk)
  11. His sunscreen
  12. His raincoat
  13. The picnic
  14. Its Gore-Tex


Clothing to bring

  1. A good Gore-Tex style raincoat and a warm jacket
  2. Nne down jacket
  3. Fleece jackets (mountain clothing), the weather is changeable and the nights are cool.
  4. A down comforter
  5. Your sunglasses
  6. A hat (sun or rain)
  7. At least two pairs of riding breeches



The Sylvain team
Decathlon Travel Partner

The Sylvain team

5/5 (5 reviews) • 8 stays
Specializing in horseback riding trips in the Pyrenees, our local partner relies on exceptional horses, raised according to organic farming principles. Its founder, a certified mountaineering and riding expert, has been guiding high-mountain treks for over twenty years. Accompanied by a bilingual and passionate team, he offers meticulously planned trips, combining geographical expertise with a love of wild peaks.
Discover their team and their trips
Are you satisfied with this page?
Are you satisfied with this page?

We are sorry to hear that.

Help us improve this page. Tell us what information you would have liked to see.

0/500
Your personal data is collected by Decathlon Travel (Decathlon Expérience SAS), acting as the data controller. The legal basis for this processing is pre-contractual measures/contract to respond to your quote request and contact you. Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are mandatory. In accordance with applicable data protection regulations, you have various rights, including the right to access, rectify, erase, and object to the processing of your data. To learn more about the processing of your data, to understand all your rights, and how to exercise them, please consult our privacy policy.

Have a question about this trip?

Select the type of request, and we will get back to you shortly.

Book with confidence
Subscriber benefit Because you are part of our community, we offer you an exclusive discount on your bookings.
How much ?
✅ Benefit from 5% off the cost of your stay, up to a maximum of €50.
  • Valid for a first booking on our site, with no minimum purchase required.
  • Can be combined with any other current promotion.
  • Not valid on air transport, carbon offsetting and insurance.
How ?
  • All you need to do is subscribe to our newsletter.
  • You will receive your promo code by email immediately after registering.
We promise not to flood your inbox!
Join our community
Best price guaranteed Our promise is simple: to guarantee you the best price for your adventure. If you find an identical offer cheaper on another French website, We'll offer you twice the difference.
The key principles for benefiting from it:
  • ✅ A 100% identical offer: Same dates, same services, same sales conditions.
  • ✅ A public and accessible price: The offer must be proposed by a French professional website, in euros.
Find all the details and procedures to follow, whether you have already booked or not, on our dedicated page. Discover how to benefit from it
Free cancellation more than 30 days before departure Something unexpected come up? Change your mind with peace of mind. You can cancel your booking free of charge and without giving a reason if you cancel more than 30 days before your departure.
Important conditions:
  • ❌ Flights and transport in your name: Airline or train tickets already issued in your name are not refundable under this guarantee.
  • ❌ Specific named services: Certain personalized services (such as a special permit or a named registration for a race or accommodation) may be excluded.
Details regarding cancellation fees: For the Standard fare booked 30 days or less before departure, and for the Flex fare booked less than 24 hours before departure, the cancellation fees defined in the partner's terms and conditions apply.
Payment in 2 installments without fees Secure your spot now and manage your budget with flexibility. This option allows you to confirm your adventure right away by paying only a portion of the total cost.
How does it work?
  1. You pay a 30% deposit today to reserve your stay.
  2. The balance (the remaining 70%) must be paid no later than 30 days before departure.
Eligibility requirements: This option is available for all stays:
  • ✅ Of an amount greater than €300.
  • ✅ Whose departure is in more than 30 days.