Trail riders in the French region of Alsace
France > Alsace - Champagne Country

On horseback in the Alsace and Champagne country

Riding in Alsace and the Champagne Country is a fantastic equestrian experience - with incredible food and wine to be enjoyed too! With its ancient forests, rolling hills and beautiful vineyards overlooking quaint towns and villages, it is a real pleasure to discover it all from horseback. A part of France with just a hint of Germany, this region has traditions, culture and even an architecture of its own, all of which you will discover on your trail ride. Everywhere, you will receive a genuinely warm welcome. Although beer is excellent, wine lovers are in for a treat, as the region is home to some of the best vineyards in France: Champagne, Riesling, Pinot, Muscat, and many more.
See all our trips

From the horse’s mouth

  • Alsace - Explore the Alsace mountains
    September 2023 Jucelia aged 35
    The first ride my guide gave me a not suitable horse for me, however he was very keen to change it after the ride and offered a different horse to suits me best.
    More about this trip
  • Horseback in Alsace forest
    Riders in the beautiful forests
  • Alsace by horseback
    Group of riders in Alsace
  • Riders in Alsace
    Galoping in the Alsace winery
  • Horseback in Alsace
    A real galoping in Alsace
  • Horseback in Alsace
    Lunch time during the horseback

Visa & Health

Formalities

UK citizens - other nationalities please contact us:

Visas
If you hold a British Citizen passport, you don’t need a visa to enter France. The rules on travel will stay the same until 31 December 2020.

Visas from 1 January 2021
The rules for travelling or working in Europe will change from 1 January 2021:
- you will be able to travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa as a tourist, to visit family or friends, to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events, or for short-term studies or training
- if you are travelling to France and other Schengen countries without a visa, make sure your whole visit is within the limit. Visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before you travel would count towards the 90-day limit
- the 90-day limit for visa-free travel will begin on 1 January 2021. Any days you stay in France or other Schengen countries before 1 January 2021 will not count towards the 90-day limit.

At border control for France, you may need to:
- show a return or onward ticket
- show you have enough money for your stay, and
- use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing
- Your passport may be stamped on entry and exit.

Passport validity
The rules on travel will stay the same until 31 December 2020.
Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay; you don’t need any additional period of validity on your passport beyond this.

Passport validity from 1 January 2021
From 1 January 2021, you must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland).
If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.
Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You will need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

For up-to-date information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/entry-requirements

Health

UK Citizens: A UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) gives you the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the European Union (EU).

https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic/

It’s important to take out appropriate travel insurance for your needs. A GHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance and you should have both before you travel. It does not cover all health-related costs, for example, medical repatriation, ongoing medical treatment and non-urgent treatment.

Insurance

It is a condition of your booking with Equus Journeys that you have travel insurance which covers you for the riding activities to be undertaken. Your travel insurance should cover you for medical expenses and repatriation. Your guides will require your travel insurance details before they allow you to ride and may refuse to let you ride if you cannot provide them. You should take your insurance documents with you.

Choosing the right riding holiday

Choosing the right riding holiday

Through vineyards and farmlands, rolling hills and deep forests, Alsace has a lot to offer. Of course, the best way to explore one of the most famous wine regions in France is in the saddle! Ideal for a change of scenery, we have several different options for our rides in Alsace:

  • Explore the Alsace mountains: a centre-based holiday to discover a magnificent Natura 2000 site, staying in a comfortable gite for the duration of your stay. Experienced riders and less competent riders are accepted and will ride out in groups with riders of similar ability levels.
  • Mountains and Vineyards of Alsace: a good choice for confident riders looking to a point-to-point trail ride in France. Follow the “route des vins” and ride from village to village.