Group of riders riding to Chambord in the Loire Valley
France > Paris - The Loire Valley

Enjoy a horseback holiday around Paris, the Loire Valley

Paris is always a good idea! A horseback holiday around Paris and through the Loire Valley is a delightful riding and cultural experience. Discover the extraordinary history of this beautiful region, riding and visiting beautiful Châteaux such as Chambord or Chenonceau, former playgrounds of the French nobility. Doing it all on horseback is a fantastic opportunity and an experience that will stay with you forever. Enjoy a ride back in time to the 16th Century, in a region ideally suited to riding tours where the flat countryside and former hunting grounds allow for long canters off the beaten track.
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From the horse’s mouth

  • Castles of the Loire Valley
    May 2025 MADELEINE aged 31
    Delightful adventure!! Made lots of new friends too, would highly recommend to others :) Asia was a beautiful bay Arabian with a mare-ish attitude that totally worked for me. She was very responsive to my asks, had a very smooth canter, and was trustworthy. We had a wonderful week together!
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  • Castles of the Loire Valley
    May 2025 TERESA aged 68
    Our trip to the Loire Valley Chateaux was absolutely fabulous. The horses were beautifully trained, Ken was really helpful and informative and the selection of Chateaux was fantastic. A riding trip not to be missed.
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  • Castles of the Loire Valley
    October 2024 LAURA aged 60
    Absolutely fabulous highly recommend! Horses are amazing and guide is superb! Would recommend bringing more like 350£. Transportation to and from a little confusing. Amazing ! Cix was her name and she was a true pleasure.
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  • Castles of the Loire Valley
    October 2024 Paul
    We did not ride (came as non-riders!)
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  • Castles of the Loire Valley
    October 2024 Katharine Rose aged 44
    Horses well taken care of, well trained, sound, great feet, it is obvious the great care, training and love and respect they get.saddle was super comfortable, I may buy one that type. Asked/Learned horsemanship from our guide given his expertise. Safety is most important for me and the horses were phenomenal and safe.
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  • Riders discovering Chenonceau, Loire Valley, on horseback
    Discover Chenonceau in the saddle
  • Cheverny castle in the Loire Valley, western France
    Cheverny Castle, Loire Valley
  • Riders in medieval costumes in front of a castle in the Loire Valley
    This trail ride is also a cultural experience
  • Riders on a horseback vacation having a picnic lunch
    Sitting-down picnic lunches on a trail riding holiday in the Loire Valley
  • Chambord castle and horseback riders
    Riding to Chambord castle in the Loire Valley
  • Medieval house in France
    Discover France in the Renaissance...
  • Riding holidays with Equus Journeys
    Riding holidays with Equus Journeys
  • Riders near a village in France and next to a river
    Ride to medieval villages and along rivers
  • Manorhouse in France
    Stay in lovely local hotels and experience the French hospitality

Visa & Health

Formalities

Please refer to your home country's Foreign Office website for up-to-date information. Although we endeavour to keep this section updated, requirements can change quickly, and your home country's Foreign Office website takes precedence.

This section is mostly directed towards UK citizen. Other nationalities, please contact us.

Visa

You can travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This applies if you travel as a tourist, to visit family or friends, to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events, or for short-term studies or training.
Visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days.

At border control, you may need to:

  • Show a return or onward ticket
  • Show you have enough money for your stay
  • Show proof of insurance
  • Have your passport stamped on entry/exit

Passport Validity

You must have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago.
You should also have an ‘expiry date’ at least 90 days after the date you plan to leave.
Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip.

EU Entry/Exit System for non-EU travellers

From October 2025, the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) will start for all non-EU nationals travelling in or out of the Schengen area.
The EES is a digital border system which registers non-EU visitors travelling into the Schengen area instead of stamping their passports.
You will need to have your fingerprints and your photo taken when entering and exiting the Schengen area.

You may experience longer queues at borders when the new system starts. You can read more information here.

Please click here to check the updated entry requirements.

Health

It’s important to take out appropriate travel insurance for your needs. A GHIC or EHIC 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.

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).

Travellers should ideally arrange an appointment with their GP around five weeks before travelling. This appointment provides an opportunity to assess health risks taking into account a number of factors including destination, medical history, and planned activities.
For those with pre-existing health problems, an earlier appointment is recommended.

Please click here to check health recommendations.

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 may request 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.

You can check our "Insurance Guide" here.