Rider on an adventure horseback trail in the mountains
France > Provence - The Cote D'azur

Trail riding in Provence and the Côte d'Azur

There is more to Provence than just seaside resorts and lavender fields. Far from the busy touristic attractions of the Coast, explore untouched and unspoiled locations, isolated traditional villages and poignant mountainous peaks. In a region that enjoys almost perpetual sunshine, discover picturesque villages full of character and the warmth of its people, riding across truly stunning scenic countryside. A riding holiday that will stay with you forever.
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From the horse’s mouth

  • Beaches of Camargue
    April 2022 LUCY aged 41
    I rode Vacares. He was a lovely horse. It’s clear that the guide Aurelyss cares a lot about the horses. She was wonderful. Very knowledgeable and helpful
    More about this trip
  • Beaches of Camargue
    October 2021 Kim aged 61
    A very relaxing feel about the environment, great care and respect for the horses and friendliness to all of us riders. We were welcomed so warmly at Brendas, I think the small size of the ranch gives the place its ambience, everyone- horses, dogs, birds and humans are all being taken good care of at Brenda's! The... Read all
    More about this trip

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.


At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website.

If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 112 for an English speaking emergency service and ask for an ambulance. If you are referred to a medical facility for treatment you should contact your insurance/medical assistance company immediately.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/health

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.

Voltage

In France the power plugs and sockets are of type E (two prongs). The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.

Budget and money

Local currency is the Euro.

Telephone and jetlag

Phone code is +33.

Country information

History

The conquest of the northern Camargue began at the end of the 19th century with the appearance of vineyards, followed by forage crops and grains; more recently fruits and vegetables have been cultivated. The great free-roaming herds of cattle and horses the region is known for are still found, especially around the edge of the Vaccarès Lagoon in what became the Camargue regional park. The growing of rice developed after World War II in an attempt to meet national demand and is still important. The salt that is so intimately a part of the marsh soils is exploited in the southeast between the Vaccarès Lagoon and the (Grand) Rhône River. A nature reserve at the Vaccarès Lagoon protects rare species such as flamingos and egrets. The Camargue is also a centre of pilgrimage (Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer) and of tourism.

Source: https://www.britannica.com/place/Camargue

Geography

France lies near the western end of the great Eurasian landmass, largely between latitudes 42° and 51° N. Roughly hexagonal in outline, its continental territory is bordered on the northeast by Belgium and Luxembourg, on the east by Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, on the south by the Mediterranean Sea, Spain, and Andorra, on the west by the Bay of Biscay, and on the northwest by the English Channel (La Manche). To the north, France faces southeastern England across the narrow Strait of Dover (Pas de Calais). Monaco is an independent enclave on the south coast, while the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean is treated as an integral part of the country.

The Camargue is a delta region in Bouches-du-Rhône département, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur région, southern France. The region lies between the Grand and Petit channels of the Rhône River and has an area of 300 square miles (780 square km). In the northern part of the delta, the alluvium has emerged as dry land; in the south, the highest ground is along the embankments of present and former watercourses; in the intervening basins are marshes and shallow lagoons. Sparsely populated, the region was formerly entirely wild, with roaming herds of bulls (raised for Provençal bullfights) and wild Camargue horses.

Source: https://www.britannica.com/place/France/Land

People, culture and traditions

OFFICIAL NAME: République Française (French Republic)
FORM OF GOVERNMENT: republic with two legislative houses (Parliament; Senate, National Assembly)
HEAD OF STATE: President
HEAD OF GOVERNMENT: Prime minister
CAPITAL: Paris
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: French
OFFICIAL RELIGION: none
MONETARY UNIT: euro (€)
POPULATION: (2019 est.) 64,857,000

Useful words

Hello my name is : Bonjour je m’appelle
Hello : Bonjour
Goodbye : Au revoir
Good morning : Bonjour
Yes: Oui
No : non
I am (British) : Je suis (Britannique)
My name is … what is your name? : Mon nom est … comment vous appelez-vous?
Nice to meet you : Heureux de vous rencontrer
What is it? : qu’est ce que c’est?
Where is...? : Où est...?
Thank you (very much) : Merci (beaucoup)
I am sorry : Je suis désolée(e)
I don't understand: Je ne comprends pas
Can you help me? Pouvez-vous m'aider?
I need help: J'ai besoin d'aide
I am lost: Je suis perdu (e)
How much is it? : C'est combien?