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
    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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  • Loire Valley - From Chambord to Chenonceau
    September 2024 Karen aged 68
    Ken was an excellent host and guide- professional and personable! We had a great group that made the week even more enjoyable than expected. The scenery did not disappoint!
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  • Castles of the Loire Valley
    September 2024 Corinna aged 66
    The horses were all good at their jobs, well-mannered and active. Mine, Bijou, was energetic, fit and responsive, not just plodding along. He was a big part of my enjoyment of the trip. The countryside was more beautiful than I imagined, with fields of sunflowers as far as the eye could see, quaint villages, and... Read all
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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

From November 2024, 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.

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.

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.