All activities / Horse Riding / Equestrian / Camargue
Horse Riding / Equestrian in CamargueFR
The Rhone delta's UNESCO biosphere of salt lagoons and flamingos, where one of the oldest horse breeds on earth lives semi-wild and mounted gardians still work the black bulls.
Why here
The Camargue horse is one of the oldest breeds on earth, living semi-wild in the Rhone delta, and riding one is the only real way into the wetland interior: the marshes of flamingos, black bulls, and salt lagoons are closed to vehicles and indifferent to hikers. The culture is working, not staged, the manade system of free-roaming herds tended by mounted gardians, France's cowboys, has run formally since 1837, and riding with a breeding manade puts you inside it. The signature image, white horses in the surf at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, is not a postcard trick; the beach rides go into the water.
Best months
April to June and September to October are ideal, mild, with the flamingos in residence; July and August bring heat and mosquitoes that deserve their reputation. Rides run year-round; book manade stays ahead for spring.
Getting there & around
Fly to Marseille (MRS) or Montpellier (MPL), about an hour; base in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer or Arles.
Skill levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced
Schools & guides (2)
Manade Coule
OutfitterA working manade offering rides with its breeding herd plus gites on site, gardian tradition included.
Promenade a Cheval Chez Elise
OutfitterBeach and marsh rides on Camargue whites from Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, including the surf rides the delta is famous for.