Today you’ll need to make your way to the starting point of the ride. If you’re self-driving, this will be the Patis-Paille Guesthouse in La Neuville aux Larris, and for those catching the train, your hosts will meet you at the TGV train station Champagne-Ardennes at 6pm. This evening is a chance to get to know your guides and fellow globetrotters while enjoying your first taste of Champagne’s regional cuisine – and maybe even a local drop or two!

Yippee, it’s ride day! This morning your Globetrotting group will have breakfast at 8am (think croissants, fresh fruit and bread) then get ready to ride. We’ll enjoy some delightful long canters through the woods to the forest of Verzy, where you’ll come across the most extraordinary dwarf beech trees, called the Faux. Unusually shaped, gnarled and fragile, they bring to mind larger-than-life Japanese bonsais. This is the world’s largest concentration of dwarf beech trees, with around 1,000 in total, and you’ll be able to savour their beauty while enjoying a picnic lunch in their shade. Later, you’ll remount and head south to Trepail, a quintessential wine village of the Champagne region, home of the Chardonnay grape variety. Your resting place for the evening is a guesthouse in the nearby village of Bouzy, known for its Pinot Noir grapes.

After breakfast, you will reunite with the horses and ride through the vineyards to the village of Mutigny, with plenty of free-spirited canters along the way. Photo op alert: Mutigny offers picture-perfect, sweeping views across the Marne Valley! Lunch today is another scrumptious picnic, this time in the village of Hautvillers, the birthplace of Champagne wines. It was here that the monk Dom Pérignon created the method for producing quality sparkling white wines that ultimately led to Champagne – and Dom Pérignon – becoming world famous.

Back in the saddle, you’ll head down through the vineyards to the Marne River, crossing at the village of Cumières, where the horses will be able to stretch out into a nice long canter on the riverbank. You’ll wine, dine and rest your head in the town of Epernay, which you’ll get to explore tomorrow.

The ride this morning alternates between forests and vineyards, with panoramic views over Epernay. The vineyards here produce the Blancs de Blancs – Champagne made only from white grapes, rather than a blend of red and white. The village of Cramant is well known for this and after picnicking in the sunshine on the edge of town, you’ll visit a local winery to taste what all the fuss is about!

The horses get a break this afternoon while you explore Epernay. Surrounded by vineyards, Epernay is the epicentre of Champagne, a place where epic quantities of wine are bought and sold and where every famous Champagne brand has its headquarters! The UNESCO World Heritage listed Champagne Avenue is known for the endless kilometres of chalk cellars built beneath the street to house millions of precious bottles of champagne – not to mention the stunning and eclectic architecture at street level! Another delicious dinner awaits at a local restaurant this evening, then you’ll return to last night’s hotel to catch some Zs.

After breakfast, you’ll reunite with the horses in Cramant and set off for the slopes above the village of Avize, passing chalk cliffs that provide a glimpse of the unique terroir responsible for the much-loved flavour of the Champagne from these hillsides. The route takes you through the Darcy Valley, where you’ll have a spectacular view of the village of Monthelon, then through Epernay forest and back into the Marne Valley. The banks of the Marne River provide a perfect location for today’s picnic, then you’ll cross the Damery village bridge and ride on along vine-covered slopes. Climbing higher once more, the view over the valley will have you scrambling for your camera.

Tonight the horses will spend the night in the village of Montigny, while you and your fellow globetrotters return to the Patis-Paille guesthouse in La Neuville aux Larris for dinner and a Champagne tasting.

It’s your last day of riding, boo! Not to worry, though, it’ll be a day to remember with more jaw-dropping views as you climb up above the picturesque village of Chatillon sur Marne. The village is crowned by a huge, 33 metre high statue of Pope Urban II, otherwise known as Odo of Chatillon, who watches over the vineyards below. Riding through the Regional Natural Park of Montagne de Reims (a bit of a mouthful, but a stunning area, as you’ll discover!), you’ll reach the House of the Park, which includes an information centre with interactive exhibitions where you can learn about the geology, geography, nature and human history of Champagne. You’ll also be able to wander through the orchard, garden and botanical trail before choosing the perfect spot for one final French picnic. Finally, you’ll ride back along forest trails to La Neuville aux Larris, with plenty of trots and canters on the way. Tonight’s dinner will be a celebration of your extraordinary week of adventures – a chance to raise your glass to the sparkling magic of Champagne!

This morning we’ll take a transfer to the nearby city of Reims, also known as the ‘city of kings’ – since the year 496, all French kings have been baptised here, at what is now the Notre-Dame of Reims cathedral.

This afternoon we’ll catch the train back to Paris (train tickets not included in the ride price) and settle into our rooms at the Mercure Paris Alesia. If there’s time, we can head out for a stroll around the buzzing neighbourhood before swapping stories and laughs over dinner in a nearby French restaurant (lunch and dinner not included included today).

YAY, we’re going to the OLYMPICS! Excitement will be at fever pitch as we board a train bound for Versailles (NB public transport is not included in the price), whose fairytale gardens are playing host to the dressage element of the eventing today.

Please note, only breakfast is included today, all other meals/drinks are at your own expense. We’ll present you with your entry ticket to the dressage, but you can spend your time as you wish, watching as much or as little of it as you would like (let’s face it, a whole day of dressage is not everyone’s cup of tea). You can depart at anytime and head back into Paris for more exploration – the time is yours to spend as you wish!

Sadly we’ve been unsuccessful in our bid for cross-country tickets today, but after our first taste of Olympic fever, a day off will no doubt be more than welcome. It’s totally up to you whether you spend the day back in the hotel watching the live stream or exploring some of Paris’s many wonders (the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, and Moulin Rouge, to name but a few).

Breakfast is the only meal included today.

The final, nail-biting phase of the eventing is taking place today: the show jumping. Wear your country colours to support your fellow countrymen globetrotters, personally Kate and Laura will be cheering the Aussies over every jump! After the medal ceremony, we’ll head back to our hotel for some well-earned shut-eye.

Breakfast is the only meal included today.

It’s time for our final farewells as we head off on our respective journeys, on a high after what can only be described as an exhilirating and intoxicating few days in the City of Lights!

We’ll start our adventure in Paris at the Olympic Games and finish with the Champagne Ride, so essentially do the itinerary in reverse! You’ll need to arrive in Paris on July 26 and meet at our hotel accommodation (The Mercure Paris Alesia) that evening where we’ll all head out for dinner (not included in the ride price).

We recommend all guests fly in/out of Paris, or if you’re concerned about flight prices consider flying into London then catching the train across to Paris.

Group 1 (Kate):

You’ll need to catch a train from Paris to Champagne-Ardenne TGV Train Station (near Reims, approx 1hr 20mins) on July 20, arriving no later than 6pm in the evening. Our ride hosts offer a transfer service from the train station to the start of the ride or €20 per person round trip (to be paid in cash upon arrival).

On July 26 we’ll all need to catch the train from the Champagne Ardenne TGV Train Station back to Paris in the afternoon.

On July 30 you’re free to depart anytime after breakfast.

Group 2 (Laura):

You’ll need to arrive in Paris on July 26 and make your own way to our accommodation, the Mercure Paris Alesia.

On July 30 we’ll have most of the day to explore Paris before catching a train to the Champagne Ardenne TGV Train Station, arriving no later than 6pm. As per previous group’s instructions, our ride partner offers a transfer service from the train station to the start of the ride for €20 per person round trip.

On August 5 you’re free to depart anytime after lunch and will need to catch a train back to Paris from the Champagne Ardenne TGV Train Station.

No transfers are included in the package price.

If you wish to pre-book train tickets, visit the SNCF Connect website.