Short walks in France
Short walks in France are intensive cultural immersion opportunities for those who like to relax and replenish the soul and spirit through physical activity of the exploratory kind. Experience something different through our range of self-guided, short walks in France depicted above. You can watch the slide show above and click each photo to visit the full tour page of your choice. Alternatively, brief details of each tour can be found below, with links through to the full tour details accessed by clicking the adjacent photo. Trips take place in scenic parts of The Hexagon that are easily accessible from Paris and other large cities by train, or by plane from various European airports.
These short walks in France are accessible within one day’s travel, meaning you start the fun the next morning and enjoy three days of stimulating walking. Luggage transfers are included as well as transport that is integral to the programme from start to finish. Trips always include breakfast but, depending on the chosen tour, may not package up lunch or dinner if the location and trail offers customers sufficient choice along the way and at your overnight resting place.
With a few exceptions, the short walks in France are four-night walking breaks to be enjoyed as ‘ends in themselves’ or as part of a longer and more varied sojourn in The Hexagon.
All our walks offer something for all tastes and are located in the following regions: Auvergne, Centre-Val de Loire, Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence-Alpes-Cote-d’Azur and Rhone-Alpes.
Irrespective of length, all walks are graded according to the level of physical exertion demanded and colour-coded accordingly as Light, Moderate or Harder. Note that some tours are flexible enough to span two categories of challenge and are thus given dual colour coding in the listing below – viz., options exist on certain days for customers to select the challenge of their choice according to their preferences. However, the main tour page is only able to display one colour for design reasons.
If you are interested in walks in France of over 4-nights’ duration, please select your desired challenge below and then click through to visit the respective tour pages:
Otherwise, listed below are summaries of our current range of short walks in France – click the corresponding photo to the left of each tour title to access full details.
Finally here, visit our Instagram page to view day-by-day photos of our moderate walks in France. This feature is under construction and new photos are being added all the time. Do check back to see our updates.
Short walks in France – Light
T
Taste of Loire hiking comprises a short, total immersion in UNESCO’s ‘Garden of France’ with magnificent Renaissance chateaux complemented by the very best of family-run hotels. Easy access and departure is ensured by our friends at the SNCF.”- This light tour is available from mid-April to mid-October. Click the photo (left) for further details.
H
A combination of fine and gentle hikes across undulating Mediterranean hinterland, with superior accommodation. You get to know and love the spectacular eastern flank of the Ardeche Gorge and the endearing lower reaches of the beautiful Ceze Valley.”- This light tour is available from April to end-September. Click the photo (left) for further details.
T
The chance to hone your communication and leadership skills by persuading a donkey to walk the memorable Robert Louis Stevenson trail for the one hundredth time.”- This light-to-moderate tour is available from mid-April to mid-October. Click the photo (left) for further details.
P
Pont du Gard walking is a tale of two gorges, taking you from the Gorge d’Alzon to the Gardon Gorge, culminating in a hike round France’s greatest ancient monument, the Pont du Gard.”- This light tour is available all year round. Click the photo (left) for further details.
H
Walk the final section of the St Giles Way through Roman vineyards to St-Gilles-du-Gard, from where the first crusaders departed to the Holy Land. Then continue across Costiere and along the Compostella ‘Arles Route’ and canal to the subsequent crusader port, the walled cité of Aigues-Mortes. Rarely has such a gentle walking holiday given up so much history.”- This light tour is available all year round, but you are advised to avoid the heat and overcrowding associated with July and August. Click the photo (left) for further details.
La
Grande Motte-The Good Life is a short, four-star, total-immersion in health, fitness and sunshine, with the option of majoring in golf or multi-sports.”- This light tour is available all year round, but you are advised to avoid the heat and overcrowding associated with July and August. Click the photo (left) for further details.
W
A fine mix of walking and serious cultural insight. Enjoy the very best that unspoiled Western Provence has to offer compacted into three glorious days.”- This light-to-moderate tour is available from April to end-September. Click the photo (left) for further details.
T
Immerse yourself in the aromas, flavours and vines of the undulating Mediterranean hinterland, the perfect light-hiking break.”- This light tour is available all year round. Click the photo (left) for further details.
Short walks in France – Moderate
F
This is your chance to enjoy stimulating hikes laced together by short train-rides; a fascinating journey across valley and viaduct on the Cevennes mountain railway – the “line of 100 tunnels” – and flexible walks to suit your mood on the day.”- This light or moderate tour (you choose) is available from mid-April to mid-October. Click the photo (left) for further details.
H
A multitude of themes and an excellent introduction to hill-walking in Unesco’s most recent World Heritage site. Opt for a light or moderate walk on the second day in situ”- This moderate tour with one light option is available from April to mid-October. Click the photo (left) for further details.
H
A hiking extravaganza along the mythical banks and clifftops of the Tarn canyon. Day One is moderate, whilst you choose from light or moderate flexible options on Days Two and Three to suit you on the day.”- This light or moderate tour (you choose) is available from April to late-October. Click the photo (left) for further details.
B
One of the great walks in France, The Regordane is France’s quintessential historical trail, here in a ‘best of’ format.”- This moderate tour is available from April to mid-October. Click the photo (left) for further details.
T
Taste of Camino sees you doing your Camino your way; meeting whom you wish to meet, spending precious time with people of your own ilk and exploring the memorable countryside in the companionship of new acquaintances who may just become lifelong friends. In a word, Enlightenment.”- This moderate tour is available from April to mid-October. Click the photo (left) for further details.
Short walks in France – Harder
V
The three most challenging days of the Robert Louis Stevenson trail France (GR70) – a sumptuous and unforgettable 45-mile/72-km trek into the heart of Cevennes.”- This harder challenge is available from Mid-April to Mid-October. Click the photo (left) for further details.
H
The three most challenging days of our Walking Cezarenque tour find you hiking on the eco-friendly eastern flank of the Cevennes, in the Valley that Time Forgot.”- This harder challenge is available from March to late November. Click the photo (left) for further details.
B
A superb opportunity to enjoy the best of Cantal’s volcanic uplands with some complementary and convivial accommodation.”- This harder tour is available from mid-May to mid-October. Click the photo (left) for further details.
G
Demystify the mythical Tour du Mont Blanc by sampling a section of it for yourself. See what all the fuss is about, realise it’s well within your own capabilities and then come back next year for some more.”- This harder tour is available from mid-June to mid-September. Click the photo (left) for further details.
F
Three days of fine walks in the Alps along the Mont Blanc trail from Courmayeur in Italy to the banks of Lake Champex in Switzerland. The easiest introduction to the mythical TMB.”- This harder tour is available from mid-June to mid-September. Click the photo (left) for further details.
F
Three of the finest days’ walking anywhere in Europe and certainly in the Alps, along the Mont Blanc trail from Argentiere to Les Contamines with options on two days to suit your preferences in situ.”- This harder tour is available from mid-June to mid-September. Click the photo (left) for further details.
See our suggestions for France self-guided trips, trails, themes…