An adventure and cultural paradise

Mont Blanc (the highest mountain in central Europe), home to some of the best skiing and snowboarding on the planet, an extensive coastline for watersport lovers, 180,000km of long-distance footpaths for hiking (sentiers de grande randonnée or GR), and 60,000km of marked cycle paths (pistes cyclables), France will fulfil every adventure desire in one destination.

The Alps are the home of mountaineering, and what better place to learn to climb than on a guided trip in the French Alps, or achieve a long term goal of climbing one of the highest peaks in Europe. Mountains are intrinsically linked with French culture, so what better place to indulge your ski or snowboard passion that places like Val Thorens, Courchevel, Val d’Isère, Tignes and Méribel. Each has its own unique culture and style depending on ability levels and what type of supplementary features you are after.

Whilst sampling and experimenting with French gastronomy when you relax in beautiful café terraces, village squares, or bustling bistros, you can plan your hiking or mountain biking adventures on one of thousands of trails around France. From oceanside jaunts along the French Rivera, meandering the hills of Tuscany, hiking mountain trails near Chamonix, through to multiday challenges such as the spectacular 180km GR20 in Corsica – ‘the toughest long distance trail in Europe’.

France is such an adventurous destination beyond the mountains. Cycle holidays and walking tours are incredibly popular and allow you to experience the true heart of the culture while undertaking an activity whereby you provide the power to get yourself from one place to another. You could try horseriding across the famously romantic Camargue at the Rhône Delta, tandem hang-glide and paraglide in the Hautes-Alpes of Provence or the Pyrenees, or canoe down the rivers of the southwest (the Dordogne, Vézère, Lot and Tarn).

The extensive coastline provides ample opportunities to indulge in watersport passions. The Mediterranean coast has every conceivable sort of beachside activity, including sailing around Brittany, surfing at Biarritz, boating, sea-fishing and diving. It can get crowded at peak times as this is such an iconic destination, however the clear-blue waters and stunning weather mean places like Corsica and the Côte d’Azur are a must-do destination for your next adventure.

Experience Types

All Experiences

All Experiences
Gift Voucher
4WD Tours
Abseiling
Adventure Journeys
Aerobatic Flights
Alpine Hiking
Ballooning
Bike Hire
Bike Tours
Boat Charters
Bridge Climb
Bucket-List Adventures
Bungy Jumping
Camel Riding
Camping
Canoeing
Canyoning
Cars/Go Kart
Caving
Courses
Cruise
Diving
Dolphins/ Dolphin Swim
Eco Tours
Expedition Cruising
Fishing
Fly Board
Forest / Rainforest
Geothermal Parks
Glacier Hiking
Glowworm Caves
Hang Gliding
Heli-skiing & Heli-boarding
Hiking & Trekking
Horse Riding
Hovercraft
Indigenous & Cultural
Island Hopping
Jet Boating
Jet Ski
Kayaking
Kite Surfing
Live Aboard Diving
Luge
Marine Parks / Reserve
Motorbike Tours
Motorsports
Mountain Biking
Mountaineering and Climbing
National Parks
Nature
Outback
Packrafting
Paddle Board
Paragliding
Parasailing
Polar Expeditions
Quad Biking
Rafting
River Cruises
Rock Climbing
Safari
Sailing
Sand Boarding
Scenic Flights
Scenic Tour / Sightseeing
Self Drive
Skiing & Snowboarding
Skydiving
Skydiving - Indoor
Skyrail Gondola
Snorkelling
Snowshoeing
Surfing
Swimming
Swing
Training Courses
Try-It Adventures
Virtual Experience
Volcano Tours
Walking Tours
Water Sports
Whale Watching
Wildlife and Birdwatching
Ziplining
Zoos / Wildlife Parks

Climate

France is a large country, extending to around 1,000 km from north to south and from east to west, and the climate varies from region to region.

Generally the weather is the nicest during the spring months of May and June or at the beginning of autumn in September and October. There are also less people during this time. The large crowds pour in for summer vacation during July and August, making it the worst time to visit if you’re not keen on crowds (and higher prices).

Northern Coastal Regions

Experience a temperate climate much like England. The winters are mild with temperatures averaging around 5°C (41°F), while the warm summer temperatures are in the 20-30°C (68-86°F) range. The weather can be unpredictable and rain can occur at any time of year.

Southwest France

Also experiences mild winters but the summers are much warmer. There is less rainfall in this region than in the northern part of France, however thunderstorms are common in the summer.

Central & Inland France

Have more extreme weather and a greater variation between the seasons. The winter is harsher with snow and frost likely, whereas the summers are warmer.

Mediterranean Coast & Corsica

Have a typical Mediterranean climate of hot summer days and short mild winters. This region of France has the most sunshine hours each year – eleven or twelve during the summer. Rain is scarce during the summer but when it does rain it pours, often with thunder. Periods of cold windy weather can occur in late spring, brought about by the famous northerly ‘mistral’ wind.

Mountain Regions

Especially the Alps, but also the Massif Central and the Pyrenees at high altitudes experience long and cold winters with substantial snowfall.

Best Time To Travel

Mountaineering – June to August
Rock climbing – Can be all year round, but summer is excellent
Ski/snowboard – most resorts are open December to April
Best time for hiking the GR network is generally late spring/early summer and late summer/early fall
Scuba diving is ideal from June through September. However, water temperatures are highest in the Mediterranean from April through October or November, so can occur within this range

exploreGO Top Tips

Ski or snowboard Val Thorens, Courchevel, Val d’Isère, Tignes and Méribel
Tour Normandy by bicycle
Sailing a yacht in Brittany
Climbing Mont Blanc from Chamonix
Rock climbing at Fontainebleau, Corsica, or Les Calanques
Hike the 180km GR20 in Corsica, or the GR10 in the Pyrenees
Horseride across Camargue at the Rhône Delta
Scuba dive the crystal clear water at Côte d’Azur