Hiking is the least polluting, least expensive and most unifying of all sporting activities. In short, it's the most virtuous of them all, and the motivations for doing so vary from person to person and day to day. An activity that has undoubtedly become increasingly popular in recent years. Here are a few tips and ideas for preparing your summer walks, in France and (a little) elsewhere. So put on your best shoes and enjoy your hikes!
Where to hike and go to the beach in France?
Corsica 's varied terrain is perfectly suited to hiking, offering a wide variety of landscapes, often between land and sea. However, most of Corsica's hiking trails, including the GR20, one of our most beautiful hikes, require careful preparation. It is advisable to undertake these hikes between May and October. Among the most popular routes are the "Mare e Monti", offering panoramic views alternating between mountain and sea, the "sentier de la transhumance", which follows the trail of shepherds between Balagne and Niolu, and the "Mare a Mare", three itineraries, the most popular of which links Porto-Vecchio to Propriano. These dreamy days of hiking can be rounded off with a refreshing dip in the sea, as Corsica is also one of our top beach destinations.
Normandy ishome to one of our 10 most beautiful long-distance hiking trails in France: it crosses the department of Seine-Maritime, in Normandy, and skirts the Côte d'Albâtre with its pebble beaches and superb limestone cliffs. The GR 21 is accessible to all hikers, whether novice or experienced, and the number of kilometers can be adjusted to suit individual tastes. The trail passes through typical Normandy coastal villages such as Varengeville-sur-Mer, before heading inland between Étretat and Le Havre.
Where to go for hiking and beach breaks in Europe?
Madeira's network of irrigation canals, known as levadas, dates back to the earliest days of colonization. Today, exploring the levadas is the best way to discover the island. The hiking trails along these canals take in breathtaking scenery and have become a must for walkers of all levels, with routes graded according to difficulty. Some trails run along levadas clinging to cliff faces, offering breathtaking views of mountain ranges, while others traverse magnificent forests. More than 1,000 km of levadas can be explored on foot in Madeira..
A hiker's paradise, Sicily offers a number of nature reserves and parks where you can go green and organize a few hikes or treks: the Zingaro reserve, but also the Nebrodi or Madonie parks and the Aeolian Islands. But of course, Etna is the place to be if you're a casual walker or a seasoned hiker. While you can also admire it from a paraglider or hurtle down it on a mountain bike, surveying its footpaths on foot is a must on any Sicilian trip. Etna offers a wide variety of routes and excursions. Approaches are usually made in 4x4 vehicles, for excursions lasting from 2 to 8 hours. Among the most beautiful are the evening excursions, where the spectacle of molten lava at nightfall is grandiose. Lazy or adventurous, there's something for everyone.
Where to go hiking in France?
In Alsace, experienced hikers and leisurely strollers alike will delight in the many rolling, verdant landscapes and pretty villages straight out of a Grimm Brothers fairy tale, along more than 17,000 kilometers of marked trails. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or a leisurely stroller, you can invent your own itinerary. Each hike allows you to discover Alsace in a different way, taking your time. Refuges and shelters, as well as clear, uniform signposting, ensure that you can enjoy these superb hikes without a hitch. You can also hike in Alsace on two European routes: the E5 and the GR5. The Chemin de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle also passes through the region, from Wissembourg to Belfort, and offers pilgrims and walkers alike an itinerary through forests and Jacobean heritage that turns into a real human adventure.
Savoie, with its 11 most beautiful walks, has so much more to offer and discover! Walking in the mountains... This is the most widespread, the most obvious and, above all, the simplest activity. It's inexpensive and can be done independently. In summer with good shoes, in winter with snowshoes... There are many marked trails and itineraries throughout the mountains . The refuges located on these itineraries are also very present on the territory. Each tourist office is able to provide information and advice, as well as topos to help you assess which routes are best suited to your level and desires, in terms of accessibility and duration... Breathtaking panoramas and possible encounters with ibex, golden eagles and marmots... Savoie is plural and above all a must for mountain vacations.
On the border between France and Spain, the Pyrenees are one of France's top hiking destinations. They offer routes to suit all levels, breathtaking panoramas and unique culture and traditions. And there's so much to do on this mythical mountain range, from the Ariège to the Hautes-Pyrénées, so many spots and circuits. From simple strolls to the most demanding treks to reach the Pyrenean peaks , there's plenty to do with superb hiking itineraries. With so many names that speak to walkers: Lac de Gaube, Cirque de Gavarnie, Lac d'Oô, Plateau de Bellevue, Pic du Midi de Bigorre and Lac d'Oncet... It's sure to be fun!
Where to go hiking in France in September?
Franche-Comté, whose mysterious landscapes have inspired film-makers, is endowed with vast forests, mountains, lakes and natural expanses, and offers visitors an island of greenery with varied panoramas where calm and well-being are assured. Between Jura, Doubs, Haute-Saône, Territoire de Belfort, Parc naturel régional des Ballons des Vosges and Parc naturel régional du Haut Jura, walkers have a host of possibilities. The choice is yours! There's no shortage of superb itineraries, including those that follow the route of Santiago de Compostela, or that of the Franco-Swiss smugglers..
Hundreds of kilometers of hiking trailscriss-cross the Alps, andhere are some of the finest. In this vast, untamed territory, the paths were naturally laid out by man to cross from one valley to another, to climb the mountain pastures or to approach the summits. Most of these paths are passable from May to October, as long as you don't climb too high! Even in midsummer, it's not uncommon to encounter névés - patches of snow - at 2,500 m altitude. In short, hiking in the Alps is suitable for all levels, not to mention trail walking, which is gaining ground every year. The finest trails in the Alps are yours for the taking!
Walking on volcanoes, moving to the rhythm of the water, going deep into the forests, getting close to know-how, listening to legends...: hiking allows you to discover theAuvergne in a different way. Make sure you're properly equipped for the season, put on your best pair of shoes and take to the trails, whether you're tackling long-distance trails or short family hikes. Ready to climb the highest peak in the Massif Central? The puy de Sancy rises to 1,886 metres. Several hikes lead to it. In the Puy-de-Dôme region, the Chaîne des Puys and the Limagne fault can be seen on foot. No fewer than 80 volcanoes make up the chain, so there's plenty of hiking to be done, and the Auvergne is ideal for enjoying the countryside.
The Jura has hundreds of signposted footpaths, offering a magnificent spectacle of lakes, mountains and forests. Panoramic views not only of the region, but also of Switzerland and Mont Blanc. Between the Comtoise plain, a veritable ocean of greenery, and the Revermont with its famous vineyards, you're transported to the plateaus, many of which rise to 1,300 m in altitude. In the Jura, the most beautiful hikes can be enjoyed at all altitudes, and many tourist offices offer circuits to follow on your own or with a guide.
Where to go for a family hike?
The Vercors, classified as a Regional Nature Park since 1970, is a unique territory. This remarkable site, with its sublime landscapes, impressive relief and rich flora and fauna, is the largest nature reserve in France. The Hauts Plateaux du Vercors, protected since 1985, covers more than 17,000 hectares. Situated at an altitude of between 1,200 and 2,341 metres, with the Grand Veymont as its highest point, the reserve dominates the entire region. There are no roads and no villages, making it a particularly wild and unspoilt area. In winter, skiing reigns supreme, while as soon as the warm weather arrives, hikers flock here to take advantage of over 3,000 km of marked trails offering superb hiking opportunities.
Thescenery of the Italian Alps stretches from the Mont Blanc chain to the famous Dolomites, with their superb hiking trails. For hikers, the Dolomites offer a world of spires and needles crowning mountains like majestic monuments. Their meticulously tended valleys, dusted with flowers, resemble the perfect mountain pastures in the Heidi cartoon. These mountains are instantly recognizable, thanks to their distinctive relief and high, bare, colorful walls, which are the delight of mountaineers and take on pink hues at sunset.
The Vosges, located in the Grand Est region of France, offers a captivating landscape of hills, forests and mountains. The area offers dynamic vacations, with skiing in winter and hiking in summer. The Vosges Massif offers a wealth of hiking opportunities, with over 18,000 km of trails marked and maintained by Club Vosgien. The trails are suitable for all levels, from family outings to long hikes. Distance, duration and degree of difficulty can be adapted to suit all levels.
Which are the most beautiful islands on which to hike?
Reunion is best enjoyed on foot. Three cirques - Salazie, Cilaos and Mafate - lie in the heart of the island. With their waterfalls nestled in rugged terrain, lush ramparts, mountain villages and kilometers of hiking trails, they are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Many hamlets (known as îlets) are only accessible on foot. At the center of the cirques, the Piton des Neiges, the highest peak in the Indian Ocean, offers breathtaking views. Around it, savannah, marshes, cliffs, pitons and fields stretch as far as the eye can see, while on the outskirts of the Piton de la Fournaise, sandy, desert-like immensities take over. The volcano, one of the most active in the world, delivers its breathtaking fireworks display, an incandescent eruption from the bowels of the earth, about once a year. Criss-crossed by trails of varying length and difficulty, the whole island is a magnificent playground for Sunday walkers and professional trekkers alike. Here's a closer look atthe most beautiful hikes on Reunion Island.
The wonders of the Azores, a true hiker's paradise, can only be fully appreciated on foot. On your agenda are invigorating strolls through ever-changing landscapes: wild streams tumbling down lushly vegetated ravines, crystal-clear lakes surrounded by verdant shores, spectacular cliffs, dormant craters, and caves with glistening walls. Even on the paved roads, car traffic is low enough not to be a nuisance. Each island has its own marked trails, and the landscapes you'll discover will never fail to amaze you. Warm up well!
