The great outdoors

Your adventure starts in Aix-en-Provence, home to a hiking and climbing hotspot: Mont Sainte-Victoire. The trails crisscrossing the mount and climbing routes snaking across its face offer sweeping views over the Aix countryside and are perfect for an easy warm-up before embarking on the rest of your tour. Next, it’s time to head to the lower Verdon Canyon and Esparron-de-Verdon lake, ideal for some leisurely canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding or a humble pedalo ride – unless of course you’d prefer a beautiful hike along the water’s edge… In Saint-Martin-de-Brômes, near Gréoux-les-Bains, you can also enjoy a walk with a donkey courtesy of La Safr’ânerie, a popular option for families with kids.

Day 2 of your tour explores the Verdon’s extraordinary natural sites. Sainte-Croix lake is ​​a must-do first stop and home to many water sports centres, especially in La Salle-sur-Verdon and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, where you can enjoy sailing, pedal boating or a nearby treetop adventure course. As you follow the Verdon river through the canyon, the outdoor sports offering is endless, with rock climbing and via ferrata near La Palud-sur-Verdon, canoeing and kayaking on turquoise waters, or cycling and mountain biking on scenic routes. Thrill-seekers will definitely want to try their hand at whitewater rafting or canyoning. For a more leisurely experience, opt for a hike along the famous Blanc-Martel trail, to explore the canyon on foot. Your overnight stay in Castellane promises a restful break after your busy day.

An exciting new array of activities awaits in Digne-les-Bains. Just a stone’s throw away, the Rocher de Neuf Heures via ferrata invites you to climb skywards to savour the beautiful views over the town, Bléone valley and the Haute-Provence Geopark. Courbons and Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban are climbing hotspots too, offering a great choice of routes suitable for beginners and more seasoned climbers alike. Alternatively, opt for a gentler foray with a horse ride or donkey trek, perfect for discovering the scenery at a leisurely pace. A delightful day out tailored to your preferences, combining physical activity and discovery, before a restful night in Digne-les-Bains to get ready for the next stage of your tour.

As you head north from Digne-les-Bains, the scenery becomes more mountainous on the approach to Serre-Ponçon lake. Stop off in Tallard, to the south of Gap, to discover the exciting range of aerial activities on offer: the Gap-Tallard site is a hot air ballooning, paragliding and skydiving hotspot – all accompanied by professional monitors of course. Even if you choose to keep your feet firmly on the ground, the take-offs and landings are a sight to behold. Marking the halfway point of your tour, this stage offers a resolutely different experience and refreshing angle on the beautiful surroundings landscapes. Towards Embrun, the route unveils open, hilly scenery, typical of the gateway to the Hautes-Alpes area.

Serre-Ponçon lake is a marvellous water sports playground and the location for the fifth stage of your tour. The beaches and water sports centres scattered around the lake are easily accessible from Embrun. Depending on your mood, opt for a leisurely stand-up paddleboarding or canoeing session, or plunge into the thrills and spills of windsurfing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, kitesurfing or wing foiling. The open, sunny setting of Serre-Ponçon is an invitation to alternate water sports and relaxing breaks on the shores of the lake, where you can revel in a peaceful swim while lapping up the expansive views over the surrounding peaks. And as the day draws to a close, it’s time to head back to Barcelonnette, along the beautiful Ubaye valley.

Ubaye Valley is a world-famed whitewater sports hotspot. Experience the rapids of its powerful river – considered by some as the most beautiful in France – as you indulge in the delights of whitewater rafting, hydrospeeding, canyoning or kayaking. Cycling enthusiasts will want to take up the gauntlet on Col d’Allos, an iconic mountain pass offering stunning panoramic vistas over the surrounding mountainscapes. Hiking opportunities abound in Val d’Allos and Mercantour National Park: Lac d’Allos, Europe’s largest high-altitude lake, is home to a superb mountain refuge. Alternatively, head off to explore the surrounding peaks of Mont Pelat, Cirque de l’Encombrette and Mont Cimet along awe-inspiring routes steeped in preserved natural beauty, between alpine pastures and high-altitude lakes.

Day 7 promises a full immersion in the unique landscapes of Daluis Gorge, nicknamed the “Little Colorado of Nice”, famed for its red rocks and dizzy vertical cliff faces. This site is a haven for canyoning fans, offering routes that are both fun and technically challenging. And if you’re seeking the ultimate thrill, why not opt for a bungee jump off Pont de la Mariée? The quiet and varied winding roads of this part of the Haut-Var area are also coveted by cyclists. The journey continues towards Nice, via Entrevaux. Beautifully diverse scenery accompanies the descent to the Mediterranean, marking a gradual transition from mountains to shores before your last night on the French Riviera.

This rejuvenating tour ends on Mediterranean shores, in Nice. A proud holder of the “Ville Vélotouristique” cycling label, Nice’s extensive cycle paths and delightful Promenade des Anglais sea front make the city easy to explore by bike. And after a few days dedicated to outdoor activities in our beautiful mountainous areas, its time to enjoy a taste of the Med! Explore the gorgeous sea beds with a maiden dive or mesmerizing snorkelling session in Villefranche-sur-Mer. Or, if terra firma is more your thing, opt for a relaxing walk or jog in Mont Boron forest, perfect for sporting activities and boasting sweeping views over the Bay of Angels and port. A final stage combining urban excitement and soothing outdoor activities, to wind up your sporty stay in style.