10 adventure weekends in France

Here are 10 great adventure weekend ideas in France. Sporty or playful, at sea or in mountain, your stay is unforgettable!

Do you need pure air and the desire to get out of the beaten paths? Know that organizing a weekend adventure in France does not improvise. Wanderlix has denounced ten good ways to escape in full nature and safely.

These short framed country stays are the opportunity to rejuvenate you in solo, couple or friends. To share unique moments in the most beautiful natural sites of the territory. To return to the wild... without the time turning to the storm! Accompanied by a monitor guaranteeing its smooth running, your unusual weekend will necessarily be unforgettable.

1. Weekend back to the wild in the Morvan

A adventure weekend Burgundy ? It is possible in the Morvan, one of the most preserved natural parks in France. Parisians appreciate the geographical proximity with the Île-de-France of this small mountainous massif spread over four departments. Chilowé offers a weekend of rando and bivouac in the middle of the forest framed by an expert on survival. Much more than two days of wild camping, this field getaway is dedicated to strengthening your knowledge of this sumptuous natural environment.

Everything starts in Quarré-Les-Tombes in Yonne. Meet at noon with your guide who will explain the course of the activity. After a four-hour hike, interspersed with a picnic break. You will learn to guide you and find an optimal place of bivouac. The installation of the latter will precede a “water filtering” workshop: essential before preparing a tasty dinner. A nice night under the stars will be appreciated to regain strength before storing your bivouac and leaving for four hours. This last day focuses on the discovery of local fauna and flora. You will then return to Quarré-Les-Tombes in the afternoon: what a weekend!

2. 2 days down in canoe on the Charente

The Charente is a peaceful river that crosses Angouleme, Cognac and Saintes. It stretches between the limousin foothills and the Atlantic Ocean in a green and preserved valley. If he is happy to discover himself by car or by bike, it is in canoe that we take advantage of it the best. This is precisely the purpose of this weekend adventure in France between small villages, mills and centuries-old abbeys. It all starts in the morning in front of the station of Châteauneuf-sur-Charente...

Your instructor will welcome you by explaining the course of your excursion. The safety rules must be known before embarking on your two-seater Canadian canoes. Don’t worry, it’s very intuitive and the descent of the arms of Charente is easily done. 19 kilometers, a picnic break and swimming later, you will arrive in Jarnac in the afternoon. The group will take possession of the Barn of Marielle, a charming cottage, for a friendly aperitif and a tasty dinner. Last night, you will enjoy a hearty breakfast before you start the descent of the “Kuwait arm”. The program: discovering the iconic trees of the area, traditional meals and crossing the dikes of the old mills. The arrival at Cognac around 4pm marks the end of your Charente odyssey. Too short, right?

3. Surftrip by bus in Brittany

In France and in Brice de Nice, it is on the Atlantic coast that you can enjoy surfing in good conditions. This adventure weekend in France is just to introduce you to the best surf spots in Brittany. On a well-equipped bus, the group will deflect on the most beautiful natural sites in the region to learn or perfect surfing. Good mood, splashes and big gamells in perspective. Safely, of course!

It all starts in the morning in Quimper in the Finistère. Your guide will welcome you in front of the station and start the journey to the mythical spot of La Torche. Lunch and the first surf course will be offered to participants. You will learn to the particular lexicon of this mythical sport: line up, cutback, take off... This is the opportunity to test your level before spending a first night on the bus. Breakfast will take place in front of the sea: indispensable to start a new day of surfing in Penhors, in autonomy and then guided by a professional monitor. The third day will aim to consolidate your gains on the streams before gaining the Raz tip and returning to your starting point.

4. ATV and bivouac in the Vexin Natural Park

The nature park of Vexin is located in the northwest of Ile-de-France between the Yvelines and the Val d’Oise. Its 71,000 preserved hectares are the ideal place for hiking and cycling excursions. Chilowé offers a mountain bike weekend between the Epte and the Seine valleys. On two days, you will have the opportunity to heat the calves in this exceptional natural environment. The prerequisites are basic since it is enough to know how to bike. For the rest, there is no concern: the itinerary has no particular difficulty.

See you at 9am in Mantes-la-Jolie train station. A shuttle transfer will take you to your starting point for a first serving of 30 kilometers. This leg fitting only has 300 meters of positive denial for 3 hours of light effort. Along wild trails in the forest, you will enjoy the pure air typical of this exceptional natural area. A good meal and a night in a tent later, direction the sumptuous villages of Vexin for a 40 km loop end. A good Sunday meal to share between athletes will be an opportunity to exchange on your adventure. The return to Mantes-la-Jolie is scheduled around 4pm.

5. Baptism in the Ecrins

The Massif des Écrins is spread over the departments of Hautes-Alpes and Isère. It includes the summit of more than 4,000 meters south of the entire Alps. A flagship destination of mountaineering, it is quite naturally that Chilowé decided to organize a weekend adventure in France. This progression baptism in mountain environment, perfectly secured, lasts three days. Pure air, sun, dazzling panoramas: you are not at the end of your surprises.

The rope starts early in the morning from Argentière-la-Bessée to the Glacier Blanc. Raise your head: the Bar of Writers overlooks you majesticly. It is, with its 4,102 metres, the most famous “4,000” in the south of the Alps. Courses devoted to mountaineering techniques (remember descent, safety protocols in case of slips, piolet handling, reading of snowy coat...) will be given to participants. Information on the local ecosystem will be welcome to learn about the fragility of this natural space.

The grass mountaineers will then climb the Pic du Glacier d’Arsine (3,364m) before reaching the Ecrins refuge. A good breakfast at the dawn will precede the ascent at the top of the Roche Faurio (3,730m) where you will admire a wonderful sunrise on the Barre des Écrins. The return is then done quietly to your starting point. "May the mountain beeeeella.... »

6. Weekend rando in the Clarée Valley

Not far from the Massif des Écrins, the Massif des Cerces acts as a junction between France and Italy between the Hautes-Alpes and the Savoie. It has one of the most beautiful rivers in France: La Clarée. It owes its name to the exceptional purity of its water, crystalline winter as summer. Forget the car, the valley finds itself in cross-country skiing in winter... and in hiking shoes in summer. This is exactly what is offered to you for an unforgettable mountain weekend in the heart of Briançonnais.

From Briançon, you will take a shuttle with your guide to Névache. It is one of the most beautiful mountain villages in France. Mechanical lift point here: pure air, ubiquitous, snowy summits and steep trails. You will survey them to the « highs of Névache », source of the Clarée. 10 kilometers and 850 meters of D+ for a total of 6 hours walk await the participants. You will install your camp before enjoying a good comforting meal. The next day, sunrise at dawn, start at the frontal and sunrise observation on the surrounding peaks. You will descend along the Clarée for an arrival in Névache around 4pm. A gourmet break in local shops is necessary: it is your loved ones who will be happy to enjoy your shopping!

7. Initiation to the bivouac on the heights of the Jura

Still in the mountains but this time in the Jura, a hike in the massif offers a hallucinating panorama over the entire Alps chain, the Mont-Blanc and the Vanoise. You will have the opportunity to observe wildlife, to refine your outdoor cooking techniques and to install bivouac. Meet at 11am in the Ain at Bellegarde-sur-Valserine Station to start your journey.

Rémi, your guide Chilowé, will be able to get you there for a ride to the Rousses. A briefing on the course of the stay later, you will start a 4-hour hike to your bivouac point. The observation of animals and the exceptional local flora precedes the preparation of the meal. Fondue, polenta or other invigorating dishes will be enjoyed, sublimated by an incredible view of the Alps and the stars. On the second day, sunrise on Mont Blanc will be followed by a good breakfast. A nice four-hour hike will be in part dedicated to the discovery of animal prints. Back to Bellegarde Station scheduled at 7:00. Oh, already...

8. Les Calanques à la sail from Marseille

This adventure weekend in France offered by Chilowé is an excellent way to discover the Calanques. This sumptuous natural space close to Marseille is one of the emblems of the region. The purpose of your odyssey: exploring the coastline in sailboat. You will have the opportunity to hoist the great way, stare the Genoese, take a bath or... pastis on the bridge. Meet at 2 p.m. with Quentin, your captain, at the main port of the sailboat, the Estaque, a small fishing village north of Marseille.

Navigation programme, security briefing and departure from the port around 3pm. After crossing the radius of Marseille, the crew will be able to "wet" in a cove on the islands of Frioul. Dinner and a friendly evening on the sailboat are on the programme. The next day, after breakfast, you will head to the calanques of Marseilleveyre, Podestat, Sormiou, Morgiou or the sublime Sugiton. Snorkeling, swimming and good mood!

9. 3 days of yoga in the back country

To breathe between two weeks of hard work, what better than a yoga weekend with Chilowé? Léa welcomes you at the back of the country niçois in a typical old building. Intensive yoga and meditation courses, the discovery of local producers and swimming pools are on the programme.

See you around 9am at Nice Train Station for a transfer to the Plume area, an eco-place between small valleys, mountains and maquis. After a first yoga initiation course, a meal then a rando or a dip in the pool are welcome. Inductions to the collection of medicinal plants and the making of herbal teas are interspersed with meditation courses. The applied breathing principles are perfect for vacuuming. You will enjoy succulent farm foods throughout your stay: the visit of an asinerie (a donkey farm) is planned. This adventure weekend in France is ideal to release pressure.

10. 2 days mushroom in Morvan

Back in the Morvan for a weekend adventure in France focused on recognition, picking and mushroom cooking. These fascinating little living creatures, animals and plants, are here legion... and succulent. The region is among the richest in France. For other curious, gastronomes or nature enthusiasts, go to the end of the morning in Avallon.

You will be taken by Bernard, an incollable guide on mushrooms. He will explain how to collect, clean and use them. You have the embarrassment of choice: cepes, sheep’s feet, trumpets of death, rosés of the meadows... After a picnic in the middle of nature (to mushrooms, of course), head to the guest house. A talented cook will prepare dishes to fall with your harvest. A good night and a hearty breakfast later, the second day will be dedicated to picking in autonomy. A delicious Sunday omelette is a must! The return is at 4.30 pm at the station of Avallon. You are now able to identify and collect these small gifts of nature safely.