France Travel Guide

Posts Tagged ‘Camping’

Backpacks, Boots and Baguettes – Simon Calder & Mick Webb
Best For: Camping in the Pyrénées

A hilarious look at what happens when two friends decide to go hiking together in the French Pyrénées. This book is a must for anyone taking a French camping holiday in this mountainous region. Aficionados of travel literature will recognise Simon Calder as the travel editor of The Independent, but until they read this book they won’t know that he has a petrifying phobia of heights, as does his friend and travel-companion, Mike.

The story recounts the friends trying to overcome their phobia by climbing the precipitous Chemin de la Mar and how they decide to follow the French Ramblers Association G10 hike around the Pyrénées; definitely not for the faint-hearted. However, as this guide really illustrates the scenic and breathtaking landscapes of this region you may be tempted to try the hike yourself after reading it. Be warned!

The Elegance of the Hedgehog – Muriel Barberry
Best For: Camping near Paris

This book is a heart-warming read for anyone on a camping holiday in France. In fact, so cockle-warming is this riveting read that one French doctor has been actively prescribing it to her patients with depression. The book tells the story of Renée, the concierge of a grand Parisian building which is home to members of the Great and the Good.

Over the years she has maintained her carefully constructed persona as someone reliable and honest but totally uncultivated, in keeping, she feels, with society’s expectations of what an ideal concierge should be. But beneath this conventional façade lies the real Renée: passionate about culture and the arts, and in many ways more knowledgeable than her employers with their outwardly successful but emotionally void lives.

Renée lives resigned to this life, living in her lodge with only her cat for company and looking forward to the weekly visits from her only friend, Manuela. Meanwhile, several floors up, twelve-year-old Paloma Josse is determined to avoid the pampered and vacuous, predictably bourgeois future laid out for her, and decides to end her life on her thirteenth birthday. But unknown to them both, the sudden death of one of their privileged neighbours will bring dramatic change to number 7, Rue de Grenelle, altering the course of both their lives forever.

Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes – Robert Louis Stevenson
Best For: Camping in Cévennes

This classic piece of travel literature is a must-read for anyone on a French camping holiday in the Cévennes region of Languedoc-Roussillon. Robert-Louis Stevenson’s Gallic trek was undertaken in 1879 and as he describes the vast rolling hills and perfectly manicured vineyards, you can’t help but notice that there has been little change in the landscape since then. Whilst Stevenson was in his early twenties and pining for a lost love, he brought a donkey, named Mondestine and set off camping in France.

His adventure is equally challenging and charming and in this book features the quote that continues to inspire all true travellers: ‘I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move…”

Be ready to get impressed on your travel France as the country has everything that one could expect from a holiday. Amongst the five top most tourist destinations in the world, facts about France let you see why it is so. It has the fashion capital Paris as its capital city, beautiful nature, beaches, the mountain scenery, and monuments all make it a great tourist destination. Moreover, the experience of visiting the country can vary as to the place you select for your holiday. Holidays on a beach, in the countryside, the big cities to the beautiful villages, all have something on offer for its visitors. There is plenty to explore and discover, loads of activities to get involved in and certainly life long memories to take back home. A great destination, France provides number of holiday ideas a few are mentioned here.

• Adventure Holidays

Take on an adventure holiday to see the real France. For those who love adventure travel, adventure holidays can be a fantastic option. Get a taste of the place, meet the local people when you head on an adventure holiday. On offer are all kinds of different activities that one can pick from like from the extreme sports to the more ordinary. These holidays come in complete package holidays, and tailor made for adult only adventures or for a family holiday that can cater for all ages of children. It’s the horse riding that catches your fancy, mountain biking or is it the hiking, you can find all this and much more for your holiday.

• Cycling holidays

With cycling being a national pastime in France, the organized cycling holidays are becoming very popular. These holidays provide with an opportunity for the visitors to cycle their way into the country and explore the region while having a go at the sport. This year round activity is a very popular among all ages and weather has a big role to play. In addition there are quite and beautiful countryside, with number of roads available for cycling. The well-maintained roads provide excellent cycling areas for cycling. Tour de France, the greatest cycling event in the world takes here in the country. For not the regular cyclists there are organized cycling trips, which combine cycling with accommodation, visits to the areas along the route.

• Skiing holidays

If you are on travel France for a skiing holiday then you will find the country has some of the best ski areas and ski resorts. France is a very popular destination among the tourists and if you skiing is your cup of tea, then Alps provide with excellent ski areas. With many ski classes made available for the tourists who are beginners, everyone can enjoy. Tourists can choose from a wide range of ski accommodation from ski resorts, private ski chalets, chalet apartments to hotels. The ski accommodation meets the needs of all skiers.

• Golfing holidays

France can turn out to be an excellent choice for a golfing holiday for both the professional and amateur golfers, as the country has a variety of golf courses. Playing golf amidst snow-capped mountains or Mediterranean views, it is a wonderful experience. France is a fantastic destination for golf holidays all the year round and plenty of sunshine adds on to the charm of the place. There is a lot of choice as the France map is dotted all over with golf courses. With the specially designed golf holidays, wherein one stays in a luxury villa, a private golf course and this blend of comfort and quality with golf is a quite experience.

• Holiday on a River Cruise

With the varied landscape that France has, a river cruise holiday is a perfect way to enjoy the countryside, the history and the culture as one travels from one place to another. It is the right idea for a relaxing and a different kind of holiday. A river cruise lets you experience, what you can never otherwise see, with every region having its own specialty and beauty.

• Camping holidays

Travel France for a great camping holiday, which is a great holiday idea for fun and adventure. In the recent years, camping has caught on with the tourists and with thousands of campsites available, it is all the much easier to embark on a camping holiday. One will get easily spoiled for choices, with so many to choose from, right from hiring your own tent, caravans, or even a mobile home, is a great way of touring the country. The campsites are well maintained and organized, offering all the facilities for relaxing and entertaining holidays.

Wherever you travel a France map would be a handy tool and should be your accompanist all through your holiday.