{"id":138164,"date":"2020-01-29T14:05:33","date_gmt":"2020-01-29T22:05:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=138164"},"modified":"2023-09-08T00:10:55","modified_gmt":"2023-09-08T07:10:55","slug":"top-france-hikes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/travel\/top-france-hikes","title":{"rendered":"Best Hikes in France"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"cb-itemprop\" itemprop=\"reviewBody\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">France&#8217;s varied and beautiful terrain makes it hard to pick only a handful of hikes to highlight. From the sun-soaked French Riviera and the rugged French Alps to the rolling hills and meadows of the central provinces and the sheer, white-chalk cliffs of Normandy, the opportunity for exploration is practically endless. Add the country&#8217;s history, art, food, wine and culture to that, and you\u2019re in for the vacation of a lifetime.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>GR39: Mont Saint-Michel<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Normandy, France<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Length<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 3.8-mile roundtrip out-and-back<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Difficulty Rating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Easy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Exploring medieval history at a UNESCO World Heritage site<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bienvenueaumontsaintmichel.com\/en\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mont Saint-Michel<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a medieval monastery perched high on an island just off the coast, is one of France\u2019s most famous tourist destinations. It\u2019s also the perfect place for visitors wanting an easy, coastal stroll accompanied by some old-world charm (despite the crowds). You can take the iconic walkway out to the fairy-tale isle, but if you\u2019re looking for something a little different, consider heading (at low tide) to the sandy delta of the Couesnon River where Mont Saint-Michel makes a picture-perfect backdrop as you explore tide pools. The path is the northern end of the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GR39<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a nearly 230-mile-long pilgrimage route that traverses the French countryside, meaning you&#8217;ll follow in the footsteps of millions of visitors who made the journey in ages long passed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_138172\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-138172\" class=\"wp-image-138172 size-article_body\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/01\/HERO.jpg?resize=1024%2C576\" alt=\"Sheep graze in front of the city of Mont St-Michel\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-138172\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mont Saint-Michel. Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/10259776@N00\/26406942387\">Stig Nygarrd<\/a> under <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\">CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<h2><b>Le Rocher des Deux Trous<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Saint-Remy-de-Provence, France<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Length<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 4.4-mile loop<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Difficulty Rating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Easy\/intermediate<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: History, art, ancient ruins, lavender fields and panoramic views<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A stone&#8217;s throw south of Saint-Remy-de-Provence, you\u2019ll find this 4.4-mile loop in the <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.parc-alpilles.fr\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parc Naturel R\u00e9gional des Alpilles<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which takes you to the &#8220;rock with two holes&#8221;\u2014a formation. The circular holes were worn by erosion and now frame views of the forested slopes of the Alpilles mountains and the Mediterranean\u2014a landscape made famous by the paintings of Van Gogh. Finish off your hike by exploring a local lavender field or stopping to see the ruins and sacred spring of the ancient Gallic city of <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.site-glanum.fr\/en\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Glanum<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!-- BEGIN Hiking Project --><\/p>\n<h2><b>Arches of Etretat<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Etretat, France<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Length<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 2.7-mile out-and-back<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Difficulty Rating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Easy\/intermediate<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Cliffside hiking along the English Channel\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On this popular day hike, you\u2019ll see three natural arches carved from the famed, white-chalk cliffs of <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/en.normandie-tourisme.fr\/discover\/normandy-must-sees\/the-10-top-normandy-must-sees\/etretat-207-2.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Etretat<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a coastal resort town in Upper Normandy. You\u2019ll start with a short stroll along a boardwalk to a white pebble beach where you can spot the first two arches\u2014Falaise Amont to the northeast and Falaise Aval to the southwest. Then you\u2019ll follow the wide path to the top of Falaise Aval for a view of Aiguille, a 70-meter chalk spire jutting from the water, before continuing to Manneporte, a large natural arch perhaps best known from the paintings of Claude Monet. You can turn around here or continue on to Pointe de la Courtine, which extends into the Atlantic Ocean, for fantastic views of the towering white cliffs behind you.<\/span><br \/><!-- BEGIN Hiking Project --><\/p>\n<h2><b>Blanc-Martel Trail\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Verdon Gorge, France<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Length<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 8.0-mile point-to-point<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Difficulty Rating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Intermediate\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Exploring one of Europe&#8217;s most beautiful river canyons<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bring a headlamp and your sense of adventure for this trek through the Grand Canyon of Europe: the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.verdontourisme.com\/uk\/i-discover\/bestof-verdon\/the-gorges-du-verdon\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Verdon Gorge<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The Blanc-Martel Trail plunges deep into the heart of the impressive limestone canyon following the Verdon River. Hiking alongside the clear, turquoise water means navigating narrow trail, long bridges, dark tunnels and rocky beaches. Keep an eye open for wildflowers and birds, especially the colony of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/paca.lpo.fr\/protection\/especes\/oiseaux\/vautours-du-verdon\/programme-de-reintroduction\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">griffon vultures<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> who were reintroduced to the gorge more than three decades ago.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!-- BEGIN Hiking Project --><\/p>\n<h2><b>Cassis to Calanque d&#8217;En Vau<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Cassis, France<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Length<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 4.2-mile out-and-back<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Difficulty Rating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Intermediate<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Ocean views and a dip in the Mediterranean\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This stunning hike is one of the best ways to explore the limestone cliffs and beaches of <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.calanques-parcnational.fr\/en\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Calanques National Park<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The overlooks along the start of the route would be worth the trek all on their own, but the true highlight is <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Calanque d&#8217;En Vau<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a small, rocky beach tucked between the surrounding cliffs. The cove feels like an old-world paradise hidden in the heart of the French Riviera. Be sure to pack a swimsuit for a dip in the clear, refreshing waters of the Mediterranean.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Mont Veyrier and Mont Baron<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Annecy, France\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Length<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 7.6-mile loop<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Difficulty Rating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Intermediate\/difficult<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Stunning lake and mountain views\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though the mountains surrounding <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/ee.france.fr\/en\/discover\/annecy-2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Annecy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a charming lakeside town on the western edge of the French Alps, might not boast quite the same presence as Mont Blanc, they\u2019re still well worth a visit. Trails lead right from town into the forested slopes around the blue waters of its namesake lake, and you can snag two of the best viewpoints, Mont Veyrier and Mont Baron, in a single hike along this loop. Look for the looming shoulders of Mont Semnoz to the west, the snow-capped Alps to the east and, on clear days, paragliders enjoying the breeze high above the water.\u00a0<\/span><br \/><!-- BEGIN Hiking Project --><\/p>\n<h2><b>Tour De Mont Blanc<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Chamonix, France\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Length<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 105.7-mile loop<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Difficulty Rating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Difficult<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A spectacular multi-day trek around the highest peak in the alps<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No visit to France would be complete without stopping by the Alps to soak in the splendor of Mont Blanc. At 15,781 feet tall, the peak is a prominent presence above the Chamonix Valley, and while there are plenty of trails that wind through the region (and even reach <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the summit<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), the best known is the epic <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tour de Mont Blanc<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. On this 100-mile loop, you&#8217;ll hike through alpine scenery filled with wildflower meadows, mountain lakes, glaciers and snow-capped peaks. You\u2019ll even take a brief trip into Italy and Switzerland. There are plenty of superb huts and refugios for overnight stays, and don&#8217;t forget to stop off at the mountain villages scattered along the route to savor some of the best food and wine France has to offer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>GR 20<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Corsica\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Length<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 117.7-mile point-to-point<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Difficulty Rating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Extremely difficult<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: An outstanding thru-hike across a Mediterranean island<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Those looking to tackle the toughest long-distance trail in Europe should head to the GR 20 on the island of <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/ee.france.fr\/en\/discover\/corsica-5\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Corsica<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Don&#8217;t be intimidated by the route&#8217;s reputation. Though it&#8217;s challenging with over 40,000 feet of elevation gain along its route, this 117.7-mile trek is also one of the most beautiful in France thanks to dense forests, rugged peaks, and alpine and ocean vistas. Backpacking the full route typically takes between 10 to 15 days, but you can break it into shorter sections as well. Be sure to <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/corsica.forhikers.com\/getting-to-corsica\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">book travel<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to the island and <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.le-gr20.fr\/en\/pages\/refuges\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">your accommodations<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for the hike in advance.<\/span><!-- BEGIN Hiking Project --><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>France&#8217;s varied and beautiful terrain makes it hard to pick only a handful of hikes to highlight. From the sun-soaked French Riviera and the rugged French Alps to the rolling hills and meadows of the central provinces and the sheer, white-chalk cliffs of Normandy, the opportunity for exploration is practically endless. Add the country&#8217;s history, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":192977,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[387,388],"tags":[15,2017,270,251,707,1550],"internal-tag":[1442],"class_list":["post-138164","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hike","category-travel","tag-backpacking","tag-best-hikes","tag-europe","tag-france","tag-hiking","tag-international","internal-tag-seo"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/travel\/top-france-hikes","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Best Hikes in France","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/travel\/top-france-hikes","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/travel\/top-france-hikes"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/01\/Wells_071819_0361.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/01\/Wells_071819_0361.jpg?fit=6720%2C4480"},"articleSection":"Hike","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Michelle Flandreau"}],"creator":["Michelle Flandreau"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["backpacking","best hikes","europe","france","hiking","international"],"dateCreated":"2020-01-29T22:05:33Z","datePublished":"2020-01-29T22:05:33Z","dateModified":"2023-09-08T07:10:55Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"Best Hikes in France\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/travel\\\/top-france-hikes\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/travel\\\/top-france-hikes\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/Wells_071819_0361.jpg?resize=150%2C150\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/Wells_071819_0361.jpg?fit=6720%2C4480\"},\"articleSection\":\"Hike\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Michelle Flandreau\"}],\"creator\":[\"Michelle Flandreau\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Uncommon Path \\u2013 An REI Co-op Publication\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[\"backpacking\",\"best hikes\",\"europe\",\"france\",\"hiking\",\"international\"],\"dateCreated\":\"2020-01-29T22:05:33Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-01-29T22:05:33Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-09-08T07:10:55Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/rei.com\/p.js"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/01\/Wells_071819_0361.jpg?fit=6720%2C4480","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138164","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=138164"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138164\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":192979,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138164\/revisions\/192979"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/192977"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=138164"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=138164"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=138164"},{"taxonomy":"internal-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-tag?post=138164"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}