NEW YORK CITY – If you’re passionate about cycling, how about turning your vacation up a notch by adding more sports like canoeing, mountain biking, hiking, zip-lining to your itinerary? These trips offer a buffet of sporting options for guilt-free wining and dining, all while the weather is perfect and the crowds are far, far away:
Provence: Cycle through vineyards and forests, paddle a canoe down the Gardon River, hike through fields of lavender and olives, and mountain bike on rustic Luberon trails. Plus, you can take an optional cooking class with garden visit. Level: Moderate. 8 days/7 nights from 1350€.
Languedoc: Sunbathe (yes, a sport!) along the Mediterranean, mountain bike near Sommieres, hike through the medieval valley town of St. Guilheim le Desert then canoe the waters where the Gellone River and Herault River meet. In Montpellier, take part in a treasure hunt to learn more about the town and visit notable sites. Level: Moderate or Challenging. 8 days/7 nights from 1250€.
Dordogne: You will be cycling through rolling countryside and historic villages but also discover prehistoric cave paintings at Font de Gaume, canoe the calm waters near Les Eyzies, climb and zipline through a ropes course, hike to a cliff-side village then finish with a treasure hunt in Sarlat. Level: Moderate or Challenging. 7 days/6 nights from 1230€.
Loire: After a short ride on your first morning, paddle downstream under the famous Chateau de Chenonceau and complete your canoe journey with a chocolate tasting. You can also zipline through the trees, ride through sunflower fields (seasonal), hike through the vineyards and imbibe local wine with dinner. Level: Easy. 7 days/6 nights from 990€.
All self-guided tour itineraries are fully customizable and leave any day. Contact Discover France for more details on these multisport trips or visit the website www.discoverfrance.com.