Walking Ratings for

France Off The Beaten Path Tours

Always enjoyable walking on France Off the Beaten Path Tours!

No matter which of our active, small group tours you join, you can expect to know, in advance, the level of difficulty of the walks scheduled during each tour by reading our walking tour ratings information below. We also provide expert-guided cultural options daily for BOTH walkers and non-walkers alike. Choose to walk as much or as little as you wish!!

Please note that due to the nature of the activities and excursions of each of our tour itineraries, France Off the Beaten Path Tours are not suitable for anyone with serious mobility issues. Even if opting out of scheduled walks to participate in our proposed cultural options, guests need to be able to walk a minimum of short distances, i.e. leisure walking in villages and towns, as well as through historic sites and monuments.

Every France Off the Beaten Path tour vacation is designed to meet a wide variety of guest fitness levels. Each walk is categorized using the system below.

• EASY:  Relatively flat terrain. Well-kept paths. Fine for even occasional walkers.  Average walk distance: Up to 2 miles.  Average walking time: Up to 1.5-2 hours.
• EASY TO MODERATE:  Ideal for those who walk for a morning or afternoon on a regular basis. Footing may be a variety of surfaces (gravel, cobblestone). No extended ascents or descents.  Average walk distance: 2–4 miles.  Average walking time: Up to 3 hours with photo-ops.
• MODERATE:  Suitable for experienced walkers who are comfortable with ascents and descents (but no scrambling!). Uneven terrain possible. Elevation gains of up to 800 feet.  Average daily distance: 4-6 miles.  Average walking time: up to 4 hours
• Our tours are structured and designed to appeal to BOTH walkers and NON-walkers alike.
• We offer the best and most flexibility in leaving the distance choice up to each individual guest by offering multiple pick-up points throughout each walk.
• Any guest who starts a walk, but opts to get picked up during a walk can then choose to participate in a cultural option.
• We have multiple guides (dedicated walking guide and dedicated cultural/history guides) and a dedicated driver on each tour.

WALKING TOUR RATINGS For Provence Tours – WALKS ARE RATED AS FOLLOWS:

PLEASE NOTE – Our Walks are nature walks through the Provence countryside that include walking through quaint and historical villages, vineyards, forests, olive orchards, lavender, flower fields, a truffle farm, and other such landscapes in nature. These are country walks, enjoying the scenic backroads and natural landscapes to discover Provence. We enjoy the “slow road” taking in the beautiful scenery of the Provence countryside and local villages daily.

PROVENCE Walk #1 … April, May, First Half of June, September, October

• WALKERS – Guided walk “Luberon Valley Village to Village” walk in the Luberon is rated EASY to MODERATE (optional: designed for interested guests). Walking on vineyard and country trails through picturesque lansdcapes and French country architecture, lavender and sunflower fields with a variety of beautiful villages in the background. Ideal for those who walk for a morning or afternoon on a regular basis. Walk  length – approximately 2 hrs. depending on stops made for photo-ops.
• Non-Walkers – EASY : Shuttle to each of our beautiful hilltop villages and gourmet picnic/winery hosted lunch.

During lavender season (Mid-June thru July, August)…

• WALKERS –  Our morning Luberon village to village walk is replaced with our “Lavender Trail“ Walk and is rated EASY to MODERATE (optional: designed for interested guests) – Walkers – Participate in a Spectacular, guided walk amidst some of the most beautiful landscape of Provence; walking through magical fields of lavender. The countryside is absolutely beautiful with incredible color and aromas, and offers the perfect setting for a walking experience. This walk is ideal for those who walk for a morning or afternoon on a regular basis. Walk  length – approximately 1.5-2 hrs. depending on stops made for photo-ops.
• Guests will visit our friends’ local lavender farm and distillery to learn about lavender production and essential oil distillation.
• Non-Walkers – EASY: shuttle to lavender fields to experience and photograph the endless fields of lavender and enjoy non-walking cultural experiences with your guide.

PROVENCE Walk #2 …

• WALKERS: Guided Walk – “CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE – Amidst the Vineyards Walk”- is rated MODERATE due to large Rhone River bedrock at end of trail (optional: designed for interested guests). Sturdy walking shoes recommended. Walking on vineyard and country trails with riverbed rock and large gravel stones, occasional easy ascents and uneven terrain. The trail offers spectacular views of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape vineyards – The walk is rated moderate-Ideal for those who walk on a regular basis. Walk length – approximately 1.5-2 hrs. of walking depending on number of stops made for photo-ops.
• Non-Walkers – EASY : shuttle to Roman town of Orange to visit the Roman amphitheater and old town with your cultural guide.
• WALKERS – Van support is provided for walks to offer maximum flexibility to all guests. You decide how much walking you’d like to do, if participating in our walks.
• NON-WALKERS:  Are shuttled to/from all activities, excursions, meals and visits. NON-Walker rating = EASY.

WALKING TOUR RATINGS for Bordeaux Tours – WALKS ARE RATED AS FOLLOWS:

BORDEAUX Walk #1

•  WALKERS:  The Saint Emilion walk is rated EASY. Ideal for those who walk for a morning or afternoon on a regular basis. Walking on vineyard and country trails. Walk length – approximately 1 hour of walking plus cultural & historical guided walk of Saint Emilion village. Winery tours and tastings range in duration from 1-1.5 hours each.

BORDEAUX Walk #2

•  WALKERS:  The Arcachon Basin walk is rated EASY. Ideal for those who walk for on a regular basis. Walking on coastal path. We will also embark on a cultural & historical walk of the Ville d’Hiver of Arcachon. Walk length – approximately 1.5 hrs. of leisure walking with photo-op stops.
• Bordeaux wine country is relatively flat with some small rolling hills in the Saint Emilion and at Pilat Dune.

• WALKERS – Van support is provided for walks to offer maximum flexibility to all guests. You decide how much walking you’d like to do, if participating in our 2 walks.
• NON-WALKERS  are shuttled to/from all activities, excursions, meals and visits. Non-walker rating = EASY.

WALKING TOUR RATINGS for Loire Valley Tours – WALKING IS RATED AS FOLLOWS:

• ALL TOUR GUESTS – There is extensive leisure walking daily on this tour. Guests need to be able to walk from our drop off points to castles, through castles during visits, as well as manage standing for short periods of time during story telling at the castles. Guests need to also be able to manage steps and uneven sidewalk terrain throughout the tour at castles and in villages. There are no elevators or escalators available to our groups at the chateaux (castles). This tour is not suitable for anyone with mobility issues.
• TOUR RATING – Tour Rating = EASY. Tour involves only daily leisure walking at castles and in villages.

WALKING TOUR RATINGS for Champagne Tours – WALKING IS RATED AS FOLLOWS:

• This tour involves a considerable amount of daily leisure walking.
• This trip is not recommended for travelers with severe or impairing knee or back problems or any mobility issues that would result in limited participation in the tour.
• Travelers need to be comfortable climbing up and down a significant number of steps to tour the cellars of each producer. Travelers need to be able to stand for extended periods of time at markets, during champagne house tours, as seating is not available.

WALKING TOUR RATINGS For Dordogne Tours – WALKS ARE RATED AS FOLLOWS:

DORDOGNE Walk #1

• WALKERS:  The “chateau (castle) walk” is rated MODERATE. Walking on gravel and country trails. Suitable for experienced walkers who are comfortable with ascents and descents (but no scrambling!). Walk length – approximately 3 hours.

DORDOGNE Walk #2

• WALKERS:  The “gorges d’enfer” walk is rated MODERATE. Walking on gravel and country trails. Suitable for experienced walkers who are comfortable with ascents and descents (but no scrambling!). Walk length – approximately 3 hours.

• WALKERS – Van support is provided for walks to offer maximum flexibility to all guests. You decide how much walking you’d like to do, if participating in our walks.

EMAIL US at franceotbp@gmail.com or  by message or WhatsApp at 1.717.683.2827 with your tour questions.

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