We've taken several trips in France, hiking inn-to-inn. It is the best of all worlds: daily exercise (as easy or hard as you want); wonderful food; very charming little towns and interaction with the locals.
You do NOT have to speak the language - but a few words, a French dictionary and gestures should do it!
Please don't listen to people who say the French are rude and unhelpful! We have always found the opposite: even armed with Metro maps and instructions...we've ended up sitting on trains that have dead-ended; gotten lost in obscure locations; and have thrown ourselves on their mercy - someone has always tried to help. Yes, some people may appear curt, but cut some slack, folks...they may be in a hurry...just as we are, rushing around with people to see...places to go.
Sherpa Expeditions, a U.K. provider, has been organizing biking/walking trips since 1973, everything from self-guided (which is what we do) to group tours.
They transport your luggage from inn-to-inn, give detailed routing and maps (including directions like "walk to the church in center, turn right until crossroads, cross the field to the red Farmer's house, etc."), most meals are usually included and there are other areas besides France to choose from.
Take a look at their website and send for a free brochure. I will describe French trips we've taken with Sherpa in the future...
districts of France
- Ardeche
- The Dordogne
- Provence
our hiking area in Provence
and the "Tuscany" trip in Italy which included San Gimignano, this marvelous town filled with towers.
view of San Gimignano
Next trip with them? Alsace, the Wine Route.
All of their trips are very scenic: forests; mountains; good wine; food enjoyed under plane trees in a lovely village square...a perfect trip for me...and you....
Published by Sheila Simkin on March 30, 2006 05:00 AM
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