With the arrival of spring and the fine weather, you'll no doubt be itching to get out. Even if you've kept active through winter, it's just not the same. Hiking in spring, with flowers blooming and long sunny days, is a real pleasure.
Here are 6 regional ideas to explore from late March, offering mild temperatures and beautiful scenery. Our spring trek and hiking ideas are 7-day routes for reasonably fit walkers. You can plan stages of around 6 hours of walking per day with average positive elevation gains of roughly 500 m.
Spring trek and hiking ideas: hiking in the Calanques
From Marseille to La Ciotat, you can put together a fabulous route through the heart of the calanques and Provençal paths. You'll be treated to a stunning backdrop of turquoise coves, pine forests, sea scents and colourful fishermen's huts. A trip of varied landscapes, ideal in any season but particularly enjoyable in spring to avoid the crowds and the heat. This route has no major difficulties but requires a little training and care.
Spring trek and hiking ideas: the Caroux, the little Corsica of the Haut Languedoc
From Lamalou les Bains, head out to explore the Espinouse massif. The Caroux is little-known but is described as the little Corsica of the Haut Languedoc. You'll discover exceptional flora and fauna. With its oceanic, Mediterranean and mountain influences, Europe's largest mouflon reserve offers exceptional viewpoints and countless turquoise rock pools. Weather permitting, you'll be able to take a refreshing dip in these restorative waters every day.
Spring trek and hiking ideas: Collioure - Cadaqués, between sea and mountain
Collioure-Cadaqués is a remarkable route to take on, with ridgelines overlooking the sea and stages right by the water's edge. A great way to explore this stretch of the Pyrenees where the mountains plunge into the Mediterranean. You'll discover the Albères mountain range, with signal towers dating back to the 14th century. The region also offers stages in charming small towns, and Catalan cuisine will delight your taste buds each evening. Finally, towards the Vermilion Coast you can hike beneath the beautiful Mediterranean sky. A lovely, fairly easy and enjoyable hiking route, though with slightly more elevation gain than the other routes presented here.
Spring trek and hiking ideas: the Basque Country
From Bayonne to Iraty via St Jean Pied de Port, roam the Basque Country and discover its charming small villages. Many unusual villages are nestled in verdant valley floors and offer hikers peaceful havens. Hiking in the Basque Country also means immersing yourself in an exceptional cultural identity, walking both along paths and through forests. Following the GR 10 gives you a well-established, sporty itinerary. And here too, the food will be a highlight of the hike: black cherry, Espelette pepper, Bayonne ham, sheep's cheese and garbure will revive the weary walker.
Spring trek and hiking ideas: the Gorges du Verdon
The Verdon is certainly the most beautiful canyon in Europe! It also offers a wealth of cliff-edge paths where beauty vies with vertigo to captivate you. Walk the Blanc-Martel trail, the Bastidon, the Racolas viewpoint, the Escalés… There's a wealth of itineraries to choose from, each with its own charm. The region can be very busy in summer, making it far more appealing in spring — and you'll find plenty of charming gîtes to stay in. At the end of your hike, don't miss Lac de Sainte-Croix, with its exceptional colour and crystal-clear water! Some slightly vertiginous sections of these paths require great care.
Spring trek and hiking ideas: hiking in Cathar Country
South of Limoux and Carcassonne, you can walk the "Citadelles du Vertige" trail: Queribus, Peyrepertuse, Puilaurens, Puivert and Montségur… A castle-to-castle itinerary that takes you on a journey through Cathar history and a beautiful landscape. The region is very popular with hikers as it offers highly varied and easily accessible paths. It's also a relatively uncrowded spot, so you can enjoy its beauty in peace.
So you have plenty of options to find your ideal spring trek or hiking idea. You'll easily find local or national agencies offering all-inclusive packages in these regions. But you can also plan your own route without too much difficulty. Either way, don't miss the chance to breathe in the fresh air surrounded by nature, with long, mild and sunny days.
