Activity ideas for your Tour de France-themed holiday
This is a holiday for fun-filled family activities and to enjoy to the max everything that France has to offer.
Follow in the ‘footsteps’ of your cycling heroes
With thousands of miles of dedicated cycle routes throughout France, you and your family can enjoy a bike ride even when the main roads aren’t closed to traffic like they are for the professionals. Traffic-free cycle paths include the La Scandiberique route, which travels from the Belgian border all the way through France to Spain. Remember to apply sunblock, fill up your water bottles, bring more energy bars, dried fruit and jellies than you think you’ll need and pump up your tyres before you go, to make life easier on the road! If it’s just a leisurely cycle you’re after rather than a KOM or QOM, you could consider hiring some or all of the bicycles from the campsite so you only need to pack your helmet and cycling gear.
Step back in time with visits to local towns, villages or châteaux
France is full of history, so make sure to do some day trips to step back in time. You’re never too far from a quaint hillside village, a historic town, or a château in France, so you could plan your ride (or other day trip) around visiting the nearest one to your campsite. Not only do you all get some exercise, you’ll learn some history and notice some different architecture too. If not just any sight will do, France is full of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, so you’ll never have to travel far to find one of those. Carcassonne and Rocamadour are just two of the most famous and fabulous sights to be seen on the TDF 2022 route.
Go wild swimming instead of pool swimming
Build sandcastles, paddle, picnic and treat yourselves to ice-creams – even if you don’t want your holiday to be just this, don’t forget to create classic summer holiday memories with at least one planned day together on the beach. Or indeed, think inland waterways. Sometimes the best little hidden spots are river-side. Ask at the campsite or local tourist office, then search out a river near your Tour de France route campsite, to enjoy a picnic and a dip!
Stretch your legs and try out the local cuisine
Never more than a short journey away from your campsite, an adventurous hike along way-marked trails in a regional park is a great day out and will whet your appetite for a big dinner. Whether it’s moules-frites in Calais, tartiflette and fondue in the Alps or foie gras in the southwest, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to try some typical French foods in the areas that are famous for making them.
Benefits of a camping trip
Reap the rewards that a camping trip offers and return from your holiday ready and raring to go.
Create a long-lasting bond with your family
Back at home, it can be hard to get good quality family time, with work, school and socialising getting in the way of being with those that you love the most. Camping provides the freedom and space to enjoy time with your children and create memories that’ll last forever.
Enjoy a safe and secure environment
One of the benefits of a camping holiday is that you can relax safe in the knowledge that you are in a secure environment. Whether you are all enjoying the supervised swimming pool or your kids are off having fun at the children’s club, you can rest assured that they are being looked after.
Enjoy the physical and mental benefits of camping
Not only does a Tour de France campsite offer physical benefits, such as cycling and many other sporting activities, but there is also the mental well-being benefit that being outdoors delivers. You’ll go back home feeling re-energised and ready to take on anything.
Take part in activities as a family
With lots of activities to choose from, such as cycling, walking and tennis, there will be loads of opportunities for you and your family to spend some quality time together and have fun as a family. These are the moments that matter and make everyone smile when they look back on them years down the line.
Meet like-minded campers
Campsites provide a great place for you to meet like-minded individuals who have a love for family time and the great outdoors. Your children will also find it easy to make friends with other children who have a love of camping.
