Fancy organising a trip where your group discovers a region in hiking boots? With CircuitGroupes, tour operators, coach operators, associations and group organisers will find programmes combining hiking, nature, heritage and gastronomy in several French regions. The tours are designed for group clients and can be adapted to the length of stay and the participants’ profile.
The Hiking, Cycling, Nature section brings together trips with very different levels and landscapes. The Corsican coast, the Basque mountains, the peaks of Auvergne, the alpine pastures of Savoie or the trails of Occitanie: here are five ideas for hiking trips in France to consider for your next group tour.
1. Hiking in Haute-Corse: mountains, maquis and the Mediterranean
The Hiking Stay in Haute-Corse offers a very complete discovery of the north of the island, with a flexible programme of 2 to 8 days. The group stays in the Olmeta-di-Tuda area, near Saint-Florent, and alternates hikes with visits.
The programme takes in the Haut Nebbiu, the Désert des Agriates, a section of the Mare a Mare Nord trail and Cap Corse. A hike along the Sentier des Douaniers (the old customs officers’ path) also follows the coastline between Macinaggio and Centuri. The stages range from easy to moderate, generally with between two and four and a half hours of walking.
The trip is not just about hiking. Saint-Florent, Corte, Bastia, the villages of Balagne and Patrimonio bring a cultural and gastronomic dimension to the programme, including tastings of Corsican produce.
This package is particularly well suited to groups looking for a great variety of landscapes without spending the entire trip walking.
2. The Basque Country on foot: mountains, villages and the Atlantic coast
With the Hiking Stay in the Basque Country, the group discovers some of the region’s most characteristic landscapes from La Bastide-Clairence. The programme runs over 2 to 6 days, and the hikes are led by a qualified mountain guide.
A first hike leads up the Jaizkibel, where the Pyrenean ridges meet the Atlantic Ocean, with views over the bay of Hondarribia. The programme then heads to the Iraty forest, before a hike linking Espelette to Ainhoa across Mount Errebi.
The trip also explores the area around the Sare caves and the Pic d’Achuria. The hikes generally cover 10 to 15 kilometres, with elevation gains of up to 700 metres depending on the stage. This programme is therefore better suited to participants who are used to walking for several hours.
Between mountains, Basque villages, pastoral farming and local traditions, this tour offers a true immersion in the destination.
3. Hiking and discovery in the Aravis Massif
Haute-Savoie offers a different setting with the Hiking and Discovery tour, departing from Manigod – La Clusaz and lasting 2 to 5 days.
On the very first day, the group heads up to the alpine pastures of the Plateau de Beauregard, with a panorama over the Mont Blanc massif and the Aravis range. Another hike leads to the Bombardellaz refuge, above the Lac des Confins, through forests and pastures.
The programme also includes a day on the Plateau des Glières, with a 13-kilometre hike combining nature and history. An excursion to Chamonix and Montenvers completes the trip, while a farm visit with a reblochon tasting adds a typically Savoyard gourmet touch.
With routes of 6.5 to 13 kilometres, this package lets you alternate hiking, alpine panoramas and regional discoveries without building an exclusively sporty programme.
4. Hikes from Castres: up to 10 routes to choose from
The Hikes from Castres tour stands out for the variety of its routes. CircuitGroupes offers a flexible stay of 2 to 10 days, with hikes led by a guide approved by the Fédération Française de Randonnée (the French Hiking Federation).
The routes explore the Sidobre, the Montagne Noire and the countryside around Castres. The Capelette de Saint-Ferréol, for example, is an 11-kilometre walk with 305 metres of elevation gain, while the Ronda del Peiraire crosses the granite landscapes of the Sidobre over about 9 kilometres.
Above all, this choice makes it possible to tailor the programme to the group’s level. Some easy loops are no longer than 7 to 9 kilometres, with little elevation gain. At the other end of the scale, the Carbonéral reaches 21 kilometres and the Rampaillou 23 kilometres, both graded as difficult.
This variety is a real advantage for organisers: the trip can be built around a group of occasional walkers just as well as a more athletic audience.
5. Hiking in the Sancy Massif: Auvergne within easy reach on foot
The Special Hiking Stay in the Sancy offers up to 7 days departing from Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise. The programme has been designed in partnership with the Sancy guides.
The appeal of this package lies in its accessibility. The walks on offer are generally short, with routes of around 2 to 5 kilometres, combined with regional visits. The group can discover the Puy de Dôme, the Lac de Guéry, the Vallée des Saints, the Chiloza waterfalls and the Lac Pavin.
This format lets you alternate short hikes and sightseeing. The programme also takes in Orcival, Saint-Nectaire, Besse, local producers and various natural sites in the Massif Central.
This package is particularly well suited to groups who want to enjoy hiking without planning several hours of walking every day.
Which hiking trip should you choose for your group?
The right tour depends above all on the participants’ level and the pace you are looking for. Haute-Corse works well for a trip combining hiking with discovering the island. The Basque Country offers more demanding routes and an immersion between mountains and ocean. The Aravis will delight lovers of alpine scenery, while Castres offers the widest choice of distances and levels. The Sancy, for its part, lets you build a more accessible programme around gentle walks and visits.
Before booking, it is therefore useful to specify the participants’ average age, their walking ability, the desired length of stay and the acceptable daily distance. Elevation gain is also a key criterion: a short hike can be more demanding than a long but almost flat route.
As the programmes on CircuitGroupes are flexible, these details make it easier to adapt the trip to the reality of the group.
Organise your hiking trip with CircuitGroupes
CircuitGroupes brings together tours designed specifically for group travel. Depending on the package, the programmes include accommodation, meals, excursions, visits and a guide, with the services detailed on each tour page. The network also promises a reply to requests within 48 hours, one free place for every 20 paying participants and tours that can be adapted to the group’s needs.
To discover more destinations, browse all the Hiking, Cycling, Nature tours.
Planning a hiking trip for your next group? Send us your project via the CircuitGroupes Contact page or write to contact@circuitgroupes.com to receive information tailored to your programme.
