Our Walking Rating System

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Off the Beaten Path Small Group Tours are perfect for:
* Couples, solo travelers, adult families, groups of friends
* Travel clubs, wine societies, small private groups and organizations.

Whether you join our Best Adventures in Provence Tour which includes one walk during the six day tour, our Loire Valley Tour which includes daily leisure walking at the castles or you join our Bordeaux Harvest Walking Tour which is a "designated" walking tour, you can expect to know in advance the level of difficulty of the walk or walks scheduled during your tour. Our Loire Valley Tours are not categorized below, as they only include daily leisure walking at the castles we visit and in the local villages all of which we consider suitable for the general population.

France is not completely flat, so expect to be going up and down hills, and enjoying beautiful scenery! The walks scheduled on our France tours are less challenging than those one might experience in other European countries, as the terrain along our routes in France are less hilly, but one should expect to experience some hilly conditions. The walks on our tours generally range from level 1 on tours where only one walk is scheduled during the tour program to level 1 to 2 when the tour is categorized as a "designated" walking tour.

Level 1: Easy Distances are 5-12 km (3.5-8 miles) per day, which translates into 2-4 hours of comfortable walking. Walks are mostly on dirt paths and gravel roads, with uniform walking surfaces. Sturdy walking shoes are advisable. Walking Poles are optional for this level of walking; however, experienced walkers may wish to bring their pole(s) along. Our Bordeaux Harvest Walking Tour falls into this category.

Level 2: Moderate Longer distances of 8-12 km (5-8 miles) on dirt paths, or steeper grades than Level 1. May include some cobblestone paths and steps or narrow paths along terraced hillsides. Sturdy walking shoes or lightweight boots and walking poles are recommended. Our Calanques Walk in Provence is a comfortable and scenic 3 hour coastal walk, and falls into this category, because of the cobblestone paths and some steep hills at the beginning of the path.

Level 3: Fitness Overall distances as in Level 2, but with longer uphills and downhills. Walks are at a higher altitude, from 1200-2400 meters or 3500-8000 feet, following trails and forest service roads. Paths are well-marked but may include short sections that are narrow or exposed. Lightweight boots are best and walking poles are highly recommended. None of our scheduled 2007, 2008 or 2009 Walks fall into this category.