Here’s a unique off the beaten path France itinerary for those who want to explore new destinations while in France. Enjoy this South of France itinerary including some cool outdoor activities.
I’ve been to France many times. And I’ve been to Paris almost 10 times! France is a huge country and there’s a lot of places to discover beyond Paris.
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As I love to discover new places, I was pretty excited about discovering Occitania, which I would say is a perfect outdoor destination located in the southern part of France. As Occitania is also quite big, the trip was concentrated on Lozere, which I would highly recommend.
France Driving Itinerary
Off the beaten track France
Driving in France was a cool experience! As I’m not European driving in Europe is always a bit challenging for outsiders like me. You can expect a bunch of roundabouts and amazing scenery!
Cars in France are usually a lot smaller than the ones in North America. Most of them are also manual, which made it very tricky/challenging for me! Of course, you can always rent an automatic car but it’s way more expensive.
If you’re planning a road-trip in Lozere, then you can either opt for Montpellier airport or take a smaller airport like I did (I flew to Rodez-Aveyron Airport). They have great deals from and to Brussels!
The rental car was with AVIS, which was a simple and easy pick! Everything went well and I didn’t have any problems from the pick up to the drop off at the end! The car was new, clean and fun to drive!
You can check other options here to rent the perfect car for your epic road-trip in the South of France! Not sure if you want to drive in France? Take a look at these tips to get around France.
How to Pick the Right Itinerary in France
Southern France itinerary
As I mentioned before, there are many regions and popular cities to visit while in the South of France. Picking the right itinerary, especially if you are on a short holiday, can be super tricky! Let me narrow it down for you – I’d never really heard of Occitania before, and it was sounding even more strange when I heard Lozere. I had no idea what to expect from it, I googled it quickly and it looked fantastic.
As soon as I hit the road and I reached the mountains I put my “Into the Wild” playlist on and it was beyond fantastic! I truly missed that feeling of being surrounded by mountains and the best thing about mountains is that you can never picture them the way you see them. You can’t capture this feeling of being so tiny and so amazed.
Why You Should Visit Occitania, France
France off the beaten track
Occitania has probably some of the best landscapes found in France. Or at least, so far, from what I’ve seen it’s my favorite region! Picture huge mountains and castles altogether and you’re almost there!
It’s the perfect destination for outdoor lovers, but also for those who want to enjoy the famous French cuisine, the culture and history behind these old cities.
Just take a quick look at this website and you’ll likely understand what I mean!
Why You Should Pick Lozere, France
The best place to go in the South of France
I don’t know if I’ll find the perfect words to describe my experience in Lozere. I can still picture these tiny old villages built in the mountains. I remember being alone on the road driving through scenic routes where I fell absolutely in love with the place. I met many friendly locals, ate a lot of Aligot (which you should try by the way) and simply enjoy every single step.
Lozere is definitely an off the beaten path destination in France. A lot of French people will go at some point, but it seems that International travelers haven’t heard of it yet! So I’m happy to share my experience with you!
I’ve seen a lot of Lozere in a very short period of time (4 days) and I could have easily stayed a few more days! There was a lot to see, a lot to appreciate and I truly think you should add Lozere to your France itinerary.
Southern France Travel Itinerary – 3-4 days in Lozere
Charming Villages and Highlights Not to Miss in Lozere
South of France vacation spots #1: Saint-Pierre-des-Tripiers
What to do in the South of France
Saint-Pierre-des-Tripiers is a pretty long name and it’s worth stopping for! This is where you can admire the Jonte Gorges and many vultures along the way. If you have time, take a break and stop at the Vulture Lookout where you can find a small centre with a lot of information about the vultures, but also a viewpoint where can also observe them in their natural habitat.
Either way, it’s worth passing by as the region is absolutely breathtaking!
Best destinations South of France #2: Sublime Point
Backpack in France
The Sublime Point is an observation deck that gives you a beautiful view of the Gorges du Tarn. There’s a small restaurant on-site, which makes it perfect for a picnic or a quick snack. This popular site is great for photographers and those who can truly enjoy a cool view! It was one of my favorite spots as it was pretty quiet and the views are definitely something!
Best places to visit in Southern France #3: La Malene
La Malene was one of my favorite villages in Lozere! Imagine a tiny village right in the middle of the mountains next to the Gorges du Tarn. The area is magnificent and it’s hard to describe how beautiful it is.
As the river was a bit too high when I was there I didn’t manage to make the most of it but if the weather is great while you’re there you should check out the “Moulin de la Malène”. You could go on a canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard! They also do tours in the evening for a unique and quieter experience at night time.
While I was there I drove a bit around to soak in the views – it was great!
Suggestion for dinner: La Table de Lisa – an amazing restaurant where you can try the “Aligot” thing I mentioned before! La Table de Lisa is a new restaurant but la Malene is pretty small so you shouldn’t have any troubles finding it.
Where to stay in La Malene: I spent the night at L’Auberge de l’Embarcadère. It was a small hotel that provides a huge breakfast. It was nothing super fancy but a comfortable bed for the night during an epic road-trip is all I really needed. You can also check out other options here.
Best small towns in Southern France #4: Rousses
Where to go in the South of France
Rousses is a tiny and cute village known for its canyon. It’s a great destination for outdoor lovers that are into canyoning, via-Ferrata or caving adventures. I personally decided to go on a via-Ferrata trip with Tourisme Actif. I had a fun and challenging time with Fabien who’s a great guide! He proposes a lot of different activities and if you’re into that sort of stuff, you should check out his website!
If you do decide to stay longer in the village to make the most of the outdoors, you can also spend the night there. Check out the accommodation option here.
South of France places to visit #5: Nîmes-le-Vieux
Driving holidays in France itinerary
Nîmes-le-Vieux is a great spot to spend the night and to walk around! The landscape in this area is pretty unique and you’ll be enjoying something completely different. It was a true countryside experience where you can spot the sheep and relax in the middle of the “quiet”.
Where to stay in Nîmes-le-Vieux: I spent the night at Ferme de l’Hom. They also serve food on site. It was a quiet spot with lovely staff. Again, it was nothing super fancy, but it was very comfortable.
As there’s a lot to see in Lozere, I’d suggest you take it easy to spend more time at each stop. Nobody wants to be in a rush, and I would have preferred to take my time if I had more time. So, you can take these suggestions and split them into 2-3 days easily.
Best Places to go in the South of France #6: Florac & Surroundings
South of France travel guide
Florac is a cute town known for its little canals, hikes and via-Ferrata. It was one of the biggest towns I’ve seen in Lozere so if you need anything special this is where you should go to get it! If you want to take the time to visit Florac you could spend the night there. Check out the options for accommodation here.
While you’re in the area, you might want to get in your car and drive 30 minutes away to walk another cool trail called “Balade au pays des menhirs”.
Not too far from there, you can also find a spectacular waterfall in Runes.
Southern France road-trip
Where to stay while you’re in the area: I spent the night at Maison Victoire, a cute little homestay located not too far from Le Pont-de-Montvert. They provide meals and the staff is very lovely. This one is located in the middle of the countryside so it’s a possibility that you won’t have Wi-Fi during your stay. The weather likes to interfere with the Wi-Fi over there! You can also check other options here.
Disclaimer: This trip was organized by Tourisme Occitanie and Lozere Tourisme.
