Summer holidays in France: 8 alternative destinations to the (too) touristy spots

Going to the Lérins Islands rather than Porquerolles

200 inhabitants during the year, but thousands of tourists a day in the summer: the island of Porquerolles, the largest and most westerly of the three islands of Hyères, has seen its visitor numbers soar with the pandemic that in the summer of 2021, the mayor of Porquerolles decided to limit access to the island to a maximum of 6,000 visitors a day.

To rediscover its landscapes of fine sandy beaches and clear turquoise waters, head for the Lérins Islands, a little further north. Located 15 minutes by boat from Cannes, the island of Sainte-Marguerite is the largest of the archipelago, but the island of Saint-Honorat is just as nice.

⋙ These alternative destinations that look like the most popular tourist destinations

The Auvergne volcanoes, closer than Piton de la Fournaise

Would you like to discover the fabulous world of volcanoes? You don't necessarily have to fly several hours to Reunion Island to discover the Piton de la Fournaise, which is one of only three active volcanoes in France (along with the Soufrière in Guadeloupe and the Montagne Pelée in Martinique)... and is extremely popular!

⋙ 4 surprising things to know about volcanoes

Although inactive, the 80 or so volcanoes of the Chaîne des Puys, also known as the Monts Dôme, in the north of the Massif Central in mainland France, are indeed worth a visit. This natural site, which is almost 32 kilometres long and 4 kilometres wide and is a Unesco World Heritage Site, is of great scientific and educational interest.

⋙ The Chaîne des Puys in Auvergne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Discover Guéthary and avoid the crowds in Biarritz

The Rocher de la Vierge, the Biarritz aquarium, the Halles and the fishermen's port... so many sites that are as nice as they are touristy in the city of Biarritz, which are overcrowded in fine weather.

⋙ Basque country: how did it become "Little French California"?

To vary the pleasures, why not go to Guéthary, located between Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz? Called Getaria in Basque, this village nestled in the Bay of Biscay was once a port dedicated to whale, sardine and tuna fishing.

Today, this pretty neo-Basque seaside resort is appreciated for its architecture, its sites of historical interest and its fine sandy beaches. Surfing enthusiasts will not be disappointed, especially on Parlementia beach.

Walk the Côte Bleue instead of the Calanques of Marseille

This is a first in the history of the Calanques National Park in Marseille: this summer 2022, a quota system will be set up from the end of June to the end of August to access the Sugiton calanque - you will have to book your place on the Mes Calanques app. The aim? To limit access to its pebble beaches to 300 people per day, compared to 2,000 during the peak visitor numbers in 2020 and 2021.

⋙ A "visiting permit" will be tested for the first time this summer in the Calanques of Marseille

To avoid damaging the beaches, victims of erosion, and the sublime pine trees that populate the calanque, go to the Côte Bleue, a stretch of Mediterranean coast to the north-west of the Phocaean city: its calanques have nothing to envy to those in the National Park!

Calanque de Méjean, calanque de Niolon, calanque de la Redonne and also calanque de l'Erevine: you'll be spoilt for choice, with breathtaking scenery of crystal-clear waters and small coves.

Go to Soulac-sur-Mer for a change from the Arcachon basin

The Arcachon Basin is a picture postcard landscape, with its oyster huts, the Banc d'Arguin and the iconic Lège-Cap-Ferret. Unfortunately, the other side of the coin is the consequences of mass tourism, starting with the most famous - and most frequented - spot in the basin: the Dune du Pilat, which sees two million visitors a year passing through an extremely fragile ecosystem.

⋙ What are the most beautiful places in Arcachon?

In the same spirit, let's go a little further north, without leaving the Gironde: in Soulac-sur-Mer, there are neo-colonial style villas, beautiful beaches and oysters, but also a Basilica listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site. From Soulac, you can also see the Cordouan lighthouse, built in the 16th century on a rocky islet, and nicknamed the "Versailles of the Seas".

⋙ Gironde: the Cordouan lighthouse reopens in April, renovated and embellished

Opt for the Sioule gorges, a change from the Verdon gorges

In Provence, the Verdon gorges are the largest canyon in Europe, but also one of the most popular. And it is easy to understand why, when you look at its walls which can reach up to 700 metres in height, and when you see its panoramas which are as sumptuous as they are unique... well, almost, because there are other canyons which are worth a look in France.

For example, the steep and green Sioule gorges, straddling the departments of Allier and Puy-de-Dôme. To discover this fisherman's paradise, you can canoe down the Sioule from the Pont de Menat. In addition, there are several swimming spots along the river for nature lovers!

Did you like the Gavarnie cirque? You will love the Estaubé cirque

In the Pyrenees, there is a glacial cirque which shelters at its heart one of the highest waterfalls in Europe: the Gavarnie cirque, which culminates at an altitude of 3,000 metres and is classified as a Unesco World Heritage Site. Problem: it is one of the most frequented sites in the department.

Even if the site is large enough to receive a large number of visitors, it is better to turn to more confidential destinations, such as the Estaubé cirque, also near the French-Spanish border. Also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is wilder than Gavarnie and has a lake and a dam.

In Corsica, chooseRoccapina beach over Palombaggia or Santa Giulia

Among the most beautiful beaches in Corsica, those of Porto-Vecchio are surely the most sublime, whether it is Palombaggia and its pine trees, or Santa Giulia and its heavenly waters. In summer, however, we wish you courage to find a patch of sand where you can roll out your towel!

If the names of the "confidential" beaches in Corsica are less and less secret, let's mention the wild and turquoise beach of Roccapina, halfway between Bonifacio and Sartene, less frequented because it is more difficult to access. Also known for its Lion, Roccapina is reminiscent of the most beautiful Caribbean beaches!

⋙ Internet users elect "the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean in 2021"