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Family Activities in Provence

Discover the top Provence family activities

Updated

Whatever you choose to do on your family holiday, you are sure to find a huge range of activities across Provence. There is something for everyone, every ability and every age. Check out the selection of things to do below for some holiday inspiration!

Basketball

Many of the sport centres around Provence have facilities to play basketball.

Bungee Jumping

You can jump from Europe's highest bridge on your trip to Provence, if you've got a good head for heights that is.. At over 180m vertical drop it's definitely a test for the nerves! Anyone from 15 years plus can take part although if you're over 55 you may need to provide a medical certificate.

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Canoeing / Kayaking

You can take to the water in the Gorge du Verdon, or one of the several inland lakes.

Kayaking is a fun watersport that can be enjoyed as a team or on your own. Unlike canoeing, paddlers face forward and have a double bladed paddle. It is a versatile sport that you can enjoy on rivers, lakes and the sea. You can take your inflatable or plastic kayak and make your way down the water. Using the double bladed paddle you can control the speed, direction and enjoy the experience and wonderful views in your own time. There are some watersports centres and adventure companies who can take you out for your kayaking experience.

Canoe rafts are an unsinkable, stable type of inflatable canoe that allow you, without too much technique to profit fully from the joys and fun of white water river descent. The descents are taken on by groups of 4 to 5 boats, accompanied by a fully qualified guide. You are equipped with neoprene suits and shoes, a safety jacket and a helmet. The course which you take is chosen according to the water levels and experience of the participants.

Watersports in Provence

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Canyoning

A not-so-gentle but extremely refreshing summer activity is one way to describe canyoning! Plunge yourself into the mountain streams via a series of abseil descents, jumps and natural water slides – just make sure you choose a warm day!

You will make your way along rivers and rapids, using the river bed as a natural obstacle course. Not suitable for very young children, but anyone over the age of about 8 can take the (very cold) plunge and try canyoning. With the safety of a guide everyone can abseil down cascades, splash into pools and ride the river rapids. You can choose from short beginners’ routes or longer ones for the more adventurous.

Different companies will have their own policies on age limits but usually, unless they are booked onto a children's activity course, anyone under the age of about 14 years old will have to be accompanied by an adult. A basic level of swimming ability is required for safety reasons. There are a number of adventure companies that offer guided descents down the local waterways.

Watersports in Provence

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Childcare

Depending on the age of your child there are a number of childcare options available in Provence. There are also numerous babysitting and nursery facilities available in the area - have a look at our childcare listings page for more information or you can contact the local Tourist Offices for a list of available babysitters.

Climbing in Provence

Guides & Tours in Provence

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See our Climbing Guide

Culture and guided tours in Provence

Explore the best that Provence's has to offer with an expert local guide. From natural tracks to traditional buildings and crafts, food and drink... there's lots to be discovered in Provence.

Guides & Tours in Provence

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See our Sights & Sites

Cycling in Provence

Enjoy a number of cycling trails and routes in Provence and what better way to explore Provence than on a bike when you can enjoy the beautiful scenery. Have a look at our cycling guide for more information and explore the cycling routes that are in the area. If you are in Provence without your biking gear there are a number of cycle hire shops in who rent and sell bikes, gear and more.

Bike Hire in Provence

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See our Cycling Guide

Fishing in Provence

You can dangle a fishing rod in most places and it's often something you can do by yourself, or with friends, from a harbour wall, from the beach or from a boat. There are literally hundreds of places you can go. Why not speak to some of the specialist companies who offer guided trips and excursions or yacht charters for coastal or deep sea fishing, for a bit more of an adventure.

Fitness and swimming in Provence

Sports & Fitness in Provence

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Flying in Provence

Flying in Provence

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Football

There are indoor football courts in many of the sport centres around Provence for you to organise a friendly match.

Geocaching

There are over 2.5 million people doing geocaching around the world and some of them (perhaps surprisingly) are right here in Provence! It’s a relatively new craze that started taking the world by storm in May 2000 after a computer geek decided that GPS could be “really exciting”. He hid some treasure at his home in Portland, America, for people to find, broadcast the GPS coordinates and said, “Come and get it”. His only rule: “Take some stuff, leave some stuff”. And that’s exactly what Geocaching is…you go in search of treasure by using the GPS system on your mobile device – once you’ve found it, you write your name in a logbook and replace the treasure you decide to take. It’s pretty simple really and means, as a family, you can be adventurers together. You won’t usually find anything quite as precious as gold, silver and diamonds but nevertheless it’s quite exciting!

Golf in Provence

Golf Courses in Provence

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Horse riding in Provence

Horse ride through beautiful landscapes. Provence is an attractive destination for horse treks & lessons.

Horse-riding in Provence

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Hydro-speeding

Watersports in Provence

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Indoor activities in Provence

Things To Do in Provence

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Karting

Race around the tracks in go-karts or try something more powerful! With a number of karting tracks in Provence it will be great fun for everyone.

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Mountain-biking & Fat-biking

Bike Hire in Provence

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See our Mountain Biking Guide

Nature Reserves & Parks

There are several nature reserves in Provence. Some have marked walking trails, visitor centres and childrens activities.

Paddleboarding

Paddleboarding is a great way to explore the stunning coastline of Provence. No previous experience is needed, just hop on the board and start paddling.

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Paragliding / Parapenting

Flying in Provence

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Segway

Segway tours are available in Arles, with a number of different tours on offer during the daytime and one at night.

Spas and massages in Provence

Spas in Provence

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Swimming

One of the most popular things to do in summer for families is to pop to the local swimming pool. Many of the villages in Provence have outdoor swimming pools that opens only for the summer months of July & August (sometimes they open mid June and early September). These municipal swimming pools cost a couple of euros entry, and represent good value for a family. They generally form part of the local sports centre and so you could try some other sports whilst you are there.

If you'd like to take a dip outdoors in a more natural environment, there are some lakes which have beaches, playgrounds & picnic areas, and offer non-motorised watersports like kayaking and paddle boats. There are also a good selection of lakes and wild swimming areas as well as waterparks which the whole family can enjoy.

So don't forget your towel and your swimming costume or shorts (note, males should wear speedo's in municipal pools, no board shorts allowed).

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Tennis and racket sports in Provence

With its warm climate and mainly dry days, tennis is very popular in Provence. Significant investment in the sport means that there many tennis clubs and courts available for the enthusiast or the amateur.

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Theme parks, waterparks and aquariums in Provence

Provence has plenty of varied theme parks, ranging from tree-top adventure parks and adventure playgrounds to petting zoos, mazes and indoor amusement parks. Great fun for all the family! The greatest concentration of parks can be found in the Aix/Avignon area.

Theme & Adventure Parks in Provence

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Via Ferrata

If climbing up sheer rock on the end of a piece of rope sounds a bit scary then Via Ferrata climbing offers an element of security that still allows beginners to enjoy the achievement of having scaled a mountain! This form of climbing was invented by Italian soldiers in the Dolomites who used it to enable them to scale vertiginous faces easily and quickly. These days it is a popular sport that makes the thrill of mountain climbing more accessible to children, beginners and those who want a bit more security when they climb. Following marked routes through the mountains you are helped along by steps, bridges and ladders whilst being roped up for extra safety.

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Walking, hiking and running in Provence

Hikes in Provence region can generally be split into two categories: coastal and mountain. The coastal routes are all very accessible and mostly very easy, more like strolls than hikes, but still worth doing for the unbeatable views of the coastline and access to fabulous beaches along the way. The mountain trails take a little more effort to get to, but many can be reached by bus or train. They are a great way to explore the terrain behind Provence and the many traditional villages that are dotted around the countryside.

Walking Routes in Provence

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Waterparks

Splash around on a water slide & enjoy hours of fun, waterparks are hugely popular with both adults and children in Provence! There are several down on the coast by Frejus, and one to the east of Avignon - tackle some of the fun rides and slides and stay cool!

Waterparks & Aquariums in Provence

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Watersports in Provence

Provence is perfect for water sports with its warm summers. There are several watersports centres on inland lakes where you can learn to sail or enjoy thrilling rides in speedboats, and everything in between.

Watersports in Provence

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See our Watersports Guide

a poster for an event in Provence

Arelate Festival 2017 Preview

Arles is world renowned for its Roman history and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks to its many incredibly well preserved monuments and buildings.

a view over the river to pont d'avignon

Avignon on a segway

Take in the historic sights of Avignon and make a visit to Ile de la Barthelasse using this alternative mode of transport.

Pont d'Arc

Canoeing in Ardeche Review

With a long bank holiday weekend in store it made sense to venture to the outskirts of Provence to see what the Ardeche region and the famous Ardeche Gorge has to offer.

a winding street with stairs in biot

Day trip to Biot

Located in Biot

On a sunny Tuesday morning in April I found myself getting quite lost in the maze of narrow streets and lanes in the stunning, and slightly quirky, hilltop town of Biot.

Electric Bikes in Provence

Electric Bike Tour of Provence

As we have already revealed galloping along the Alpilles on horseback is a jolly good way of touring the stunning scenery that this Parc Naturel has to offer, but for a more modern (lazy) approach there is an alternative - the electric bike.

Splashworld Provence, Monteux

Family days out in Provence

Provence has been a popular choice for family holidays for many years, thanks to the ease of access, the weather and the plentiful activities for children, particularly in the summer.

three small sheep on the mountain with red markings

Hiking Mont Ventoux

On Saturday I decided to go hiking on Mont Ventoux, the largest mountain in Provence. Popular nicknames include the ‘Beast of Provence’, ‘Giant of Provence’ and of course the ‘Bald Mountain’. After doing only a little research, I headed off in the direction of Bédoin, the town at the base of the mountain where Google Maps told me to go.

a camargue horse

Horse Riding in the Camargue

Riding around La Camargue on horseback is the perfect way to spend an afternoon in the company of experienced and well-trained horses trekking through marshland and along the dusty-paths of the famous region.

Horse Riding through the Garrigue Alpilles

Horseback Riding in the Alpilles Review

Located in Les Baux-de-Provence

Les Alpilles is a relatively little-known range of hills to the south of St Remy de Provence, awarded Parc Naturel Régional status in 2007. The peaks rise to a modest 500m, hence the name ‘little Alps’. Inhabited and farmed by man for thousands of year, these craggy limestone hills are dotted with pretty villages, roman remains and centuries-old vineyards and olive groves. They are also criss-crossed with paths and tracks, making them ideal for walking, mountain biking and, for the less energetic, riding.

some canoes on the river ceze provence

Kayaking with Goud-Canoe

With the many rivers around Avignon there are plenty of opportunities to kayak in gorgeous natural surroundings. We headed just 50 kilometres north-west to the village of Goudargues, near La Roque sur Ceze, to try Goud' Canoe’s “Nature” package; which is an 8km route with plenty of picnic areas, swimming spots and sun-bathing sites along the way.

a group of people quad biking

Quad Biking near St Remy de Provence

Provence Quad Location, situated in Graveson just a few kilometres outside St.Remy-de-Provence, offer guided tours through the Provençal countryside every day of the year. I was part of a group on the “Discovery” tour.

a bridge with 3 arches

Summertime swimming spots in Provence

Cooling off during the hot summer months in Provence tends to involve heading to the nearest swimming spot to take a dip, whether that's at a swimming pool, a waterpark or somewhere in a more natural setting.

an aerial view of Avignon

Taking to the skies over Avignon

Vaucluse ULM flight school are based out of a hangar in Avignon-Sud Airport where they are in possession of around ten different types of aircrafts – from gliders; to stunt planes, microlight aircraft and the bright yellow Auto-Giro that I’m going up in today.

Top 10 adventure sports to try in Provence

Top 10 adventure sports to try in Provence

Coming on holiday to Provence doesn't necessarily have to mean that you have to step down a gear and enjoy a slower pace of life, although there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Mont Sainte-Victoire Vinyards

Tour of the Mont Sainte-Victoire

Touring the Mont Sainte Victoire is a perfect escape from Aix-en-Provence to see a wild side of Provence, share some of Cesanne's views and taste some fine wines en route.

Train des Merveilles

Train des Merveilles

Located in Nice

The Train des Merveilles takes you from the coastline of Nice into the rugged mountains of the Vallée des Merveilles and the Mercantour National Park.

Train des Pignes

Train des Pignes

Located in Nice

The Train des Pignes runs on the Chemins de Fer de Provence railway line and connects the Riviera town of Nice with the historic city of Digne Les-Bains, taking you from seaside to snowy mountains in just three hours and 30 minutes.

cave painting of rhinos

Visit to the Caverne du Pont d'Arc

In 1994 a limestone cave in the Ardeche was discovered that excited the archaeology world. Three caving enthusiasts discovered a cave richly decorated with charcoal drawings, hand prints and engravings that had been closed off by a rock fall for around 20,000 years keeping its contents in incredible condition. Named after one of the cavers, Chauvet Cave quickly became regarded as one of the greatest archaeological finds of our time. 

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