FRANCE FAMILY HOLIDAYS GUIDE

Open your mind to a world of possibilities as you gently unwind and rewild in the Alpine meadows and along the riverbanks of southern France. Our family holidays here encourage active adventures in the Ardèche and the Alps as well as extolling the benefits of donkey walking in Mercantour National Park. We invite you to disappear into the Dordogne where lazy, off grid days by lakes turn kids into real life Swallows and Amazons. Or if you prefer to pedal in your own private peloton then our tailor made family cycling tours along the towpaths of the Rhône and Isère rivers are perfect for keeping to your own pace.


There’s nothing like joining a small group of other like-minded families to get kids up and at ‘em but then walking with a donkey can also work wonders for otherwise reticent ramblers.![]()

Our France family holidays guide aims to get you off the autoroutes and into the river valleys and shaded pine forests of the south. Although the Alps in the Easter holidays are awesome – and expensive, and crowded – there’s something far more serene about the slopes in summer. Find out how to make the most of your family holiday in France, and when to go to avoid the crowds converging on the coast.
Our France family Holidays
Family adventure holiday to France
Life enhancing family adventure & yoga in the French Alps
From
£998
7 days
ex flights
Alternative family winter holiday in Sameons, France
Easter family ski, yoga & circus holiday
From
£965
7 days
ex flights
Dordogne canoeing holiday in France
One of France's most interesting waterways
From
£1799 to £1859
9 days
ex flights
Dordogne self catering cabin sleeping 4
Off-grid, off-beat self catering cabin
From
€675 to €945
per week (sleeps 2-4)
Loire Valley self catering farm cottage, France
Perfect Loire Valley country cottage for two
From
€560 to €750
per cottage per week (sleeps 2-4)
Baby friendly family accommodation in France
Family Friendly Loire Valley self-catering holiday cottages
From
€550 to €875
per cottage per week (sleeps 2-6)
WHAT DOES A FAMILY HOLIDAY IN FRANCE ENTAIL?
Active adventures, cultural encounters, relaxing by rural rivers or beside a lake; if you’re wondering what a hassle free family holiday in France entails, right here is where you sign up for sunshine. We like to think that family holidays in France should be less long distance driving and more everyone enjoying each and every day in their own way. School term dates will impact on when you can get away but if you’re longing for an old school family holiday, don’t forget France when it comes to getting the balance right.
Small group family holidays
Our small group holidays are perfect for families looking to keep active outdoors. You’ll join other families with children aged from seven to 15; depending on the activity they’ll need to be old enough to wear safety equipment and follow instructions. Group sizes are usually a maximum of 12 to 16 people. Small group activity holidays tend to take place from May to the end of August, coinciding with spring and summer school holidays as well as warmer temperatures for wild swimming, kayaking and white water rafting.
Professional and passionate instructors will help everyone learn the ropes – sometimes literally – and a group leader or host will be on hand to welcome you and ensure everyone knows what’s going on.
Our small group family holidays in France are centre based, perhaps in a luxury eco lodge or a five bedroom chalet in the Alpine village of Samoëns. Activity sites are just a short transfer away. All meals are included and there’s loads of indoor and outdoor space. It’s all very communal and everyone gets plenty of time to socialise with new pals and spend time together, as a family.
You can also book your own accommodation in the Ardèche and join other families, just for activities. Although there’s a set week’s itinerary you can pick and choose what you want to do. This is a great idea for families looking to make new friends as well as exploring on their own and enjoying their own space.
Tailor made family holidays
Our tailor made family holidays in France are for families looking to take things at their own pace. You can choose when you want to go, depending on school holidays, and decide on the type of activities that you’d like to do – perhaps with a guide, or on your own with detailed notes. We find walking holidays are a firm favourite for families looking to explore rural France. Your luggage will be transferred between accommodations each day, and detailed route information and emergency assistance add peace of mind. Mercantour National Park and the Rhône Valley, in the Alps, offer exceptional scenery as well as the opportunity to walk with a VIP, well a VID – a Very Important Donkey!
Alternativley, why not opt for two wheels instead of four legs? Cycling as a family between the lakes of Geneva, Bourget and Annecy takes you along the flat towpaths and shaded cycle routes beside the Rhône and Isère Rivers. Each night you’ll stay in a different, family owned hotel where a warm welcome, and your luggage, will be awaiting your arrival.
Alternatively, if you’re the type of family who love to really get to know the local patisseries or want to disappear into the Dordogne for a week then self catering or B&B accommodation in France is ideal. Cabins in the woods, chalets in the mountains, B&Bs with balconies in Provence, or a baby-friendly cottage in the Loire Valley; our accommodation only holidays are just right for families looking for la belle vie.
Alternativley, why not opt for two wheels instead of four legs? Cycling as a family between the lakes of Geneva, Bourget and Annecy takes you along the flat towpaths and shaded cycle routes beside the Rhône and Isère Rivers. Each night you’ll stay in a different, family owned hotel where a warm welcome, and your luggage, will be awaiting your arrival.
Alternatively, if you’re the type of family who love to really get to know the local patisseries or want to disappear into the Dordogne for a week then self catering or B&B accommodation in France is ideal. Cabins in the woods, chalets in the mountains, B&Bs with balconies in Provence, or a baby-friendly cottage in the Loire Valley; our accommodation only holidays are just right for families looking for la belle vie.
Our top France family Holiday
Alternative family winter holiday in Sameons, France
Easter family ski, yoga & circus holiday
From
£965
7 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2023: 11 Feb, 18 Feb
2023: 11 Feb, 18 Feb
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about France family or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.

01273 823 700
Call us until 4pm
Calling from outside the UK
BEST TIME TO GO ON A FAMILY HOLIDAY IN FRANCE
The Christmas holidays are too soon for snow-in the Alps, while February half term sees slopes covered in crowds, so we reckon the best way to avoid the crowds is to head to Geneva, the Ardèche or the Dordogne during the Easter or summer holidays. Summer is when many French families head to the coast which leaves the mountains blissfully crowd free. Although temperatures in southeast France do soar in July and August, especially in the valleys, there are plenty of shaded pine forests, wild rivers, and luscious lakes in Mercantour National Park, for instance, to let kids, and parents, keep cool.
“We were early in the season, this meant the weather was variable (fine in the mornings, clouds gathered at lunchtime, thunderstorms by mid-afternoon). However, the mountain scenery and alpine flowers were incredible.” – John Tyler, in a review of his family holiday in France
Dordogne Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
3
10
96
FEB
3
11
83
MAR
4
14
73
APR
7
17
70
MAY
10
20
75
JUN
13
23
57
JUL
15
26
46
AUG
15
26
56
SEP
13
24
74
OCT
10
19
84
NOV
5
13
93
DEC
3
10
97