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Massif 4X4 Adventure Tour
Autumn 2026
Located in rural south central France, taking in parts of the Haute-Loire and the Lozere regions, and also including the Livradois-Forez Natural Regional Park and the impressive Cévennes National Park. This is genuine adventure country, travelling though seemingly endless areas with the most outstanding natural beauty. Agriculture and adventure activities prevail, providing plentiful opportunities to indulge in the local delicatessen, between partaking in the various exciting river-based sports. The rugged pastoral charm of the region remains unspoiled by much tourist infrastructure, though the campsites are excellent, as are the numerous outdoor adventure activities. If you need to escape to the wilderness following the summer school holidays, and you enjoy exploring the natural environment, then this exceptional tour right through the heart of rural France will suit you perfectly. From exciting rafting on the Allier river, between Monistrol and Prades, to fabulous kayaking through the majestic Tarn Gorge, you will experience one delight after another, on this most excellent 4X4 off-road adventure tour. Fully catered as always, and also including adventure activities.
Start - we meet at a campsite near Ambert in the late afternoon preceding Day 1, to enjoy a welcoming BBQ, followed by the briefing.
Finish - at a campsite near Chaliers on the morning of Day 11, and after a complimentary farewell breakfast, we head our separate ways.
Included - full catering 3 meals per day for the duration of the tour, outdoor adventure activities as detailed in the itinerary, all campsite fees from start to finish, including the meeting campsite preceding Day 1.
Prices - per person based on 2 adults @ £1,395pp, additional adult @ 50%, single supplement @ 50%, child U16 @ 50%.
Highlights - It almost goes without saying that the off-road driving on this tour is second to none. With just the right amount of technicality to keep it exciting, without any risk of damage, the tracks are as different as they are plentiful, traversing some of the loveliest wilderness in the whole of France. The Massif Central is rightfully recognised as an area of outstanding natural beauty, and you will be exploring the best of it. We start north of the region of the Haute-Loire, making our way south through parts of the Parc Naturel Regional Livradois-Forez, travelling on mountain tracks, through hardwood forests, and including the occasional shallow river crossing. Our first adventure activity sees us river rafting on the Allier between the towns of Monistrol and Prades, from our campsite at Langeac, itself also a fascinating town to explore. Exceptionally good off-road driving takes us on to the region of the Lozere, where we enjoy crossing part of the Parc National des Cévennes. This area is host to some beautifully impressive towns, such as Florac and Sainte-Enimie, and also includes the spectacular Tarn Gorge, site of our second adventure activity. From our campsite near St Enimie, we will be enjoying a magical half day (or longer) of kayaking down the Tarn river. This is perhaps the standout highlight of the trip for many people, being a truly special way to explore the river gorge from within. This new tour is most suitable for those who thrive on adventure, both in their cars on the tracks, and out of their cars enjoying the activities.
Similar Tours - Portugal 4X4 Adventure (also 10 days, fully catered and including outdoor adventure activities)
Previous participants' reviews of this tour
"We both wanted to say how much we enjoyed the Massif trip! Good tracks, good food and a good group of people. Decent weather would have been even better but we can get that another time. After the disappointment of having to drop out of the Morocco trip last year due to a previously unrecognised manufacturing fault with the Mitsubishi, it was a pleasure to be able to test the truck on some different terrain and enjoy discovering it actually works rather well. We will definitely be booking with you again…..just trying to decide what and when. Again, thanks for a well organised, well led and well fed trip." Brenda & Tony Hill
"The Massif was our best trip with you. The tracks were interesting, varied and sometimes challenging. It must have taken a lot of research to find them. The scenery was stunning. We did not know that there were still such wild and beautiful places in France. Campsites were good and meals were a real bonus. Thank you." Mike & Kate Harley
"The group were cheerful and mutually supportive, which they needed to be on the two days of deep snow trails involving multiple “recoveries”, winching and lots of digging. The Massif is a fabulous area and a bonus to see some of it in sunshine as well as under snow. As ever with Barrie, well led and a real determination to provide a good experience for his clients." Tony & Brenda Hill
"Thoroughly enjoyed the fully catered Massif 4X4 tour." Jonathan Smith
"So Barrie, these are our thanks and words for you and hope to share a trip again with you my friend:
Dear friends of the Massif Central trip, (a week with the English people.....it was a good reason to clean up our school-English.....thanks)
The snow, the fog and rain, the sunshine, yes we had it all on this 4X4 voyage. Special thanks to Tony & Bren for the wonderful and practical cup (which has a vast place now in the Discovery on our 4X4 trips), Jonathan, George and Aidan for their fine technical explanations, Chris and Steve for also helping with their bare hands in the snow..... and last but not least, the guy in the front car, the leader of the band, the guide on the tracks....the Barrie-man himself, just as I knew him as on a former trip. Thank you all for your friendship, helping hands in winching situations, and your warmth we could share these days (even in the bar in the late hours...)" Fred & Viviane Van Eesbeke
