Holiday Diary 2017
June
As summer arrives so the mountainous regions of France shed their wintery coat , whilst at lower altitudes , it ’ s time to take advantage of the sunshine before it gets too hot . For example , it would be an ideal time to visit the Baronnies where in this beautiful part of Provence the lavender is coming into flower . See article on page 6 .
June is a great time to visit the Massif Central in central France . The mountain pastures are coated in lush green grass and a stunning array of wild flowers including orchids and gentians . We have a variety of destinations from the mountains and volcanoes of the Sancy and Cantal ranges in the Auverge to the immense plateaux of the Haut Loire and the wild and rugged ridges of the Ardeche . See pages 49 to 53 .
July
The perfect time of year to visit the French Alps . In our walking holiday in the Queyras , you can reach summits of around 3000m for wonderful panoramic views . See pages 36 & 40
July
Tour de France 2017 will be the 104th edition of this most famous cycle race . The race begins in Dusseldorf in Germany and finishes , as it has done for the past 40 years , on the Champs-Elysees in Paris . The tour will visit the Jura , the Auvergne , the Pyrenees and the Alps .
Avignon Festival is one of the biggest international festivals for contemporary live performance featuring theatre , dance , art and music .
August
Mid June until mid September is the season for walking in the high mountains of the Alps and Pyrenees . Each region has its own specific character . See pages 34 — 43
For 2017 we have a new walking holiday in the little known Ubaye region of the French Alps . Our tour of the Ubaye can be varied from 6 to 9 days walking depending on the time you have available . Stunning landscapes in this off the beaten track part of the Southern Alps . See page 37
September
In the UK
31 Aug – 3 Sept End of the Road Music Festival is a small festival with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere . The beautiful pleasure gardens at Larmer Tree on the Wiltshire-Dorset border , form an ideal place to create a woodland wonderland , strewn with art installations and decorated spaces .
7 – 10 Sept are National Heritage Days in England . Discover architectural treasures & a wide range of events & activities that bring local history to life .
October
A great time to visit the wine growing regions of France . Autumn colours turn the vineyards into a patchwork of oranges and reds .
14 July is the French National Day ( Bastille Day ) which commemorates the beginning of the French Revolution with the Storming of the Bastille as well as the Fete de la Federation which celebrated the unity of the French people . Celebrations are held throughout France .
September
September is generally a good time of year to visit wine growing regions , such as Burgundy and Beaujolais , if you are interested in the sites , sounds and smells of wine picking ( vendange ).
November
Beaujolais Nouveau Day . There are over 120 related festivals held every year in the Beaujolais region alone . The most famous is Les Sarmentelles , in Beaujeu . The 5 day festival features wine-tasting , live music and dancing .
December
Fete des Lumieres . Lyon ' s International Light Festival sees the city awash with lights for 4 days in December .
14 Book now on + 44 ( 0 ) 7483 241 945 or visit www . highpointholidays . co . uk