There’s nothing quite like a hike to leave Paris! With summer upon us, for the school holidays, we’re looking for a change of scenery. To escape the high summer heat, we offer you – in partnership with Helloways – a nice selection of the best exotic hikes easily accessible in transports from Paris. All you need to relax for a weekend, even though you’re not leaving Ile de France!
Chevreuse, here we come
Accessible with RER C, stop at Gare de Lardy. Time from Paris: 1h
A hike covering about forty kilometers, between fields, valleys and forest. Leave from Gare de Lardy with the RER C and arrive in Dourdan: the occasion to discover its splendid castle. The asset of this route is that it enjoys a beautiful change of scenery, housing accommodation (gite and camping) all along the route. And if you’re too tired, you can easily join the RER station and stop the adventure.
Crossing the Rambouillet forest
Accessible with Transilien train line N, stop at Gare du Perray. Time from Paris: 1h15
This 38-km hike can be completed in one long day for the most skilled hikers. For the rest of the Sunday’s hikers we are, 2 days are perfect. Starting from Perry en Yvelines, we cross the wonderful étangs de Hollande that used to supply the Palace of Versailles with water, the Rambouillet forest and fields as far as the eye can see. An immersion into unlikely landscapes and yet so close to Paris. To see what it looks like, a video has been shot during the latest event thrown by Helloways.
Crossing the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse
Accessible with Transilien train line N, stop at Gare du Perray. Time from Paris Gare de Lyon: 45 minutes
It’s up to you, this hike can be made in one busy day, but 2 days can be very nice too. On the menu, 27km through the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse (aptly named). Ridge trails, the old Abbaye des Vaux de Cernay, ponds, mills, waterfalls (yes!) and nice castles. The route ends with the tour of the Chevereuse village and its wonderful washing places, its traditional syrup maker and its food store. How great!
Now, you’ve got no more excuse to go on a hike!
