Action Outdoors – the official UK partner of UCPA, a French not-for-profit adventure travel and sport organisation – has launched its 2023 summer programme which includes a variety of adventure and activity holidays. The breaks are all-inclusive, with accommodation, three meals a day, instruction, equipment and necessary passes included.
Most of the Action Outdoors holidays are based in the UCPA-run centres across the French Alps and the Atlantic and Mediterranean coastal areas of France, but UCPA Planete offers holidays further afield in partner hotels and resorts. There are hundreds of holidays on the programme – here’s what’s on offer for summer 2023…
E-mountain biking
Spend a week riding through the Chamonix Valley on an electric mountain bike. Suitable for cyclists with some mountain biking experience. One night is spent in a mountain refuge.
Details: UCPA Argentiere. E-mountain biking in the Mont Blanc Valley. From £676pp, including six nights’ accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner, guiding and instruction, equipment rental including e-mountain bike and helmet, lift pass. Dates throughout June, July and August 2023.
Rock climbing
Learn to rock climb in the Verdon Gorge, France, with a full-time climbing course for beginners and those with some experience too.
Details: UCPA Verdon. Rock climbing full time course. From £625pp, including six nights’ accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner, guiding and instruction, equipment rental including climbing shoes, harness and helmet. Dates throughout July and August 2023.
Trail running
A trail running course aimed at intermediate and advanced level runners keen to improve their form and increase strength on the Chamonix Mont Blanc trails.
Details: UCPA Argentiere. Trail Running in the Mont Blanc Valley. From £491pp, including 6 nights accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner, guiding and instruction, equipment rental including trail running vest, heart rate monitor and poles, lift pass. Dates throughout June, July and August and the first week of September 2023.
Trekking with culture and history
Five days of hiking while exploring Unesco sites of the Southern Alps. This course is a mix of excursions and easy walks including along the way: the classified site of the Clarée Valley, the Guisane Canal, the natural thermal spa of Monêtier and the old town of Briançon fortified by Vauban.
Details: UCPA Serre Chevalier. Trekking with culture and history. £463pp, including six nights’ accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner, guiding and instruction, equipment rental including hiking boots and backpack. Dates throughout May, June, July and August 2023.
Surfing
A week of surfing on the Atlantic coast of France for all levels, including beginners up to experts. Note, this is a half time course but full time courses are also available.
Details: UCPA Lacanau. Surf half time. From £563pp, including six nights’ accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner, instruction (five surfing sessions), surfing equipment. Dates throughout the summer from April to September.
Kite surfing
Learn to kite surf in El Gouna, Egypt. The course is suitable for complete beginners (other courses available for more advanced kite surfers).
Details: UCPA El Gouna. Planete Kitesurf full time – beginner. From £903pp, including six nights’ accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner, instruction, all technical equipment needed for kite surfing. Dates throughout the summer of 2023 from April to October.
Tennis
Play tennis on the Atlantic coast in France – suitable for all levels, including beginner to advanced. Note, this is a half-time course but full-time courses are also available.
Details: UCPA Lacanau. Tennis half-time. From £467pp, including six nights’ accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner, instruction, tennis racquet. Dates throughout the summer of 2023 from May to September.
Wellness
A week spent at UCPA Hyères alternating between wellness sessions, spa trips and exploring the Giens Peninsula with its beautiful beaches, bays and natural settings.
Details: UCPA Hyeres. Zen & Wellbeing on the Mediterranean Coast. From £523pp, including six nights’ accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner, three wellness sessions (yoga, pilates, coastal water walking), one snorkelling trip and four activity sessions including a day trip to the island of Porquerolles and one entry to the Thalasso Spa at the Ibis hotel in Hyères which includes two treatments. Dates throughout July, August and September 2023.
Under-25s scuba diving
Learn to scuba dive in the Mediterranean at a special price for 18-25 year olds.
Details: UCPA Sanary. Scuba diving full-time beginner – Under 25s. From £641, including six nights’ accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner, instruction, scuba diving equipment, eight scuba diving excursions on the dive boat, level one certificate. Dates throughout July, August and September 2023.
Images: Action Outdoors