Travelling slowly, without going too far and respecting nature… that’s what slow tourism is all about. Rule no. 1: forget the car and opt for soft modes of transport. Here are 5 more environmentally-friendly ways to get around, in addition to being good for your health.
Walking
Walking is the most basic human activity and the oldest mode of transport. It’s also the most environmentally-friendly way to get around, and the cheapest. To each his own pace, whether hiking, Nordic walking trail or running .
Hiking is the number one sporting activity practised by French people on vacation. All you need is a sturdy pair of shoes. With an average speed of between three and six kilometers per hour, this is what slow travel is all about. Discover our ideas for easy walks in Aude .
The bike
The standard-bearer of slow tourism and soft mobility, the bicycle is the most environmentally-friendly mode of transport (along with walking). Whether it’s for touring or for getting around your vacation destination, cycling is a great way to slow down and stay active at the same time. In the Aude region, you can enjoy slow tourism by bike on small roads along the coast, in the vineyards of the Corbières or in the lush greenery of the Lauragais.
The campsite’s favorite? The “Méditerranée à Vélo the French section of EuroVelo 8, which links Cadiz (Spain) to Izmir (Turkey) over a distance of almost 7,500 km. In the Aude region, you can pedal to the Corbière Maritime ponds, Narbonne-Plage, Port-la-Nouvelle or Leucate-La Franqui.
Want to go further? Choose an electrically-assisted bike, the star of new mobility. Less “green” than the conventional bicycle (because of the battery to be charged), the electric bicycle nevertheless appears to be the most ecological alternative to the internal combustion car.
Read also: Mountain bike trails in the Aude
The scooter
Electric scooters continue to win over fans of soft mobility. Like the bicycle, the scooter is a new ecological alternative to the car for short journeys. There are all-terrain electric scooters suitable for hiking. More fun than mountain biking and easier to ride, the all-mountain scooter is an original and trendy activity, accessible to all. Try it out in the Narbonnaise Natural Park, through vineyards, ponds, beaches and wild pine forests.
The boat
A World Heritage Site, the Canal du Midi sees thousands of people pass by every day on foot, by bike between Sète and Toulouse. But it’s renting a barge to the rhythm of the locks and the landscapes that pass slowly, very slowly. Speed limit: 8 km/h! The art of taking one’s time comes into its own here. From Argens Minervois, you can sail to the city of Carcassonne, or through Capestang, the port of Le Somail and other typical villages on the way to Narbonne.
By donkey
Want to opt for more responsible tourism while getting off the beaten track? Why not hike with a donkey on the trails of the Cathar countryside or the Corbières and Minervois. To the rhythm of your big-eared companion’s hooves, as in the days of the smugglers. Donkeys accompany you on your journey, carrying your belongings. Departing from Caunes-Minervois, Villerouge-Termenès or Quintillan: half-day hikes on a signposted itinerary, full-day hikes for the more sporty, self-guided or accompanied, bivouac hikes, itinerant hikes.
So, are you ready for soft mobility? If you’re spending your next vacation at our campsite in the Aude region, between Carcassonne and Narbonne, we’ll be delighted to show you the paths to follow and discover.