11 Unusual things to do in Spring

Every year, on 21 March, winter officially turns to spring. Spring means warmer temperatures, the rebirth of nature and the desire to spend time outdoors. That's why we've put together a list of 11 unusual things to do in spring.

From the sky, to the sea, to the mountains, we invite you to discover unique activities to do this season, with family or friends. We guarantee you exceptional views, thrills and unforgettable memories! Enjoy your discovery!

1- First hang-gliding flight in Annecy

The first activity on our list of 11 unusual things to do in spring is hang-gliding. If you want to discover landscapes still covered in snow, green plains and rivers and lakes overflowing with water, this is the ideal activity to do in spring. Hang-gliding is a flying machine made up of a wing in the shape of a delta (hence the name hang-glider), wheels and a harness, on which hang-gliders lie down to fly. Starting from a high point, you have to run towards the cliff and throw yourself into the void. Hang-gliding take-offs are always impressive! But don't worry, the wing immediately gains lift, and off you go for a flight, lasting from a few minutes to a few hours. Like paragliding and gliding, hang-gliding lets you take advantage of updrafts to fly for long periods.

A hang-gliding experience in Annecy is ideal for people who want to try this aerial sport for the first time. You can choose between a discovery flight (10-20 mins), a soaring flight (20-30 mins), an acrobatic flight (20-30 mins) and finally, for the bravest, a prestige flight lasting between 30 and 40 minutes. On this first flight, you'll fly over Lake Annecy and the surrounding snow-capped mountains. The view of the Aravis mountain range and La Sambuy is incredible.

And before you embark on this adventure, we'd like to tell you a little about the difference between hang-gliding and paragliding, to make it easier for you to choose between the two ways of flying.

2- Via Ferrata du Thaurac near Montpellier

Let's move on to an activity to do in the mountains: the Via Ferrata. It's a little-known activity, but the via ferrata is a machine for creating unforgettable memories! If you're not afraid of heights and you're ready to climb mountains, but you're not an experienced climber, this sport is for you.

The via ferrata is a course on a cliff, equipped with cables, ramps, ladders, zip lines and Nepalese bridges that allow participants to progress on the cliff more easily and safely. Once you've donned your harness and helmet, you'll be ready to tackle the most impressive walls in complete safety.

The Via Ferrata du Thaurac is located in the Cévennes National Park, around 50 minutes from Montpellier. The route is located on the Thaurac cliffs, famous among climbers. After a 20-minute walk from the car park, you can start the 2-hour route up to the Thaurac plateau, where you'll be 320 metres high and enjoying the exceptional panoramic views of the Languedoc-Roussillon region!

France is home to a host of Via Ferrata activities all over the country. We invite you to discover the Top 10 Via Ferrata in France.

3 - Flyboarding on the Côte d'Azur

In spring, the temperatures rise, the waters warm up and the water sports season begins. The third sport on our list of unusual activities to do in spring is flyboarding.

Flyboarding is a recent sport that uses equipment attached under the feet and linked to a jet ski. With the power of a jetski, the flyboard allows you to fly over the water, as if you were equipped with a jetpack. As you can see in the photo above, you can go up to 10 metres high and dive like a dolphin. Once on the flyboard, you'll feel like a superhero. Ironman will have to watch out!

A Flyboard session in Nice is the ideal way to try out this original activity on one of France's most beautiful coastlines. This flyboarding activity takes you 300 metres from the coast and lets you fly with a view of the entire Nice coastline, all the way to Cannes! Of course, you'll be equipped with a life jacket and helmet, and an instructor will be on hand to help you. Two different sessions are available: a 20-minute session and a 30-minute session.

If you'd like to flyboard at other spots, don't hesitate to discover all our flyboarding activities around the world.

4 - Caving in the Grotte des Faux Monnayeurs in the Jura mountains

Head for the Jura, for another unusual activity: caving. The aim of this activity is to explore underground cavities. During a caving excursion, you'll cross narrow galleries, climb natural chimneys, etc. before ending up in vast underground 'rooms'. Often, you'll also have the chance to see stalactites and stalagmites!

When caving, your instructor will accompany you throughout the excursion. He or she will also provide you with a helmet, gloves, wetsuit (it's a dirty sport!) and, if necessary, a harness - essential equipment if you want to progress underground in complete safety.

The appeal of caving? Above and beyond the underground landscapes, it's a truly out-of-this-world, out-of-time excursion. A complete change of scenery. With no light, the total loss of any sense of time is a sensation you have to experience at least once in your life!

The Grotte des Faux Monnayeurs caving trip is ideal for a first experience. The cave is essentially horizontal, with no climbing, abseiling, ladders or chimneys. This adventure will give you the chance to observe a historical heritage, natural limestone sculptures, fossils, etc. in the heart of the Jura. It will take you around three hours of total disconnection to discover the whole of the Grotte des Faux Monnayeurs. And here's a scoop: 4G is not available in this cave!

If you want to discover the world's underground spaces, here are all the caving activities in Europe.

5- Microlight flight over the Bay of Arcachon

Take to the skies of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region and discover the famous Bay of Arcachon and the surrounding area by microlight. A microlight is a small aeroplane, an "Ultra-Light Motorised Aircraft", which can fly at fairly high or fairly low altitudes, at speeds of between 60 and 300 km/h. It carries only two people: the pilot and a passenger. These machines do not require prepared landing strips and have a range of 3 to 5 hours - which can allow short visits, but also long flights.

To give microlighting a try, we've opted for a microlight flight over the Bay of Arcachon. The site of the basin lends itself particularly well to microlight flights. The scenery is sublime and unobstructed. You'll have plenty of time to admire the Dune du Pilat and Cap Ferret, during a flight of 20, 30 or 45 minutes. The special thing about this microlight flight is that the pilot also offers an introduction to flying, if you wish!

Microlight flying is accessible in many regions. Sea, mountains, countryside, choose your spot and discover all our microlight activities in France and abroad.

6- Fatbike at Omaha Beach

Fatbike is definitely worthy of a place on our list of 11 unusual activities to do this spring! What is a fatbike? It's a bike designed for riding on unstable terrain such as sand, snow and mud. The only difference from a conventional bike is the much wider tyres. These big, wide tyres make it easier to get around on soft terrain. So you can ride a Fatbike whatever the weather or type of terrain, without fear of slipping or falling.

And if there's one type of terrain that's usually inaccessible by bike, it's sand. So set off for Normandy, to one of the sites richest in history: Omaha Beach.

With a Fatbike ride on Omaha Beach, you can ride along the sands of the Normandy landing beaches for a fun and educational outing. With family or friends, you can enjoy a free 1.5-hour session or a guided ride on an electric Fatbike to discover the secrets of this famous Second World War beach.

And if you're spending several days in this part of Normandy,Omaha Beach has plenty of other outdoor activities to offer, including sea kayaking, catamaran sailing, sand yachting and even paragliding on the dunes.

7- Hydrospeeding down the Drac in the Champsaur Valley

The next activity on our list of 11 unusual things to do this spring is whitewater swimming, also commonly known as Hydrospeed. The aim of this unique activity is to swim down a river with a float and flippers. To practise this sport, which is less well known than rafting or canoeing, you'll need a reinforced full-body neoprene wetsuit, helmet, flippers and, of course, a life jacket.

Although impressive, this water sport can be practised by anyone with a simple certificate certifying the ability to swim 25m and immerse one's head in the water. And whitewater swimming is a truly original way of discovering and descending rivers, for an experience rich in emotion. Last but not least, it's a great way to spend some quality time together in the spring.

For the hydrospeed descent of the Drac, the meeting point is a 20-minute drive from Gap. The activity lasts around 2 hours 30 minutes, and you'll spend between 1 hour and 1 hour 30 minutes in the water (depending on the water level). Be prepared to ride the waves created by the Drac's many rapids. One thing's for sure, you'll become one with the river, all set against the sumptuous backdrop of the Champsaur valley.

Hydrospeed is an activity available on many rivers in France and Europe. Here are all our hydrospeed activities for you to choose from!

8 - Freefall simulator baptism in Paris

We've all dreamt of parachuting out of a plane at least once. But if you want to test yourself before jumping out of a moving plane, we suggest you try this unusual activity: indoor skydiving.

This vertical wind tunnel is what we call a free-fall flight simulator. With a wind speed of around 200km/h, it puts you in the real conditions of a parachute jump, minus the plane and the altitude. This 'wind tunnel' flight (as free-fall simulators are often called) is accessible to everyone, from the age of 5. However, a reasonable level of physical fitness is required.

As for equipment, you'll be equipped with a wetsuit, helmet and goggles (for the wind), just like in skydiving, but without the parachute.

A first experience in a free-fall simulator in Paris is a complete experience lasting between 1 h and 1 h 30 in total. Like skydiving, you will first be kitted out and given a full briefing. But instead of getting in the plane, you'll stand around the wind tunnel with your group (around 12 people). Then you'll enter the wind tunnel one after the other, each for an initial one-minute flight with your instructor.

While the other participants pass through the "tunnel", you have time to watch the video of your first flight. During your second flight, which also lasts 1 minute, you'll test your balance and try to stabilise yourself in the air, always with the advice of your instructor, of course! At the end of your session, the instructor will give you a sporting demonstration of indoor skydiving - get ready to be amazed! What's more, for a more real effect, you can take a flight using a 360° simulator helmet, with views of Dubai, Hawaii or even California, or simulate a plane jump, 1m above the ground!

Did you know that your wind tunnel experience is equivalent to 3 first parachute jumps from a plane at 4,000 metres? The two experiences are quite different, so we suggest you try both!

9- Survival course near Toulouse

Our 9th entry on the list of unusual activities to do in Spring is the survival course. You've probably never heard of it, but believe us, it could come in handy one day. So what is a survival course? It's an excursion that will teach you all the basics you need to survive if you ever get lost in the wild. On the menu: learning how to make a fire, find food, build a shelter for the night, etc.

For this activity, we're taking you to the edge of the Cévennes to discover the survival course in the Gorges du Tarn. Over 3 or 4 days (depending on your choice), you will learn all the survival methods you need to use if you find yourself in this type of situation.

What's special about this course is that time is also devoted to mental preparation and stress management. This course takes place without food, so it's up to you to find what's edible in nature (with the help of your instructor at the start). Whether you're with family or friends, this unusual course is a unique experience!

To get you in the survival mood, check out our list of the 6 best survival films to watch. You'll be able to learn a few things before getting down to business!

10 - Sailboat session at Mont Saint-Michel

Sand yachting is definitely an unusual activity, and ideal for spring. A sand yacht is a 3-wheeled machine propelled by the wind via a sail similar to a windsurf sail.

Usually, this sport is practised on wide, long sandy beaches. That's why most sessions take place at low tide. That's when the beach is at its widest, and the sand, still damp, is hard to roll on.

As for what you should wear, we strongly advise you to wear waterproof clothing that will protect you from sand, sea water and rain (you never know what the weather will be like in Normandy...). Gloves are (very strongly) recommended, as the wind can blow hard and pulling on the sheet can cause blisters.

The sand yacht is designed to be fast. With peak speeds in excess of 50km/h, and an almost prone position just a few centimetres off the ground, you can expect powerful sensations of speed. This fun activity is ideal for groups of friends!

And what better place for a first experience than the beaches of Mont Saint-Michel? Sand yachting on the bay of Mont Saint-Michel promises a whole programme. A quick briefing with your instructor, who will show you how to handle your sand yacht, and you'll be ready to set off solo or in tandem. Yes, all children over the age of 4 can take part in this sport, but it's only from the age of 12 that they can drive a sand yacht independently.

And if you're in the region for several days, another way to admire this World Heritage site is from the air. With a paragliding experience over the bay of Mont Saint-Michel, you'll have an uninterrupted view of the whole of Mont Saint-Michel and its surroundings.

11- Paramotor flight near Paris

This brings us to the last activity on our list of unusual things to do in spring. The paramotor deserves to be on this list! Made up of a paraglider wing and a small propeller engine, it's a very simple craft to fly, but it's a safe way of flying over beautiful landscapes, often at low altitude. With its limited speed and its engine, it's an excellent way of experiencing the thrills of paragliding on the plains.

And where there's a plain and no relief, there's the Paris region. We've chosen to take you to the area around Fontainebleau. During your Paramotor flight in Prunay-sur-Essonne, you'll discover the surrounding countryside: the plains and fields of the Gâtinais park, the Essonne valley, the Château de Courances and the Moulin de Dannemois, where Claude François once lived. And if you're looking for a bit more adrenalin, don't hesitate to ask the pilot to let you take the controls!

And if you're not near the Gâtinais, check out all the other paramotor activities around the world.

Spring is finally here, so this is your chance to get away for a weekend or a few days and discover France in an unusual way. You're now equipped with a full list of unusual activities to try out this spring, while you wait for the summer.

So don't hesitate, and let yourself be tempted. And for more choice, check out all our articles on things to do in France, whatever the season.