France Eco Lodges

Sustainability meets style in France at their Eco Lodges. From the lavender fields of Provence to the lush forests of the Vosges, and the wild Atlantic coast, France offers ecotourists unforgettable stays in harmony with nature. Enjoy locally sourced cuisine and off-grid retreats, as well as wildlife-rich reserves while reducing your environmental footprint. Hike, cycle, or relax in green luxury. See map of France.

France Eco Lodges And Resorts

France Ecotourism

In France, numerous initiatives combine tourism with nature conservation and local involvement.

Agritourism and slow tourism: a growing number of farms welcome tourists for a stay in harmony with the countryside. This includes organic meals, wine tastings, or farm work.
France has more than 50 nature parks. This includes Verdon, Vercors, and Morvan. Hike, cycle, or birdwatch in these protected areas. Here you can hike, cycle, birdwatch, or sample local products, all with respect for nature and culture. France also offers over 62,000 miles of Hiking Trails in France.
France Eco Lodges and sustainable accommodation: you’ll find small-scale eco-accommodation throughout the country. Many France eco lodges use renewable energy, rainwater harvesting, and organic food.

Sustainable Travel Tips for France

Use charging apps like Chargemap or ABRP (A Better Route Planner) to find locations to charge your electric car.
Try an “Accueil Paysan“: stay with farmers who promote ecotourism. A way to discover stays and activities on farms and in the countryside.
Choose recognized eco-labels such as “Clé Verte” or “EcoGîte.” Keep in mind that small establishments may not be able to afford the cost of eco-labels, so don’t discount them if they don’t have certification.
Clé Verte is the French branch of the international Green Key eco-label. It is awarded to tourism establishments committed to sustainable practices.
EcoGîte is an eco-label by Gîtes de France. It is dedicated to rural accommodations built or renovated with sustainable practices.
Online Eco Rating. An inexpensive worldwide eco rating for all sustainable lodging. On our site.
You can find lots of other travel tips to reduce your ecological footprint on our sustainable travel tips page.

France Top Destinations

Écrins National Park

This stunning alpine park is located in southeastern France. It is known for dramatic mountain scenery, glaciers, diverse wildlife, hiking trails, and protected ecosystems. This park is a paradise for nature lovers.

You can find lots of other travel tips to reduce your ecological footprint on our sustainable travel tips page.

Cévennes National Park

This park is located in Southern France. It is the highest and southernmost part of the Massif Central Mountain Range. This UNESCO Biosphere Reserve has a very diverse landscape, as well as flora and fauna. It is famous for the colonies of vultures that build their nests on its ledges.

Map of France

The Camargue

Located on the South Coast, it offers unique wetlands, wild white horses, and pink flamingos. Visitors can explore the area by bike, horseback, or foot while observing wildlife. This region is one of France’s most biodiverse and scenic regions, and it supports sustainable practices.

Ecotourism in Brittany

This area offers rugged coastlines, birdwatching, scenic hikes, and rich marine life. Tidepools are shallow coastal pools left by retreating tides. They harbor starfish, crabs, sea anemones, and more. They are perfect for sustainable, educational exploration along Brittany’s diverse shoreline.

Corsica

Corsica is an island and belongs to France. Here you will find pristine beaches, ancient forests, small-scale agritourism, and the GR20 hiking trail. “GR” stands for “Grande Randonnée” (long hike). The GR20 traverses the island of Corsica from north to south. It is known for its rugged terrain, high-altitude sections, and stunning landscapes.

Suggestions for a 2 week Sustainable Itinerary in France

Week 1 – Southwest France – Atlantic Coast and the Pyrenees

Starting point: Bordeaux (accessible by train; rent your electric car here).

Day 1-2: Bordeaux. Explore the city by bike and visit organic wineries in the region of Saint-Émilion. Enjoy local sustainable cuisine at restaurants like La Table de Montaigne.

Day 3-4: Bassin d’Arcachon and Dune du Pilat. Go birdwatching in the Parc Ornithologique du Teich. Hike on the Dune du Pilat and through the coastal forests. Stay overnight in one of the many French eco lodges.

Days 5-7: Pyrenees National Park, via Pau or Lourdes. Take a beautiful scenic drive along the mountains. Hike in the Vallée d’Ossau or around Gavarnie. You have a chance to see griffon vultures, chamois antelopes, and marmots rodents.

Week 2 – Central and Eastern France – Auvergne and Jura

A train stopover is possible from Lourdes via Toulouse to Clermont-Ferrand. Please note that it may involve transfers and be a longer journey (typically 8+ hours). Renting an electric car is a good alternative for flexibility.

Day 13-14: Return to Lyon. Finish with slow food (good for consumers, good for producers, and good for the planet) in the mountains.

Days 8-10: Auvergne Volcanoes. Hike on extinct volcanoes in the Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Nature Park. Stay overnight in sustainable mountain huts or nature campsites.

Day 11-12: Jura (by train or electric car). Discover the region’s organic cheeses (like Comté!) and natural wines. Go birdwatching around Lac de Chalain and the Haut-Jura forests.

The Camargue Flamingos
Lac de Chalain
Écrins National Park

Flora and Fauna

Flora – What Grows In France?

Due to the diverse climates, the flora in France is also very diverse:

In the Camargue, you’ll find unique wetlands with reed beds and salt-tolerant plants such as samphire.
In the north and center, you’ll find mixed deciduous forests with oak, beech, and chestnut trees.
The Alps and Pyrenees offer alpine meadows with edelweiss, gentian, and arnica.
In the Mediterranean south, olive trees, lavender, thyme, and rosemary grow.

Brown bear
Chestnut trees
Badger
Wine Vineyard
Chamois Goat Antelopes
Arnica
Mouflon Wild Sheep
Beech
Common Crane Grus grus
Olive trees
Wild white horses of The Camargue
Samphire plants

Fauna – What Animals Can You Spot In France?

Chamois and ibex live in the mountains, especially in the Pyrenees.
The brown bear population has been making a slow but steady recovery in the mountains. Its presence is a symbol of successful conservation.
The Lac du Der and the Brenne are birdwatching paradises. You can spot cranes, kingfishers, and storks, among other species.
Wild white horses, black bulls, and thousands of flamingos can be seen in the Camargue.
Wolves have returned to the Alps and the forests. You can also encounter foxes, deer, badgers, and wild boars here.
Cévennes National Park is home to numerous mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. You can spot vultures, foxes, hedgehogs, beavers, mouflons, and many other animals.

Small-Scale Nature Conservation Projects

“Parole de Loup” – Wolf Awareness and Protection (FERUS)

What: public education, market stalls at festivals, and education about coexistence with wolves.

Volunteering: opportunities include communication, presentations, and field activities.

You can get information via FERUS’s “Parole de Loup” program.

Terre and Humanisme – Agroecology, Ardèche

What: Educational gardens and agroecology at Mas de Beaulieu.

Volunteer work: Gardening, composting, and learning ecological farming practices. There is a 2 week immersive program where you actually stay there.

League for the Protection of Birds

What: bird protection, migration monitoring, and nest box construction. As well as vulture reintroduction in the Gorges du Verdon.

Volunteering: they have more than 40 projects annually throughout France that need volunteers.

Platform for volunteering in France

Website CADIP: https://cadip.org/volunteer-in-france

Website for Volunteering Worldwide: https://www.eco-volontaire.com/. This website is in French.

Environmental Challenges in France

France boasts rich natural diversity, but it also faces significant ecological challenges:

Biodiversity Loss: intensive agriculture, urbanization, and infrastructure projects are fragmenting ecosystems. Meadow birds, insects, and amphibians are under pressure.
Climate Change: France is increasingly affected by droughts, heat waves, and forest fires. This is especially true in southern France and Corsica, where it threatens natural areas and agriculture.
Water Pollution and Water Scarcity: pesticides and fertilizers pollute rivers and groundwater. At the same time, droughts are reducing water supplies, especially in summer.
Overtourism in Vulnerable Regions: mass tourism in the Alps, Provence, and along the Côte d’Azur, is putting pressure on nature and local infrastructure.

Brittany Lighthouse
Auvergne Volcanoes

The Policy of France on Ecotourism and Sustainability

France has an active sustainability policy at both the national and regional levels. Here are some key points:

Regional Action Plans: provinces and regions (such as the Ardèche, Brittany, or Nouvelle-Aquitaine) have their own ecotourism policies. These often focus on local gastronomy, hiking trails, slow travel, and biodiversity.

Strict Nature Conservation: France has 11 national parks and over 50 regional nature parks (parcs naturels régionaux). These areas combine nature conservation with sustainable tourism and local involvement.

Agenda 2030 and Ecological Transition: the government is committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The European Union (EU) has established a “Green Deal”. It mandates a 55% net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Therefore it has significant implications for France. They have taken an active role in its implementation.

Support for Ecotourism Initiatives: accommodations, guides, and tour operators are encouraged to practice sustainable tourism. They do so through subsidies and certifications.

Mobility and CO2 Reduction: France promotes train travel over short domestic flights. Many natural areas are accessible by public transport or cycling routes.