Geographic and climatic variations make France an ideal country for a huge variety of activities. Among the most popular are watersports, cycling, golfing, skiing, canal boating, hiking and fishing. Canal boating is a great way to discover the French countryside at a relaxed pace, and is possible in many places, notably the Canal du Midi, around Paris, in the Dordogne, Languedoc, Brittany, Alsace and the Carmargue. Anyone over 18 can pilot a boat without a license, but you need a license to fish. With over 120,000 km of marked paths, walking and hiking is a very popular activity in France. Whilst you may hike at liberty, you must respect the regulations laid out for French camping holidays, especially in nature reserves. Mountaineering and rock climbing holidays are organized with the Club Alpin Francais. Golf has grown hugely in France since the early 1980s, and there are now more than 650 courses spread over most of the country. The country has a large number of ski resorts in the French Alps as well as in the Pyrenees. Among the major resorts are Chamonix, Val Thorens, Val d'Isere, Meribel and La Plagne. The skiing season runs from early December to the end of April.
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