ACTIVITIES

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You have come to www.manzac.com, a website for three traditional, luxury self-catering holiday "gites" in the truly spectacular, peaceful and relaxing countryside of the Ariege in SW France.

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Manzac d'en Bas is set in beautiful countryside close to the fantastic natural playground of the Pyrenees mountains. For the more adventurous, the opportunities for enjoying a wide range of activities in spectacular countryside are endless ...

We would be pleased to give you advice on where and when you can enjoy the activities listed here - amongst others - and where necessary, make reservations for you.

Sequoia Vertigo

For those seeking an adrenalin buzz, Sequoia Vertigo is just fifteen minutes away. The tree top adventure park is built in woodland dominated by giant redwood trees. The park consists of several different 'routes' through the trees at levels varying from 2 to 35 metres above ground. There are courses for all ages starting from 5 years. The instructors give a safety talk and provide all harnesses and other equipment. Apart from the odd person who has discovered that they have a problem with heights, almost everyone who has stayed at Manzac and visited Sequoia Vertigo has thoroughly enjoyed themselves and recommended it as a great day out.

Website for Treetop Adventure course

Bungee Jumping At Mas d'Azil

For the really adventurous (or crazy?), there is the chance to complete a bungee jump at the entrance to the enormous limestone cave at Mas d'Azil, about 20 minutes from Manzac. Rather you than me!

Website for Bungee Jumping at Mas d'Azil

Click here for YouTube video of Bungee Jumping at Mas d'Azil

Horse Riding

There are several riding centres providing lessons or accomapanied rides for all ages and levels of experience. This can be a lovely way to explore the region and, for the more adventurous, longer rides can be organised which involve camping overnight. We recommend that you organise this in advance to avoid disappointment and would be pleased to help you with any enquiries or bookings that you wish to make.

Canoeing & White Water Rafting

Excellent day trips on water can be spent canoeing on the Ariege river near Tarascon or white water rafting on the Garonne near Luchon, both about an hour from Manzac d'en Bas.

Website for Canoeing on the River Ariege

Website for White Water Rafting on the River Garonne

Cycling - Road & Mountain Biking

Cycling is a national obsession in France and top cyclists are as famous as french footballers and rugby players. There are great opportunities for participants and spectators to enjoy cycling in the Ariege. There are bikes for hire in the nearby village of Daumazan. You can also can hire off-road bikes (VTT) to explore further towards the Pyrenees, on one of a number of tracks to suit most ages and abilities. If this sounds too much like hard work, the bike hire company will drop you and your bikes off at the highest point of the climb so that you can enjoy a more leisurely descent.

Website for hire of VTT bicycles near Massat

For spectators, the Tour de France almost always passes within striking distance of Manzac d'en Bas while it passes through the mountain stages of the Pyrenees. The number of supporters and their fanatical enthusiasm for the Tour makes this a memorable event to experience, especially during one of those major climbing sections in the Pyrenees.

Website for Le Tour de France

Golf

There are a good selection of golf courses within an hour-and-a-half of Manzac d'en bas. The nearest, just over 30 minutes away, is The Golf Club de L'Ariege at Bastide de Serou, which is a challenging course set in beautiful countryside. Further afield, there are a number of courses around Toulouse and also near the spectacular old fortified town of Carcassonne.

Website for Golf Club de L'Ariege

Website for Golf Course near Carcassonne

Walking and Hiking

The incredibly varied and beautiful landscape of the Ariege - from river valleys, to the hills and up into the mountains - offers a fantastic variety of walks to suit all ages and abilities. Whilst we can show you lovely walks around Manzac d'en bas, there are also fantastic walks further afield to waterfalls and isolated chapels. For the adventurous, there are spectacular longer routes into the Pyrenees, some of which offer simple accommodation and food - though it is best to book this in advance. Another great option is hire a donkey to take with you on your hike who can carry your kit and / or children when they are beginning to tire!

Website for a company specialising in outdoor mountain activities

Winter Sports & Skiing

The nearest skiing resort is just over an hour away from Manzac and an ideal place to enjoy the Pyrenees during the winter. The two nearest downhill resorts are at Ax Les Thermes and Guzet where the skiing is good and the slopes are comparatively free of people.

For more extensive skiing (and more widespoken English), Andorra is just over two hours away.

Website for skiing at Ax Les Thermes

Website for Skiing at Guzet

For cross country skiing and the chance to go sledging behind dogs, a visit to Plateau de Beille is very worthwhile. The scenery in these resorts is, needless to say, spectacular with views across the mountain peaks of the Pyrenees.

Website for cross country skiing and dog sledging at Plateau de Beille

Rock Climbing

The geology of the Ariege is dominated by limestone formations and this makes for ideal rock climbing. It is a popular sport in the Ariege and as well as providing ideal conditions for participants, it also has the added benefit of being in spectacular countryside.

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