A itinerary

A itinerary is a designated route to get from point A to point B. It can designate a physical journeylike a road or a path, but also a travel program detailing the various stages involved.

The route can be planned à l’avance, avec des arrêts précis, ou être flexibleby adapting to travel conditions. It is used in navigationin tourismin hiking and even as part of logistics strategies.

👉 Examples of use:

road for a road trip by car.
tourist to visit a city.
hiking with various points of interest.
A public transport route to optimize travel.

💡 With digital tools like Google Maps, Mappy or Michelin, it's easy to create and optimize a route according to traffic, distance and personal preferences. See the tutorials below

Practical information for planning an itinerary

La planification d’un itinéraire efficace nécessite la prise en compte de plusieurs éléments essentiels :

Trip objectives : Définir clairement les buts du déplacement, qu’il s’agisse de tourisme, d’affaires ou d’aventure.
Available time : Establish the total duration of the trip, so as to divide the stages judiciously.
Budget : Prendre en compte les coûts liés au transport, à l’hébergement, à la restauration et aux activités.
Means of transport : Choose between car, train, plane, bike or walk, depending on distances and personal preferences.
Weather conditions : Considérer le climat des destinations pour adapter l’itinéraire en conséquence.

How do you choose the right itinerary?

Le choix d’un itinéraire dépend de divers facteurs :

Centres d’intérêt : Sélectionner des destinations en fonction des passions, qu’il s’agisse de sites historiques, de paysages naturels ou de manifestations culturelles.
Level of difficulty : Assess the physical requirements, particularly for hiking and cycling routes.
Accessibility : Vérifier la facilité d’accès aux lieux, en tenant compte des infrastructures disponibles.
Tourists : Choose less crowded times and places for a more authentic experience.

France's best-known itineraries

France offers a multitude of route to discover the richness of its cultural and natural heritage, and the many departments and regions.

The Route des Vins d’Alsace

The route passes through picturesque villages such as Riquewihr and Eguisheim, immersing you in Alsace's renowned vineyards.

Visit Alsace Wine Route is an emblematic route of 170 kmthrough the region's exceptional wine-growing landscapes Great East. Stretching from Marlenheim à Thannit winds its way through green hills, terraced vineyards and medieval villages. Founded in 1953It is France's oldest wine route and attracts thousands of visitors every year.wine and gastronomy enthusiasts.

The route is punctuated by villages ranked among the most beautiful in Franceas Riquewihr, Eguisheim and Kaysersbergwhere you can taste the famous Alsace Grands Crus : Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris... In autumn, the road is adorned with gold colors and vibrates to the rhythm of fête des vendangesA unique immersion in Alsace's wine culture. The perfect getaway to combine pleasure of the senses, heritage and traditions

The Route Napoléon

S’étendant de Golfe-Juan à Grenoble, cet itinéraire historique retrace le parcours emprunté par Napoleon lors de son retour de l’île d’Elbe en 1815.

Visit Route Napoléon is a mythical itinerary that follows the route taken by Napoleon I en 1815 lors de son retour de l’île d’Elbe. Elle s’étend sur 325 kmlinking Golfe-Juan (Alpes-Maritimes) to Grenoble (Isère), through the magnificent scenery of the Southern Alps. This route, punctuated by winding roadsof picturesque villages and spectacular panoramasis particularly popular with bikers, cyclists and road trip enthusiasts.

In addition to its historical interest, the Route Napoléon is a invitation to travelbetween impressive gorges, green plains and rugged mountains. Among the must-see sites are Grassethe perfume capital, Sisteronwith its imposing citadel, and Gapnestled in the heart of the Alps. This itinerary is a real plunge into history and a treat for lovers of nature and wide open spaces.

The Tour de Brittany

This coastal route allows you to discover remarkable sites such as Saint-Malo, the Pointe du Raz and the Gulf of Morbihan.

The Route des Loire Valley Castles

This route includes visits to majestic châteaux such as Chambord, Chenonceau and Amboise, witnesses to the French Renaissance.

Visit Route des Châteaux de la Loire is a emblematic route to discover some of the most beautiful castles of Francelocated in the Loire Valley region. Stretching over approximately 280 kmthis route links the towns ofOrléans to Nantesthrough Blois, Amboise, Tours and Saumur. It passes through an area classified UNESCO World Heritage Siteknown for its verdant landscapes, vineyards and winding rivers.

Among the must-sees is the majestic Castle of Chambordthe elegant Castle of Chenonceauthe refined Château de Cheverny and history Château d'Amboiseresidence of Leonardo da Vinci. This route is ideal for a cultural tripblending Renaissance architecture, sumptuous gardens and royal heritage. A perfect itinerary for lovers of history, nature and Loire gastronomy.

Les Grandes Alpes

This legendary route crosses the Alps linking Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean, via legendary mountain passes.

L'Grandes Alpes itinerary is a mythical route that crosses the French Alps from Lake Geneva to the Mediterraneanlinking Thonon-les-Bains to Menton on nearly 720 km. Founded in 1911it borrows 17 legendary passeswhose Iseran passEurope's highest (2,764 m), and the famous Galibier pass. This itinerary is a paradise for bikers, cyclists and road trip enthusiastsoffering breathtaking landscapesbetween glaciers, alpine forests and green valleys.

All along the route, travellers can discover iconic ski resorts as Chamonix, Val d'Isère and Briançonand typical mountain villages. The itinerary is ideal for those seeking adventure, nature and thrillswith numerous hiking, high-altitude lakes and breathtaking panoramas. A unique experience that plunges you into the heart of the alpine grandeur.

Digital tools for creating itineraries

La technologie moderne offre une panoplie d’outils numériques facilitant la création et la gestion de parcours personnalisés :

Mappy Itinerary

Mappy Itinerary is a online tool to calculate a route by car, on foot, by bike or by public transport. It provides detailed information on distance, travel time, fuel costs and ecological alternatives. Thanks to its advanced functionalities, Mappy compares different modes of transport and offers optimized options based on real-time traffic conditions.

Mappy's main features

Multi-transport route planner : car, bike, pedestrian, public transport.
Real-time information traffic conditions, roadworks, accidents.
Cost estimates fuel, tolls.
Display of services on the route gas stations, restaurants, parking lots.

This tool is particularly useful for organizing daily routes or travel in France and Europe.

Michelin itinerary

Michelin itinerary is a tool for route planner renowned for its precision and detailed recommendations. Developed by Michelin, it is particularly appreciated by motorists for its integration of Michelin mapswith real-time traffic forecasts and travel cost information.

Michelin Itinerary main features

Precise route calculation by car, motorcycle, bike or on foot.
Real-time traffic information traffic jams, accidents, roadworks.
Cost estimates fuel prices, tolls.
Alternative routes The fastest, most economical and most scenic routes.
GPS guidance for optimized navigation.
Michelin recommendations Restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions nearby.

L'Michelin itinerary is ideal for preparing a travel in France and Europewith detailed, optimized planning for every type of trip.

OpenStreetMap

Collaborative project providing detailed maps of the whole world, allowing users to create and modify routes according to their needs.

TripIt

Application mobile permettant d’organiser ses voyages en centralisant les informations relatives aux réservations, aux hébergements et aux activités prévues.

France Touristic

Application dedicated to tourist routes in France, offering personalized itineraries for discovering remarkable sites, even offline.

Canva

Online tool offering an artificial intelligence-assisted travel planner, enabling the creation of personalized itineraries based on travel preferences and requirements.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) itinerary

How do I save a route on Google Maps?

Google Maps permet d’enregistrer des itinéraires pour les retrouver facilement plus tard. Voici les étapes à suivre :

Open Google Maps on your smartphone or computer.
Find your route by entering the start and end points.
Select mode of transport (car, foot, bike, public transport).
Appuyer sur “Envoyer à votre téléphone” if you want to find it on another device.
Add route to favorites en utilisant l’option “Épingler l’itinéraire” (disponible sur mobile).

Tip You can also create a customized list pour sauvegarder plusieurs itinéraires en appuyant sur “Enregistrer”.

How do I get directions on Google Maps?

Creating an itinerary on Google Maps is easy:

Open Google Maps on a browser or mobile application.
Cliquer sur l’icône “Itinéraire” (in the shape of a blue arrow).
Enter your starting point and destination.
Choosing your means of transport (car, public transport, walking, cycling).
View suggested itineraries and select the one that suits you best.

You can also add steps en cliquant sur les trois points en haut à droite et en sélectionnant “Ajouter une étape”.

How do I create an itinerary on Google Maps?

If you wish to create a personalized itineraryHere are the steps to follow:

Open Google Maps and click on ☰ Menu (on mobile) or access Google My Maps for more options.
Sélectionner “Vos adresses”, puis aller dans l’onglet “Cartes”.
Create a new card en cliquant sur “Créer une carte”.
Adding waypoints en cherchant des lieux et en cliquant sur “Ajouter à la carte”.
Plot your route en utilisant l’outil “Tracer une ligne” pour relier les points.
Save and share your itinerary with other people.

My Maps lets you personalize your itineraries with colors, icons and descriptions!

These methods are ideal for preparing a road trip, hiking or sightseeing made-to-measure.

How do you plan an efficient travel itinerary?

Pour planifier un parcours efficace, il est essentiel de définir clairement les objectifs du voyage, de prendre en compte la durée disponible, le budget, les moyens de transport et les centres d’intérêt. L’utilisation d’outils numériques peut également faciliter cette planification.

Quels sont les avantages d’utiliser des applications pour créer des itinéraires ?

Les applications offrent une planification simplifiée, une personnalisation des parcours, des mises à jour en temps réel et une centralisation des informations, améliorant ainsi l’expérience de voyage.

How do you adapt your itinerary to the weather?

Il est recommandé de consulter les prévisions météorologiques avant et pendant le voyage, de prévoir des activités alternatives en cas d’intempéries et de rester flexible pour ajuster l’itinéraire si nécessaire.

What are France's most famous hiking routes?

Famous hiking routes in France include the GR20 in Corsica, the Tour du Mont-Blanc and the Chemin de Stevenson in the Cévennes.

Comment assurer la sécurité lors de la planification d’un itinéraire ?

Il est important de se renseigner sur les conditions locales, de prévoir des moyens de communication fiables, d’informer des proches de son parcours et de toujours avoir une trousse de premiers secours.