Bike the marshlands near Marseilles (French Tourist Office)

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A flat marshy delta, home to flamingos and seabirds as well as a great variety of reeds, juniper trees, and wildflowers: not the kind of environment you might expect in France, but the Camargue is one of the best—and most popular—destinations for birding. And one of the best ways to get a complete sampling of this immense wetland west of Marseille is by bicycle. A circling of the giant pond, the Grand Etang Vaccares, takes about six hours. Start in the village of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer and stop in any of several places for a snack and a rest. If you're lucky, you'll catch a glimpse of a fascinating breed of wild horse that has survived here after having been imported by Spaniards for bullfighting.