Some of us just want to relax on vacation, but for others, vacation, as Susan Sontag aptly described in her 1977 ontological exposée on photography, “ is an extension of work” (I am slightly paraphrasing but you get the gist). If you’re traveling to France this summer in search of more than crystalline water, calanques, and unmitigated rest, then take a look at five vacation ideas for the masochistic or idealistic (or are they one in the same?).

1. Espace Van Gogh

For cycling enthusiasts, no adventure in France can possibly match the hubristic thrill of riding the same routes as the legendary Tour de France and imagining that you too could win someday, somehow. Key sites along the routes include the Alpe d’Huez, infamous for its 21 hairpin bends, Mont Ventoux the “Giant of Provence,” also notorious for its difficulty and the arid desolation of the lunar landscape at its hard-achieved summit. Lastly, try your luck with the Col du Tourmalet, the highest road in the central Pyrenees mountains, it offers simultaneously a rigorous ride and breathtaking views (and Pyrenees mountain dog puppies if you’re lucky).

2. Hiking the GR20 in Corsica

Broadly considered one of the toughest long-distance trails in Europe, the GR20 in Corsica is the perfect path for seriously experienced hikers and is not recommended for amateurs or casual landscape aficionados or the overly ambitious. This 180-kilometer trail traverses the rugged hills of the island from north to south, offering a precarious journey that feels like you’re in Bavaria on account of its lush forests, alpine meadows, and rocky ridges. If you’re worried about where to spend the night, have no fear, once again like southern Germany, Corsica is well-equipped with mountain refuges where hikers can shelter in modest mountain huts which some might call “rustic,” while others prefer to bring their own camping gear in a masochistic gesture that could also be described as “authentic.”

3. Surfing in Biarritz

For those with an insatiable death wish synonymous with those who love catching waves, Biarritz on the Basque coast is a prime destination to shred board and taunt great whites. Famous for its covetably cool status as the birthplace of surfing in Europe, Biarritz offers world-class surf breaks and a vibrant local surfing culture. For consistent waves suitable for a variety of skill levels, la Grande Plage, the main beach in Biarritz has a family friendly atlantic oasis to learn the ways of the French surfer, or be a paddlepuss and chill out by the shore. Other renowned beaches include the Côte des Basques which is known for its powerful waves, stunning scenery, and reputation as a favorite of experienced surfers. Posers are not tolerated though, so you will have to ride those waves.

4. Rock Climbing in Fontainebleau

Located just an hour from Paris by RER and accessible with a Navigo pass, Fontainebleau is world-renown bouldering destination - in case you don’t know what that is, it is exactly what the verb would imply, scaling boulders, not hills, mountains, or cliffs just especially large rocks. Isn’t that what we all did as children? Apparently it’s a thing. Anyway, with thousands of sandstone boulders scattered throughout the forest, it offers endless opportunities for climbers of all ages and levels. To each their own I guess.

5. Paragliding in Annecy

If you’re scared of heights, this one is definitely not for you, but for adrenaline-junkies like myself, the immaculate rush combined with breathtaking views, paragliding over Lake Annecy is a once in a lifetime experience - only in the sense that it is unparalleled in its grandeur, hopefully. Considered the “Pearl of the French Alps,” Annecy’s unique position as an alpine haven provides it with some of the best paragliding conditions in Europe on account of its thermal currents and exceptional views - so you will want to keep your eyes open the whole time (don’t worry you’ll be in expert hands - or in the lake, but what a way to go).

Though the stereotype prevails that Germans are the most likely to engage in heavy-duty physical undertakings recreationally while on vacation (hence the propagation of biergartens reachable by four hour hike in either direction), France is also a playground for the athletically inclined, proffering a diverse array of adventures that cater to all levels of fitness, expertise, and delusion. Whether you’re neurotically committed to suffering a recreation of the Tour de France, sweating across Napoleon’s birth country, posing with a surfboard to impress your work frenemies, or screaming in the sky above Annecy, these adventures for the athletically inclined are laden with physical challenge and unforgettable memories (for better and for worse!).