What could be better than spending your days travelling through the rolling green French countryside, sampling cheese and wines, talking into the night, hitting great surf spots every second day and getting paid for it? Nadege Alloati, founder of Ze-Bus, does exactly that. She takes groups of backpackers around the real France to give them a taste, literally, of the culture she is so proud of and the chance to experience France’s amazing coastline!

When surfer and traveller Nadege Alloati, from Biarritz, France, realised that there were no cheap, reliable transport and tourism services for backpackers in her home country, she decided to start her own! Ze-Bus is the result: a bus company devoted to helping backpackers see the real France while experiencing its friendly culture.

Nadege, a French native, is an avid traveller. While living in California she decided to embark on an around-the-world trip to Australia, South-East Asia and Europe. Upon returning home, she met two Quebecoise travellers who asked her for information on things to do in France. She suggested a nearby surf competition and the unforgettable Mont St Michel. However, their only travel options were train travel or hitch-hiking, and when the three met up later they told her what a difficult, expensive nightmare all of their travel had been. 

It was then Nadege decided to create Ze-Bus!

Ze-Bus is an inexpensive way to see the real France. Tourists can see popular attractions as well as experience local culture without having to spend a fortune on train travel or expensive day trips. Nadege enjoys sharing the friendly side of French culture: the way people eat, drink, party, live and relax!

(Mount St. Michael, Normandy)

Nadege explains, "I decided to try to set up a real service for backpackers to show them the main tourist sites, without having to spend a fortune on day tours...and introducing them to the real local culture of our different regions, the way people live, what they do, what they eat, drink and the way they party.  Also, making sure they get to the beach and see the best surf spots...we have so much culture in our country and I really wanted people to feel like locals. Backpackers should not only visit Paris, cause France is way more than Paris."

ExplorerGirls chats with tour guide Nadege Alloati about the highlights of travelling through France and starting your own business, Ze-Bus.com.

EXP/G: Why do you think Ze-Bus is such a great way to travel?

Nadege: We take our passengers to so many different sites that everyday is a new adventure, so different from the day before. They get to see so much and experience so much. (They) meet locals and feel like they are on a trip with other friends, but still they get to have their own life and their own time. We just want them to see our France, the real one.

EXP/G:  Where are your favourite places to go in France and why?

Nadege: I love Brittany because of their strong culture, its coast line, islands, the colours, the white houses and crepes! I love Normandy (because of its) history, stone houses and the camembert! And I love the south-western part of France: great beaches, sun, mountains, and surf…

EXP/G: How easy was it to start your own company? Has it been rewarding?

Nadege: I suppose starting a company is never easy, if it was everybody would (do it)! What is rewarding is all the smiles, the good times and the new friends we all have from the trips we have done together, and the amazing testimonials and great pictures we all have

EXP/G: What are your top three travel tips?

Nadege:

1. When in Rome, do like the Romans do: experience the local culture wherever you go!
2. Always smile – even when it’s hard!
3. Be ready to change your plans – the real adventure lies in the unexpected!

"So, next time you see a niche that needs to be filled, think about it! You never know where it could take you," says Nadege!

www.ExplorerGirls.com / Gemma Considine