Camargue Road Trip: Camper Van Itinerary | VAN-AWAY, give yourself the freedom to roam

Day 1: Aigues-Mortes, the Salt Marshes and the Bird Park…

Our first day in the van lets us discover superb cultural and natural sites: a guaranteed change of scenery!

Aigues-Mortes

Pretty little medieval town almost intact, still surrounded by its powerful ramparts and towers. From up there, you’ll see the salt, with the strange vision of salt marshes turning pink on the other side of the walls, and the large dunes of immaculate white.

Not to be missed: the Tower of Constance, emblem of the city, which served as a prison for Protestants after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Discover a warm atmosphere by strolling through the narrow streets and taste the specialties: wine, fleur de sel, fougasse… there’s something for everyone! For food lovers: taste the orange blossom fougasse at Olmeda bakery (32 rue Emile Jamais).

Les Salins du Midi (Southern Salt Marshes)

What you should know is that you can only visit the salt marshes by small train (€25) or by bicycle (11km trail): €30 with rental (€25 with your own bike). It’s a nice ride in a mythical landscape, a touch of Bolivia: salt dunes and an incredible view of Aigues-Mortes… The bike ride will be more peaceful, more at your own pace, and offers more freedom.

Tip: favor early morning or late afternoon as it gets very hot there. Above all, don’t go without a bottle of water!

It’s a real rainbow of colors: blue-green ponds, pinkish salt areas due to Dunaliella Salina, this algae that proliferates when the water becomes too salty, and white dunes.

Bac du Sauvage

When leaving Aigues-Mortes for Saintes Maries de la Mer, if you have some time, take the Bac du Sauvage on the D85. It’s picturesque! The crossing is free and there are rotations every 30 minutes. 8 cars can be loaded each time. There may be a bit of a wait. It’s not uncommon for horses to accompany you during the crossing, especially in the high season.

The Ornithological Park of Pont de Gau

This 60-hectare park is really the ideal site to observe and photograph many species of birds in their natural habitat. The walks are done on foot, two loops are offered of 4km (about 1.5 hours) and 7km. Tip — Arrive at 6:45 pm, just before the ticket office closes (€7.50) in order to enter the park and stay indefinitely. You can leave whenever you want. In addition, the park is almost yours alone at that time and it’s when the pink flamingos are fed. Very beautiful spectacle in perspective…. Otherwise, if you don’t want to pay the park entrance and if you have waterproof shoes, you can also go see the birds at the edge of the Imperial Pond.

For the night in your van, several options:

A stop at the edge of the Vaccarès or Monro ponds: superb views
a spot at the end of the world at Beauduc beach: one of the last wild beaches in France and one of the largest… and windiest. This makes Beauduc a very popular spot for kitesurfing. To get there, you need to be patient and motivated: after following a tarred dike-road for several kilometers, you take a 10 km track in poor condition. Once arrived, you feel very small faced with the vastness of the dunes and the beach.
Last possibility: the Baumelles manade, which welcomes you free of charge via our FRANCE PASSION offer

Day 2: Saintes Maries de la Mer and tours in the Camargue…

Saintes Maries de la Mer

Despite the many Chinese souvenir shops, it’s worth stopping in the capital of the Camargue.

By paying, you’ll be able to access the large terrace of this fortified church. From up there, breathtaking views of the village and the Mediterranean! Note that every May 24th, Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer becomes the center of European Gypsy culture.

What I preferred: the port of Saintes Maries and its Crin Blanc beach. I recommend walking along Avenue Riquette Aubanel to discover the small Camargue houses.

Take advantage of this stay to go horseback riding. It’s a must-do for a weekend in the Camargue!

For horseback riding, we recommend:

the Cabanes de Cacharel, a bit out of the way in an exceptional setting. It’s on the Cacharel road that you’ll see the bulls. Count €22 for a 1-hour ride.
the Écuries de la Roulotte. It’s a small stable attentive to the welfare of its animals. Be sure to bring covering clothing and mosquito repellent.

To end this 2nd day beautifully, go see a beautiful sunset over the Vaccarès Pond. Unforgettable! Can we say that the sunsets in the Camargue are the most beautiful in the south of France?

A few words about Vaccarès, the largest natural area in the entire Camargue, it stretches over more than 12km and is ideally discovered by bicycle.

For sleeping, 2 options:

a stop at the edge of the Vaccarès or Monro ponds: superb views

a spot at the end of the world at Beauduc beach: one of the last wild beaches in France and one of the largest… and windiest. This makes Beauduc a very popular spot for kitesurfing.

To get there, you need to be patient and motivated: after following a tarred dike-road for several kilometers, you take a 10 km track in poor condition. Once arrived, you feel very small faced with the vastness of the dunes and the beach.

Day 3: Arles and Le Grau du Roi…

To conclude your weekend in the Camargue, you’ll return to a bit more civilization and reach the Gateway to the Camargue, or exit…

Arles, The Gateway to the Camargue

A very pretty small quiet town, and more lively in summer. Don’t miss the photography festival in July each year.

It’s a human-sized, very attractive city. It’s full of majestic monuments at every street corner, small lanes and squares… almost Provence already!

Like Nîmes, Arles has a beautiful Roman heritage: the arena, the ancient theater, the underground cryptoporticus galleries, Constantine’s baths, the Alyscamps necropolis…

Take a little break on the Forum square or have a drink at the Hôtel Nord-Pinus bar, which will immerse you in the atmosphere of the region.

In Arles, there are many terraces where it’s nice to have a drink, enticing restaurants both for their menus and their prices. It feels good there… so take advantage of it to have a lunch break.

Leave through the villages of the Petite Camargue: Saint Laurent d’Aigouzes, le Cailar, Saint-Gilles, Vauvert where you have the possibility to extend your stay at our partner in the Flower Campings network at Mas de Mourgues in Vauvert to enjoy the water park… or go take a break on the Espiguette beach in Le Grau du Roi!

Some additional information:

To do even more during your weekend in the Camargue, on foot, by bike or by vehicle, consult the 14 discovery itineraries offered by the park to observe all the diversity of the Camargue landscapes. They are all downloadable on the park’s website. The most famous ones:

the Digue à la mer walk, starting from the Gacholle lighthouse (20 km of pedestrian and cycling paths)
The Albaron marshes to Saliers
The path of bulls and vineyards

For wild beach lovers:

the Espiguette in Le Grau du Roi
The Piémanson Beach at Salin de Giraud

Taste a “gardiane de taureau”

Traditional Camargue dish, it’s a stew of bull meat, cooked in full-bodied red wine with vegetables, spices, and some citrus fruits.

Other places we love and recommend:

the Salins-de-Giraud and the Barcarin ferry which connects the two banks of the Grand-Rhône, the dunes of the Espiguette road in Le Grau-du-Roi and the Fangassier pond.