If you want to discover one of the most beautiful wild places in France to know the Camargue, here is my road trip with its itinerary detailed and the Google map circuit map.
I had always told myself that, the day I decided to go to the Camargue, it would be in camping-car to be able to discover in complete freedom, at my own pace and in total immersion this wild nature with its pink flamingos, its sea birds, its white horses and its famous bulls.
Here is my circuit, made in a motorhome, which leaves from Arles and goes to the Salins de Giraud via Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer and Aigues Mortes.
Circuit in Camargue - How long?
The Camargue can easily be visited by 1 week but to enjoy the beaches for longer, horseback riding, hiking in the ponds, the ideal will be to go 10 to 15 days.
But if you just want to spend a short stay or a long weekend there, you can also treat yourself by doing my little one 3-day circuit in the Camargue.
Circuit in the Camargue - Where to rent a motorhome?
When looking to rent a motorhome, it is difficult to make a choice between:
- the many motorhome vendors who offer rentals,
- vehicle rental professionals,
- individuals via the ads from the right corner ...
I had decided to opt for a professional when my parents kindly offered to lend me theirs !!! It is with great care and attention that I was able to enjoy their little gem ...
But, if you are not so lucky, you will easily be able to rent a leisure vehicle on the Evasia website.
Campsite in the Camargue
Le Clos du Rhône is a campsite that offers pitches as well as accommodation in seafront in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.
Discover the campsite on Booking
Rental in Camargue
For those who do not travel in a motorhome, why not a vacation rental?
Here is accommodation in the heart of the Camargue which allows you to flit all around to visit all the tourist sites (see details below):
Hotel in Camargue
Another possibility of accommodation for this tour, a small, very nice and not too expensive hotel in Saintes Maries de la Mer:
Circuit in the Camargue - Unmissable sites in the Camargue
To be able to establish a coherent and interesting itinerary, I had to choose the sites that seemed to me unmissable places in the Camargue :
- Arles
- Aigues-Mortes
- The Wild
- Ornithological Park of Pont de Gau
- Saintes Marie of the Sea
- Beauduc Beach
- Pond of Fangassier
- Saltworks of Giraud
- Port Saint Louis du Rhone
Circuit in the Camargue - Route map
This itinerary in the Camargue regional park represents approximately 200 kilometers and is optimized for a duration of 1 week.
Circuit in the Camargue - Stages of my itinerary
Road trip in the Camargue - Arles
Starting your road trip in the city of Arles allows you to take a little cultural visit. Indeed, Arles is a city of art and history classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Roman heritage). It is also a city where Van Gogh lived for a few months.
Here is my little itinerary that allows you to visit the city on foot: Arles unmissable circuit
Road trip in the Camargue - Aigues-Mortes
Aigues-Morte is the 1rd stage of this circuit in the Camargue. This city deserves to spend at least one night there.
You can visit this city inside the walls and enjoy the outdoors by climbing on the ramparts to have a fantastic view of the salt marshes.
Road trip in the Camargue - Le Sauvage
Here is an option to go to the other bank of the Rhône: take the Sauvage ferry (free) and thus more easily reach Saintes Maries de la Mer.
We were unable to embark the motorhome but we still took the ferry to enjoy the beautiful landscapes and travel alongside the horses who also made the crossing at the same time as the cars.
Ornithological Park of Pont de Gau
This is where you have to go to be able to observe in their natural environment the most species of birds and of course the flamingos!
Saintes Marie of the Sea
A major pilgrimage site for gypsy communities, this fishing town has a lot of charm with its white houses, its Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer church and its lively seaside resort.
1 week in the Camargue - Plage de Beauduc
Among all the beautiful beaches of the Camargue, there is one that is unlike any other: Beauduc beach. Totally wild, it has always attracted lovers of the sea, freedom, families, artists, foreigners and even nudists. People settle wherever they want for 2 days, 1 week or 1 month and enjoy the beach in complete freedom ...
1 week in the Camargue - Etang du Fangassier
Here is a guided tour that I recommend for those who want to discover this protected natural site with a naturalist guide. It will take you through the dikes and ponds to observe all kinds of birds (Avocets, Knights, Sandpipers, Terns…) and again and again the flamingos!
1 week in the Camargue - Salins de Giraud
You have to go towards the village of Salins de Giraud to access the vast area of the salt marshes. It is a magnificent place with its rosy colors and which is of great ecological and of course economic interest with the exploitation of salt.
There, you can also enjoy the large wild beach of Piémanson and its 7 kilometers of fine sand.
1 week in the Camargue - Port Saint Louis du Rhône
Located at the mouth of the Rhône, between the river and the sea, this city does not necessarily attract tourists. Yet it is not without attractions: On the heritage side with its Tour Saint Louis which houses the largest ornithological collection in the Camargue and on the landscape side with its small fishermen's huts scattered here and there on the ponds ...
This is where it ends my 7-day circuit in the Camargue but if you have more time here are some ideas of road trips in France :
Road trip between Montpellier and Perpignan
Around Saint Guilhem le Désert