Hiking in Camargue [L]

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Hiking in Camargue has been likened to walking the "French Texas" due to its wild and untamed nature. Yet the comparison ends there. The Camargue is a unique and magical country, where preserved and protected spaces and species share a fragile sanctuary with man’s economic and domestic endeavours.

1. The exceptional natural environment marked by river and sea. The Rhône is the only river in France that has a delta.This has given rise to a mosaic of environments, including salt plains, lagoons and dunes, salt and freshwater marshes and reed beds, pasture land and forest. A variety of hiking experiences is guaranteed.
2. Hiking in Camargue immerses you in an area of outstanding European flora and fauna: rare plant species like the glasswort, giant provençal reeds and the summer sand lily - of the 4700 species of flowering plants recorded in France, over 1000 are found in the Camargue; yes, the ubiquitous white horses and black bulls, but also thousands of birds who breed or use it as a resting place on the great north-south migratory route, such as the white egrets (often seen sitting on the backs of horses or bulls) and the emblematic pink (great) Flamingos, our adopted friends, who have chosen La Camargue as their only regular nesting ground in Europe. This has to be one of the finest walking tours in France for bird lovers.
3. The diverse economic activity that has evolved as a result of local circumstances, especially the ‘war on water’ between stakeholders about what constitutes the appropriate water and salinity level at any given time: the growers of the protected Camargue rice; the winemakers of the unique ‘sand wine’; the producers of salt for culinary and chemical use and for the manufacture of Marseille Soap; reed harvesters, the largest in France and, last but not least, the 7000 permanent inhabitants of the Delta who require water for drinking.

These points are further developed in our Camargue article.

See also our walking tour Hiking in Petite Camargue.

Useful background information on the Camargue can be found here.

Day 1. Aigues-Mortes.

Arrival at this walled town on the Canal du Rhone at Sete and the chance to walk its imposing and perfectly preserved ramparts and streets, before perhaps visiting France’s largest wine domain and sampling probably the best accompaniment for seafood that exists.

Day 2. Gallician. 10 kms-6.5 miles.

Hiking in France between the Canal du Midi and du Rhone takes you through the land of the bull and alongside lagoons and the largest reed beds in France. Then it’s off to Le Parc Naturel Regional and a large panoramic space which gives a year-round view of a large numbers of waterbirds that nest and spend the winter.

Day 3. Les Saintes Maries de la Mer. 8 kms-5 miles.

This walk takes you along beach and over dune, along canal, past lagoon and dyke and offers opportunities to see flamingos, grey herons, cormorants and gulls as well as fishermen and their catches of clams - and the chance of a dip. Later on, another 3.5 km/2 mile trail, taking around 2 hours to walk, crossing pastures, crops, marsh land and reed beds, with their bird life, which can be seen from an observation post.

Day 4. The National Reserve. 6 kms-4 miles.

Day 5. Hiking the sea dike.Three walk options: 5 kms-3 miles, 10 kms-6 miles or 18 kms-12 miles.

Whichever route you choose, you’ll gain remarkable views of sea, lagoon and salt plain positively rippling with wildlife, especially at day break and dusk. Later you visit some salt lagoons and dunes in search of flamingos.

Day 6. The coastal plains and banks of the Rhone. Walk options.

Today we walk past lagoons, salt plains and marshland, where ducks, herons and pink flamingos abound.Then you have the choice of walking a trail along a vast freshwater ‘inland sea’, with rice fields, or an observation platform important for many species of migrating and nesting bird.

Day 7. Arles – urban walk 11.5 miles-17 kms, with shorter version at 7.5 miles-11kms.

Originally a Celtic city, colonized by the Greeks and later by Julius Caesar, Arles is a city of art and culture in the true tradition, with many of its buildings listed as Unesco world heritage monuments. This urban walk covers 2000 years of history.

Day 8. End of your Camargue hiking tour.

Au revoir et à bientôt.

These are your five overnight stops:
1. Aigues Mortes - two nights;
2. Saintes Maries de la Mer - one night;
3. Northern Camargue - one night;
4. Eastern Camargue - two nights.
5. Arles - one night.

4. What's Included