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Journey, split into easy stages
A deliberately short first stage, so the travel day doesn't feel stressful.
Keep drinks and snacks handy for the kids; take regular breaks.
This is where your trip begins. You'll load the roof tent onto the car and set off heading south.
A quiet, well-run town campsite on the edge of Beaune with shady pitches, ideal for the first night. Beaune is a lovely wine town in Burgundy, where you can enjoy a good dinner in the evening and let the kids play around the site.
Booking ahead is often cheaper here
Arriving in the south
From now on you'll stay at one base for several nights, which saves on driving.
Pack mosquito protection: in the Camargue, mosquitoes are especially active in the mornings and evenings. Long, light-coloured clothing and repellent containing DEET or icaridin help; close the roof tent before dusk.
A long stage — plan in some breaks.
A short morning stroll through the old town of Beaune, with its colourful tiled roofs, before continuing south.
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A large, nature-close campsite right by the sea on the edge of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, with direct beach access. The perfect base for the coming days: flamingos in the morning, a dip in the Mediterranean in the afternoon.
Booking ahead is often cheaper here
Wildlife park and sea
Get through the hot midday hours on the beach or with a siesta at the campsite.
Always carry enough drinking water — the sun is intense in the Camargue.
Well-laid paths bring you close to flamingos, herons and many other waterbirds here. Kids will love the observation huts and the tame storks; it's cooler early in the morning and the birds are especially active then.
A long, gently sloping sandy beach right by the town, ideal for swimming with children. After the bird park, the perfect afternoon to cool off and build sandcastles.
Camargue classics and a bike ride
Don't schedule the horse-riding trip and the bike ride both in the midday heat; it's best to do the bike ride in the early morning.
Bring bike helmets for the kids or ask about them at the rental shop.
This pilgrimage town, with its fortified church Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer and its harbour, is the heart of the Camargue. Many riding stables set off from here with the famous white Camargue horses; a guided ride or a carriage trip is a real hit with the kids.
The dyke path between the lagoons and the sea is a car-free sand-and-gravel track running right through the salt marshes, where you can spot flamingos and horses. You can hire bikes in Saintes-Maries; plan a comfortable section for the family with a turning point.
The Middle Ages and salt
The drive back to the campsite takes around an hour; the afternoon is free for rest and swimming.
It's about 45 minutes' drive from Saintes-Maries to Aigues-Mortes.
This medieval town, completely enclosed by a city wall, can be walked around on the ramparts, with wide views over the salt gardens. Children love climbing the Tour de Constance, followed by an ice cream in the narrow lanes.
Right next to the town, the pink salt pans glow alongside great white salt mountains. On a small train or boat tour, children learn how fleur de sel is harvested and why the water shimmers pink.
Booking ahead is often cheaper here
Red salt gardens and a secluded beach
This day involves a bit more driving via Arles; set off early so you can wind down at the beach once the heat has passed.
The way back to base also goes via Arles, around 1.5 hours; pack snacks for the kids.
You'll stay at your familiar coastal base in Saintes-Maries and take a day trip from here into the eastern Camargue. The site is close to the beach and quiet, ideal for settling back in after the outing.
Booking ahead is often cheaper here
At the Point de Vue viewpoint, the huge salt pans glow anywhere from pink to rust-red depending on the light, with white salt mountains piled up behind them. An impressive photo stop, where flamingos are often standing in the pans too.
The last undeveloped stretch of the Rhône delta is a nature reserve with signposted walking trails through salt marshes and lagoons. On the short circular routes you'll spot birds, often free-roaming horses and bulls, and learn a lot about this sensitive delta.
A wide, wild and unspoilt sandy beach at the end of the road, with no development and plenty of space. Perfect for a long afternoon of swimming and sandcastles before heading back to base.
The heart of the Camargue
A deliberately quiet day with short walks; the afternoon stays free for swimming or lazing about at the campsite.
Avoid the midday heat, and schedule your wildlife watching for the morning or evening hours.
The large central lagoon is the heart of the nature reserve and a paradise for waterbirds. At the observation points along the dyke, you can take your time watching flamingos and many other birds through binoculars.
The information centre on the eastern shore of the Vaccarès explains the Camargue's flora and fauna in a way that's easy for children to follow. A short, shaded circular trail with observation hides leads past birds, dragonflies and marsh turtles.
Roman heritage and arriving at your destination
It's about 40 minutes' drive from Saintes-Maries to Arles.
Arles is easy to reach with a standard car and roof tent; use ground-level car parks on the edge of the old town, and avoid low multi-storey car parks.
This is where your trip ends, at your destination in the Camargue/Provence; a return journey to Karlsruhe is not included in the plan.
The well-preserved Roman amphitheatre from the 1st century stands right in the heart of Arles' old town, and you can explore it via its tiers and towers. For children, the view over the rooftops from above and imagining the ancient games make a great way to round off the trip.
Booking ahead is often cheaper here
A practical campsite on the edge of Arles as your base for the final day, with a pool and good access to the old town. From here you can wind down the afternoon at your own pace, before looking back over your Camargue week.
Booking ahead is often cheaper here
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