The 6 most beautiful hikes to do in Camargue

Between large ponds, exceptional fauna and beaches, the hike allows you to explore the natural region of Camargue safely.

Camargue is a unique region of its kind. Its landscapes come in marshes interspersed with large ponds, long sandy beaches bordered by the sea, in areas of culture like rice fields, and in areas dedicated to livestock, with its horses and camarguais bulls, white for one and black for others.

This atypical natural space is created by the Rhone Delta, where the river divides and disappears before meeting the Mediterranean. With a multitude of birds popping up the places, including the flamingos pink, the area is completely protected by the Camargue Regional Natural Park. A place of rendezvous taken by nature lovers, also steeped in hiking!

Tracks, trails, dikes, beaches... the paths take many forms here. Provide water resistant shoes, especially for hiking during wet seasons. The hikes in Camargue are flat, so the terrain does not present any difficulty, but we will have done a lot of kilometers to reach its goal.

This is why we offer you the most beautiful hikes of Camargue in a first time, then several beautiful bike hikes in Camargue to face the long distances... on the way!

The most beautiful hiking trails

1. La promenade de la Digue à la mer aux Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

♪ Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer are a must-see for a hike in Camargue. A great classic is to go directly from the resort, at the end of the landscaped beaches, to walk along the Digue to the sea separating the vast pond of the Imperial from the sandy cord of the Goule beach.

Here, the look carries far from the route, with the marshes of Camargue on one side, and the Mediterranean on the other, with as many stops as possible to observe the birds as to swim. Nice and without any technical difficulties, you can easily adapt the route (in easy version in this example) to your abilities, and prolong if needed.

2. Observe pink flamingos from Salin-de-Giraud

The star of the Camargue is undoubtedly the pink flamingo. Many of them live in the Camargue Regional Natural Park, and the pleasure is always renewed to observe their funny approach in the ponds, the beak in the water.

From Salin-de-Giraud, this long hike in Camargue takes you through the marshes to reach the Digue à la mer, reserved for walkers and cyclists. It crosses the ponds of Fangassier and Galabert, before reaching the flamingos observatory. Think about taking your binoculars, they'll serve all along!

3. Walk in the Ornithological Park of Pont de Gau

Not far from the Saintes-Maries, Gau’s Ornithological Park represents another great opportunity to observe many birds, including, of course, pink flamingos, while enjoying a beautiful hike in Camargue. The walk is particularly pleasant, easy and accessible to all. Just follow the trails traced in the park, and respect the opening hours, and the tower is played!

It should be noted that the park entrance fee: 7.50€ per adult, and 5€ for children aged 4 to 12.

4. The trail of the Mas du Pont de Rousty

The Mas du pont de Rousty is an interesting step in more than one title, including the Musée de la Camargue, managed by the Regional Natural Park. A visit is required before or after this pretty easy-to-class hike in Camargue, which follows the trace of a varied and well-designed discovery path.

Etangs and marshes, rice fields and local farms, not to mention the gardian hut, it is a real condensed of Camargue to discover along this family and instructive itinerary.

5. A big tour by the beach of Beauduc

With this beautiful hike in Camargue, we tackle a big piece in terms of kilometers. Leave early enough, and make sure you have the necessary endurance! Note that it is possible to reduce the length by guaranteeing you closer to the beach, if necessary.

This large loop runs through the Camarguais ponds to reach the iconic Beauduc beach, long sand and dunes along the Mediterranean. Swimming stop recommended to the beautiful days, but a hike to make out of season for more tranquility.

6. Along the banks of the Grand Rhone

A hike in Camargue that you can go back and forth, this route starts (or ends) in Salin-de-Giraud to rally Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, along the banks of the Grand Rhone before it leads to the Mediterranean. You will have to take the ferry (free) to cross the river.

The walk, with its white poplars, its ash and its elms, is more wooded than usual in Camargue thanks to the fresh water supply of the river, and allows you to visit the imposing Tour Saint-Louis (15 meters high), from which there is a 360° panorama over the region.

The most beautiful bike rides

The hikes in Camargue tend to spread over many kilometers: sometimes it’s a bit long on foot, even if the region doesn’t record any terrain! Only the most enduring walkers can run on long outputs exceeding 30km. For others, the solution is the bike ride in Camargue!

1. Bike along the Digue to the sea

Back to our starting point at the Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. We have already taken the Digue to the sea on foot, this time we leave much further thanks to the bike.

The Digue à la mer crosses a large part of the delta du Rhône, always between sea, dunes, marshes and ponds, for a beautiful bike ride in Camargue. Pink flames, camarguais bulls, gardian horses to see on the way. The development of the path allows you to travel it without problems in two wheels, with the goal of the Gachole lighthouse, and in the envy, picnic breaks or swimming for a nice day out.

2. Cycling itinerary along the Petit Rhône

Still at the start of the Saintes-Maries, we are leaving this time on a bike ride in Camargue in the other direction, to climb the course of the Petit Rhône, which marks the limit with the Petite Camargue. The route is varied and pleasant, through the landscapes characteristic of the delta.

After passing the Petit Rhône via the bridge of Sylvéréal, the return to the Saintes-Maries is made by the small well traced roads along the ponds, including the road to Cacharel. You will see the Camarguese folklore: gardians, horse manades, bulls, etc...

3. Cycling loop in the heart of the Camargue

This large cyclable loop takes you in the heart of the Camargue, through fields, rice fields, marshes, salins, but also unheard of, large salty meadows with shaved and saline vegetation, where the horses sometimes pass.

A large bicycle ride in moderate Camargue to cover a beautiful sample of the region, the itinerary shivers with the pond of Vaccarès, approaching Salin-de-Giraud, before crossing the small village of Sambuc, with the typical Camarguaise atmosphere.

4. Salin-de-Giraud roses and flamingos

We have already followed the equivalent of this hike in Camargue on foot, but seen the distances to go, it is equally tempting to embark on this beautiful bike route. From the trails and trails taken by location, the mountain bike or VTC is recommended for a good walk.

From Salin-de-Giraud, you catch up with the Digue at the sea to cross the large ponds of Camargue: the colonies of pink flamingos, among other species of birds from the corner, will pay particular attention. The advantage of the two-wheel drive will be to significantly reduce the duration of this output, the difficulty of which becomes moderate at most.