Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

Nature & adventure

Discover Camargue Natural Regional Park on an exciting 4x4 excursion with an experienced guide. See native wildlife like horses, bulls, and flamingos and stop in the charming village of Saintes Maries de la Mer. Meet your guide and embark on this incredible half-day 4 x 4 tour. Located between the arms of the Rhône River, the Camargue is a wind-swept land made of salt and water. Birds have made it their safe haven and people have managed to intermingle with biodiversity in this unique place, breeding bulls and horses, as well as developing the rice culture.   Camargue manages to seduce with its breathtaking landscapes and doesn't fail to impress. This territory, where water and alluvium, ponds, marshes and land all mix, has been the base of exceptionally rich human history. Discover the ponds and marshes, home to pink flamingos and many other birds. You will be welcomed on  private land to admire the famous Camargue bulls and horses. Discover the heart of the Camargue Natural Regional Park and learn about its nature and history from your guide.

Depart from the Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer and head out on a 2-hour safari around the scenic Camargue, southern France. Headed by a designated driver and guide, your group will discover the blossoming flora and fauna unique to this bucolic region.  See the famous white Camargue horses roaming freely in the fields from the heights of the convertible 4x4 motor. Snap shots of flamingos and different bird species flying around the edge of the ponds and bodies of water found in this serene area while listening to the story of the Camargue.  Travel to a bull farm where you will encounter black bulls and learn about the bull farming life from your informative guide.

After a 1-hour drive through rice fields and brackish ponds, during which your tour guide will introduce you to the peculiarities of the Camargue, you will be dropped off at the beautiful Bird Park of Pont de Gau (admission ticket included). Created by a family of nature lovers in 1949, the Bird Park is situated in the heart of the regional nature park of the Camargue, which is how we call the delta of the Rhône river. There's no better place to observe the iconic bird of the region. An easy walk along marshes and ponds, following a well-signed footpath, will allow you to get very close to pink flamingos, that cohabit here with hundreds of other bird species. The Camargue is also a country of traditions and history! Meet your driver again and head to the charming coastal town of Saintes Maries de la Mer. Discover the legend that led to the construction of the impressive fortified church Our Lady from the Sea, known in France for the celebrations it holds for each Mary's feast, in May and October. The feast held in May draws large numbers of Roma Catholics to the town for a week. They come here to worship the relics of Sarah, their patron saint. Don't miss a visit to the interiors of the church, dating back to the beginning of the 11th century, and enjoy a panoramic view from the sentry walk on the roof (4€/adult). Afterwards head to the beach, where you can go for a relaxing walk along the promenade, where reproductions of Van Gogh's paintings are exhibited, or for a swim in the Mediterranean Sea. Don't forget to taste some local specialties, like seafood, bull meat and rice (lunch not included). After lunch, meet your guide again and continue the journey through wild landscapes and picturesque farms, ranches and salt marshes. Your tour guide will stop along the way to observe and photograph Camargue horses and bulls. These animals are a fundamental element of the region's culture, where it is not unusal to come across a bull race or a folklore event involving horses. Before getting back to Avignon, discover Aigues Mortes, one of the highlights of the region, a wonderfully preserved walled city dating back in the 13th century. Funded by King Louis IX in 1240 as a starting base for the Crusades, Aigues Mortes comes out from nowhere among salt pans and rice fields. Its massive rampart shelters narrow paved streets and small squares, where you can do some shopping and taste delicious local desserts. You can also opt for a walk on the sentry walk atop the rampart, which is the best way to spot the neighboring salt marshes.

Enjoy an excursion to Aigues Mortes, a magnificent fortified city, classified as a Grand site Occitanie. In its downtown area, you will find a beautiful square where the famous statue of Saint Louis is located. Discover the "salins du midi" (by small train) and let yourself be seduced by the pink colors. Walk among the lakes to discover the birds of the Camargue Enjoy Saintes Maries de la mer and visit its emblematic building: its church with the statue of Saint Sara, the Black Virgin. On the way back, discover the Tour Carbonnière alone in the middle of the marshes and rice fields. This square tower of the 13th century impressed the travelers of the time. Take the beautiful stairs to enjoy a view of the whole region

Depart Avignon and embark on a half-day tour of the beautiful wetlands and other landscapes of the Camargue by air-conditioned minivan. See wild horses and different bird species in their natural habitat, and learn more about the region from your driver/guide. Hear all about the local culture of the Roma people and get the chance to have your fortune read. Pass the historic city of Arles and see the wild horses and bulls unique to the region roaming freely as you make your way to the coastal town of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. Get some free time to explore the town center and soak up its charms. Use the time to look inside the Romanesque fortress-church and follow in the footsteps of the pilgrims who gather yearly for a religious festival in honor of Saint Sarah.

IMPORTANT! Before booking, please contact us to define the details of your tour: giuliana.manzoni@outlook.com A tailor-made tour, created specifically for the needs of our beloved visitors! Whether you want to visit a herd and drink a rosé with a bull herd, discover the magical world of pink flamingos, stroll the streets of Saintes Maries de la Mer to discover its fascinating thousand-year-old history, or be fascinated by Saint Luis and Aigues Mortes, we are ready to create the most suitable guided tour for you! In addition, we combine cultural visits with magnificent outdoor activities, such as a paddle ride on the Petit Rhône in the company of an instructor/guide, or a sand yachting session among the dunes of an endless beach. A perfect combination to discover the Camargue in its most authentic and original essence!

Depart from Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer and head out on a safari around the scenic Camargue region of southern France. With a designated driver and guide, you will discover the blossoming flora and fauna unique to the region.  See the famous white Camargue horses roaming freely in the fields from the heights of a convertible 4x4 motor. Snap shots of flamingos and different bird species flying around the edge of the ponds and bodies of water found in this serene area whilst listening to the story of the Camargue.  Following the safari, stop on the shore of the Rhône river to enjoy a picnic lunch prepared by a caterer with regional products. In the afternoon, you can sail at your own pace on a canoe, taking time to discover the natural beauty of the delta. At the end of the tour, the driver will bring you back to the starting point.

Walking tour of the Roman city of Arles dated during the Roman empire, you can discover the roman coliseum as well as the amphitherater (you may take some time to visite those sites) Cathedral St Trophime, a roman architecture jewel Walk on the footsteps of Van Gogh where I will show you the main spot where he painted some famous paint such as Cafe Vn Gogh Discover the Region of Camargue where you can visit the ornithological park housing with hundreds of flamingos living freely This is the region for bulls and white horses. I will make sure to find them for you! You can enjoy a horseback ride on the beach thought the marsh of Camargue Visit the quaint town of Saintes Marie de la Mer with free time for lunch