Why not treat yourself to a night, a weekend or a stay at an unusual campsite in the PACA region?
Choose a different kind of accommodation in Provence
Of the more than 730 campsites in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, around a hundred offer unusual accommodation (lodge tent hire, caravan hire, etc.). This gives you the choice of discovering the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in a different way, by spending the night under the stars on a transparent roof, in a Mongolian yurt, a gypsy caravan or a tree house. To help you make your choice, we've selected a few campsites throughout the region that we think you'll enjoy.
La Pierre Verte campsite **** in Fréjus in the Var and its unusual accommodation in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Open from 13 April to 22 September, this Var campsite will delight you with its unique lagoon beach on the Côte d'Azur. With all the ingredients for a great holiday, La Pierre Verte also has 3 swimming pools, a restaurant, snack bar and juice bar, evening entertainment for all and plenty of daytime activities. On the unusual side, the campsite offers a wide range of accommodation: furnished cabins, Coco Sweet, exotic and comfortable Kabanas, real cosy nests. These Kabanas are cabins on stilts and can accommodate up to 6 people. They are available either on stilts or "maxi perched" and have showers and toilets. The campsite doesn't stop there when it comes to unusual accommodation, as it also offers lodges on stilts. The air-conditioned Krusoé Chic is a two-bedroom cabin on stilts with a view over the turquoise lagoon! When it comes to unusual accommodation, it's fair to say that La Pierre Verte campsite has spoilt its holidaymakers...
Camping Domaine les Deux Soleils *** in Serres in the Hautes-Alpes and its unusual accommodation in unusual places
Located in the Hautes-Alpes, the Domaine les Deux Soleils campsite is ideal for nature, mountain and hiking enthusiasts. The campsite has large pitches in the middle of the forest with views of the lavender fields and the mountains! With a water park comprising a large pool, a paddling pool and a slide, you'll also enjoy a varied entertainment programme including sports tournaments, kids' clubs and evening concerts. Accommodation is not to be outdone, with a colourful range of unusual accommodation for those who want to get away from it all, glamping in a warm, natural setting at the foot of the mountains with the Ciela Nature 1 or 2-bedroom tents, comprising a living room and kitchenette, which are mounted on stilts with a large perched terrace guaranteeing you an exceptional view of the mountains and particularly starry nights. This cabin offers real comfort at very reasonable prices. It does not, however, have a shower room.
La Sorguette *** campsite at l'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue in the Vaucluse: A night in a tree house
The campsite is open from March to October. Situated on the banks of the River Sorgue, it has 164 pitches and over 40 rentals. You can go kayaking and hiking and enjoy lively evenings in season. If you're looking for something a little out of the ordinary, try Natur's Lodge for a holiday with a difference! Here you're guaranteed to be uprooted. You're in Norway (but without the sub-zero temperatures) in an all-wood cabin with a private Nordic bath and hot water for a glamorous stay. Inside you'll find all the comforts of home, including two bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchenette, a shower room and a living/dining room. The perched cabins are located on stilts between 3 and 4 metres high, depending on capacity. Very comfortable and cosy, they are not heated but have a shared kitchen and dry toilets. Breakfast is delivered every morning in a basket that has to be hoisted up by rope, adding to the charm of the setting. Lodges made of wood and canvas are ideal for enjoying the benefits of glamping. They can accommodate a family of 4, with a lovely terrace for meals and a hammock in the shade of the trees. A fully-equipped kitchenette, garden furniture, hammock and shared bathroom facilities are all nearby. The Mongolian yurt will give you the chance to discover the PACA region in a different culture. A single room with many ecological advantages, decorated with Mongolian furniture. Communal kitchen, individual fridge, dry toilets nearby, heating and electricity. An unusual way to discover the Vaucluse that will leave you with some lovely memories. The Carré d'ailleurs, a unique room made of wood, glass and canvas, has a serene, calm atmosphere. You can relax in the hammock to the sound of the river Sorgue. The Pods have a cosy, eco-friendly feel, with their little wooden huts containing two single futon beds. There's also a small terrace and a hammock. Shared bathroom and kitchen facilities.
Camping Huttopia lac de Serre-Ponçon *** à Saint-Vincent-les-Forts dans les Alpes-de-Haute-Provence : Atypical accommodation in an atypical campsite for up to 5 people and two bedrooms.
Situated at the foot of both the lake and the mountains, you'll find yourself in an exceptional setting between wild creeks and sandy beaches on the shores of Lake Serre-Ponçon. When it comes to unusual accommodation, let yourself be carried away by the Arizona, a fully equipped cottage combining the lightness of canvas with the charm of wood. Designed to accommodate up to 5 people, it has a shower room, toilet and fully equipped kitchen, as well as an outdoor area. The Lodge Maasaï tent has two bedrooms and a raised terrace with a magnificent view over Lake Serre-Ponçon, a shower room, toilet and kitchenette. All the comforts of home in the heart of nature. Ideal for an atypical holiday in the middle of a dream landscape, the Roulotte has all the comforts you could wish for, with two bedrooms, an outside area with table for meals, armchairs and parasol, all in a friendly, contemporary atmosphere that will be a welcome change from everyday life.
Camping Domaine de la Bergerie *** in Vence: Unusual accommodation in the Alpes-Maritimes in France
Between the sea and the mountains, in the heart of the hinterland of the Côte d'Azur, the Domaine de la Bergerie *** campsite promises peace, nature and relaxation from the end of March to mid-October. It has 450 pitches, the majority of which are camping pitches. When it comes to unusual accommodation, the Domaine de la Bergerie offers Pods, small quality huts, whose simplicity is certainly what gives them their charm and originality. The Pod will appeal to nature lovers who are used to their own tents. It will give them the luxury of a real bedroom with electricity, heating and double glazing.
Camping Félix de la Bastide *** in Saint-Mitre-les-Remparts in the Bouches-du-Rhône: let yourself be tempted by an original rental by the sea!
Located in the heart of the Midi, just a few kilometres from the Côte Bleue, the Félix de la Bastide campsite welcomes you from early April to the end of October. The beach is 300 metres away, but you can also enjoy the swimming pool and paddling pool for the little ones, as well as a pond on site. 120 pitches and around 60 rentals, including lodges, unusual accommodation, in this case Lodges Kenya tents. You can accommodate up to 5 people in this wooden structure on stilts with canvas walls. Comprising two bedrooms and a raised, covered terrace, this is an unusual, eco-friendly type of accommodation. Measuring 20 m2, it has a kitchenette, garden furniture with barbecue, and a toilet, but no shower room. The Logde Kenya tent will transport you to East Africa to the sound of cicadas... it couldn't be more unusual!
Discover the PACA region through its different departments
The Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, the land of lakes
The Alpes de Haute-Provence is one of the most popular départements for outdoor sports such as hiking, mountain biking and skiing, as well as water sports such as canoeing and kayaking in the large lakes and the Verdon gorges. The Alpes de Haute-Provence also boasts an extensive built heritage, including the towns of Digne-les-Bains, the lavender metropolis, with its Gassendi museum and Saint-Jérôme cathedral, and Sisteron, the capital of Haute-Provence, with its superb citadel, listed as a historic monument. Barcelonnette, capital of the Ubaye valley, and its Mexican villas, listed as historic monuments, are the main attractions. It's impossible to discover this region without admiring one of the large lakes, depending on where you're staying. Most of them are man-made, and many white-water sports and water activities are organised there. Lake Sainte-Croix is the largest of the Verdon lakes. Lac d'Esparron, nicknamed "the pearl of the Verdon". Lac de Serre-Ponçon, the second largest man-made dam in Europe. Lac Quinson, the wildest lake in the Verdon, and Lac de Castillon in the heart of the Verdon Regional Nature Park. The Alpes de Hautes-Provence is also home to the majestic Gorges du Verdon, where the colour of the water is so distinctive and magnificent, as well as the legendary lavender fields of the Valensol plateau, where the picture-postcard landscapes are particularly beautiful in July when the lavender is in flower, and the Alpine mountains, a paradise for skiing in winter and hiking in summer.
The Hautes-Alpes, the kingdom of nature parks
Just as sunny as its neighbour, the Hautes-Alpes boasts a wide variety of landscapes, including lakes such as Serre-Ponçon, which straddles both départements. The Ecrins Nature Park, which stretches into Isère and is home to a wealth of flora and fauna, is also well worth a visit for hikers. The Queyras Regional Nature Park is home to many marmots and chamois. You'll also discover a variety of landscapes, from mountain lakes and forests to villages ranked among the Most Beautiful Villages in France, such as Saint-Veran, which in turn ranks as the highest village in Europe. The stronghold of the village of Mont-Dauphin near Guillestre, built by Vauban and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a beautiful building to see in the Hautes-Alpes. The typical and charming mountain village of La Grave, built of stone houses, is also well worth a visit. It lies at the foot of the Meije massif. This is also where you'll find the Col du Lautaret, popular with cyclists and located opposite the Meije glaciers. The Hautes-Alpes is also home to Serre-Chevalier (pronounced Serre Che), the largest ski resort in the Southern Alps, at the entrance to the Ecrins National Park, and the town of Briançon, a UNESCO World Heritage site and France's highest town at 1,325 metres.
The Alpes-Maritimes, a success on all fronts
The success of the Alpes-Maritimes is undoubtedly due to its mild climate all year round, its location close to the Mediterranean and the mountains, and its peaceful hinterland. Come and discover the unique ecosystem of the Mercantour National Park during your hikes between the sea and the mountains in the Southern Alps. Discover the Vallée des Merveilles and its open-air rock engravings dating back to the Copper and Bronze Ages. One of the largest outdoor archaeological sites in the world. The Haut Pays has plenty to offer white-water sports enthusiasts, with its impressive Vésubie gorges, its authentic, colour-changing countryside and its vineyards and olive groves. In terms of buildings, the region is not to be outdone, with the architectural heritage of Nice and its much-loved Belle Epoque hotels, and its emblematic Promenade des Anglais. Saint-Paul-De-Vence, a medieval hilltop town, is a favourite with painters (Utrillo, Modigliani and Matisse among them), who are captivated by the changing colours of the different viewpoints it offers. Menton and its splendid azure vegetation, known as the Pearl of France. Cannes, famous for its film festival, or Èze, recognised as one of the most beautiful villages in the department.
A thousand landscapes in Bouches-du-Rhône
A department with a thousand landscapes, it has something for everyone! Those who love the mountains with the Alpilles mountain range or the clear waters of the Calanques and its National Park, where you can enjoy a rare ecosystem and unique landscapes, as well as those who prefer the old stones inherited from Provence and its emblematic old towns, such as La Ciotat, Cassis and Marseille of course! France's oldest commune, world-famous for its bouillabaisse and its Old Port. The Bouches du Rhône is also home to Mont Sainte-Victoire, made famous by the artist Paul Cézanne in one of his works. Near Cassis, the Corniche des Crètes is a not-to-be-missed walk, offering fabulous views from the cliffs to the turquoise sea. You can also discover Aix-en-Provence and the charm of its Cours Mirabeau. Or Arles and its UNESCO World Heritage sites. And finally, the listed village of Les Baux-de-Provence at the top of the Alpilles mountain range and the famous ruins of its citadel.
The Var and its precious golden islands
The Var is appreciated for its mild climate and year-round sunshine, as well as for its landscapes of wild creeks, beaches and coasts bordered by the Mediterranean Sea. But the Var is also the second most wooded département in France after the Landes, with over 340,000 hectares of forest. Its unspoilt islands, the Var hinterland and its colourful gastronomy are all part of its charm. If you're in the Var, you won't want to miss the Gorges du Verdon, which start at Castellane in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and run all the way to the Var, forming Europe's largest canyon with cliffs up to 700 metres high. Its incredible colour is due to the limestone in the cliffs. The Esterel massif is another jewel of the Var, a volcanic massif dating back several million years, on the seashore, with an orange red colour. A great place for hiking, horse riding and mountain biking. The Maures massif is ideal for admiring the imposing landscapes of the Var, made up of scrubland and umbrella pines among other things, and it's by following the Corniche des Maures that you'll be able to take in the sights, an exceptional place where the fauna and flora are rich and well-preserved. Off the Giens peninsula, the islands of Hyères, nicknamed the Golden Islands, offer a precious landscape. Porquerolles, Port-Cros and Ile du Levant. Both wild and surrounded by turquoise waters, they are the stuff of dreams. The Var is also home to small, authentic and seductive villages like Saint-Tropez, legendary thanks to Brigitte Bardot and the Bay of Pampelonne, the village's famous beach. Toulon, with its legendary harbour and rich cultural heritage, and finally the Abbey of Thoronet, one of the three Cistercian abbeys in Provence, situated in the hinterland of the Maures massif.
Vaucluse, a rich historical and natural heritage
The countless magnificent natural sites in the Vaucluse, where mountains, gorges and ochre cliffs meet, as well as the charm of its built heritage dotted with picturesque little villages, make it an area that is particularly popular with visitors from all over the world. Explore the city of Avignon and the grandest of Gothic palaces, the Palace of the Popes. The village of Gordes, in the Parc Naturel Régional du Lubéron, a Provençal jewel perched high up in the mountains and listed as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France. The Abbey of Sénanque, close to Gordes, is a marvel of Cistercian art that cannot be missed when visiting Gordes. The ochre-coloured village of Roussillon, one of France's most beautiful villages. Vaison-la-Romaine and its important ancient history. When it comes to natural heritage, the Vaucluse holds its own with Mont Ventoux, its limestone peak over 1,900 metres high, and the richness of its natural biodiversity, which has earned it UNESCO status. An ideal place for outdoor sports such as hiking and mountain biking. The superb Colorado of Provence is like being in the Wild West - a natural change of scenery guaranteed!