Why go camping in winter?

Many holidaymakers are reluctant to go camping at any time of year, especially in winter. There are several reasons why these campers might want to go camping in winter:

Enjoying the mountains and winter sports: skiing at the campsite

Many campsites remain open near ski resorts, offering a cost-effective alternative to hotels and chalets.

• Ideal for fans of skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing or winter hiking. Camping in the snow is an unusual experience.
• Staying in a mobile home, caravan or heated tent in the snow can be a unique adventure. Some establishments offer atypical accommodation such as yurts, cabins or bubbles overlooking a snow-covered landscape.
• More attractive prices in winter than in high season. In winter (excluding holiday periods), campsite prices are often lower than in summer. It's the ideal way to travel at a lower cost while enjoying a natural setting.
• Spas and wellbeing: some campsites near spas and health resorts combine nature and relaxation: there's nothing like a hot bath after a day in the great outdoors!

Campsites adapt to winter weather conditions

Campsites open all year round must comply with a number of safety and reception standards in winter, including :

• Heating standards and insulation: Facilities must be adapted to cold temperatures, with well-insulated mobile homes or chalets and safe heating systems.
• Access and snow clearance: In snowy areas, traffic lanes must be cleared regularly to ensure the safety of residents and to allow emergency services to intervene if necessary, especially in the event of snowfall or icy conditions.
• Water and electricity supply: pipes must be protected against freezing and electricity must meet winter requirements, particularly for heating appliances.
• Fire safety: In winter, the increased use of heating (electric, gas or wood) increases the risk of fire. Fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and emergency exits must be provided.
• Essential services: A campsite open in winter must guarantee a minimum level of services such as maintenance of sanitary facilities, lighting and, ideally, a permanent presence in case of problems.

Caravaneige campsites, an ideal solution for winter holidays

What is caravaneige?

A snow-camping park is a campsite specially designed to accommodate caravans and motorhomes in winter, close to ski resorts. These sites are equipped to cope with winter conditions, with adapted electricity points, frost-protected water connections and snow-cleared areas. Many sites also offer specially adapted rental accommodation, such as well-insulated chalets or mobile homes, for added comfort in the coldest weather. Caravaneige means you can make the most of winter sports at a lower cost, while enjoying direct access to the slopes and a privileged natural setting in the Alps, Pyrenees or Jura, for example.

At caravaneige campsites, for example, you'll have access to communal areas and services tailored to your needs, for your comfort:

• Heated toilet blocks with showers adapted to winter temperatures.
• Communal room with fireplace or wood-burning stove, often with a relaxation area or board games.
• Drying room for ski clothes and equipment.
• Shuttles to ski resorts, available at certain campsites close to the slopes.

Accommodation options for caravanning

Snow-campsites offer a range of accommodation solutions to suit the needs of winter holidaymakers:

Bare pitches: these pitches for caravans and motor caravans have a reinforced electrical connection for heating and sometimes access to frost-protected water.

Rental accommodation:

• Cold-weather mobile homes: designed for winter, with reinforced insulation, double glazing and efficient heating.
• Wooden chalets: cosier and better insulated, perfect for a comfortable stay.
• Heated canvas bungalows: rarer, but suitable for those who want a traditional camping experience with a minimum of comfort.
• urts, pods and cabins: unusual accommodation for an original experience in the snowy countryside.

Where to go snow-camping in France ?

France has an abundance of great sites for caravanning, nestling in the heart of its mountain ranges: just over 200 caravaneige sites in France are just waiting for you to come and stay!

Snow-camping: Caravaneige in Vosges

14 caravaneige campsites in Vosges welcome you for your family holidays. Discover the Haut des Bluches *** campsite, located 5 km from the "La Bresse-Hohneck" alpine ski area (free winter shuttle service to the ski lifts), or the Domaine de Longemer **** campsite, located at the foot of a small family ski resort and the ideal starting point for exploring the Longemer or Ventron ski resorts. What's more, during your caravanning holiday in the Vosges mountains, you can alternate between days on the slopes, hiking through snow-covered landscapes and discovering Gérardmer and the surrounding area.

Snow-camping: Caravaneige in Jura

Poursuivons notre voyage vers le Jura. Le parc naturel du Haut-Jura abrite plusieurs campings caravaneige où vous pourrez séjourner aux pieds des pistes. Pas d’inquiétude, vous ne serez pas isolés ! Ces campings sont situés à proximité des villages et des commerces, parfaits pour vous ravitailler avant une belle journée en montagne.

Snow-camping: caravaneige in the Northern Alps, at the foot of the Savoie or Haute-Savoie ski resorts

Next up is caravanning in the Alps, one of the world's leading winter sports resorts. With seasonal accommodation prices soaring, caravanning is a more affordable alternative. When you stay at one of these campsites, you'll have direct access to the resorts and enjoy the après-ski atmosphere!

Caravanning in Haute-Savoie: Le Clos du Pin campsite*** is located in Le Grand-Bornand, in the centre of the Aravis mountain range. Close to the ski lifts and cross-country ski runs, you can take advantage of the heated ski lockers and the sauna and Nordic bath after your day of intense mountain activities.

Caravaneige in Savoie: To get to Les Arcs as quickly as possible, choose the Huttopia Bourg Saint-Maurice campsite **** or the Le Reclus*** campsite, located in Séez, 7 km from the famous funicular,

Perched at an altitude of 1300m, the Bioley** campsite is located in La Plagne-Tarentaise, opposite the La Plagne ski resort (and the Paradiski area), which you can reach by car in 15 to 20 minutes, unless you prefer to take advantage of other resorts close to the campsite: Les Arcs, Tignes, Val d'Isère, Méribel, Courchevel, Valmorel, Peisey-Vallandry, etc.

The Alpes Lodges - le Parc Isertain**** campsite is located in the Pralognan-la-Vanoise ski resort. In winter, it offers 50 caravan and snowboard pitches and 11 chalets for hire. After a day's downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoe trekking or dog-sledding, use the indoor swimming pool, heated to 28°C.

The Eden de la Vanoise*** campsite is located in Savoie at an altitude of 745 metres, in the Tarentaise valley between Aime and Bourg-St-Maurice. Its indoor swimming pool is heated to 30°C all year round!

Among the 15 caravaneige campsites in Isère, you'll find two caravanning sites in Bourg-d'Oisans: camping La Cascade*** and camping Belledonne****, which has the advantage of being just 10 minutes from the Oisans cable car, which takes you to the 248km of pistes in the Alpe d'Huez ski area.

Snow-camping: caravaneige in the Southern Alps: Hautes-Alpes, Alpes-de-haute-provence and Alpes-maritimes

There are more than 20 caravaneige campsites in the southern Alps, and famous resorts such as Serre Chevalier, Vars and Risoul are in the Hautes-Alpes. In the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence you'll find Pra Loup and Le Sauze. And further south, in the Alpes-Maritimes, you'll find Isola 2000, Auron and Valberg.

We recommend Les Relarguiers**** campsite, located in Beauvezer, a good starting point for enjoying the Val d'Allos and Pra Loup resorts (15 to 50 minutes away) in a more peaceful setting.

Snow-camping: caravaneige in the Massif Central

Caravaneige in the Massif Central, and particularly in the Auvergne in winter, offers a unique experience, combining the beauty of snow-covered landscapes with the friendliness of campsites specially set up for winter. There are a number of snow caravan sites dotted around the region, allowing winter sports fans to take full advantage of ski resorts such as Le Lioran and Super-Besse.

Among the snow caravanning campsites in the Massif Central, we particularly recommend L'Ombrage*** in Saint-Pierre-Colamine, in the Puy-de-dôme. Set in exceptional natural surroundings, this campsite is an ideal base for exploring the nearby ski slopes. You can enjoy a peaceful stay here, while being close to the region's main winter attractions.

Snow-camping: caravaneige in the Pyrenees

Snow-campsites in the Pyrenees, renowned for their breathtaking panoramas and forty ski areas, offer a unique experience for nature lovers and winter sports enthusiasts. There are around 80 caravaneige parks in the Occitanie region, with 6 in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. Among the campsite Deth Potz** of note in the Hautes-Pyrénées, in Boô-Silhen stands out for its proximity to a ski area, offering easy access to the slopes. International Le Refuge*** in Arreau is also well located near the ski resorts, as is Les Glères*** in Cauterets. Camping d'Esplantats** in Sarrancolin and Camping du Lavedan**** in Lau-Balagnas are also close to the ski areas, offering the perfect setting for winter sports enthusiasts. In Ariège, La Marmotte**** in Savignac-les-Ormeaux has a heated swimming pool, ideal for relaxing after a day on the slopes. Finally, Les Myrtilles*** campsite at Moustajon in the Haute-Garonne completes this selection with its comfortable facilities and privileged location in the heart of the Pyrenees. These caravan and snowmobile campsites allow you to make the most of the mountain scenery while benefiting from services adapted to winter conditions.