The Camargue National Park is the most unusual park in France. Absolutely non-European landscapes, herds of white horses and the only place on the continent where pink flamingos nest.
If you like white horses, then you will be happy. This breed is called Camargue and live free in the wastelands, in some places you can go close and even pat.
Tourists come here to see pink flamingos. Note that they are far from as bright as you used to see on the pictures. In zoos flamingos eat special food containing carotene, for example carrots, and that's why they are bright and red there.
We started from the town of Salin de Giraud, visited observation deck on the salt fields (N 43 24.152 E 4 45.209), then drove to Plage de Piemanson beach (N 43 21.030 E 4 47.013). On the way you will see a a lot of birds. After that we went to the town of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (N 43 27.087 E 4 25.927) via La Capelière - the park's information center (N 43 32.109 E 4 38.579), this is the main road through the park. If you want to see a lot of flamingos, then you can visit the ornithological park (Parc Ornithologique du Pont De Gau, N 43 29.290 E 4 24.258).
The horses will be along the entire route, here and there. From Saint-Maries-de-la-Mer we also went to Aigues-Mortes (43 33.854 E 4 11.232). If you go there, then visit absolutely all the roads of the park.
By bike
The territory of the park is absolutely flat, so bike is an excellent choice, if it's not hot. You can drive to places that are closed to cars.
Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
The simplest one-day option is to take the L20 bus (timetable and map) from Arles to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, rent bicycles there (there are many rental shops at the center) and ride along the beach. For example to the Phare de la Gacholle lighthouse (12.5 km one way, dirt road, N 43 27.277 E 4 34.218). And also to the ornithological park (5 km one way, N 43 29.290 E 4 24.258). So you will definitely see both flamingos and white horses, and take a walk along the beaches.
Salin-de-Giraud
This option is also interesting, but more complex. You can get to Salin-de-Giraud by bus AGGLO10 (map and timetable) from Arles. But the town itself is quite deserted. Bike rental must be there, but we have not seen. The tourist information office is located in the Municipality building (N 43 24.987 E 4 44.085), you can ask there.
From Salin-de-Giraud there is only one route - to the beach of Plage de Piemanson (12 km one way, N 43 21.030 E 4 47.013), stopping at the observation deck of the salt fields (N 43 24.152 E 4 45.209). There you will see many birds, but probably no horses.
If you have a lot of time and strength, we would still go to the Phare de Faraman lighthouse (another 18 km one way, dirt road, N 43 21.858 E 4 35.104). It can be reached only by bicycle.
On foot
These routes are offered by the tourist office of the park (pdf). We did not walk along them and the park is too big for hiking. But if we need to chose, then would go along route 1 or along the route Salin-de-Giraud - Plage de Piemanson. Keep in mind that both these routes are much better for a bike trip.
Getting there: by train to Arles, then by bus 20 to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (map and timetable) or by bus AGGLO10 to Salin-de-Giraud (map and timetable).
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