Glamping with the entire family in the south of France: a week in a safari tent with Suncamp
A family trip to the south of France, one of our favorite regions, is always a good idea! You will find beautiful sunflower and lavender fields, cooling rivers, and of course some of the most beautiful villages in France.
It makes this region a fantastic destination for a camping holiday. And this time we do it in style! We travel to the small La Roque-sur-Cèze, on the edge of Provence, where Suncamp rents out luxury glamping tents.
These beautiful tents are located on the banks of the Cèze River at the 5-star Slow Village campsite. In addition to beautiful nature and a luxurious stay, the campsite also offers a lot of activities for the whole family. And there are also all kinds of gems to discover in the area.
In this article, we take you on our family glamping holiday in the South of France and Provence and give you some of our best tips for fun activities nearby. You can already dream about your next trip with the family.
Glamping: the perfect mix of luxury and nature
We often used to go camping with our tent, but we think glamping takes the camping experience to another level, especially with children. You sleep in a comfortable bed but still wake up to the sound of nature. And all without the hassle of tent poles and air mattresses.
Suncamp now offers their fantastic Sunlodge Safari tents (from 4 to 6 people) at various campsites, which we also slept in.
Their luxurious glamping tents are fully furnished with tasteful safari-themed furniture and a wooden floor. In addition, there is also a private bathroom (with shower, toilet, and sink), a coffee maker, and a private kitchen.
In one bedroom you will find a double bed with hanging and chest of drawers and in the other bedroom, you have a single bed and a bunk bed, again with plenty of cupboard space. In the “living room,” you will find a built-in refrigerator with a four-burner gas stove. So you can cook delicious meals yourself during your stay.
If it gets too cold, heating is provided in both the bedrooms and the bathroom. Conversely, the tent also has air conditioning in warm weather (don’t forget to book it). Be careful with it, thinking about the climate. During the day you are usually out and about and in the evening it always cools down nicely, especially because the tent has many options to let fresh air in but the mosquitoes outside.
And one of our favorite spots was certainly the covered terrace, with a nice dining table and five chairs. Enjoy a nice meal with a view over the greenery or play a board game in the evening. Enjoy the tent!
Slow Village Camping in La Roque-sur-Cèze: a hidden gem on the edge of Provence
The campground
The 5-star Slow Village Camping, also known by its old name La Vallée Verte, is located near the small village of La Roque-sur-Cèze, on the border of Provence. This campsite is ideally located for discovering the region (more about that in the next section), but there is also a lot to do on-site.
First and foremost, the entire area is very green and shady, not an unnecessary luxury in the warm summer weather. But the river, the Cèze, is definitely one of the top attractions of this campsite for us. From the banks, you have a beautiful view of the children playing. Always keep an eye on the current. When we were there, the water was perfect for young and old.
You can throw stones, snorkel, or play in the mini waterfalls. As we said before, you can also sail down the river with your own floatie. There is a path along the river that you can follow for about 1.5 km. You can then float back to the campsite via the water. Our children’s favorite!
Tip: be sure to bring good water shoes so that you can enjoy everything the river has to offer without any worries.
The campsite also offers a swimming pool and many activities (see the next chapter), a bar with a restaurant and cozy terrace, and a small shop at the reception. Don’t forget to order your fresh bread or coffee cakes every day. You can pick it up every morning from 8 am.
Activities at the campsite for the entire family
The nice thing about this Suncamp campsite is that in addition to the lovely river, there are a lot of fun things to do for the entire family.
There is a beautiful swimming pool with two slides, as well as a mini beach and palm trees to get you in the holiday spirit. There is also a playground (-12y), a ping pong table, and a petanque court.
But perhaps the best thing is that in the summer the Dutch-speaking guidance also organizes all kinds of fun activities for young and old.
Several of these are included in the price, such as board games, craft hours, a quest, or going downstream on the river with the band. There are also some activities at an extra cost, such as riverside massages, canoeing, or horse riding. You can easily follow everything in the campsite app.
Activities and attractions nearby
As we mentioned earlier, our Suncamp glamping stay is located on the campsite near the village of La Roque-sur-Cèze, on the border of Provence.
First and foremost, the village itself is worth a visit, although you can get around there quite quickly. But there is also plenty to do in the area. And with a bit of luck, you will also come across beautiful lavender fields on the way to one of your destinations, like we did.
Stroll around the Provencal markets
- Goudargues: a beautiful village, also called the Venice of the Gard. Every Wednesday morning there is a typical market and on Friday evening there is a smaller market with craft stalls.
- Bagnols-sur-Cèze: one of the largest traditional markets in the region. You will find all kinds of fruit and vegetables, fish, herbs, cheeses, … In the meantime, don’t forget to walk through the streets of the pleasant center.
- Pont-Saint-Esprit: on Saturday mornings you will find a traditional market here.
- Barjac: every Friday morning there is a Provencal market here in the nice center.
- Uzès: one of the best-known and most beautiful markets in the Gard with a traditional market on Saturday morning and a farmer’s market on Wednesday morning. The city of Uzès is also worth a visit!
Cascades du Sautadet (waterfall)
You will find the Cascades du Sautadet within walking distance of the campsite. Count on about a 25-minute walk, but be sure to wear sturdy shoes when you visit the waterfalls. You cannot swim in the waterfalls due to the strong currents, but there is a pebble beach at the end of the waterfalls.
If you visit the waterfalls, you can also walk further and combine this with a visit to charming La Roque-Sur-Cèze, near the campsite. This is a small charming village built on a rocky peak. To get there, you have to cross the Charles Martyr Bridge, a protected monument.
Visit beautiful Avignon
One of the nicest cities to visit in the area is Avignon, also known as the “City of the Popes”. Avignon is about 1 hour’s drive from La Roque-Sur-Cèze. During the summer there is also a well-known theater and music festival in the city center.
You can wander around the narrow cobbled streets full of cozy squares, cafes, and boutiques. But the highlight is undoubtedly the Palais Des Papes, one of the largest Gothic palaces in the world. Of course, you will also find the world-famous bridge, Le Pont d’Avignon, in Avignon. But don’t expect too much from it, it is best known for the song…
Go swimming at Pont du Gard (Unesco)
45 minutes from the campsite you will find Pont Du Gard, a breathtaking aqueduct above the Gardon river. It was built by the Romans in the first century AD and is one of the best-preserved aqueducts in the world. There are no fewer than 3 levels with a length of 200m and a height of 48m. The aqueduct is protected by UNESCO. The Pont du Gard is one of the 20 best things to do in the Provence.
You can park on the left or right bank. A parking ticket for 1 day costs you €9. If you also want to view the museum and the film, you pay extra for admission. It is easiest to park on the left bank, from there you have the best view of Pont Du Gard.
Don’t forget your swimming gear for a refreshing dip. You can also take some beautiful walks in the area.
Discover historic Nîmes
Combine a visit to Pont Du Gard with a visit to Nîmes. In this beautiful city, you will find a large Roman arena (which is still used for bullfights and performances in the summer), a Roman temple, and the beautiful De La Fontaine park where the city of Nîmes was founded.
The old center of the city has countless shopping streets, interspersed with old historic buildings such as the Cathedrale Notre-Dame-Et-Saint-Castor de Nîmes and the Saint-Paulus church.
In Les Halles de Nimes you can buy fresh food (until 1 p.m.) and you will find local specialties such as the Brandade de Nîmes with cod, olive oil, and milk.
Visit one of the vineyards in the area
Of course, a holiday in France is not possible without a visit to one of the thousands of vineyards. You have many options in the area surrounding the campsite. We list some of them for you here:
- Domaine La Marseillaise: organic wine made from different grape varieties.
- Domaine Pelaquié: close to La Roque-sur-Cèze and known for several generations for its quality wines.
- Domaine de la Vallongue: organic wines and a very environmentally conscious company.
- Domaine Saladin: in Saint-Marcel-d’Ardèche, about 30 km from the campsite. Known for its authentic wines from various appellations such as Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages.
more practical tips for a successful Glamping holiday
- Bring water shoes to play in or walk through the river.
- Don’t forget to bring plenty of sunscreen or something against mosquitoes.
- Make sure you have a nice floatie with you.
- Try to bring a picnic blanket, some lightweight camping chairs, or a hammock to the river.
- An umbrella or shade screen against the sun can be useful.
- Make sure you have enough water when you visit a city or go for a walk. Preferably use a reusable bottle. We love this isolating water bottle, it keeps our water nice and cool even at warm temperatures.
- If you have time on the way to the South of France, take the Route National en Départementale in France as much as possible, you will drive through the most beautiful villages.
- Go to the markets early in the morning before it gets too hot
Would you also like to go on the perfect family holiday at a campsite in the south of France or somewhere else? Then be sure to take a look at Suncamp’s luxury glamping trips for the entire family. In any case, we were big fans of our week at the campsite in La Roque-sur-Cèze and can’t wait to try out some of their other locations too!
Do you have any questions? Let us know below!
Happy travels!
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