Camargue & Aigues-Mortes Tour: Wetlands & Walled City

Climb the tower, taste the salt, walk the medieval walls

A private full-day tour departing from Sète or Montpellier that moves through three distinct landscapes: the Petit Rhône Nature Reserve's wetlands and bird colonies, the Tour Carbonnière for panoramic views over marshes and lagoons, and the walled medieval city of Aigues-Mortes. The tour includes tastings of local specialties such as sweet fougasse and artisan salts. Lunch at a local restaurant is your choice and can be arranged. Because it's private, the itinerary can be customized. You can swap the nature reserve for a winery visit or adjust stops to match your interests.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Camargue and Aigues-Mortes

• Pick up at Port of Sète or Montpellier
• Visit Petit Rhône Nature Reserve
• Drive to Tour Carbonnière viewpoint
• Explore walled city of Aigues-Mortes
• Stroll medieval streets and taste local specialties

The experience

How do you spend a day moving between three completely different landscapes without the rush of a group schedule? This private tour strings them together in sequence, starting with a pickup at the Port of Sète or in Montpellier. Your guide drives you first to the Petit Rhône Nature Reserve, where the Camargue's wetlands open up around you: hundreds of bird species live here, including flamingos that drift through the marshes. The reserve is the foundation of the day: it sets the scale of the landscape you'll see from higher ground next.

From there, you climb the Tour Carbonnière, a medieval tower that sits between the reserve and the city ahead. The climb itself is short, but the views from the top stretch across the entire system: marshes, lagoons, the salt ponds that feed the region's economy. Then you move into Aigues-Mortes itself, the walled city that rises from the same flat terrain. The medieval streets are narrow and walkable. You wander them on foot, stopping where you want. Local tastings are built in: sweet fougasse (a regional pastry), artisan salts from the nearby saltworks, and other regional foods that anchor you to the place. Lunch at a local restaurant is not included, but your guide can book a table if you want one.

Because the tour is private, nothing is fixed except the route. You can replace the nature reserve with a winery, adjust the time spent at any stop, or ask your guide to linger somewhere that catches your attention. The whole day runs about seven hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

• Pickup from the Port of Sète or Montpellier.
• visit to the Petit Rhône Nature Reserve.
• entry to the Tour Carbonnière.
• guided walk through Aigues-Mortes.
• tastings of local specialties including sweet fougasse and artisan salts.
• private guide throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 09:30

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Montpellier Wine Tours

Is this one for you?Private means your guide adjusts the pace and stops to match your interests. If you want to linger in the wetlands or spend more time in the medieval streets, the day bends to fit. This suits anyone who wants to avoid group schedules and have a say in where the time goes, or who wants to swap one stop for another (a winery instead of the reserve, for example).

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

What birds and wildlife will I actually see in the Petit Rhône Nature Reserve?

The reserve is home to hundreds of bird species, including flamingos, which are the signature wildlife of the Camargue wetlands. The exact birds present depend on the season, but the marshes and lagoons support year-round populations.

Can I customize this tour if I want to visit a winery instead of the nature reserve?

Yes. Because it is a private tour, you can customize the itinerary to your wishes. The operator gives the example of replacing the Petit Rhône Nature Reserve with a winery visit, and other adjustments are possible.

Is lunch included, and what are the local specialties I'll taste?

Lunch at a local restaurant is not included, but your guide can book a table for you. Tastings of local specialties are included: sweet fougasse (a regional pastry), artisan salts from the nearby saltworks, and other regional delicacies.