Camargue full-day tour from Avignon: Flamingos and marshes

Wild horses and black bulls drift through the marshes on a boat you ride yourself.

A full-day tour from Avignon into the Camargue wetlands, with minivan transport, a guided walk through Pont de Gau Ornithological Park to see pink flamingos and herons, free time in the fishing village of Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, and a 1.5-hour boat ride through the marshes where the region's iconic wild horses and black bulls live. A professional guide leads in English or French. Children from age 4 are welcome. The tour includes park entry and transport but not meals or gratuities.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Camargue's nature and villages

• Transfer from Avignon to Camargue
• Walk in Pont de Gau Ornithological Park
• Transfer to Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer village
• Lunch and explore the village
• Boat ride through the marshes
• Transfer back to Avignon

The experience

The day starts with a minivan pickup in Avignon and a drive into the Camargue, the delta where the Rhône River spreads into lagoons and salt marshes before meeting the Mediterranean. Pont de Gau Ornithological Park is the first stop: a protected wetland where you walk at your own pace among pink flamingos, herons, egrets and dozens of other bird species in their natural habitat. The park is open-air and flat, so the pace is yours to set.

After the park, the minivan carries you to Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, a whitewashed fishing village on the coast. You have free time here to walk the narrow streets, visit the fortified church, swim in the Mediterranean if you want, or eat lunch at a café (meals are on your own). This is where the Camargue meets the sea, and the village has been a pilgrimage site for centuries.

The boat ride is the day's centerpiece. You board a shallow-draft vessel and spend 1.5 hours drifting through the marshes and channels where the wild horses and black bulls of the Camargue actually live. These are not fenced animals. They roam freely in the wetlands, and the boat moves slowly enough that you see them up close. The guide points out the landscape and wildlife as you go. After the ride, the minivan returns you to Avignon, arriving roughly 8.5 hours after departure.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English or French.
• minivan transport with air conditioning.
• entrance ticket to Pont de Gau Ornithological Park.
• 1.5-hour boat ride through the marshes.
• hotel or central pickup and drop-off in Avignon.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 4 May 2027

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by A la Francaise Tourisme

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a full immersion into the Camargue's wildlife and landscape in a single day. The 8.5-hour commitment and the mix of walking, driving and boating suit travelers who are comfortable spending most of a day in transit between three distinct stops rather than staying in one place.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What birds will I actually see at Pont de Gau Ornithological Park?

Pont de Gau is home to pink flamingos, herons, egrets and many other species living in their natural wetland habitat. The park is open-air and you walk freely, so sightings depend on the season and time of day, but flamingos and herons are present year-round.

Do I need to book lunch in Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, or is it included?

Lunch is not included and you arrange it yourself. The village has restaurants and cafés, and you have free time to eat, swim or explore the church and beaches during the stop.

How close do you get to the wild horses on the boat ride?

The boat moves through the marshes where the horses and black bulls roam freely, and the shallow-draft vessel allows close viewing. The guide navigates to spot them, though sightings depend on where the animals are that day.