Camping Les Tamaris ***

• A waterfront haven on the Côte Bleue: A camping experience right on the water's edge with exceptional value for money and far quieter and much more accessible than the Côte d'Azur.
• True car-free freedom in preserved nature: A real car-free holiday feeling in a preserved natural environment, featuring beaches, calanques, and hiking trails.
• Gentle local exploration without the crowds. An ideal base for unhurried local discoveries: Sausset-les-Pins, Martigues and its canals, and hikes between the sea and the garrigue, all without ever suffering from mass tourism.
• A daily rhythm set by the sea. A daily routine centered around the water: swimming, snorkeling in the Calanque des Tamaris, and long, peaceful late afternoons on a quiet beach.
• Endless fun and freedom for kids. Great activities for children: an outdoor swimming pool, simple and welcoming entertainment, games, sports, and total freedom.

With our kids aged 10 and 13 years old

We had the pleasure of spending 10 wonderful days living literally with our feet in the water at a brand-new campsite offering an extraordinarily attractive price-quality ratio. Located right next to the world-famous Côte d’Azur, the Côte Bleue is equally beautiful but far less renowned. As a result, we enjoyed significantly smaller crowds and far more accessible prices, making it a true oasis for a relaxing family vacation.

An essential aspect of Camping Les Tamaris is that it was entirely rebuilt following the devastating wildfire of 2020. Everything on site is brand new: the infrastructure, accommodations, and equipment. While the vegetation is still young, the campsite is actively executing a structured revegetation plan. You can truly feel that every detail has been carefully designed to gradually restore a greener, more natural, and harmonious setting.

Our daily routine revolved heavily around the Mediterranean Sea. Directly in front of the campsite lies the Calanque des Tamaris—the rocky cove from which the campsite takes its name. We alternated between relaxing on the smooth rocks to swim in the crystal-clear water and donning our masks for snorkeling sessions to observe the lively marine fish. We spent countless serene late afternoons on this small, quiet cove, soaking in the beautiful, uncrowded, and peaceful atmosphere.

On other days, a pleasant 15-minute walk brought us to the sandy beach of Anse de Sainte-Croix. Beyond swimming, this soft sandy shore was the ideal playground for our family. Our children loved playing beach volleyball and beach rackets, making it a favorite spot for lively sports and relaxed sunbathing.

Back at the campsite, the outdoor swimming pool served as a primary gathering place to cool off and share quality family moments. The campsite also organized engaging activities for young people. Our children thoroughly enjoyed participating in outdoor games and group activities, designed to foster a simple, friendly, and welcoming social environment where they could easily make friends.

While we spent most of our time unwinding on site, we did venture out for two delightful local outings:

• Sausset-les-Pins: One evening, we traveled just 5 kilometers to this small, charming harbor, enjoying its lovely sailboats, local fishing boats, and authentic seaside ambiance.
• Martigues: Located 15 kilometers away, we visited the ''Venice of Provence'', built around several canals. We strolled through the historic Île district—the picturesque heart of the city—admiring its narrow streets, typical bridges, and vibrant, colorful houses bordering the water.

For nature lovers, hiking trails are accessible directly from the campsite without needing a car. We had the choice between the coastal path (sentier côtier)—offering scenic walks along neighboring calanques and breathtaking views over the sea—and trails leading inland into the garrigue for a completely different landscape. Having such immediate access to diverse natural scenery was a major highlight.

One of the ultimate luxuries of our stay was living almost eight full days without ever touching our car. Everything we needed was accessible on foot: an excellent pizzeria right next to the campsite and a convenient mini-market (supérette) for daily essentials. This walkability made our holiday extraordinarily simple, stress-free, and refreshing.

In the end, we did not feel the need to do much more than sit back and savor every moment on site. Having privileged, direct access to the Mediterranean without ever suffering from overtourism felt like a true luxury. Camping Les Tamaris offered us a perfect balance of comfort, nature, and peaceful tranquility.

Anonymised interview, conducted by the editorial team at Camping Direct following a stay at Camping Le Tamaris