From Arles to the Camargue

The experience starts in Arles, a UNESCO World Heritage city shaped by more than two millennia of history. Founded as a Roman colony in 46 BC and developed under Augustus, it preserves remarkable Roman monuments such as the Amphitheatre and the Théâtre Antique. Walking through the old town, you pass the Hôtel de Ville, Place du Forum, and views of the Rhône. The city also carries a deep connection with Vincent van Gogh. After lunch in Arles, you continue south into the Camargue, following the Rhône toward the Mediterranean. At the Ornithological Park of Pont de Gau, you walk through wetlands that host many bird species, including the region’s pink flamingos, within a landscape shaped by natural dynamics as well as ongoing human activity. The route then leads to Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, a small coastal town where narrow streets and the seafront open onto a place closely tied to Romani communities, who gather here each year for a major pilgrimage.

The experience takes you from Arles to one of Europe’s rare inhabited and productive delta landscapes, where rice farming, salt production, and the breeding of Camargue bulls and horses are still active parts of the territory. Beyond the wetlands and birdlife, Christopher and Laurent emphasize the human activity that continues to structure this landscape and remains deeply rooted here. Arles sits at the head of the Rhône delta, where the river begins to define the wetlands and flat horizons that characterize the region. It is a Roman city that has never turned into a museum, and the shift south is immediate: stone, streets, and monuments giving way to reed beds, lagoons, and open land shaped by water. Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer adds another layer, as a place of continuing religious and cultural significance. Together, these places show you the Camargue as a lived landscape where history, pilgrimage, farming, and wildlife remain closely bound.

You will be guided by Christopher or Laurent, licensed guides based in Marseille. They have been guiding travelers across Provence for more than eight years, building on more than twenty-five years of personal familiarity with the region’s landscapes, towns, and cultural rhythms. Their work draws on long observation of Provence’s varied terrain and everyday life, allowing them to share both well-known sites and the lesser-noticed stories that make the region distinctive. Christopher is originally from England and Laurent is French. Both spent many years in London before relocating to Marseille in 2013, traveling widely during that time and developing a deep curiosity about place and culture. In 2018 they launched their guiding venture together, bringing their passion for connection and cultural exchange to experiences across Provence. Their approach unfolds at an easy pace with space for conversation, close observation, and pleasure of shared time.

Comfortable walking shoes. Sunscreen and a hat. A camera or SmartPhone to capture the occasion.