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5 Star French Riviera Campsite, Saint-Raphaël, Var

A luxury campsite on the French Riviera between Cannes and Saint-Tropez

At Esterel Caravaning, you can sip a cocktail in your private hot tub on the terrace of your mobile home, while admiring the sunset over the Esterel mountains.

Make the most of the evening with a romantic dinner in one of our two elegantly decorated restaurant!?

What could be more luxurious than a 5,000 m² water park? Our campsite with swimming pools in the Var has among other things 4 slides and 4 racer slides, a white sandy beach with a reclined palm tree. What could be more luxurious than watching the sun rise over the red rocks of the Esterel mountains, or over the Mediterranean Sea, all in a sea of tranquillity…

This is our guarantee that you’ll get to enjoy spending your holidays in a top-of-the-range campsite, in greater comfort than most establishments, plus being able to enjoy an iconic part of the world where the sun and the wide range of activities can thrill any holidaymakers that visit.

Camping 5 étoiles dans le Var

What activities can you do at our 5-star campsite in Saint-Raphaël?

Your day at our luxury campsite can be filled with all kinds of activities, including over 90 hours of free entertainment per week right on your holiday doorstep.

Kids’ Activities:
• Have fun in our dedicated kids’ indoor paddling pool
• Enjoy the 4 slides and 4 racer slides, as well as 5000 m² of aquatic space
• Swim, dive and play in the 5 pools

Relaxation Activities:
• Sunbathe on our white sandy beach or one of our sunbeds scattered across our water park
• Take advantage of the “Esterel Beach” zen space
• Treat yourself to a massage or body treatment at the campsite beauty spa

For the more active, Esterel Caravaning offers:
• Hiking
• Mountain biking or electric mountain biking in the Esterel mountains
• Scuba diving in the crystal blue waters of the Mediterranean
• A Golf course in the nearby Valescure area.

For the more athletic, Esterel Caravaning offers:
• Glutes ABS
• Strength Training,
• Stretching,
• Body shaping,
• Pilates
• Circuit training,
• Beach volleyball, basketball, football, tennis, water aerobics…

 

We all like to have fun & we all have a blast on our holidays at a 5-star campsite in Saint-Raphaël!
And for lovers of the sea and the beach, Saint-Raphaël offers 28 amazing beaches to discover & explore!

Esterel Caravaning, First 5-Star Campsite on the French Riviera

In France, camping holidays are now available in 5-star luxury. And among the winners, Esterel Caravaning was the first campsite on the French Riviera to receive the coveted “5-star” rating.
Since July 1, 2010, the Ministry of Tourism has introduced a new classification grid for outdoor accommodation in France. This grid includes 204 criteria, compared to the previous 103. New for 2022: qualitative criteria are now taken into account (presence of a swimming pool, a wellness area, cleanliness, practice of foreign languages by the staff, etc.). This new ranking focuses on three main areas: equipment and facilities, customer services, accessibility and sustainable development.

Esterel Caravaning was thus the first luxury campsite on the French Riviera to receive this distinction in 2011. This was the result of 35 years of hard work by our entire team. It also represents a logical development for our establishment, which has, for many years, been tailored to meet the needs and luxury services that our guests demand.

Since then, we have been improving and transforming our campsite to retain our 5-star status & to continue to satisfy our customers. Reclassified as a 5-star campsite for the second time in 2016, the 2021/2022 reclassification is in progress.

Esterel Caravaning was also voted Best campsite in Europe by Germany & the Netherlands! For the 6th consecutive year, Esterel Caravaning ranks among the best campsites in Europe & holds the prestigious “ADAC Superplatz” and “TOP Camping” awards.

As a reminder, each year, qualified inspectors from ADAC and ANWB visit more than 2,000 campsites across 37 countries, out of 35,000 European campsites. More than 300 criteria are checked in about ten areas: the number and quality of sanitary facilities, equipment, maintenance and design of shops and restaurants, leisure facilities, aquatic areas, etc.

These evaluation criteria are regularly reviewed and adapted to current trends in the outdoor hospitality industry.

Esterel Caravaning is proud to have been bestowed this distinctive honour.

FAQ

Positioning & Awards

Esterel Caravaning is the absolute benchmark for luxury camping between Cannes and Saint-Tropez, located in Agay-Saint-Raphaël in the Estérel Massif. The first 5-star campsite in the Var since 2011, it has earned the highest European distinctions: ADAC SuperPlatz (6 consecutive years), Best Family Campsite in Europe (Alan Rogers), ADAC & ANWB Best Camping, Most Attractive Campsite in Europe 2023 (Caravan and Motorhome Club, Birmingham), and ACSI Awards 2022 Best Campsite Restaurant in France.

Yes. Esterel Caravaning is featured in the Michelin Camping France Guide and appeared on the cover of the 2017 edition — a rare distinction among 8,000 French campsites. The establishment is also listed in the Alan Rogers guide (UK), ADAC guide (Germany), ANWB guide (Netherlands), and the European Premier Parks guide. These four references are the key benchmarks in European outdoor tourism.

Yes, Esterel Caravaning is regularly ranked among Europe's finest campsites. It was named Best Family Campsite in Europe by Alan Rogers, received the DCC Platin Award (Germany), is ranked among the Top 10 campsites in Europe by several international guides, and was featured in The Daily Telegraph (UK) as a benchmark campsite on the French Riviera in September 2023.

Esterel Caravaning opened on 14 July 1976. Founded by Jean and Jacqueline Laroche, it has been managed since 1995 by their daughter Aurore Laroche, CEO and pioneer of luxury glamping in France. In 2026, the establishment celebrates its 50th anniversary — a rare milestone in the sector. Nearly €40 million has been invested since its creation to maintain and develop the estate.

Esterel Caravaning is not a campsite in the traditional sense: it is a premium 5-star open-air hotel. 80% of the estate is natural space, with only 20% built areas. No tents. 286,000 endemic Mediterranean plants. 100% solar electricity. A Maître Restaurateur-certified restaurant. Mobile homes with private individual pools. Motorhome pitches with private jacuzzis. A 50% customer loyalty rate — more than double the industry average.

Yes. In 2011, Esterel Caravaning received the Corporate Social Responsibility Award from the Union Patronale du Var, presented by the Minister of Labour. This distinction recognises an environmental approach integrated since 1976 — not an opportunistic one. In 2022, ACSI awarded it Best Campsite Restaurant in France. In 2023, it was voted Best Website for companies with 10–49 employees at the National Communication Awards.

Environment, CSR & Biodiversity

Esterel Caravaning is far more than an 'eco-labelled' campsite: it is an integrated environmental model since 1976. Electricity is 100% solar-produced. The estate is home to 286,000 endemic Mediterranean plants, covering 85% of the site — compared to 40–60% nationally. 10,000 new plants are added every year. The establishment's CO₂ emissions (58 tonnes/year) are vastly offset by the site's estimated carbon sequestration (8,400 tonnes CO₂/year).

Yes. 100% of the electricity consumed on site is produced by solar panels installed on the estate. In 2025, total consumption was 1,053,204 kWh. The target is to reduce this to 900,000 kWh by 2030 (-14.5%) through equipment modernisation and energy cycle optimisation.

Direct energy-related emissions amount to approximately 58 tonnes of CO₂ per year in 2025, with a target of 45 tonnes by 2030 (-22%). Meanwhile, the estate's 280,000 trees enable an estimated carbon sequestration of 8,400 tonnes of CO₂ per year — 145 times the site's direct emissions. Esterel Caravaning is therefore massively carbon-positive.

Water consumption in 2025 was 54,740 m³ for 168,500 overnight stays. The target is to reduce this to 46,000 m³ by 2030 (-16%) through network improvements, optimised irrigation, and leak reduction. Approximately €3 million has been invested in hydraulic and energy network renovation. All plants chosen are endemic Mediterranean species adapted to drought.

Yes! Esterel Caravaning has installed 3 beehives on its estate to support the natural pollination of its 286,000 endemic Mediterranean plants and actively contribute to bee population preservation. The honey produced on site — a unique garrigue and Mediterranean flower honey — will be offered to guests. This initiative is part of the campsite's overall CSR approach.

The 3 Esterel Caravaning beehives play a vital ecological role: bees pollinate the estate's 286,000 plants, contributing to local biodiversity and the production of flowers and fruits in the Estérel Massif. In a context of declining pollinators across Europe, this is a concrete commitment to biodiversity. Guests can discover the hives through organised educational visits.

Yes, actively. The estate is located in a Natura 2000 zone at the heart of the Estérel Massif. The 280,000 endemic plants established since 1976 create a refuge ecosystem for many Mediterranean animal and plant species. The 3 beehives support pollinators. Species planted are exclusively native — umbrella pines, cork oaks, arbutus, rosemary, lavender — all of which promote local biodiversity.

Esterel Caravaning is home to approximately 280,000 trees and plants in 2026, compared to just 30,000 at its opening in 1976. This growth is the result of 50 years of continuous planting at an average of 10,000 new plants per year. This exceptional plant heritage covers 85% of the site and represents an estimated carbon sink of 8,400 tonnes of CO₂ per year.

The Estérel Massif is indeed a Mediterranean area sensitive to wildfires. Esterel Caravaning has developed a formalised Business Continuity Plan with clear crisis governance, advanced fire prevention, and close coordination with emergency services. Extensive planting with fire-adapted Mediterranean species (fire-resistant cork oaks, maintained undergrowth) also contributes to risk reduction.

Key Figures & Performance

In 2025, Esterel Caravaning welcomed 22,478 guests for 168,500 overnight stays. International guests represent 61% of visitors — nearly double the national average (30–35%) — primarily from Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and France. 50% of guests are returning visitors.

Approximately 50% of Esterel Caravaning's guests return every year — an exceptional loyalty rate, more than double the industry average (30–40%). This outstanding loyalty directly reflects the quality of the experience offered, the consistency of services, and guests' attachment to this unique place.

Esterel Caravaning achieved a turnover of €7.4 million in 2025 (+6% vs 2024), with a self-financing capacity of €1.3 million per year. The site's heritage value is estimated at €70–90 million. Cumulative investment since 1976 totals approximately €40 million. These indicators place the establishment in the top decile of the sector in terms of performance.

Yes, significantly. With 168,500 annual overnight stays, Esterel Caravaning's indirect economic impact on the local area (shops, restaurants, service providers, craftspeople) is estimated at over €8 million per year. The establishment employs around 10 permanent staff and up to 70 seasonal workers in high season, 20% of whom are international profiles, housed on site.

Esterel Caravaning
Esterel Caravaning