FAQs

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.

Esterel Caravaning is located at 4481 Avenue des Golfs, Agay, Saint-Raphaël (Var, 83530), in the heart of the Natura 2000-listed Estérel Massif. Cannes: 40 km (35 min). Saint-Tropez: 50 km. Nice: 65 km. Monaco: 80 km. Marseille: 130 km. GPS: 43°25'53"N, 6°50'59"E.

The fine sandy beach of Agay Bay is 3 km from the campsite. It is accessible on foot (a pleasant 30-minute walk), by bike, by car (5 minutes), or by the regional Varlib bus, which stops at the campsite entrance. Agay Beach is ranked among the most beautiful in the Mediterranean, framed by the red volcanic rocks of the Estérel.

From Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (65 km): 50 minutes via the A8 motorway. From Marseille Provence Airport (130 km): 1 hour 30 minutes. By train: Saint-Raphaël-Valescure TGV station is 8 km away, with direct connections from Paris in 3h30. Private shuttles and taxis serve all airports. The regional Varlib bus line connects the campsite directly from Saint-Raphaël.

Yes. The regional Varlib bus stops directly at the campsite entrance and connects Agay, Saint-Raphaël, and surrounding towns along the Corniche d'Or. It is a practical, eco-friendly option to reach beaches, shops in Saint-Raphaël, or the train station without a car.

Caravaning and motorhome pitches naturally include parking on the plot. For mobile-home guests, secure parking is available within the estate. The campsite is situated in a protected natural area — there is no vehicle traffic on the main pathways.

Esterel Caravaning is the only 5-star campsite on the French Riviera with no length restrictions for motorhomes. Large motorhomes, XXL American RVs, caravans with double awnings: all are welcome. The 164 caravaning pitches range from 80 to 280 m² on terraced, shaded plots.

Yes — a world-first created by Esterel Caravaning in 1999. The Deluxe and VIP categories offer pitches with a heated private bathroom, private jacuzzi, dishwasher, refrigerator, washing machine, and sun loungers on plots from 120 to 280 m² in the Mediterranean pine forest. All facilities are 100% individual — nothing shared.

All pitches include running water, electricity up to 16A, mains drainage, free unlimited Wi-Fi, and access to all campsite facilities (pools, spa, entertainment, restaurant). Depending on the category: private bathroom, private jacuzzi, dishwasher, refrigerator, washing machine, kitchenette, plancha grill, and private solarium.

No length limit is imposed. American motorhomes over 10 metres, motorhomes with double awnings, large caravans, and heavy-duty motorhomes are all welcome. The Maxi and Deluxe Prestige categories (up to 280 m²) are specifically designed for XXL vehicles.

Yes, Wi-Fi is completely free and unlimited across the entire Esterel Caravaning estate: pitches, mobile homes, communal areas, pool surroundings, restaurant, and shop. No subscription or extra charge required, regardless of accommodation category.

Yes, and this is one of Esterel Caravaning's great strengths. The estate contains 286,000 plants, including a majority of mature trees — umbrella pines, cork oaks, eucalyptus, and mimosa — providing dense natural shade across all plots. The result of 50 years of continuous planting, with 10,000 new plants added every year.

A standard pitch for a motorhome or caravan starts from €33 per night for 2 people in low season (excluding July–August). This all-inclusive rate covers water, electricity, drainage, unlimited Wi-Fi, and access to all facilities (heated pools, entertainment, spa).

Esterel Caravaning invented the mobile home with a private individual pool in 2016 — a world first. The VIP Bali, VIP Luxe, VIP Safari, and VIP Plage categories each feature a private 7-metre pool on 500 m² plots, for up to 8 people, with a private spa, 4 independent cottages, and panoramic views over the Estérel.

VIP accommodations (Bali, Luxe, Safari, Plage) sleep up to 8 people in 3 independent cottages on a single 500 m² plot. The Esterel Residences (independent villas) can accommodate up to 9 people with a private heated pool, spa, garage, exotic garden, and full VIP access to all campsite facilities.

Prices start from €55 per night (approximately €385/week) for a standard 2-person mobile home in low season. VIP categories with private pools start from €1,000 per week depending on the season. Esterel Residences (villas with heated private pool) are available from €1,500 per week. Exact rates and real-time availability at esterel-caravaning.fr.

Yes, all mobile homes from the Confort category upwards are equipped with air conditioning. The superior ranges (Suite, Luxe, Villa, VIP) have reversible air conditioning in all rooms. VIP mobile homes also feature integrated home automation for remote temperature and lighting control.

Bed linen (sheets and towels) is not included in standard categories (Mini Suite Confort, Bastidon, Riviera, Junior Suite, Villa, Suite, Luxus). Linen kits are available for hire on arrival: double sheet set €20, single sheet €15, towels per person €15. VIP categories and Esterel Residences include quality hotel linen.

Yes. The Esterel Residences are fully independent luxury villas, set apart from the main campsite. They include a heated private pool, spa, garage, exotic garden, 3–4 bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, and full VIP access to all campsite facilities. Book at esterelresidences.fr.

Esterel Caravaning offers 22 mobile home categories, from 16 m² to over 80 m², for 2 to 8 people. This exceptionally wide range allows precise matching to every family configuration and budget. Premium ranges include a private pool, spa, high-end fitted kitchen, XXL terrace, and hotel service.

The aquatic park covers over 10,000 m² — the equivalent of an entire hectare — and includes 5 pools (2 heated in low season), a covered heated pool for children aged 3 months to 6 years, 5 slides including a Black Hole and a 72-metre mega-slide, 4 pentagliss, a 1,000 m² white sand beach with tropical palms, and an aquagym. It is one of the largest private campsite aquatic parks on the French Riviera.

Yes. Two outdoor pools are heated from the opening in late March, as well as the covered children's pool available throughout the season. In June, when outdoor temperatures allow, the pools remain accessible with naturally warm water. The slides, sandy beach, and aquagym are all operational from opening day.

Yes, access to the entire aquatic park — pools, slides, sandy beach, aquagym, and basins — is fully included in the stay rate, with no supplements or paid wristbands. This is one of Esterel Caravaning's major competitive advantages.

Yes. A covered heated pool is entirely dedicated to children from 3 months to 6 years, with a 20 cm depth and secured water play. A separate outdoor aquatic area for children up to 6 years old features jets and a paddling pool. The larger slides (Black Hole, mega-slide) are reserved for those over 1.20 m tall.

Yes, all pets are welcome at Esterel Caravaning, both on caravaning pitches and in mobile homes. No breed or size restrictions apply — from the smallest companion dogs to the largest breeds. A supplement of €5 per night applies in high season only. Animals must be kept on a lead in communal areas and are not admitted to the pools.

No breed or category restrictions are imposed. Dogs of all sizes — including breeds classified as Category 1 or 2 — are welcome, provided they are kept on a lead in communal areas. Esterel Caravaning is one of the rare 5-star campsites with such an open policy on this point.

The Esterel Caravaning Baby Club welcomes infants from 3 months to 4 years, with specialist childcare staff. It is one of the very rare campsites in Europe offering care from 3 months of age, allowing parents to fully enjoy the spa and adult activities with complete peace of mind.

Esterel Caravaning offers 3 professional clubs: Baby Club (3 months – 4 years), Kids Club (4–12 years) with sports, arts, and aquatic activities, and Teens Club (12–17 years) with a dedicated teen programme. Clubs operate every day of the season with BPJEPS-qualified activity leaders. Over 90 hours of free entertainment per week in high season.

Esterel Caravaning is particularly well-equipped for baby stays. Baby Club from 3 months, travel cots and high chairs available free on request, heated covered pool with paddling area, car-free pathways, supermarket with baby products, and a Maître Restaurateur restaurant offering adapted children's menus.

Yes. Esterel Caravaning has a mini-golf, multi-sport courts (basketball, football, volleyball), a video games room, a skatepark, children's play areas across the estate, and a pétanque court. In 2016, for the campsite's 40th anniversary, a spectacular new play area was inaugurated with giant slides.

The Maître Restaurateur label is a national State certification awarded only to establishments where the chef cooks exclusively from fresh produce, with no pre-prepared or frozen dishes. Only 3,000 restaurants in France hold this label. The Esterel Caravaning restaurant Les Suds obtained it in 2020 — a unique distinction among French campsites, recognising Chef Dominique Latriglia and his team.

Yes. The Les Suds restaurant is accessible to external visitors. It offers refined Provençal and Mediterranean cuisine with panoramic views over the pools and the Estérel Massif. An external car park provides access without staying at the campsite. ACSI named it Best Campsite Restaurant in France in 2022.

Yes. Esterel Caravaning has a bakery with fresh bread and pastries every morning, a well-stocked supermarket with local and regional produce, a snack bar, a bar with panoramic terrace, and the Yemoja boutique offering clothing, Provençal souvenirs, and decorations. Local product basket deliveries are also available.

Yes. Esterel Caravaning has a full spa including hammam, sauna, hot tub, massage and treatment rooms, and a fitness studio with free daily group classes included in the stay: aquagym, pilates, yoga, stretching, step. A cosmetics area with a selection of local natural products completes the wellness offering.

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.

Esterel Caravaning is open from 28 March to 26 September 2026 — approximately 6 months a year. High season is July and August. Low season (March–June and September) offers more attractive rates, heated pools, and a quieter atmosphere — ideal for making the most of the spa and nature activities.

In high season (July–August), booking from January–February is strongly recommended, as VIP accommodations and premium pitches fill up very quickly. In low season, availability is easier to find, including last minute on caravaning pitches. 50% of our guests are loyal customers who book year after year, accelerating availability.

In low season, walk-in arrivals are possible on caravaning/motorhome pitches subject to availability. In high season, a reservation is essential — the campsite is regularly fully booked. Booking directly on esterel-caravaning.fr guarantees the best rates with no third-party commission.

A deposit of €200 is required for mobile homes on arrival, and €50 for private sanitary facilities on caravaning pitches. Deposits can be paid by cheque, cash, or bank card. They are fully refunded on departure after inspection.

Caravaning/motorhome pitch check-in: from 1pm. Mobile-home check-in: from 5pm. Mobile-home check-out: before 10am. Pitch check-out: before 11am. A late check-out can be requested at reception 48 hours in advance (subject to availability). If your accommodation is ready early, reception will contact you.

Esterel Caravaning offers over 90 hours of free entertainment per week in high season: 2 tennis courts, multi-sport court (basketball, football, volleyball), fitness suite with daily group classes (aquagym, pilates, yoga, stretching), mini-golf, pétanque, table tennis, guided hiking in the Estérel, and electric mountain bike hire. Diving and paddle trips are organised in partnership with the Agay water sports centre.

Esterel Caravaning's location is ideal for exploring the entire French Riviera. Cannes and its Film Festival (40 km), Saint-Tropez and its beaches (50 km), Nice and the Old Town (65 km), Monaco (80 km), the Gorges du Verdon (1h30), the Lérins Islands, the Estérel Corniche, the perched villages of the Upper Var (Mons, Seillans), Provence vineyards — Château Roubine 30 km away.

Yes, Esterel Caravaning is renowned for the quality and prestige of its evening shows. In high season, large-scale performances are organised around the illuminated aquatic park: international artists, dance troupes, themed evenings, sound and light shows. The famous Soirées Blanches are an iconic event, organised around the pool.

Yes, yoga, pilates, aquagym, stretching, and step classes are offered daily in high season, included in the stay rate. These take place in the exceptional natural setting of the estate — beside the pools, under the Mediterranean pines — or in the air-conditioned fitness suite.

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.

Yes, Esterel Caravaning has PRM-adapted pitches and accommodations, with accessible sanitary facilities, specific pool access, and communal areas with minimal gradient. The main pathways are suitable for vehicles. A comprehensive eco-gesture and accessibility guide is available for download on the website.

No. Esterel Caravaning does not accept tents, in line with its fire safety policy in a Mediterranean natural massif and its premium positioning. The alternatives offered are caravaning/motorhome pitches (164 plots) and mobile homes (331 units) across all comfort ranges.

Esterel Caravaning has a well-stocked supermarket on site. The village of Agay (3 km) has local shops. Saint-Raphaël (8 km) provides access to all shops, hypermarkets, Provençal markets, and restaurants. A local producers' market is held regularly in Saint-Raphaël.