The Camargue in Spring

During our 5 day trip to the Camargue we visited a variety of habitats. Our guides worked tirelessly to find, identify and explain to the group what they were looking at and why. They provided excellent picnic lunches. The hotel was excellent and in a good location for additional wildlife walks before breakfast. This was my 16th trip with Naturetrek, and I have 2 more booked this year. Naturetrek is a very well run company - the information they provide about their holiday and the guides they use are all first rate. Hotels used are typically smaller, family run businesses in areas that allow for easy wildlife walks before breakfast - this is important to me as a keen birdwatcher.

Great wildlife viewing as a short trip. Early am walks, from the hotel, driving to a variety of habitats for a variety of birds, all identified from an excellent ornithologist, picnics with all you could eat and drink, and home-made evening meals at the hotel. Highlights included viewing wild Eagle owl, Short-Toed Snake Eagles, Honey Buzzards, Hobbies, Little Bustards, Flamingos, White Storks, Rollers, Bee-eaters, Nightingales etc and great photo opportunities at Parc Ornithologique. Naturetrek are well organised, straight-forward and helped sort an earlier flight for me, as requested. Everything went smoothly. Our guide was great all the way through, sorting picnics and the best places to go, finding and identifying all the birds and other wildlife that we could see in the area.

This was an amazing experience. It was well thought out and organised. We saw more than we thought possible in only a few days. The hotel was friendly, pretty and comfortable, the group leaders dedicated and knowledgeable, flights were brilliant despite the mistral diverting us from Marseille to Nice. Everything that needed resolving was resolved. Couldn't fault it.

Well thought through from the actual booking process to delivery. Guides were exceptionally knowledgeable and engaging, hotel was exactly as "described on the tin". Flights acceptable (are they ever any better nowadays). All in all a very good trip.

I really enjoyed this trip, the area was very interesting in terms of the habitats and birds and creatures that live there. The guides David and Ian were very knowledgeable and friendly, helping us to see lots of different birds and dragonflies. The accommodation at the hotel was comfortable and the food was excellent - both the dinners and the picnics! A very enjoyable and informative trip.

A very enjoyable first birding trip abroad, adding 31 species to my life list. Thank you.

Excellent holiday. Ian’s knowledge was immense, and nothing was too much trouble. He made the holiday thoroughly enjoyable.

Having started bird watching seriously 4 years ago, I wanted to experience quality birdwatching during the breeding season, in a range of Mediterranean habitats---salt marshes, dry stony steppes, and up in the limestone hills. I wanted time for photographing birds, flowers and countryside. Having only seen Flamingos at an aquarium and bird sanctuary, the experience of seeing thousands of Flamingos flying and wading free in their natural habitat was awe-inspiring. My other passion is bee-eaters which we found flying around in great numbers and nesting. The whole trip was an unbelievable experience and I can't wait to go on another trip.

We had an amazing holiday in the French Camargue region with Naturetrek. The organization of the trip could not be faulted and our guides were extremely knowledgeable and nothing was too much trouble. We saw some stunning birds and the guides (Ian and Neil) were always keen to ensure that everyone saw as much as possible. The hotel was great - typical of the region and we were made to feel like friends not customers. We were lucky in the group we were in, all were keen to share and listen to each other and ensure that everyone got the best holiday they could have. We would definitely recommend this holiday and choose another with Naturetrek.

Deafened by nightingales - how good is that. Early morning walks with mist across the fields and nothing but the sound and sight of birds stirring. H, and a wild boar, too. Daily trips with patient, knowledgeable tour leaders who pointed out some amazing birds to us. Leisurely lunches in good company and then yet more birds to find in the afternoons. We even had time for a bit of culture - the lovely old city of Arles and a romantic old monastery that looked beautiful in the distance and very impressive up close. We ended each day with a delicious meal of home made French cuisine and generally, a fairly early bedtime so as to be ready for the next day's pre breakfast walk and another day of discovery and pleasure. Such a lovely holiday. Can't wait to have another one!

We visited various sites in the Camargue region attempting to see lots of birds that we couldn't see in the UK. Our guide helped us identify all the birds, not always an easy task. This included a visit to the Parc Ornithologique where we saw hundreds of flamingos and a visit to a colony of bee eaters. Our stay was in a small friendly hotel with good food and comfortable rooms. Picnic lunches provided were enjoyed by all. As we were only a small group of 5 plus our guide so we became good friends.

I thoroughly enjoyed the trip - the two leaders Ian and James were excellent.

Very swift responses and timely provision of information, exceptional variance of sites and Avifauna in a short period, excellent guides, allowed time for everyone… as a "rookie" I'm hooked!

This was a most enjoyable holiday, with excellent leaders who paced and matched the abilities very well. We enjoyed the Camargue and the hotel very much.

Thank you for organising such a great trip, our third with Naturetrek.