Camping and swimming at Le Lavandou - Côte d'Azur in France

After a nice visit to blog friends in Provence, it was time for us to roll south towards Le Lavandou on the French coast, Côte d'Azur. The plan is to visit the islands that are located here, which are usually called the "Golden Islands". But before that there was driving on dramatic mountain roads and an evening swim at a very charming and beautiful beach.

Table of contents

Winding road to the coast

After swimming in the pool and having lunch with our blog friends in Belgentier we headed south towards the coast. I think I emailed nearly ten campsites before one replied that they had a few vacancies. Not only is it really hot in the south of France now, it's also high season as most French people just started their holidays on 1 August. According to our friends, French media warned of traffic chaos, so maybe it was after all little positive that our GPS chose a strange route up the mountain ...

The strange choice of road up in the mountains meant that we avoided traffic chaos and queues, and instead took narrow roads with hairpin bends and steep cliffs. According to the road signs it was allowed to drive at 90 km/hour here, but we were probably more like 30 km/hour. Beautiful roads, but not easy when there were meetings!

One advantage of driving the mountain roads was that we occasionally had great views of the coast below, the Côte d'Azur.

Camping Parc De Pramousquier

Eventually we arrived at the campsite Pramousquier Parkwhere we found a spot right at the entrance. So far this feels like a nice campsite with a small shop, small restaurant and just a short walk to the beach.

Evening swim in the sea

It's incredibly hot now, with temperatures well over 30 degrees every day. We get very tired from the heat and I (Helena) have also felt my headache. Then it was at least really nice to go down to the beach and take an evening swim! The beach here is super nice with fine-grained sand, beautiful little bays and cosy little restaurants right down by the water. We love this place!

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Central Le Lavandou

The campsite is a short distance from the centre of Le Lavandou, and if you don't want to take your campervan with you (it's not easy to park), you can take a bus into town.

Le Lavandou is a cosy little tourist town, full of shops and restaurants. Right next to the town there is also a large sandy beach, and here you can also buy tickets for various boat trips. Here is a photo from the town, and from the beach in the centre of town.

The Golden Islands off the coast of France

Just off the coast of France, not far from Le Lavandou, are three islands that are often referred to as the French 'golden islands'. Porquerolles is the most "touristy" of the three islands and offers many beautiful beaches. It includes Notre Dame beach, which has been named the most beautiful beach in France.

The island of Port-Cros is almost Caribbean with its lush green vegetation and relaxed bars where you can drink mojitos in the shade. Last but not least, the island of Île du Levant is ideal for those who like to take off their clothes. This is Europe's only naturist island. Read more about the three islands here:

READ MORE: Port-Cros Island - France's exotic national park
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READ MORE: The island of Porquerolles - with the most beautiful beach in France

Facts about Le Lavandou

Country: France
Region: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Canton: Collobrières
Arrondissement: Toulon
Location: South-eastern France
Residents: 5500 (2015)

04 August 2018 6:00

France

campsite, Motorhome holiday France, campervan trip2018, beaches

Helena

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25 Comments

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Ama de casa says:

Oooo... I wonder if I wouldn't have preferred traffic chaos and queues instead of narrow roads with hairpin bends and steep cliffs... Although it's clearly much nicer on those skinny roads 🙂 ...

Have a great Saturday!

04 August 2018 - 8:12

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  It was probably much nicer this time. I say "oooh" and "iiiih" sometimes, but otherwise it went well 😉.
  
  04 August 2018 - 10:34
  
  Reply
Husis blog says:

Always a great challenge to drive on such roads, what do I meet behind the crest?
There have been many baths for the owners this summer.

04 August 2018 - 8:42

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes indeed! You hope you don't meet another motorhome 😉 .
  
  04 August 2018 - 10:35
  
  Reply
Lena - good for the soul says:

What a way to go, but it was still a good choice, as I said.

Hug Lena

04 August 2018 - 8:46

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  It was the wrong way, I think, but in a way it might have been the right way anyway 😉.
  
  04 August 2018 - 10:36
  
  Reply
Mr Steve says:

Narrow and winding roads, but oh so beautiful nature to glide through.
How nice for you to find a really cosy campsite.

04 August 2018 - 9:32

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  In this heat, it is extra nice to have cosy shady campsites with good service 🙂.
  
  04 August 2018 - 10:36
  
  Reply
Lena in Wales says:

A part of France I don't know very well. Exciting!
I have a lot of reading to catch up on with you, but have followed you on Instagram during my visit to Sweden.
Take care!

04 August 2018 - 10:37

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  What we have seen of this part of France so far we like a lot! 😉
  
  04 August 2018 - 10:39
  
  Reply
Anders and Birgitta says:

We have been to Le Lavandou several times, we also liked it there. We were then at Camp du Domaine, we booked once but the other times we got a place anyway, the campsite is on a slope down to the water with great views.

04 August 2018 - 11:18

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad you were here! It sounds like a gin camping! Right now it is quite full everywhere, so we are happy that we got a place 🙂 Very nice here too, so we are happy!
  
  04 August 2018 - 11:35
  
  Reply
Mia's Mix says:

I understand that it was not easy to drive a motorhome there, but what a win with beautiful nature instead of traffic chaos.
The heat is getting annoying... I also feel my migraine a little extra now. Can't run during the day but only early morning. Evening bath is really nice!

04 August 2018 - 12:52

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  The heat is tough on the head, at least for me. You have to find a way to cool down and make an effort when it's least hot.
  
  31 August 2018 - 14:55
  
  Reply
Lennart says:

Wise to avoid traffic congestion.
Standing still in a queue is no fun, better to drive slowly!

04 August 2018 - 15:40

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Agreed! Traffic jams are soooo boring!
  
  31 August 2018 - 14:56
  
  Reply
Matts Torebring says:

We drove these roads across inland France last summer. That's enough for the rest of our lives.

04 August 2018 - 19:53

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  🙂
  
  31 August 2018 - 14:56
  
  Reply
BP says:

The choice of road was probably wise after all, even if it was wrong. Because major roads near French holiday havens are always clogged during the summer. The French started their "industrial holiday" just now.
The campsite is incredibly nice. Personally, I think it is the most cosy so far during your trip.

04 August 2018 - 21:36

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Agreed, it was probably a bit right even though it was wrong 😉.
  
  31 August 2018 - 14:57
  
  Reply
Monet says:

What "luck" with different road choices. It is beautiful but narrow to drive here where we have nature so close to civilisation. Had you driven the other way, you would also have been stuck in traffic due to the huge security arrangements organised at the time - President Macron landed at Hyeres airport and later received Theresa May at Fort Brégancon in Bormes-les-Mimosas. French presidents' holiday retreat, a stone's throw from Le Lavandou! Excellent campsite - very charming!

05 August 2018 - 12:07

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  The choice of road was actually wrong, but maybe it was good anyway! Better winding roads than stagnant queues 😉.
  
  31 August 2018 - 14:58
  
  Reply
Maria's Memoirs says:

So beautiful! But hairpin bends are a pretty stressful experience. The first time I went to Masca in Tenerife (not me driving) was terrible, haha! And then the roads were otherwise in good condition and so on.

05 August 2018 - 19:34

Reply
- Maria's Memoirs says:
  
  *WAS terrible, it would say...
  
  05 August 2018 - 19:39
  
  Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Don't be in a hurry 😉 Fortunately, Peter is driving and he is used to driving the Freedom on narrow and tricky roads 😉.
  
  31 August 2018 - 15:00
  
  Reply

Camping and swimming at Le Lavandou - Côte d'Azur in France

Winding road to the coast

Camping Parc De Pramousquier

Evening swim in the sea

Central Le Lavandou

The Golden Islands off the coast of France

Facts about Le Lavandou

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25 Comments

Ama de casa says:

Helena says:

Husis blog says:

Helena says:

Lena - good for the soul says:

Helena says:

Mr Steve says:

Helena says:

Lena in Wales says:

Helena says:

Anders and Birgitta says:

Helena says:

Mia's Mix says:

Helena says:

Lennart says:

Helena says:

Matts Torebring says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

Monet says:

Helena says:

Maria's Memoirs says:

Maria's Memoirs says:

Helena says:

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