Wooded grounds, in the heart of the Ile de Ré
In La Flotte, L'Ile Blanche campsite nestles where life feels good; under the pines and oak trees, in a wooded 4-hectare park just a stone's throw from the sea. In plentiful shade, the salt and pine-resin scent in the air, you immediately feel you’re away from the noise and hustle and bustle of the island, yet without being cut off from everything. The sandy beach, La Flotte’s quaint harbour and popular cycle trails are barely a few pedal strokes from the campsite entrance.
La Flotte is also the ideal starting point to explore the Island, without needing to tackle long distances. Saint-Martin-de-Ré, Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré, the beaches on the southern coast, villages with whitewashed facades and hollyhocks…all easily reached by bike or car, as the mood takes you. L’Ile Blanche is centrally located for exploring everything, yet tranquil enough to completely unwind!
A trailblazer in camping and caravanning on the Ile de Ré, it was the first to install mobile homes – from 1992 onwards! L’Ile Blanche campsite now offers four ranges of cottages, designed for a wide range of holidaymakers. The most compact mobile homes, 24 m² having 2 bedrooms, are entirely suitable for a couple or family with two children.
If you long for a little more space, the Grand Confort cottages in both the Glenans (31 m²) and Maldives (32 m²) ranges offer 2 bedrooms with a covered timber terrace, in new accommodation not yet seven years old. For groups and large families, the Grand Confort Florès cottage is 35 m², with 3 bedrooms able to accommodate up to 6 people!
Convenient services, facilities and family surroundings
At L'Ile Blanche campsite, daily life has a distinctive feel: the smell of pines in the morning, going out cycling without ever really knowing where you’ll end up, the kids head for the playground while your coffee cools down on the terrace. The reception staff know the island by heart. This includes spots for shellfishing, the best times to make the most of the beaches on the southern coast, the top restaurants to eat oysters by the water, and the best tips often make a world of difference! Spend your evenings at Le Poséidon restaurant; home-made pizzas, grilled fish, moules marinières (mussels in white wine sauce), the daily menu varies with the catch of the day. The terrace has palm trees running alongside, with views over the swimming pool… Inevitably you linger, all the more so when in good company!
In the water, on the tennis court or around a boules court, there are plenty of opportunities for fun on this Ile de Ré campsite. The indoor heated swimming pool allows you to swim whatever the weather, with aqua aerobics and Pilates classes on offer in the high season. The fiercely competitive will find something for them while playing tennis, ping-pong or during pétanque tournaments arranged by the campsite staff. For parents who could do with some real downtime, wellness massages are available by prior appointment.
The children have their own activity programme, with bouncy castles (in the high season), climbing wall and net, human table football… There’s plenty to keep them occupied from morning till night, and even a little later if you’re teens! As the day draws to a close, the campsite takes on a more convivial atmosphere, with all the family meeting up for crêpe and paella nights, moules frites (mussels and chips) evenings or even for a concert (once a week in the high season).
To explore the island, it is worth knowing you can hire bikes on-site, both traditional and e-bikes, with a trailer for babies and toddlers. In total, Ré has more than 100 kilometres of cycle trails. La Cible beach, the closest to the campsite in Saint Martin de Ré, takes 8 minutes by bike, La Flotte town centre just a kilometre away, and for the most adventurous among you, cycling round the whole island in under a day is entirely possible. You come back, your calves slightly worn out, having had plenty of fresh air and often with the urge to do it all again tomorrow!
The Ile de Ré by bike, with villages, beaches and salt marshes
From the campsite, La Flotte is an essential first stop. The harbour, streets lined with whitewashed houses, the medieval-inspired market and stylish surroundings make it one of the island's most delightful quaint villages. You gladly have a wander here come the end of the day, before finding a terrace, beach or restaurant with stunning panoramic views over the Atlantic. Nearby, Abbaye des Châteliers (a former Cistercian abbey) also offers a lovely cultural, heritage experience, among the island’s bucolic landscapes.
Saint Martin de Ré, with its UNESCO-listed fortifications, is also worth a visit. You’ll discover the harbour, narrow streets and ramparts. Further south, Le Bois Plage en Ré allows you to make the most of long stretches of sand, perfect for a day’s swimming, or a walk along the Atlantic Ocean.
Continuing further afield, holidaymakers can head for Ars en Ré, the salt marshes, Lilleau des Niges National Nature Reserve or the renowned Les Baleines lighthouse. These tourist spots evoke another side of the island, rugged, wilder, its landscapes shaped by salt. A holiday on L’Ile Blanche allows you to easily tour around the Ile de Ré in its entirety, alternating between relaxing days on the campsite, cycling trips and exploring!
