Camping Holidays in Vendée

You might not know the name, but the Vendée is one of France’s most popular regions for camping holidays. The Vendee, on the west coast south of the Loire River, is one of France’s sunniest regions and blessed with miles of sandy beaches, so it’s not hard to spot the attraction for families. 

Another big plus is the ease of access for families travelling by car from the ferry ports at St Malo, Caen and Cherbourg, with drives times for around four hours. 

There are two brilliant Siblu parks for posh camping holidays in the Vendée: Le Bois Masson and Le Bois Dormant . Each offers mobile home accommodation to make family breaks easy, plus big pool complexes, lots of sports and entertainment day and night.

Plus, a 2022 holiday at either of these parks gets you access to facilities at the neighbouring park, free of charge!

Let’s get straight to the point, people head to the Vendée for the sunshine, big beaches, and because it’s only a four-hour drive time from the ferry ports at St Malo, Caen and Cherbourg. 

It's a great choice if you’re a family that likes to get active. There’s a huge, safe, cycle network so you can explore on two-wheels, and loads of watersports providers offering brilliant activities all along the coast. 

There’s also a two-for-one bonus for anyone staying at our Le Bois Masson or Le Bois Dormant holiday villages. They’re located across the road from each other, and you get the chance to enjoy the facilities at both! 

There are lots of options if you are travelling to the Vendée  by ferry, with Brittany Ferries offering several routes, which we have outlined below. For up-to-date information, prices and to book, please visit their website, at https://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/.
     
Route options:

• Portsmouth to Caen
• Portsmouth to Cherbourg
• Portsmouth to St Malo
• Plymouth to Roscoff
• Poole to Cherbourg

If it's more convenient for you to fly and hire a car, there are direct flights to Nantes Atlantique from London, Manchester and Liverpool.

Vendée Beaches

The Vendée has mile-upon-mile of big sandy beaches, including at St Jean de Monts, which is the closest to our two sites. This huge beach has golden sands, gentle waves and big tides, which makes for brilliant sandcastle-building terrain. There's lots of car parking close by, and shops and restaurants for refreshments. As you can imagine, this is a firm favourite with families. 

Locals say the beach at Les Sables d’Olonne is one of the very best in France. This glorious sandy spot sits in a south facing bay with protection from the ocean breeze. There are lots of cabanas, kids's clubs and bars, and the bay is popular with dingy sailors, whose colourful boats provide a striking backdrop. 

A popular day trip for campers in the Vendee is to visit the tiny Ile de Noirmutier, an island that can be reached by causeway from the coast. The beaches here are spectacular and quiet. Our pick is the long stretch at Barbâtre, where the water is warmest for swimming.
 

Vendée Attractions

One of the most popular attractions in the Vendee is Puy du Fou, a live-action historical theme park that brings to life some of the most famous periods in France's past. This incredible park is also home to the Cinescenie, which is an epic nighttime light and sound show brought to life by 2,500 actors.  The fabulously named O'Gliss Water Park is one of France's biggest. It's an hour from Les Bois, but the reward for the drive is giant slide, a lazy river, and rapids simulator. For chic shopping, head to swanky Les Sables d'Olonne, which is a seaside town that is home to the famous Vendée Globe Yacht Race.

Vendée Cycling

The Vendée has the largest network of cycle tracks in France, including lots of flat pathways along the coast, many of which are free from traffic. Cruising along on two wheels is a special way to explore the region, with time to enjoy the mix of  sweeping sand dunes and giant, coastal cliffs, plus lots of pretty towns.

Vendée Food Specialities

Seafood fans are in for an absolute treat, with the locally caught oysters featuring on many menus across the region, with those from off the coast of the Ile de Noirmutier particularly prized. The locals are also proud of their haricot beans, which are lovingly prepared and served with the region's much-loved ham. Both are prepared with sea salt cultivated from the pans along the coast. Sardines are another treat, especially those from produced in the town of St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie. The Vendee is also well known for its fabulous brioche bread, which is chewy and sweet and served at breakfast.