Tree-top adventure: the perfect activity for a camping holiday
During a camping holiday, tree-top adventure offers an original way to enjoy the great outdoors whilst sharing a fun family experience. Depending on the facilities available, the courses can suit everyone from young children to thrill-seekers, in a natural setting that is an integral part of the experience.
An activity for the whole family
Tree-top adventure appeals to all generations thanks to courses tailored to every age and ability level. The youngest children try their hand at their first activities on introductory courses, whilst teenagers and adults can tackle more technical challenges. Suspension bridges, nets, footbridges, tunnels, logs, vines, jumps into the void and balance challenges follow one after another, offering a variety of thrills throughout the course. Everyone progresses at their own pace and enjoys a fun family activity during the camping holidays.
Courses in the heart of nature
Set in forests, pinewoods or wooded estates, the treetop adventure courses offer a different way to explore the campsite’s natural surroundings. From the platforms suspended in the trees, holidaymakers enjoy a unique view of the surrounding landscapes. Some courses even cross a pond or run alongside a lake via long zip lines, offering an even more immersive experience. It’s an original way to combine physical activity with exploring nature whilst on holiday, as exemplified by the course on offer at the Yelloh! Village Château La Forêt**** campsite.
A supervised activity for complete safety
Tree-top adventure courses are supervised by qualified professionals, who are responsible for welcoming participants, briefing them on safety instructions and ensuring the activity runs smoothly. Many of them hold the CQP OPAH (Certificate of Professional Qualification for High-Altitude Adventure Course Operators), a certification specific to this activity.
Before setting off, each participant is fitted with a harness and a suitable safety system, usually comprising a continuous lifeline or an equivalent safety device, which minimises the risk of becoming unhooked.
Finally, depending on the course, younger children must be accompanied by an adult to ensure they can take part in the safest possible conditions.
Campsites with on-site treetop adventure courses
Some campsites offer a treetop adventure course that can be accessed directly from their grounds, alongside other facilities such as a water park, a children’s playground, sports pitches and even a pétanque court.
This arrangement offers real convenience during the holidays: families can reach the activity easily, sometimes on foot from their pitch or accommodation, without needing to make a separate trip. It should be noted, however, that treetop adventure courses are generally a separate activity from the campsite’s standard facilities and often incur an additional charge.
Campsites with a large adventure park integrated into the grounds
Some campsites have a fully-fledged treetop adventure park on their grounds. Open to holidaymakers and visitors from outside the campsite, it allows you to enjoy a range of courses without leaving the campsite.
In Les Mathes, directly accessible from the L’Orée du Bois***** campsite, the Indian Forest treetop adventure park covers 5 hectares of pine forest. It offers 12 courses of increasing difficulty (3 supervised courses and 9 self-guided courses), suitable for children aged 3 and over, featuring numerous zip lines, a Fun Box and a Crazy Jump. During their stay, holidaymakers receive 2 free admissions per booking in low and mid-season, and a €2 discount on admission in July and August.
Set within the La Farigoulette***** campsite in Saint-Laurent-du-Verdon, the Accrolac du Verdon treetop adventure park overlooks the shores of Lake Saint-Laurent. It offers 8 courses, 120 activities and 800 metres of zip lines. Suitable for children aged 3 and over, the park offers courses tailored to both younger children and thrill-seekers. The activity is available at an additional cost and is open to non-residents.
Set in the heart of the Domaine de la Dombes**** campsite in Saint-Paul-de-Varax, the AccroDombes park offers 8 family-friendly courses, suitable for children of all ages and adapted to different skill levels, with no courses of extreme difficulty. Holidaymakers can enjoy a long zip line that crosses the lake, as well as numerous activities in a natural setting nestled between woodland and lakes. Available at an additional cost, this activity is also open to non-residents.
Campsites offering a tree-top adventure course reserved for holidaymakers
Other campsites offer a more compact course, reserved exclusively for holidaymakers staying at the campsite. This is an ideal way to try out tree-top adventure without leaving the campsite, with an activity designed primarily for campers.
At the La Grande Métairie**** campsite in Carnac, a treetop adventure course run by Forêt Adrénaline (a specialist in adventure courses in the region) is reserved for the campsite’s holidaymakers. It comprises two courses, accessible from the age of 7 and from the age of 9 (the latter featuring a zip line), as well as a Trampoforest area accessible from the age of 4. Supervised by professionals, the activity is available at an additional cost.
Located in the heart of the Les Ormes, Domaine & Resort***** campsite in Epiniac / Dol-de-Bretagne, the treetop adventure course is reserved for campsite guests. Accessible from the age of 4 when accompanied by an adult, it offers several levels of difficulty: 2 introductory ‘Kids’ courses, 5 intermediate courses and 4 courses for adventurers seeking thrills. Following a briefing by an instructor, participants proceed independently whilst being able to be ly assisted if needed. Available at an additional cost, this activity offers a unique way to explore the campsite: the course circles the Aquatic Dome, passes over the pond and crosses several of the estate’s iconic areas.
At the L’Océan Breton***** campsite in Plobannalec-Lesconil, a treetop adventure park exclusively for holidaymakers offers a course for children aged 4 to 8 and two adult courses accessible from the age of 8, including the adrenaline-fuelled ‘Envol’ course with two large zip lines allowing you to soar over the forest. Supervised by qualified professionals, the activity is available at an additional cost.
Campsites with mini-treetop adventure parks and Trampoforest: activities designed for younger children
Not all campsites necessarily offer a large treetop adventure park with several levels of difficulty. Some opt for more accessible formats, such as mini-courses or Trampo’forest, which allow younger children to experience the thrill of the activity using specially adapted equipment.
The Les Coquelicots**** and Parc de Montsabert**** campsites offer a Trampo’forest, a fun activity in the trees consisting of nets and suspended trampolines, allowing children to enjoy the thrill of bouncing and moving around at height in complete freedom.
The La Source du Jabron**** campsite offers a mini-course to introduce children under 12 to tree-top adventure. Accessible at any time during your stay, it allows children to experience the first sensations of this activity via a walkway made up of suspended planks. The course is designed to introduce younger children to the activity before they try their hand at more comprehensive courses.
Choosing the right campsite with a tree-top adventure activity
Not all tree-top adventure courses offer the same experience. Before booking a holiday, it’s worth checking the minimum age, the level of difficulty, the equipment available and the conditions for taking part in the activity.
The age of participants is the first factor to consider: some courses are accessible from as young as 3 or 4 years old, whilst others require participants to be older to enjoy the high-altitude activities.
The level of difficulty also varies from site to site, with introductory courses for beginners and more challenging circuits for thrill-seekers.
The equipment on offer can also make a difference: long zip lines, suspension bridges, high jumps or balance challenges provide different experiences depending on the campsite.
It’s also advisable to check the access conditions for the activity: some courses are reserved for holidaymakers, whilst others take the form of proper tree-top adventure parks that are also open to the general public.
The price is another factor to check before booking. At most campsites, access to the treetop adventure course is offered at an additional cost, with prices varying depending on the age of participants, the number of courses chosen or the duration of the activity. However, some campsites offer special benefits for their guests, such as free entry or discounts reserved for campsite guests.