As we all know, camping isn't always synonymous with environmental well-being. Since 1999, Huttopia has been introducing a new type of tourism. The idea is to protect nature while making it accessible at its most majestic. The concept has now spread to over 150 destinations. We tried out 2 of them and verified the reality and originality of this new way of camping.
By Eric Vancleynenbreugel
Photo Manu Reyboz
Camping conjures up a host of images. Some conjure up childhood memories of that tree house or tent in the back garden. Others conjure up images of camping in the wild, in the middle of a forest or beside a stream. But in the ’90s, this very natural camping spirit was truly pioneering. Ecotourism had not yet been fully thought through and developed. It was in this context that the Huttopia idea and concept were born... in Canada.
A dream born 25 years ago... between Drôme and Canada
Nature-loving campers and inveterate travelers, Céline and Philippe Rossanne left the Drôme in the early ’90s to settle in Canada. The wide-open spaces, the simplicity of camping, the authenticity of moments shared in nature inspired us to imagine Huttopia,« they reveal. At the time, the image of camping wasn't as appealing as it used to be. We had to come up with a different way of camping with children. To create the kind of campsite many people dream of, a bit like the one in the Epinal pictures. The couple soon began sketching out a collection of Campings & Villages forestiers that would radically transform the image of the classic campsite. In 2000, they opened their first site in the Alps. Others soon followed, and the idea spread beyond France's borders. And now even the continent.
Photo Manu Reyboz
Carefully selected sites
Convinced that «Man is enriched as much by contact with Nature as by contact with others», the couple's mission is to make nature accessible to all, while protecting and enhancing the chosen sites. First and foremost, each site is meticulously selected for the quality of its location. With one invariable leitmotif: immediate proximity to a lake, river or ocean. In addition to the classic pitches for tents and caravans, permanent accommodation was designed to blend in with nature: canvas and wooden tents to start with, followed by chalets, trailers, etc. The first Huttopia sites thus aimed to offer a new art of camping and living a life-size vacation.
Camping Lagoa de Obidos (Portugal) - photo Manu Reyboz
Promoting «forgotten» regions»
Finding locations far from the main tourist areas is another aspect dear to the founders. The idea is to enable the discovery and development - in a small way - of regions ignored or little visited by campers and travelers in general. And in the same spirit, Huttopia aims to encourage the discovery of the surrounding area: hiking itineraries, bike rentals, suggestions for nature activities, promotion of good local addresses... campers are invited and encouraged to get out and explore the region.
Putting nature back at the center
Huttopia campsites and villages are often located in remarkable natural sites: regional nature parks, national forests... which are all the more deserving of protection. But even if campers want to be close to nature, they also have an ecological footprint. So another challenge quickly became apparent: to set up «reversible» campsites, designed with the idea that they can disappear while leaving a minimum of trace of their presence in nature. «We don't believe that nature should adapt to us, but rather that we should adapt to it,» explains Clémentine Massat, Marketing Director at Huttopia. In concrete terms, this translates into a very strict and precise set of specifications: no felling of trees, very few tarmac roads, construction on stilts without earthworks, no cars in most of the Villages (you leave your car in the entrance parking lot)... No light pollution either: the outdoor lampposts, powered by solar energy, are equipped with bulbs directed towards the ground. No air-conditioning, wood-fired heating where necessary, composting of organic waste... In short, sobriety is the order of the day. What's more, existing sites taken over by Huttopia are often renaturalized and revegetated, with an emphasis on local species.
Camping Lac de l'Uby (Gers) - photo Manu Reyboz
Relaxation and serenity
Classic camping also means activities that can be noisy and intrusive at certain addresses. Swimming pools with slides, synthetic materials, foam parties, decibels galore... these are all things you won't find at Huttopia. Here, you can play ball in the water, relax with a novel in the sun, the little ones can play on wooden playgrounds, and enjoy the view of nature! No TV and sometimes not even wifi. But there's plenty of fun to be had playing ping-pong, volleyball and pétanque.
When it comes to food, simplicity is again the order of the day, but with good products. Local produce wherever possible. Homemade pizzas baked in the campsite oven, an aperitif board, a good glass of local wine and a ‘guinguette’ spirit. And for those serene mornings, bread and pastries can be ordered all year round from the local bakery.
Camping Arcachon - photo Manu Reyboz
Camping or glamping, it's your choice
When it comes to accommodation, the Huttopia project is all about staying the way you want. But with less density. In caravans, vans, chalets, trailers... and, of course, tents. More than half the pitches at each campsite are always dedicated to campers who bring their own equipment. With or without electricity, with or without picnic tables, but with revamped sanitary facilities that are warmer (lots of wood and light), tidier and cleaner (cleaned several times a day).
Camping Semois Valley - Photo Eric Vancleynenbreugel
5 networks, 5 different experiences
Many people dream of getting back in touch with nature, but paradoxically it's not always easy to give up our usual comforts. With this in mind, all the sites offer a wide range of more comfortable accommodations: fully-equipped tents, designer chalets, trailers... the list goes on. But with one constant: they all respect the principles that inspired their founders.
In addition to the « Campsites »and the « Villages »The brand has also developed 3 other concepts. « CityKamp« As its name suggests, this is a group of campsites set in small, unspoilt corners of nature right in the heart of the city. They can already be found in Paris, Lyon, Maastricht and Strasbourg. Open all year round, they represent a practical and economical accommodation solution. The first Belgian CityKamp is planned for Antwerp!
Village Lac de Rillé (Loire) - photo Manu Reyboz
Taken over by Huttopia in 2021, « Onlycamp »We offer small, very natural campsites. Here you'll find mostly bare pitches and simple facilities, for a small one-off nightly fee.
In response to the VanLife boom, Huttopia launched the «VanLife" in 2025.« Bivouacs« . The idea is to offer remarkable private spots in the heart of nature, with very small capacities (2 vans per night maximum) for a fixed price of €20 (€30 in summer). The idea is to breathe new life into unused, small-capacity sites, often made available by farmers. Over 500 sites are already listed, in Belgium, France and Portugal.
The latest project, « Oskar »The aim is to give new life to small village hotels and cafés, and offer customers these small formats (30 rooms max). Sometimes in extraordinary locations. A case in point is «L'hôtel du bout du parc», located at the far end of the park at the Château de Versailles. The site, which was due to be bought by a major group, was the reason for launching this Oskar project.
New sites are opened at a steady pace, and the Group is now present in 8 countries: France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, the USA and Canada. In 2025, the Caminos de Galicia and Barcelona Pirineos campsites in Spain, Lac d'Aureilhan in Mimizan, CityKamp in Aix-en-Provence, Villages de Berkshires in Massachusetts and Les Deux Lacs Laurentides in Quebec were inaugurated. Situated 1h30 from Montreal, the latter is nestled between two lakes and recaptures everything that inspired the founders. Just imagine: once you've registered at the reception desk, you have to set off by canoe to reach your accommodation! Another extraordinary site is Camp Catalina White's Landing in California, set on an island in the Pacific Ocean. The tents on the beach are reached by boat. And there's another project in the pipeline: the opening of Huttopia campsites in some of Argentina's most beautiful national parks!
Camping Les Deux Lacs Laurentides (Canada)
1. Semois Valley - Huttopia arrives in Belgium
First of all, we were able to experience Belgium's first Huttopia campsite. It will open its doors in spring 2025 in the Semois Valley National Park. A project that began 4 years ago. True to its logic of also taking over existing sites, here was the Heron campsite, enjoying magnificent surroundings. According to those in charge of this new address, it was an immediate success, with a large number of bookings and confirming the public's high expectations for this type of campsite in Belgium.
Fittingly, the 13-hectare site is set on the banks of the Semois river, not far from the charming village of Alle-sur-Semois. From the moment you enter the site, you'll feel right at home: leave your car in the parking lot, then take a small cart to take your luggage to your accommodation! The reception, store and Café-Comptoir have been redesigned and installed in an attractive wood-panelled building, bordered by a vast terrace. Opposite, the children's playground and indoor swimming pool with deckchairs invite you to relax and take it easy. Twenty meters below, the Semois river carves out its bed between rocks and wooded valleys. All the beauty of this magnificent valley is within easy reach. The charming village of Vresse-sur-Semois, the bridge of claies which is rebuilt at the beginning of each summer and spans the river, the village of Rochehaut, its many attractions and gourmet addresses as well as its breathtaking view over Frahan and the meandering Semois...
We stayed in Chalet Evasion. Made entirely of wood, it offers a surface area of 25 m2. The bright living room opens onto the wooden terrace, where table and chairs await. It features a small sofa, a coffee table, a fully equipped kitchen and a dining area. The bathroom contains a shower, sink and storage shelves. The toilet is separate. One bedroom has a double bed (140cm x 200 cm), while the other has 2 bunk beds and a single bed. Although there are still a few small details to be improved or taken care of, these are mainly minor teething problems. All in all, it's a pleasant, warm and welcoming place, offering a wide range of facilities for a truly glamping stay.
EV photos
Types of accommodation :
- Chalets évasion (2 bedrooms)
- Roulotte (2 bedrooms)
- Chalet Ontario (2 bedrooms - PMR)
- Portland Chalet (3 bedrooms)
- Bonaventure tent (1 bedroom)
- Trapper tent (2 bedrooms)
- Canadian tent (2 bedrooms)
Highlights :
- Remarkable natural site ;
- Kayak or paddle excursions departing from the campsite ;
- A good base from which to discover the beauties of the region;
- Nearby villages and shops.
2. Auvergne - Huttopia Lac de la Siauve
As its name suggests, Huttopia Lac de la Siauve is located on the edge of a vast lake, the Lac de Bort-les-Orgues. We're in Auvergne, on the borders of the Cantal, Püy de Dôme and Corrèze departments. A densely wooded, gently undulating area. The Dordogne valley is only ten kilometers away. And the Parc des Volcans is not far away either. Nearby must-sees include the orgues de Bort-les-Orgues, frozen lava flows that hang for eternity from the mountain. A rare volcanic rock, phonolite, emits the sound of an organ when struck. But also the Château de Val, built by the d'Estaing family. The Bort dam and factory. The astonishing Musée des Orages et de la Foudre. And further afield, one of France's most beautiful villages: Salers.
Photo Eric Vancleynenbreugel
On arrival, you also leave your vehicle just outside the accommodation areas. A cart allows you to carry your luggage with great effort to your accommodation. The campsite is densely wooded and green. It faces the huge reservoir, surrounded on all sides by forest. Needless to say, this is a great place for hiking. But in summer, you can also get to the beach, a 5-minute walk away. The one next to the campsite just below. It's supervised in July and August. And if the weather's not so good, you can take advantage of the indoor swimming pool. As far as activities at the campsite are concerned, we know there's no noisy or intrusive entertainment, but there are magic evenings, theater and open-air cinema. There are also workshops, including one on leatherwork, a local specialty. An introduction to fishing in the lake. Or an electric mountain bike ride.
Photo Manu Reyboz
Fresh bread every morning, homemade pizzas, aperitif boards, ice cream, drinks and plenty of local produce at the grocery store... there's plenty to eat and live on without having to worry about running errands every day.
We stayed in a Toronto Chalet. With a total surface area of 35 m2, this beautiful wooden space has 2 bedrooms with double beds, as well as a sofa bed for one person in the living room. The small kitchen is equipped with fridge, hob, coffee maker and microwave. The bathroom has a shower and sink. The WC is separate. The wooden terrace features a table and 4 chairs, plus two deckchairs. But the great feature of the Toronto Chalet is rather unexpected: the 3 m wide bay window opening onto the terrace can be fully opened like an up-and-over garage door. This gives you the incredible sensation of living entirely outdoors, as if the living room and kitchen had been moved into nature. There's no better way to experience camping in the great outdoors without losing out on comfort!
Types of accommodation :
- Chalet Evasion (2 bedrooms)
- Chalet Toronto (2 bedrooms)
- Ottawa cottage (3 bedrooms)
- Chalet Cantal (1 or 2 bedrooms)
- Mobile-Home Vancouver (2 bedrooms)
- Trapper tent (2 bedrooms)
- Canadian tent (2 bedrooms)
Highlights :
- A grandiose, peaceful natural site;
- Direct access to the lake, beach and water sports;
- The often scenic views from the pitches.
Photo EV
