From Arles, take the D570 towards Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, then the D36 towards Salin de Giraud. After 2.5 km, turn right onto the D36B towards Gageron, Villeuneuve. Cross the D37 and continue on the D36B. Leave a road on your left towards Le Sambuc and further on, take the D36C on the left towards Salin de Giraud. Continue towards Fangassier until the end of the road. Park in the car parks at the end of the road.
(S/E) Take the track that continues along the road, heading south-west. N.B.: Traffic is allowed on the track, so it is recommended that you walk at the side.
When the track bends, there is a first bird watching point and a few parking spaces. Continue south until you reach the Fangassier observatory (several parking spaces are also available here).
(1) Turn right onto the Digue à la Mer towards the Phare de la Gacholle lighthouse for almost 3 kilometres, along the Étang de Galabert.
(2) When you reach the crossroads, ignore the track on the left. There is no traffic here and there is a small car park.
N.B. From here, you are entering a protected natural area: the Camargue National Nature Reserve. Please respect the rules (green dots on the map).
Continue straight ahead, go through the lock and head for the Phare de la Gacholle lighthouse. Continue straight ahead (west) towards Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer for about 2 kilometres.
(3) At the crossroads, take the left-hand path towards the beach. There are often car tracks leading to the sea. These are for authorised vehicles (Camargue Reserve management, security or surveillance vehicles, as this is a DFCI dyke, and tellinier fishermen, as part of their professional activities).
You can follow them for a while to make the walk easier or turn left directly towards the seashore.
(4) Turn left and walk along the beach for about 4 kilometres. Pass a first row of posts and continue to the next one.
N.B. You are now leaving the Camargue National Nature Reserve.
(5) Turn left along this row of double stakes and follow it to the top of the beach. At the edge of the sand and vegetation, turn left for a few metres to find a path that heads north.
Pass between two concrete walls, the purpose of which is unclear, and continue straight ahead. Leave the next two paths on your right and continue to the next crossroads.
(6) Turn right onto the rough track that runs alongside the Galabert pond. Cross an old lock, which is made of old wooden planks worn away by the elements, and continue for almost 4 kilometres. Pass another lock and you will come to a crossroads. Turn left onto the Digue des Toscans and continue to the next crossroads.
(7) Turn left onto the Digue à la Mer between the Galabert pond and the Fangassier pond.
(1) Continue straight ahead to the car park (S/E).
Due to work on the sea wall, access is prohibited to the public from the indicated car park. We have tried to find other routes nearby, but there are no-entry signs at every access point, so hiking is not possible at this time