A Month in the Mediterranean
Our first step was to get there. We spent two days going from the Southwest of Britain, crossing at Dover, and then heading down through France. Here, the Endeavour’s smaller size immediately proved its worth. While it offers less internal space than the Adamo, it feels like driving a car, making it more manoeuvrable on winding French roads. On the highways, we comfortably maintained the speed limit, a pleasant difference from the slower pace of a larger motorhome and reached our destination earlier than expected. For the night, we parked at a rest stop alongside some lorries, using the Endeavour B64’s self-sufficient setup to rest and set off early the next morning with the sunrise.
Camping offers the chance to live a luxury lifestyle on a budget, and nowhere is this truer than the French Riviera. Known for its chic atmosphere and high-end lifestyle, it’s a place where you’ll see Ferraris along the waterfront and superyachts just offshore. But by staying at a small, basic campsite near the sea, we could enjoy an amazing coastline without the premium price tag. We didn’t need the large, entertainment-filled campsites, common in France; instead, we had the beach and the warm, clear sea, which provided all the adventure our kids could want.
The campsite’s facilities may have been basic, but they were well-maintained, with clean shower areas and handy outdoor showers to rinse off after a dip in the sea. With temperatures in the high thirties, our routine became simple: spend a few hours at the beach, shower, refill water bottles, rest in the shade, and then head back out to the sea. While the Endeavour includes a shower and toilet, using the site facilities meant less time spent on tasks like emptying the toilet or refilling the water tank, a welcome break on a month-long journey.
The Endeavour’s compact design made it easy to pop into town every few days for fresh supplies. We stocked up on produce and seafood from the local harbour and added a second fridge in our Vango awning (available from Prima Leisure) to store everything comfortably. Our base was Le Camping Tour Fondue on the Giens Peninsula, a scenic marine park stretching into Italy. This area has countless beaches, diving centres, boat rentals, and ferries to nearby islands. But for us, the sea itself was the main attraction – warm, clear, and brimming with life. We spent about five to six hours daily in the water, snorkelling and exploring the seagrass beds filled with shoals of fish and the occasional octopus.
With the simple camping lifestyle – fresh food, sea swimming, and plenty of sunshine – we all felt completely relaxed. The days were hot and dry, perfect for an outdoor life where we cooked, ate, and played outside. My wardrobe for the month consisted of just three items: swimming trunks, a rash vest for extra sun protection, and a pair of shorts. Every few days, the shorts got a quick rinse and were ready to go again – camping simplicity at its best.
Because we packed light and have years of experience camping as a family, the Endeavour’s slightly smaller size was actually a perfect fit, proving to be both practical and enjoyable on this extended trip.
