Pretty island campsite right on the beach – with sea views, loggerhead turtles and £6 stays
ONE of the most beautiful campsites in Europe offers beachside tent pitches, in view of crystal clear waters where loggerhead turtles are found swimming.
When Brits think of camping holidays, images of soggy tents in sad holiday camps often spring to mind.
But there are much more exciting options available out there, if you know where to look.
One such place is the Tartaruga campsite on the island of Zakynthos in Greece.
The site is found on the Bay of Laganas, hidden among a load of olive trees overlooking the beach.
It has its own taverna, along with a small pebble beach and promises a peaceful stay for guests, claiming that camping neighbours are always well spread out from one another.
Its website reads: “If you are out for quietness, for having the cicadas sing your lullaby, enjoying delicious Greek cuisine or just relaxing your body and mind between pristine olive trees, you are just right in this little paradise.”
The beach is the perfect place to hang out during the day, with two jetties and a floating platform with a ladders into the sea, the perfect place to cool off in the Greek island heat.
The water also has small buoys for visitors to tie up small boats, of for people transporting guests to the tiny island of Marathonissi.
The campsite boasts of being able to see the island from its taverna’s terrace, labelling it as “an eye-catcher” while the food served on site is advertised as being “magnificent low-price” fare.
Anyone interested in heading to Marathonissi can get there in less than 10 minutes by boat, from where they stand a great chance of spotting the island’s resident loggerhead turtles.
In early summer, the reptiles can be seen swimming around in the crystal-clear water.
However, they don’t have to be seen up close, with those relaxing up at the campsite able to spot them too.
There are binoculars at hand for guests interested in having a better look out to spot the animals.
Previous visitors have compared visiting the campsite to a trip back in time to the days of ancient Greece, with the surroundings making for a truly unique getaway.
Among those to have visited are The Guardian who wrote: “Camping Tartaruga on Zante (Zakynthos) has a calm, celestial setting that somehow transported me back thousands of years to the days of Greek mythology.
Three camping tips from an expert
David Scotland owns camping equipment retailer Outdoor World Direct and knows all about how to make a camping trip run smoothly.
When visiting any campsite this summer it’s important to make sure you’re not making simple mistakes that could ruin your holiday.
Check your tent
David recommends putting your tent up a couple of weeks before you’re due to travel to give you enough time to repair or replace any damaged parts.
He told Sun Online Travel: “You’d be surprised how many people turn up with broken tents.”
Test the ground
Picking a good spot to pitch your tent is difficult, with lots of things to consider.
One of those should be the condition of the ground you’re putting your tent on top of, according to David.
He said: “Once you’ve found the perfect spot, test the ground with your pegs before you commit to camping there to make sure the ground is soft enough.”
Don’t nap in your tent
It may seem the perfect place for it, but a nap in a tent could end badly, if it’s done at the wrong time of the day.
David explained: “If the sun’s shining and it’s hot inside your tent – don’t do it!
“One of our friends nodded off in his tent during a heatwave at Glastonbury and ended up at the medical tent with heatstroke.”
Instead, he recommends finding some shade outside or somewhere well ventilated.
“Against a backdrop of olive trees and shimmering turquoise waters, the tents have a view of Laganas bay.
“Snorkelling is wonderful here and loggerhead turtles can sometimes be spotted on the sands.”
There are more glowing reviews on Google, where the site has an overall score of 4.4/5.
One wrote: “Much more than expected, the most adorable place I have been accommodated ever.”
Another added: “The beach is available directly in front with a pier. The water and the beach is clean. We have seen turtles on the sea from the place where we have stayed. Totally cool.”
The cost for an adult stay in the campsite is €7 (£6) per night.
Meanwhile, these little-known campsites can be booked from just £2.50 per night.
And this is the best campsite in the UK – with riverside pitches and country pubs nearby.