Family holidays disrupted as France and Spain wildfires hit campsites - here's what parents need to know

Wildfires have forced campsite evacuations in France and Spain. Here's what families with holidays booked need to know.

Photo by Maximilien LAMY / AFP via Getty Images

Published: July 27, 2026 at 3:14 PM

Save

Families heading to France or Spain this summer are being urged to check their travel plans after major wildfires forced thousands of people, including holidaymakers, to evacuate campsites and holiday accommodation.

Ad

The worst affected areas are in south-west France, particularly around Bordeaux, and parts of central Spain.

What to see more MadeForMums in your search results? Tell Google!

From parenting news to expert advice and trusted product recommendations, make sure you don't miss the MadeForMums content that matters to your family. Add MadeForMums as a Preferred Source on Google.

While flights are largely continuing as normal, some popular family holiday destinations have been evacuated and local authorities are warning visitors to stay updated with the latest advice.

If you're due to travel in the coming days, here's what you need to know.

Which family holiday destinations are affected?

The biggest disruption has been in France's Gironde region, a hugely popular destination for UK families travelling by ferry or driving to campsites along the Atlantic coast.

Wildfires have affected areas around Le Porge, Lège-Cap-Ferret, Biscarrosse, Parentis-en-Born and Arcachon, with thousands of holidaymakers evacuated as fires spread through pine forests during the ongoing heatwave.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) says access to affected areas may be restricted and roads could close at short notice. French authorities have also warned that further evacuations are possible.

In Spain, a national emergency has been declared in parts of the Madrid and Ávila regions, although the main tourist areas on the Mediterranean coast remain unaffected.

Are any Eurocamp sites affected?

Several popular Eurocamp locations are within or close to the areas impacted by the wildfires.

Eurocamp's Camping Le Vivier in Biscarrosse and Camping La Rive near Biscarrosse are among the best-known family sites in the affected region.

Campsites around Lège-Cap-Ferret and the Arcachon Bay area have also been subject to evacuation orders issued by French authorities.

Travel industry reports say around 20,000 people have been evacuated from campsites and holiday accommodation across the Gironde region.

If you have a Eurocamp booking, the company advises customers to check the latest travel updates and monitor any direct communication regarding their holiday.

If your campsite is affected, Eurocamp or your travel provider should contact you with the available options.

Families describe overnight evacuations

Some British families have shared dramatic accounts of being woken in the early hours and told to leave immediately.

One London family staying on the Cap Ferret peninsula told the BBC they received emergency alerts at 4am ordering them to evacuate, before sheltering on a nearby beach with hundreds of other people.

Another family from Gloucestershire said they packed their belongings and left within 15 minutes after receiving evacuation messages on their phones.

Others spent the night in emergency shelters, including school sports halls and gymnasiums, before either returning to their accommodation or continuing their holidays elsewhere in France.

Should you cancel your holiday?

At the moment, the FCDO is not advising against travel to France or Spain.

Instead, it recommends that anyone travelling to affected regions follows the advice of local authorities and emergency services and keeps up to date with developments.

Travel experts also warn against cancelling holidays too early.

Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: "Travellers who cancel now will likely forfeit their right to a refund or rebooking."

He added: "Instead, holidaymakers should wait until closer to the departure date to see if the holiday can go ahead or what flexible booking options are offered from the tour operator or airline."

Will travel insurance cover wildfire disruption?

Whether you're covered depends on your policy.

Chris Bose, director of general insurance policy at the Association of British Insurers (ABI), said: "If your travel plans are disrupted by a wildfire and your policy includes trip disruption cover then travel insurance may cover some of the resulting costs."

However, financial ratings company Defaqto says only around half of travel insurance policies include specific "catastrophe" cover for events such as wildfires.

If your airline cancels your flight, you should usually be offered either a full refund or the chance to rebook. If you've booked a package holiday, this should also cover accommodation and transfers.

If you've booked your flights, campsite and ferry separately, you'll need to contact each provider individually, as different cancellation policies may apply.

What parents should do before travelling

While the images from south-west France have been alarming, officials stress that most of France and Spain remain open to visitors.

Ad

If your holiday isn't in one of the affected areas, your trip is likely to go ahead as planned, but it's worth keeping a close eye on official travel advice before you set off.

Authors

MadeForMums

Ad

Ad

Loading...

Ad

Loading...