Information about Tipi camping holidays in France

Tipis come in several sizes and are known by several names, Tipis, Tepees and Teepees, all seemingly the same animal in that originally they were used by the North American Indians as living accommodation. Nowadays they have been hijacked and are used for the leisure camping holiday business. Whilst there may not be many N. American Indians living in or taking their holidays in France there certainly are some Tipis used for camping holiday purposes on sites dotted around the country.

Tipis are quite large, larger than the average tent and conical in shape. They are constructed from upright wooden poles going to a point in the centre where they are all secured. The frame is then covered with canvas to make it wind and waterproof and there is flap turned back to make a doorway. Of course in the old days when these were being lived in by the American Indians the canvas would have been animal hides. They were built then as they are now, readily assembled and dissembled for easy moving as most Indians were nomads by nature.

Tipi camping in the UK is not yet as popular as Yurt camping, and neither have caught on in France yet to the same extent as they have here at home, but strangely most of the Tipi sites in France are owned and operated by Brits. In America of course they do things slightly differently and there are people who choose to actually live in these things and who try to emulate the N American way of life (we call them saddos on benefits here).

So what is a Tipi and what is the attraction of taking camping holidays in one? Well the attraction may have something to do with the fact that Tipis are pretty much Eco friendly like yurts and most of the materials are supposed to be locally sourced from Green materials. Also, there is the added attraction of Tipis being something different. Anyone can say they have been to France and camped in a tent, but in a Tipi? Nope, you have done something which your friends and relations have yet to accomplish.