guide
The Landes combine 100 km of Atlantic coast devoted to surfing, Europe's largest pine forest and lakes ideal for canoeing. Allow 4 to 5 days to discover Hossegor, Capbreton and the wilder northern coast, reached from Dax by TGV.
Europe’s largest pine forest, lakes and a long Atlantic coastline: the Landes combine wild nature and surf villages along nearly 100 km of coast.
Hossegor is a world reference for surfing, known for the waves at the Gravière and Nord spots, where stages of the professional tour are held every year. Next door, Capbreton keeps its fishing harbour and a 19th-century jetty, for a quieter seaside atmosphere.
Further north, the Lespecier beach near Mimizan remains one of the wildest stretches of the Landes coast, between pines and dunes. The Contis lighthouse, the only striped lighthouse on the Atlantic coast, offers a view over the ocean, the forest and the surrounding dunes.
The Landes forest, planted in the 19th century to drain the marshes, remains the largest cultivated forest in Europe. The Marquèze eco-museum, reached by steam train from Sabres, recreates a 19th-century Landes village and explains resin tapping, the traditional method of harvesting pine resin.
Dax, served by a direct TGV from Paris in just over 4 hours, is the most convenient gateway for then driving to the coast. Biarritz airport, about 45 minutes from Hossegor, adds options for domestic connections and a few international flights. By car, allow around 6.5 hours from Paris via the A10 then the A63.
For a couple over one week, allow between 500 € (camping, free beaches, picnics) and 1,100 € or more with regular surf lessons and canoe trips. A group surf lesson costs on average 35 to 45 € per session, and canoe hire on the lakes about 15 to 20 € for two hours.
The Vélodyssée runs the length of the Landes coast on a cycle path separate from the road, one of the most popular stages of the Atlantic cycle route. The Léon and Aureilhan lakes, linked to the ocean by currents, are well suited to paddleboarding and canoeing in calm water. For a first surf lesson, there is no shortage of schools in Hossegor and Seignosse, with courses for beginners as well as more advanced surfers.
June and September offer the best surfing conditions, with far fewer crowds than mid-summer at the Hossegor spots. For the forest and the Marquèze eco-museum, spring and early autumn avoid the sometimes oppressive heat of July and August under the pines.
The Landes coastline stretches from the Arcachon Basin in the north to the Basque Country in the south, along a long straight line well served by the Route des Lacs. Allow 4 to 5 days to combine the southern resorts (Hossegor, Capbreton) with the wilder landscapes of the north (Mimizan, Contis).
The Hossegor and Seignosse surf spots remain rideable all year for experienced surfers, but a beginner will get more from an early-morning session, before the thermal wind picks up and makes the waves more technical. In the forest, leaving the marked trails around Marquèze, on foot or by bike, reveals a quiet that the busier coastal roads cannot offer.
The Camping Insolite network lists 19 unusual accommodations in the Landes, with an average rating of 4.1/5 from nearly 9,800 verified reviews. The treehouse is the most represented type (8 properties), ahead of the safari tent lodge (7) and the wooden caravan (5).
On Camping Insolite, unusual accommodations in the Landes make the most of the forest setting for quiet nights, away from the seaside bustle in season. A treehouse blends into the pine forest, while a bubble makes the most of clear skies, far from the light pollution of the coast. To compare the different options before booking, our guide to treehouses, bubbles and safari tents details the advantages of each type of accommodation, and our article on seaside holidays covers more criteria for a coastal stay.
Allow 4 to 5 days to combine the southern resorts (Hossegor, Capbreton) with the wilder northern coast (Mimizan, Contis).
For a couple, allow between 500 € (camping, free beaches) and 1,100 € or more with regular surf lessons and canoe trips.
No, surf schools in Hossegor and Seignosse offer courses for beginners, alongside more technical spots for experienced surfers.
No, it closes in winter. Check the opening dates before you go, especially outside the summer season.
Dax, served by a direct TGV from Paris, remains the most convenient point of access before heading to the coast by car.
June and September offer good conditions, with far fewer crowds than mid-summer at the Hossegor spots.
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