Surfing holidays in Aquitaine, France

With nearly 200 miles of quality surf, from Soulac at the Pointe de Grave to Hendaye on the border of Spain, we are not going to list all the surf breaks along this wonderful coastine.

For a really good guide, buy The Stormrider Guide to Europe or check out reviews on the surf forecasting sites Ocean Surf Report (local reports, in French) , or Magic Seaweed (in English).

Medoc Bleu
West of Bordeaux, Lacanau is the best-known surf location on the Gironde coast and has been hosting professional contests since 1979. Surf is consistently good here.

Lacanau is just one spot in the middle of a long sandy beach, stretching for nearly 100km, blessed with quality surf right the way along. All these waves are beach breaks – meaning waves that break over sand (rather than over rocks or reef), and they break throughout the day. Its proximity to Bordeaux makes it a very popular spot, and you can check the surf from the car park.

The huge lakes at Lacanau also provide great opportunities for other watersports, including Lacanau Kite-surfing, and Lacanau Wake-boarding.

If rip currents were not enough, on this coastline surfers should also look out for scores of naturists peppered along the beaches.

We also recommend any of the following beaches, listed from north to south as you travel down the coast. All of these waves break over sand, throughout the day.

Soulac-sur-Mer by the Gironde river is a good option when everywhere else is closed out. Good for beginners as the tide starts coming in. Soulac is also very popular for skim-boarding, land-yachting, and sport-kiting.

Le Gurp (near Soulac-sur-Mer) is a good choice when it’s too wild everywhere else. A good spot for beginners as the tide starts coming in, with a surf school right by this beach.

Montalivet-les-Bains has a beach popular with naturists, and offers floodlit night-surfing in the summer, as well as a good choice of nightclubs. You can check out the quality of the waves from the car park.

Hourtin-Plage is popular, but can become crowded. If so, look for quieter spots up and down the beach, by following the mountain-bike paths through the forests.

Carcans-Plage offers a quieter alternative to Lacanau, and many would argue that the waves here are better.

Between Lacanau and Arcachon is La Jenny. You can get to this break by turning off the D3 at Lauros, north of the nudist camp entrance, then take the long walk from the car park. We’ve listed it here in case you find the other beaches too busy (or in case you fancy naked surfing, of course). Then head south for le Porge and Grand Crohot and the exquisitely-named la Vache Morte.

Bassin d'Arcachon
The bay of Arcachon gives light relief from the surf – a calm inlet with the picturesque seaside town of Arcachon, and the exclusive Cap Ferret. This is France’s oyster-growing capital. Great for food lovers and shoppers. Of note here is Europe’s tallest sand dune – Pyla – which gives great views of the coast and the bay.

There is good surfing along the Atlantic side of the peninsula of Cap Ferret, but watch out for the powerful currents – especially when the tide is going out. Recommended breaks are at Cap Ferret, Le Truc Vert and Le Petit Train.

La Cote Landaise
The best-known surf spot on the whole coast, in fact in Europe, is Hossegor. At Hossegor the swell is aided by the presence of the Fosse de Capbreton, a deep underwater canyon located 2km offshore.

Hossegor breaks to look out for include Les Estagnots, Les Culs Nuls (“The Bare Bums” – Hossegor’s naturist beach) the mighty La Gravière (for tube-riding) and L’Epi Nord. The last two are strictly for those who know what they’re doing, which rules us out. It goes without saying to be mindful of strong currents. Being such a renowned location, Hossegor can get busy, so be prepared to wait your turn.

But Hossegor is one spot amongst many, all offering amazing beach breaks right the way along the Côte Landaise, from Biscarrosse Plage (just south of Arcachon) all the way to Labenne and Ondres just to the north of Bayonne. You will find surf along this coast at all times of the day and all of the waves break over sand.

Travelling south, down the coast from Arcachon, Biscarrosse Plage is great but can be busy. South of Biscarrosse Plage is a military zone, where access is strictly forbidden.

Mimizan Plage is the next available spot and is much quieter than Biscarrosse. There are several spots between Mimizan Plage and Moliets, including Contis-Plage, Cap de l’Homy, and naturists’ favourite St-Girons Plage.

Moliets-Plage is a great spot. If you fancy it, you can actually paddle down the Huchet river from Leon lake, ending up at the best break around.

Vieux-Boucau and Port Albret are both very convenient from the D652 coastal road.

In Capbreton, access the beach between the jetties. With smaller swell than Hossegor, this is better for beginners, but gets very crowded when Hossegor is too big. South of Capbreton, ‘La Piste’ offers very fast breaks which are often tubing, with surfers understandably protective of their waves.

Towards Biarritz, Labenne-Ocean and Ondres Plage are good breaks close the N10 (major road), which are seldom crowded. Tarnos Plage is industrial, but has good tubing lefts. Respect the gnarly locals.

Cote Basque
The Basque coast offers more variety of waves, with coves, rocky reefs, and beaches pointing in numerous different directions. At the heart of the Côte Basque is Biarritz, the glamorous birthplace of French surfing.

Approaching Biarritz from the north, just south of the River Ardour, don’t bother with La Barre, as it suffers from low water quality. The barrels of Les Cavaliers are said to rival those of Hossegor. It can get crowded, but is usually bigger than Anglet.

Les Plages d’Anglet provide plenty of sand break options which work at all times, so keep walking until you find your ideal spot. If busy, look for Plage de L’Ocean and Plage de la Madrague (close to Chiberta), which are a longer walk from the car park. Plage des Sables d’Or and Plage du VVF are sand beach breaks accessible form the car park at Chambre d’Armour, scenically situated near the light house. The waves here provide good long rides, and are visible from the road so attract a lot of people, but there’s plenty of room for everyone.

Biarritz Grande Plage in the centre of town has to be done if you’re visiting these parts. Obviously it can get busy, and there is a section reserved for bathers. Do not ride at high tide. Your best bet might be evening or early morning. Still in Biarritz, Côte des Basques is the birthplace of surfing in France, and is good for longboards. Best at low tide. Further South on the beach (away from the lighthouse) the wave breaks over flat rock beds.

As you head south out of Biarritz, Ilbarritz works at all tides, but watch out for the rocky reef below.

Heading south along the coast towards the Spanish border: Bidart central beach can be good at all tides, again watch out for rocks

Guéthary is worth visiting for the village and the harbour alone. The surf breaks over flat rocks, and works at all tides. Tends to be popular with longboarders and can be busy. Immediately south of Guéthary harbour, Les Alcyons has a heavy current and should be avoided unless you know what you’re doing. Doesn’t work at high tide.

Jean-Marc Takaki | COMMENTS 14.01.09
Guethary is a soft Waikiki like longboard spot when it's head high. When it gets double overhead and over it's a big wave spot that holds big swells, and those who surf it use 8 foot guns, and the crowd thin out dramatically. The Surf Session Big Wave Challenge is held there when the swell is 15 foot hawaiian.les Alcyons works best at mid high tide and the current is not any more dangerous or stronger than it is on the other side of the channel at Parlmentia (Guethary). However there are boils and rocks underneath so les Alcyons can be scary. The current though runs away from the peak so the risk of getting caught in the wrong spot is tiny compare to Parlmentia where the current runs towards the impact zone... so getting caught and worked at Parlementia is guaranteed however experienced you are... it is in that sense like Sunset Beach. Parlmentia (Bidart) is also the old timers and pioneers favorite spot, more so than "la cote des basques". It has a rich surfing history, and Mickey Doora spent the last few years of his life in the village.

In the bay of St Jean de Luz itself, the waves have got to be big to get into the harour where they break over the beaches of Ciboure and Socoa. The breaks here are to the north of the town - Erromardie and Lafitenia.

Right on the border of Spain, Hendaye Plage is a beach break smaller than elsewhere – so well suited for beginners. The width of the break offers a choice of peaks, the best being that near the casino. Beginners should head to the north end of the beach.

Of course the surf doesn’t stop at Hendaye. The breaks continue along the Bay of Biscay coastline into northern Spain passing San Sebastien, Bilbao and Santander. Mundaka is the pick.