The Arcachon Basin is a land of colourful wonder, pine forests, transparent water and endless beaches. A land of enchantment. Symbolized by the Dune du Pilat, it is an ideal destination to travel with children as the discoveries and sensations are numerous: swimming, surfing, biking, accrobranche, boat rides, first flight... For everyone, the exhilaration of wide open spaces is there, just behind the dune. Once the climb is complete, the ocean appears

Splash around in the Arcachon basin or fly over it

A quiet and picturesque spectacle awaits you in the shade of some maritime pines. On the basin side, there are no breakers, but small peaceful beaches with a nice view on the basin, the oyster villages and the continuous spectacle of life on the "Little Sea". Whether it is at Cap Ferret, Claouey, at the beach of Saint-Brice d'Arès or at La Hume near Gujan-Mestras, the atmosphere is serene, as the beaches of the basin are family beaches. Once you've experienced the joy of living by the water, you'll need to get some height to find your bearings. Rendezvous at the Dune du Pilat: the first to reach the top wins!

The Dune du Pilat is a must-see. By approaching it through the forest, you will benefit from a very practical staircase. The ascent will take you to an altitude of over 100 metres. Between two oceans, the position seems precarious: the dune is surrounded by the Landes forest on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. The basin opens up as far as the eye can see and the Cap Ferret peninsula seems distant and fragile. The basin is closed by formidable passes between the Dune du Pilat, the tortuous bench of Arguin, the no less elusive bench of Toulinguet and the tip of Cap Ferret on the other side. They are among the most dangerous in the world. Turn towards the basin: who can count the number of lighthouses and bell towers, and who will be the first to distinguish the Ile aux Oiseaux? Will you see the oyster farmers' plates sailing towards the Banc d'Arguin? Get down! A fighter plane has just passed by! It took off from the nearby base of Cazaux. Because the basin is also the land of the knights of the air! What could be more beautiful than discovering the Arcachon basin from the sky? The emerald waters are reflected in the conches and the beach reveals its vertiginous perspective. Whether by microlight, leisure plane from Andernos or Villemarie to La Teste-de-Buch, paragliding from the Dune du Pilat, or even by jet, you will not miss any opportunity to take the height

The Cap Ferret peninsula, border between the basin and the ocean

Climb the 52 steps to arbitrate the permanent match between the basin and the ocean with the Cap Ferret peninsula as the battleground. Its tapered tip seems so fragile. The thin dune line looks like a sand castle destined to disappear at the next tide. Because that is what it is, only the peninsula guarantees the protection of the basin against the ocean's assaults. But these things are slowly changing. If we respect the natural environment, its evolution will be all the slower. The lighthouse sweeps with its red light all the protagonists of this privileged environment. From now on, you will be able to recognize the tip of Cap Ferret, the Dune du Pilat, Arcachon, Ile aux Oiseaux and the whole peninsula. From here, the next continent is American, even if the closest is the African continent from where the birds of the basin return or leave depending on the season.

Budding ornithologists on the lookout for birds

The white stork is a faithful visitor. Egrets and herons also have their habits here. Some are even year-round residents. We will visit them in the delta of the Leyre at the ornithological park of Le Teich. The river which flows into the basin has created a vast labyrinth where our friends nest. In the domains of Certes-Graveyron, the old fish tanks are now a vast pension for birds in holiday. Finally, between Lège and Arès, the salt meadows reserve resembles Africa, a savannah dotted with baobabs. A few steps from there, the hut of the resinier will explain to you how to leave to the adventure in this vast wild space. In the pinewoods, numerous cycle tracks are sheltered from road traffic and serve the whole Arcachon basin. Game is abundant and it is not impossible to come across a roe deer; as for the solitary boar, it is he who will be watching you..

Many activities take place under the pines. But there is one that has found its favourite place here: accrobranche. Many parks compete with monkey bridges and zip lines to make you climb up and down the pines. It's your turn to play! But on the basin, other sports are in the spotlight. And it all starts in the delta of the Leyre or in that of the canal of Lège. While some hide to discover the birds, others go down the waterways following their many meanders. By canoe or kayak, all find themselves at the outlet, on the Arcachon basin. The next step is to conquer the Ile aux Oiseaux and further on, the Banc d'Arguin.

Discovering the islands and oyster farming villages

A boat trip on the basin will allow you to discover the Ile aux Oiseaux and the cabanes tchanquées. You don't disembark, but the trip is fascinating to discover the secrets of the basin: the esteys (the channels where you can sail), the shoals of the Ile aux Oiseaux which multiply its surface area by three at low tide, or the oyster farms. The huts on stilts are the emblem of the basin next to the Dune du Pilat. Take one of the many boats which allow you to go around the Ile aux Oiseaux from Arcachon or Cap Ferret. There is still one objective in particular, the Banc d'Arguin. Once on its shores, you will have the feeling of entering a parallel world, not completely on land and not completely at sea

The oyster farming villages are like beehives. They are almost constantly in motion. Nature imposes its rhythm. Everything has its place: the basins where the oysters rest, the work huts, the unloading docks and the beaches where the oysters are beached. The multicolored tractors and the small wagons that are pushed on rails complete the picture. Although oysters require continuous work, the activity varies according to the season. Needless to say, the alleys should not be cluttered around the end of the year celebrations... The fact remains that this group of huts forms incredibly picturesque villages. Alleys cross the work areas and pierce the order of the houses. On the peninsula, the huts become villages within the city. The Arcachon basin is like that: welcoming and warm, but also so secret and varied. A perfect destination to make the most of the end of summer!

Useful information

When is it? Summer is good; during spring and September, it is the ideal time to enjoy the basin

How to get there. By car, train or plane (via Bordeaux), everything is possible.

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Useful. To prepare your trip as well as possible.

OFFICE DU TOURISME DU BASSIN D'ARCACHON - More information on the website

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