Outdoor Sports
Bordeaux has become the best rated place to visit in 2017 by The Lonely Planet and The Los Angeles Times. The region boast a variety of beautiful sceneries.
Yachting
Whether you’re looking to sail on the many canals, lakes and rivers or face the Atlantic Ocean, our region is studded with unexpected gems. There are so many options to suit seasoned sailors or a beginner, whether you visit us as a family or with friends or your company. We can provide you with a package to suit your plans with tried and trusted partners.
Fancy a lazy holiday on the Canal du Midi between Bordeaux and Toulouse, in Dordogne or beyond? Canal boating holiday is a famous destination to come back to time and again. The entire Atlantic shores provide a splendid route to sail with quaint ports: Royan, Arcachon, CapBreton, Saint-Jean-De-Luz, Hondarribia, San Sebastian, Bilbao and Santander to name the most important ones. Bordeaux has a marina which makes it a great sailing route along the Garonne to explore the different wine regions on both banks of the river.
No need for a licence to rent house boats, and they are so easy and very safe to sail. On the Atlantic coast sailing requires more preparation. We are happy to recommend partners who can take you for a day out on different boats or rent a boat of your choice with or without a skipper, in Arcachon and in the French and Spanish Basque Countries.
Canoeing
Wild nature and water lovers know about the thrill that canoeing can provide. Our region provides such a variety of sceneries for all levels and all budgets. We can either build you a tailor-made itinerary with our partners or just include a day out on a river nearby where you’re staying. Fun and nature at its best for all guaranteed!
The Dordogne region with Correze and The Lot offer great rivers to explore, with some quite challenging areas. As do the Pyrenees with white water rafting for the more experienced ones.
Between kayaking, canoeing, hydrospeed boating, there is always an exhilarating experience for everybody. One piece of advice however, never venture out on your own without the supervision of a tried and trusted instructor or training centre. We’re here to recommend you get the best option.
Hiking
The region has got so much to offer from dramatic Atlantic shores, beautiful countryside, famous vineyards and some of the highest mountains in Europe. Fancy taking part in an organised trail, or just going for a day out during your trip? As part of our personalised telephone interview, we’ll assess with you the best option based on your desire and your fitness level. If you’re coming with a group, we take care of the logistics and accommodation so that you can enjoy a hassle free itinerary.
Our region offers one of the best variety of walks including the famous Camino walks, the Bordeaux Wine trail, the GR10 in the Pyrenees and Los Picos de Europa
The Bordeaux Wine Trail is instantly recognisable for the name of the famous wine, but less for the route it takes. You start in Saint-Emilion, the UNESCO listed town, capital of the famous vineyards. Visit the town and meet wine-makers and visit their cellars and châteaux. Sleep in one of the châteaux before heading for Entre-deux-Mers region down to Saint-Macaire. Take a walk down to Sauternes region before heading back to the capital of Bordeaux.
Surfing/Windsurfing
The wild Atlantic coast of South-West France and North-West Spain has some world-class surfing spots. You may be a shortboarder, a long boarder, or even a kite-surfer, a pro or just a beginner ; you may search for right or left waves, powerful or soft waves. Or your favourite watersport is kite-surfing, wind-surfing or paddling on lakes. Be assured to discover uncrowded spots with natural beauty. Just contact us to advise you on a personalised break.
In South-West France the choice of spots is incredible: from the top of Medoc (Soulac, Montalivet) down to Arcachon Bay (Lacanau), discover the wildness of our beach stretching 120km long. In Les Landes, with its 200km of beach, hides some famous places such as Hossegor. On both sides of the Pyrenees and in the Basque Country there are so many places to surf, Biarritz, Hendaye, Zarautz and Somo near Santander to name the most famous ones. Lake surfers (wind-surfing and paddling) are also spoilt for choice with a large number of safe and clean lakes to choose from. Ideal to combine it with other sports such as golf and cycling, but also sight-seeing and relaxation.
If you want to combine the surfing sports with other sports such as cycling and golfing, why not stay south of Arcachon Bay. It’s an hour south of Bordeaux in the region of Biscarrosse. This holiday town is a great spot and starts of the beautiful long stretch of beach in Les Landes right down to the Basque region. The lake of Biscarrosse is great for wind-surfing, yachting and paddling. Known for its local golf course and cycling lanes, the town is a stones throw away from Arcachon Bay and the famous Dune of Pyla. Bordeaux is only 1 hour drive away so you can easily combine it with a city break.
Cycling
Choosing a cycling tour for avid cyclists or beginners is your biggest challenge when making the decision to come to our region for the perfect ‘slow’ holiday. You’ll come home exhilarated by the beauty of the scenery and the welcome given to cyclists in France and Spain. We’re here to provide you with advice, select the best logistic options such as transportation, cyclist-friendly accommodation and cultural sites to visit along the way.
In South-West France the canal du Midi is well-known for its great traffic free cycling paths. You may choose to start in Toulouse and make your way up to Bordeaux. From Bordeaux we recommend the dedicated cycling path to Lacanau which provides a secure and quiet path amongst the pine forest to the Ocean (50km). For the serious cyclists, there is the famous Vélodyssée path from Brittany to the Basque Country, with a beautiful route from Royan to Bordeaux along the Garonne river. And of course in the La Rioja and Bordeaux vineyards there are many routes to explore combining train transportation (in France) with dedicated carriages for bikes.
Before deciding to take your bike, just contact us to see if we could find you a better rental option locally.
Rock climbing
Both sides of the Pyrenees and Los Picos de Europa (near Santander) are the best areas for rock-climbing. There are so many peaks over-looking stunning valleys. The variety of peaks also allows avid mountaineers and beginners to find the right level.
We recommend you go on an adventure to the Los Picos de Europa, the beautiful mountains over-looking Santander (Cantabria – Spain). There are many rocks to climb in the area of Potes. Avoid the busy summer months and combine it with a few days in Santander, Bilbao and La Rioja.
We advise that you don’t go on you own. We can put you in touch with local guides and tourist boards who can provide you with the best and safest spots.
Skiing
Both sides of the Pyrenees are well known for winter skiing. Our region is fast becoming popular with snow and sun seekers and the slpoes are less busy than the Alps. Resorts are stunning, smaller and family orientated. On both side of the Pyrenees, many of the resorts have made significant developments to connect each other to create vast skiing domains.
We love going to Cauterets, perhaps the resort in the Pyrenees where you’re most sure to get snow. Nestled in the Cirque de Lys, the region is great for all sorts of skiing: alpine and cross-country. The famous Oakley Freestyle Park has some unique tricks in store for you, including a ride-able chalet roof and custom-made kickers. We love the traditional village of Cauterets with its famous spas and outdoor lagoons heated by thermal springs. It’s also the closest resort from Bordeaux.
We recommend ski equipment and ski passes are booked before you arrive to get the best deals. As a travel agency, we can organise this for you together with transport, accommodation and other activities.