guide
Surfing at Hossegor’s Gravière, descent by boat on Huchet current, sunset over Sanguinet lake: Landes never lacks striking experiences. But what to do in Landes as a priority when you only have a few days? Here is our selection of the 10 most concrete activities to test during your next vacation in a camping with water park.
Hossegor’s Gravière is considered one of Europe’s best beachbreaks. Each fall, it hosts a stage of the professional surfing world circuit. But no need to be expert: schools like Hossegor Surf Club or Tao Magic Glisse offer beginner courses from age 6, directly on Centrale or Culs Nuls beaches. A first 1.5-hour lesson costs about €40 per person, equipment included.
It is often the first thing we recommend to those wondering what to do in Landes in summer!
Nicknamed the little Landes Amazon, Huchet current connects Léon pond to the ocean over 7 km through tropical vegetation. The descent by traditional boat with an approved boatman lasts about 2 hours and departs from Léon village. Plan €17 per adult and €12 per child. Booking is essential in July-August via the Huchet Current Boatmen’s website. It is one of the most memorable nature activities in Landes.
Claire’s tip: book the descent early in the morning, before 10am. The grazing light on the water is magical, birds are more active and you avoid summer crowds. Bring a hat and sunscreen, as despite dense vegetation, some passages are well exposed. The return is made on foot via a forest trail of approximately 45 minutes.
The Vélodyssée crosses Landes over more than 150 km. The section between Biscarrosse and Mimizan (approximately 45 km) is one of the most beautiful: flat, shaded trail under pines, crossing the state forest and arriving facing the ocean. Rental companies like Cycland or Loca Beach at Biscarrosse offer bikes from €12 a day. Remember to bring water and a picnic for a stop by Aureilhan lake!
With its 5,600 hectares, Cazaux-Sanguinet lake is France’s largest natural lake after Bourget. The Navarrosse beach at Biscarrosse and Sanguinet beach guarantee supervised freshwater swimming, calm and warm (up to 25°C in summer). Families looking for what to do in Landes with young children find an ideal setting there. You can also rent pedal boats, paddleboards or canoes from €10 an hour.
At Sabres, in the middle of Landes forest of Gascony, Marquèze ecomuseum reconstructs a 19th-century rural Landes quarter. Access is exclusively by a little steam train crossing the forest over 4 km, which makes the experience unique from the start. Plan €15 per adult and €10 per child. On-site, bread-making or resin workshops enliven the visit. The site is open April through November, and half a day is enough to enjoy it.
Each summer, Capbreton night markets are held on the waterfront, Tuesday and Thursday evenings in July-August. Local producers, food trucks and craftspeople set up facing the port: you will taste lightly-cooked foie gras, grilled squid, asparagus from the sands and a glass of Tursan wine. The atmosphere is friendly and family-oriented. Hossegor markets (Thursday) and Vieux-Boucau (Wednesday) are also worth the detour.
“The Capbreton night market facing the port is my summer favorite. You settle at big tables, taste everything and always end up chatting with camping neighbors.” – Claire
Dax is France’s leading thermal station by visitor frequency. Even outside a cure, you can access Adour Thermal Baths or Bérot Thermal Baths for a discovery session from €25. Mud baths, hydromassage jets and thermal pools offer a break from surfing or hiking. It is an excellent option when looking for what to do in Landes in bad weather or simply to unwind.
The Black Pond nature reserve, at Seignosse, offers a 2.5-km boardwalk trail accessible to everyone, including strollers. The route crosses a bog, marshy forest and borders the pond, where you easily observe gray herons, European pond turtles and dragonflies. Entry is free and the reserve house offers guided visits for €5 in summer. A perfect nature walk in Landes for a family morning.
Landes harbor some of the largest camping water parks in France. Thrilling slides, inflatable rivers, wave pools heated and fun paddling pools: equipment rivals traditional amusement parks. Many are accessible even in overcast weather thanks to covered and heated pools. It is one of the major advantages for families wondering what to do in Landes regardless of weather. Discover campings with water parks in Landes.
Head inland to Chalosse for lunch on a farm-inn. At Mougnères Farm (Montfort-en-Chalosse) or Batan Farm (Mugron), you taste a complete local menu: garbure, grilled magret over wood fire, Landes pastis and Armagnac, all prepared with farm products. Plan between €25 and €35 per person for a hearty meal. Booking recommended, spots are limited. Landes gastronomy is well worth this off-the-beaten-path detour.
You now know the best things to do to visit Landes like a local. Don’t wait any longer and quickly book your camping for a stay between ocean, lakes and Landes forest.
There are many free activities to do in the Landes: swimming at the beaches or lifeguarded lakes, hiking the trails of the Étang Noir reserve in Seignosse, cycling the Vélodyssée paths, and producer markets. Sunsets from the Contis dune are also an unforgettable, free spectacle.
When it rains in the Landes, the best options are the Dax thermal baths for a wellness session, the Seaplane museum in Biscarrosse, the heated indoor pools at campsites with a water park, and a meal at a farm inn in the Chalosse.
The main activities in the Landes remain affordable: a surf lesson costs around €40 per person, the Courant d'Huchet boat trip €17 per adult, the Marquèze ecomuseum €15, a bike rental €12 a day, and a meal at a farm inn between €25 and €35.
The best time to visit the Landes runs from June to September. July and August offer the most pleasant temperatures (25 to 30°C) and access to the night markets, while June and September let you enjoy lower prices and smaller crowds.
Yes, the Landes ranks among the best-equipped regions in France for campsites with a water park. Check out our selection of campsites with a water park in the Landes.
