Les Landes: Between the ocean and the forest, treat yourself to a soak in nature in Les Landes

🚌 Getting around in Landes

By bus:
As a tourist region, the Landes département offers many options for holidaymakers to get around. If you don't have a car, the bus is a practical and inexpensive way to get around. The highly efficient YÉGO - MOBIMACS bus network and the RDTL coach network serve the entire Landes coast as well as inland towns such as Dax and Mont de Marsan. Note that in most seaside resorts, free Yego shuttles run between the beach, the campsites and the town centre.

By train:
If you enjoy the charm of travelling by train, you can also take the TER. The Bordeaux-Irun line, which serves all the coastal towns as far as the Spanish border, is a particularly pleasant and practical way to discover the Landes coastline.

By car:
If you want to be on your own, you can also opt for a hire car. Numerous agencies offer their services throughout the region. Europcar, for example, is present in Capbreton, Biscarrosse and Mimizan plage. Information: +33 5 58 72 29 34.

By bike:
Whether you're heading to the beach on a whim, with a towel slung over your shoulders, or pedalling at full speed along the coast, your hair blowing in the wind with an exhilarating feeling of freedom, cycling is a real way of life in the Landes! The seaside resorts along the coast are all very well equipped with cycle paths, and you'll find plenty of bike hire services. 600 km of cycle paths and 1700 km of signposted routes await you, divided into 24 cycle-touring circuits in the four corners of the department. There are also 3 greenways to explore the Landes hinterland: Voie verte du Marsan et de l'Armagnac (52.5 km from Gabarret to Mont de Marsan), Voie verte de la Chalosse (54 km from Dax to Saint-Sever), Voie verte des Landes de Roquefort (20 km from Roquefort to Bourriot-Bergonce).

Guides and maps of the region's cycle routes are available from all tourist offices.

☀️ Best period

The Landes climate is oceanic, so seasonal variations are moderate. It never gets very cold here, even in winter. On the other hand, the weather can be rainy between November and March. The most favourable period from a weather point of view is between May and October, with temperatures of over 20 degrees from May onwards. Summers are hot and dry, often scorching, so sun umbrellas and SPF 50 sun cream are a must. The peak tourist season is unsurprisingly in July and August, so leaving in mid-season is ideal for enjoying the good weather without liquefying under the effect of the heat and without finding yourself in the middle of the crowds.

👉 Safety

While the Landes is an ideal place to enjoy a carefree holiday and frolic happily in the seductive waves of the Atlantic Ocean, there are some risks to be aware of. Swimming, the main activity on a Landes holiday, can be dangerous. The reason for this? The presence of baïnes (or rip currents) all along the coastline, typical water formations on sandy beaches created by the movement of the tides. In local dialect, this means "basin, bowl of water".

These extremely powerful currents are impossible to fight against and can sweep a swimmer out to sea in a matter of seconds. To avoid taking any risks and enjoy the pleasures of the ocean with peace of mind, choose supervised swimming areas and follow the signs. However attractive the idea of a midnight swim on a deserted beach, it's best to avoid it.

Another major hazard in the Landes region is fire. The pine forests are particularly dry in summer, so they catch fire very easily. To avoid any risk, the local authorities recommend that you do not go into a fire-prone area during the hot hours of the day. Smoking in the forest and wild camping are also strictly forbidden.

For detailed instructions, visit the Landes prefecture's prevention website. Information is updated regularly: Forest fires under orange alert - Services de l'Etat dans les LANDES