Discover the best surf camps in France for 2023/24. This guide runs through options for families, for older surfers, for yogis, and more, all of which sit on the uber-consistent beaches of the French Atlantic.
France has an allure that few places in Europe can muster. Those big, beefy A-frame peaks in Hossegor steal the show. But there’s so, so much more than that.
Head up the coast of Landes Department and you’ll traverse hundreds (literally) of miles of dune- and forest-backed sand that’s got beach breaks and groyne points that work basically all year round.
Speckling the coast there are just a few downright gorgeous towns that have emerged as big-time players in the surf-camp industry, specifically because they can offer loads of whitewash, proximity to the waves, and that laid-back family feel that the French Atlantic is so famed for.
Naturally, those such towns will feature heavily in this guide to the best surf camps in France. From the tried-and-tested glamping surf spots of Mimizan-Plage (a personal fav) to the more showy Hossegor further south, there’s lots to get through, suited to a whole range of different surfers. Let’s begin…
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This is just one part of our complete overall guide to surfing in France
Star Surf Camp, Moliets
Best all-round surf camp in France for 2023/24
- Location: Moliets
- Price: 8 days/7 nights starting at $609 (£478) per person
One of the OGs of the Landes surf-camp scene, Star Surf Camp has risen to become arguably the most sought-after stay for the youngish – let’s say 20-35 – crowd in the last 13 years. It’s all about getting a taste of the “good life” on the Atlantic coast, which means more than just a daily rigmarole of get up, surf, sleep.
The accommodation itself is in glamping bell tents that are tucked into a sandy patch in the middle of the aromatic pine forests literally steps back from the main beaches. They’ve created a super cool space, with sprawling canvas abodes that have double beds, twin options, and more, al fresco band spaces for live music, a communal cooking area, and a fantastically well-stocked board stash. It’s gotta’ be one of the best glamp-surf-camp setups we’ve seen.
The 8-day chill package is coupled with a 6-day surf course. It’s very high-quality stuff, especially at the beginner end of the spectrum, since group sizes never exceed eight surfers per instructor and they’ve got a top array of learner foam boards.
Solo travelers and couples should feel especially at home here. You’ll finish on the waves and then return to camp for cheese and wine nights, jam sessions, and cold beers in the hammock.
A note on why we partner with BookSurfCamps.com: Book Surf Camps are probably the biggest online aggregator of surf camps and surf-yoga packages in the world. We sounded out a quite a few potential partners before we affiliated with them. But, in the end, the abundance of choice for beginners, intermediates, and female-only surfing sealed it. We also love the simplicity of their booking system and the trusted brand name, along with the focus on connecting with homegrown local businesses on the ground.
Pura Vida Lodge, Mimizan
Best for: Surfers in their 30s and 40s
- Location: Mimizan
- Price: 8 days/7 nights starting at $723 (£568) per person
We’ve only heard good things about the Pura Vida lodge down in Mimizan and we have to give them kudos for developing one of the few surf camp packages that’s solely aimed at people in the 30-40 age group. (As someone who’s smack dab in the middle of that, I appreciate. I appreciate very much!).
The idea was to create an itinerary for folks who want to break into the sport but have pipped past the supple 20s and feel like practicing with peers in their own age group is the better way to go. It lasts eight days and seven nights, includes six hours of surfing spread out through the week, and a daily yoga session – perfect for us older peeps who need a downward dog to stretch out the lumbar before paddling out.
True to the name, the lodge itself channels a touch of that Costa Rican exoticism. It’s got a garden that blooms with flowers in the summer, a vine-strewn hammock cabana, and a lovely pool in the grounds. It’s also within easy striking distance of Mimizan-Plage town, where you’ll head to socialize with fellow surf campers (all in their 30s of course) and even hit the town (you know, like you used to!).
Alma Libre, Benesse-Maremne
Best for: Yogis
- Location: Benesse-Maremne
- Price: 8 days/7 nights starting at $1,039 (£816) per person
Alma Libre is one part yoga retreat, one part surf house. It’s run by the always-smiling duo of Andia and Davi – him a surfer out of Brazil, her a skier and yogi from the French-Italian Alps. Together, they’ve created a space that’s all about revitalizing and getting close to nature through a balanced program of morning stretches, meditation, and – of course – surfing on the lovely Landes coast.
To be frank, the packages run here are probably a bit more about deepening your yoga practice than advancing your surfing – you get seven yoga sessions to five surf sessions included in the main itinerary. That’s great for people looking for a more holistic health retreat, especially since they cover the gamut of yoga disciplines, from Hatha to Ashtanga and more.
The surf is by no means bad, though. Consider it quality over quantity, and there’s some great potential to hit some of the best spots in southern France because they’ll transport you up to waves in Capbreton, Seignosse, and Hossegor among others.
The lodge where you’ll stay is pretty slick. It’s got a fantastic communal dining-kitchen space where you’ll hang and eat together. There’s a raised pool in the garden for post-yoga chills. And it’s close enough for a visit to the hip town of Biarritz, home to chic beach casinos, edgy cocktail bars, and some great urban surf spots.
The Cheeky Family Surf Camp, Lacanau
Best for: Families
- Location: Lacanau
- Price: 8 days/7 nights starting at $800 (£629) per person
We don’t think there’s any camp that can match the family offering at the Cheeky Family Surf Camp down in Lacanau – the clue’s in the name, eh?
It’s basically a curated package aimed at multi-level, multi-age groups. It’s exceptionally accessible, includes 12 hours of surf tuition that’s in groups of no more than six learners at once, breakfast each day, and accommodation in shared dorms that you can book out for the whole family. Look at it as a sort of all-inclusive holiday resort only with surfing thrown in for good measure.
The beginner sessions here deserve a special mention. The camp is armed with a series of very high quality Softech boards that work a wonder on the cruisy beach breaks of Lacanau throughout the spring, summer, and fall. Sessions are also very well tailored to levels, so you can expect to improve even while surfing alongside less- or more-advanced compadres.
Best for: Budget surf camps
Best for: Budget surf camps
- Location: Biscarrosse
- Price: A week’s surf stay starting at $457 (£359) per couple
Lastly, there’s the budget-friendly option of the Hoya Surf Camp. Set between the high pine woods of the more northerly Landes region, it’s known as a bit of an easier-going version of Hossegor. If that sounds like just about the perfect place for a beginner or family surf retreat, then that’s because it is. The waves here peel mellow and easy into sand-bottomed runs of sand. And they’re less busy on the whole than their compadres to the south.
Hoya is a book-it-yourself stay that offers a taste of cabin life. You’ll bed down in small wooden pods between the stone pines, and have hammocks strewn between the trees for chilling in. There’s a communal pool, but really it’s all about two things: The low rates and the walking access to the plage, which has consistent waves.
You can pay for add-on surf lessons, board rental, and paddle sessions on site when you arrive.
When should I visit surf camps in France?
That’s really up to you. France has waves all year. The Atlantic departments of Landes and the Basque Country pick up swell in a 180-degree, meaning there are sets in December, sets in May, and sets in September.
The real question is what sort of swell you want to chase. The most popular times to visit for surf campers, who are usually in the beginner and lower intermediate categories, is from May to September. Between those months, waves tend to be in the 3-8 foot range and slightly less powerful, plus the water is warmer – a 3/2 wetty is usually enough.
More advanced surfers might prefer to hold off until late in the fall or the winter. Things can get WILD then, with overheads sailing into Hossegor to set off proper bombs. Chances are you won’t be looking for organized surf camps in France if that’s you, but you never know.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
