Water sports and leisure activities Aquitaine

Certified by the French Surfing Federation, this school offers various training courses and lessons for all levels from 6 years old. From initiation to improvement, the school, with 25 years of teaching experience, offers 4 teaching formulas: technical (according to the level of each one), intensive (accessible, from 12 years old, to beginners as well as to confirmed surfers), the special kids 6-9 years old (group reduced to 4 children per coach) or private coaching. Foam board, wetsuit, insurance, changing room: everything is provided.

Here, the 3 S rule applies: Sensation, Safety and Smiles! For 20 years, the school has been offering individual, group and school surfing lessons and courses for children aged 6 and over. It has been awarded the "Confort" classification by the FFS, thanks to its spacious 80 m² premises facing the surf zone, and its commitment to the French Surf Schools Quality Charter. It offers surf camps with accommodation and showers. Stand-up paddle lessons, surf packs...

Enjoy an unforgettable experience, with rafting, mini-raft, hydrospeed, canoeing and inflatable kayaking activities on the program with professional guides. The Bidarray team offers outings for schoolchildren, groups, sports clubs, business seminars, vacation centers and couples... Ur Bizia can be adapted to suit every need: half-day, full-day, camping and 2-day adventures. Ur Bizia also offers introductory courses in Basque pelota, downhill scootering, caving, climbing...

Discover Bayonne, Ustaritz, Cambo and Itxassou by canoe-kayak from the banks of the Adour and Nive rivers, following the rhythm of the downstream currents with Antoine and Aurélien, both seasoned experts in this discipline, which can be practiced by people aged 7 (accompaniment compulsory) to 77 (and over), provided they know how to swim and are in good shape. Guided tours are available in both calm and swift waters. Whether you're a family, solo or duo, or a group of friends, it's a time for sharing and conviviality. Spice up your outings, your weekends and your holidays in a whole new way.

Facing France's largest lake, Kite Zone School (KZS to its friends) has its feet in the water, just a stone's throw from the village, shops and campsites. You don't need to be a good surfer to enjoy this sport: kitesurfing is open to all. And here, the water is shallow over a wide area with a sandy bottom. The first day is an introduction to air traction without a board. On the second day, you learn to synchronize gliding and sailing: adrenalin rush guaranteed!

Geoffroy Henno, the founder of the Tengo Frio school, is a native of Lacanau and a former member of the French surfing team. An emblematic figure in Lacanau, Geoffroy can help you learn to surf and develop thanks to over 20 years' experience. Whatever your level, age or physical condition, he adapts his teaching methods to ensure that lessons and courses are above all fun and laughter! And for after-surfing, you can rent his 70 m² surf house!

The water stadium includes a learning pool, a play pool with bubble seats, a counter-current river and hydromassage beds, all of which opens onto a magnificent view of the Pyrenees. Outside, a large modular pool of 50 m and 8 lanes is perfect for competitions, heated all year round, it is a delight. Wellness area with whirlpool, hammam, sauna and games area. This building, designed to be in harmony with the environment, uses natural stone and wood as well as geometry and curves reminiscent of the valleys. Multiple activities: aquagym, aqua fitness, aqua training tour, aqua power bike, aqua jump, swimming coaching, training and aqua back.

With the guidance of these experienced professionals, the entire descent of the Pas de Roland becomes accessible to all. The Nive takes you all the way to Bidarray, alternating between calm and fast waters, offering a different kind of travel experience, suitable for families with boats reserved for those over 12 and 18. For thrill-seekers, sporty courses are also available in Aragon and Catalonia. Peyo Dendaletche, founder of Ur Ederra and holder of a state diploma, is one of the pioneers of rafting in the Basque Country.

Want to discover the Little Amazon on a canoe trip? Aline and Arnauld offer canoe rentals with a focus on human relations and nature. From the age of 7 upwards, various half-day or full-day canoe routes, from 6 to 20 kilometers, allow you to observe a landscape dotted with historical vestiges, while taking advantage of the cool waters of the Gave d'Oloron for a swim between a few paddle strokes. Whitewater rafting is not just for the more athletic. All activities can be supervised.

Located on the Dordogne, Canoe Kayak Port-Sainte-Foy invites you to enjoy the beautiful days to discover this watercourse. As in a good restaurant, the choice of activities is à la carte: guided ideas go from 4 km to 27 km east (Bergerac) as west (Castillon-la-Battle). A shuttle can take you or take you back, at the choice, to allow you to venture further. Paddles are also available for free hire.

Tariff: from 7 €.

Duration: from an hour.

Difficulty: easy.

Please note: the base is also open in May, June, September and October (on reservation only).

On the Lac beach, bathing is supervised until September, with a designated children's bathing area. On-site: lockers, toilets, cultural and sporting activities... You'll be happy to spend the whole day here, as the meadow bordering the lake is shaded and the pine forest has picnic and table tennis tables. People with reduced mobility will appreciate the adapted pathway and the means to facilitate launching (tiralo, amphibious wheelchair) during surveillance hours. Pets are not allowed.

It's the perfect place for young and old to relax and cool off on a hot summer's day... and above all, to have fun! Here you'll find a complete aquatic complex with a variety of activities for children and adults, from a wave pool to river tubing. A lake with boats is available for anglers, and the whole site is supervised for the peace and quiet of parents. Picnicking is possible on the shores of Lac Fraget, with 100 tables available for visitors, and there's a bar and fast-food restaurant on site. New: XXL inflatables and giant wooden games!

From the first rays of sunshine, put your shirt, put your sunglasses together and go to the pool. Eysines's municipal swimming pool is located in the Pinsan area in an appreciable setting with beautiful sunbathing lawns. It includes a 25 m covered roof with an opening roof, allowing you not to feel overwhelmed by heat, and an outdoor summer basin with a jacuzzi, slides and a paddling pool. What to do with sportsmen and women in the water! On Mondays and holidays, the swimming pool is closed.

The building that houses the Judaïque pool dates from 1936. Restructured and renovated in 1996 and again in 2011, it is classified as a historical monument. Its architecture cleverly mixes modernity and interwar decor with its large windows and original changing rooms. The accomplished swimmer will appreciate doing his or her laps in one of the 8 lanes of the Olympic pool. The pool also has a second, smaller 25-meter pool. The roof opens when the weather is nice, allowing for swimming in the sunshine.

Gujan-Mestras boasts a superb aquatic center for swimmers and non-swimmers alike. Fun pools, water jets and paddling pools will delight the little ones, while the older ones will enjoy the sports pool, whirlpool bath and hammam in the relaxation area. The center also offers a wide range of activities to recharge your batteries or work out (activ'douce or tonic). Take advantage of the benefits of water and the advice of professionals to do yourself good. And also: baby swimming, kindergarten, swimming school, birthdays...

Surprising as it may seem, you can canoe, kayak, pirogue or even stand-up paddle on the Garonne. With its pontoon and slipway, this associative nautical club based at the Chantiers de la Garonne also offers surf training and outings on the ocean. As a member of the club, you'll soon be able to master sea oars and paddle boards! From the clubhouse, you can also take advantage of the breathtaking view over the Garonne to enjoy a beer brewed by the Brasserie de la Lune, which shares the premises.

The Evi Nautika nautical base in Ciboure, one of the oldest sailing schools in the Bay of Socoa (51 years old), offers courses and lessons, and rents out nautical equipment all year round, including 9 Figaro sailboats (ideal for beginners), motorboats and paddleboats. The sailing school is affiliated with the French Sailing Federation. Boards, catamarans and towed gliders are available for hire. Supervised by instructors (DE).

An outing for the whole family or a group of friends, to cruise slowly along the Dordogne, from 8 km in 1h30 (Vitrac), to 16 km in 3 hours (La Roque-Gageac) or 22 km in 4 hours 30 (Beynac). Multi-day hikes (2 to 7) are also available to enjoy a different view of the Périgord countryside, its castles and typical villages, not forgetting swimming breaks on the pebbles. This rental company awaits you 7 km from Sarlat to tell you all about the region and get you out on the water. They'll give you practical advice, transport you by bus and lend you all the equipment you need.

From an individual canoe or kayak trip down the Dordogne from the base at Vitrac, to a group caving excursion, climbing or horse-riding, Canoës-Loisirs organizes a wide range of outdoor sporting and cultural activities. On the river, you'll experience an exceptional moment as you navigate. Choose from a range of free descents from 9 km to 25 km for a magical day, or multi-day trips with overnight camping or hotel accommodation.

The lake,, a "little inland sea", is fed by 4 springs and extends over 12 hectares. An ideal place for a vacation, with its extensive leisure facilities. Designed and maintained all year round, it offers a wide range of water sports in complete safety: canoeing, kayaking, waterslides, pedal boats... Several play areas are available for children on the 700 m of supervised beach in July and August. There's also a fitness trail, tennis courts, volleyball courts, picnic areas and camper van parking.

The best time to explore the joys of river sliding is from April to November. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, you'll enjoy gliding down the Pas de Roland gorges, a listed natural site, following the river's capricious course in the heart of a wild environment. You'll be spoilt for choice of activities, including rafting, canorafting, hydrospeed, stand-up paddle, tubing and more. You can also go canyoning, aquarando, climbing, caving and much more.

Many activities are offered by the swimming pool, composed of two pools, one of 50 m and the other of 25 m, as well as a playground. During the school year you can practice aquabike or aquagym. Your child will learn to jump, to do the starfish, to move on the back and on the stomach... then he will take the test "Sauv'Nage", the first level of the French swimming school. Large windows envelop the place, which is very pleasant in summer because they are opened, which offers the possibility to sunbathe while dreaming...

The swimming pool at Audenge is quite unusual. In fact, it's the largest seawater pool in Europe. This seawater reservoir forms a large open-air swimming pool. In all, there are three pools at different levels for young and old alike. Of course, the water is heated by the sun. There's no chlorine here - it's the salt that stings the eyes - and no filter either! There's also a children's playground, sand, duckboard and grass areas along the pools, and frequent entertainment for the youngest guests.

In each office, you'll be able to hire all the equipment you need for surfing and other related activities. A vehicle will accompany you to the spots where lessons take place. And on a day-to-day basis, you can learn to surf, bodyboard, stand-up paddle board and alternative activities when the sea is too flat. Alone, as a couple, with the family or in a group, Océan Aventure will meet your expectations perfectly.

For safe family bathing on the Arcachon basin, the Lanton swimming pool is ideal. Young and old alike will have the time of their lives on the seawater (supervised from July¹ to August 31). During the high season, you can also take part in a range of fun and sporting activities. Note that this beach has been awarded the Handiplage label for its facilities for people with reduced mobility. You'll be seduced not only by the practicality, but also by the beauty of the landscape.

Mimizan is known for his surfing champions and body board. So, to compare yourself to these talented athletes, a traineeship with the Maeva Surf Club won't be too much. Induction or development courses, with state-run monitors, for adults and children.

What's on the agenda? Discovering kitesurfing, learning to windsurf, wakeboarding or foiling (that's new!), a leisurely paddle or canoe trip.... And a good dose of fun on water skis, but especially on a towed buoy with the whole family (up to 8 people), guaranteed fun! With or without a license, you can also rent a motorboat for an outing on the lake, go fishing or spend a whole day on the water... The H2O Kite School hut is located on the beach in front of the Mayotte Vacances campsite.

Created in 2007, this association "law 1901" affiliated to the French Federation of Underwater Studies and Sports (FFESSM) gathers passionate volunteers. Lake or sea explorations, baptisms... Accessible from 10 years old, the Club has a slot at the Aygueblue aquatic center on Friday evening for winter dives. You will find this Landes underwater school at the Rey beach, behind the snack bar Le Cabanon, two fins away from the Hossegor canal; a unique shallow natural area. The deep dives off Capbreton are reserved for the initiated.

Want to sail the waves? From the age of 8 (accompanied by an adult, otherwise from 16 upwards), courses or leisure activities will be offered here as soon as the warm weather arrives. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, you'll be supervised by qualified instructors. As for the fleet, you can choose from: 35 optimists, 20 catamarans (New Cat F2, New Cat 12 and Hobie Cat 16), 60 sailboards, 20 double-handed dinghies, 15 single-handed dinghies... Enough to test your sea legs!

Open during the summer period, the municipal swimming pool of Puymirol is located rue des Amours. Born from the will of the inhabitants, the pool was built in 1975. The site enjoys an unobstructed view, overhanging the ramparts where one can quietly admire the greenery of the Pays de Serres. What a pleasure to be able to refresh oneself in summer in the three pools! Because in Lot-et-Garonne, the heat can sometimes be overwhelming... The swimming pool is supervised and you have a terrace with parasols. You just have to enjoy it.

Le Théâtre d'Eaux, the swimming pool of Fumel, opens three pools, one of 25 x 15 m, a smaller one (12 x 8 m) dedicated to recreational activities, with benches on the side to enjoy the bubbling baths, and a paddling pool for the little ones. Beautiful landscaping, with green areas planted with trees, wooden fences, and 120 m² of mineral beaches and multiple water games: a perfect solarium for a relaxing break. A must for the summer!

After the Pont-Vieux coming from the city center, go down the stairs of the wash house to the nautical base. In this club, you have the possibility in summer to rent small boats like an electrically propelled gabarot (up to 8 places). You can stroll along the course of the Lot in complete peace: you can go as far as Sainte-Livrade-sur-Lot! You can also rent canoes, kayaks... Water sports discovery courses for children from 8 to 16 years old. Lessons and initiation to rowing.

The site of the Lac du Saut du Loup is a nature area that extends over 40 hectares. It includes a 12-hectare lake (swimming is not allowed), sports facilities, picnic and play areas, a restaurant, a village of cottages, a vacation center, a horse ranch... It is a paradise for fishermen (card holders), but also for walkers who can follow the banks or venture further into the forest. Perfect for oxygenation.

Lescouroux is an artificial lake designed to regulate the water supply of the Dropt river. With a surface area of 112 hectares and a 7 km-long promenade, the lake serves as an agricultural reservoir and is very popular with anglers (fishing permit required). Fishing is authorized according to the category of water (^2nd category lake) and the opening periods of the species sought. An ideal place for a family outing, a marked trail allows you to observe the life of the lake and the many birds present on the site.

Nestling in the heart of the town of Soustons, the lake stretches as far south as the village of Azur. At the Parc de la Pointe des Vergnes, you can enjoy the natural surroundings and observe grey herons, squirrels and wagtails. Stroll along the water's edge, enjoy a bike ride or a spot of fishing, or try your hand at sailing, stand-up paddling or canoeing (hire from the Centre Sportif de L'Isle Verte) in absolute peace and quiet. You'll also find a picnic area, as well as restaurants overlooking the water.

An ideal leisure area for learning to swim, having fun and taking part in group aquatic activities. It comprises three pools: an indoor sports pool with bleachers, a water play area, a paddling pool, a 150 m² indoor learning pool and a 25 m Nordic pool with six lanes for swimming and diving. In short, a complete aquatic center, designed for all tastes and all publics (schools, associations...). Also: swimming lessons for children and adults, baby swimmers, aquatrampo..