Lifestyle Holidays at Le Vieux Port

Take on the waves in style at Messanges Surf School (a few minutes' walk from site) or head to Soustons Plage (10 minutes' drive) and windsurf your way around a peaceful lake. Coolness aside, these energetic options open up a totally new way to see the local area – something also possible at Lac d'Hossegor (20 minutes), where kayak adventures in a gorgeous blue lagoon supply all of the scenery minus the risk of falling off your board… A little further down the coast, you could head to Basque Country cities like Bayonne (40 minutes) and Biarritz (an hour), full of traditional local architecture and smart sandy beaches. Stand-out Bayonne attractions include the town's botanical gardens, old city walls and a chocolate museum, while Biarritz's best landmarks – its aquarium, the Rocher de la Vierge rocks and a towering lighthouse – are nicely spread out along the coast. Inland, there's scope for restful strolls in Courant d'Huchet nature reserve (20 minutes), electric bike tours of Messanges with Trott'in Landes bike hire (five minutes), heritage hunting at Dax's military museum (40 minutes) or farm animal encounters at Camdelan - La Ferme Fantastique (45 minutes).