Kampaoh Côte Sauvage

This part of the island really lends itself to exploring on foot, by bike or on horseback – there are a couple of stables nearby for the last of these. Any of these outings might take you up to the very tip of the island at Phare des Baleines, to the long swathe of sand at Conche des Baleines or for a tour of the Lilleau des Niges salt marshes. Ars-en-Ré and Les Portes-en-Ré (both 10 minutes' drive) are both good places to find some of the seafood that the island is famed for. A little further away, Saint-Martin-de-Ré (20 minutes) is known for its donkeys wearing trousers and its UNESCO-listed 17th-century citadel; after your visit, travel along the coast to Fort La Prée (half an hour) to learn more about the island's military heritage. Although you're likely to want to spend most of your time here exploring the island, it's worth planning to dedicate a little bit of time to La Rochelle, back on the mainland (50 minutes). Here you can visit the aquarium, tour the historic towers and explore various museums as well as finding lots of good things to eat.