Best beaches
Lake Biscarosse and its lakeside beach are gorgeous and there’s a good selection of children’s parks and cycle routes [TripAdvisor member, Kent]

I thought it was brochure speak about the lake and it’s beach, but it really was excellent especially for young children. A large beach with golden sand that gently shelves into the sea, staying shallow for at least a hundred metres [TripAdvisor member, Essex].

We were blown away by the ‘lake beach’. [TripAdvisor member, Kent]

There is mile after mile of uncrowded, silver sand beaches washed by the lively Atlantic, pine forests which seemingly go on for ever. [TripAdvisor member, Plymouth]

There are fantastic surfing beaches at Biscarosse and Mimizan. Both are small but lively resorts on the Cote d’Argent and decent waves are pretty much guaranteed. There is also Hossegor, slightly further south, which is known as a fine surfing beach and which has even hosted world tour events – one siblu customer travelled all the way from Australia to take part!

Attractions and Adventure

Hiring bikes and cycling round Lake Biscarosse was really safe, easy and enjoyable, even with a 5 year old [TripAdvisor member, Languedoc]

La Reserve is a super site if you want to take in the area, we managed to get down to Spain for lunch! [TripAdvisor member, Cambridgeshire]

Dune du Pilat, near to Arcachon, is the largest sand dune in Europe. At 150m high, half a mile wide and almost two miles long, it has swallowed hotels and roads. Climb to the top of the dune to see incredible views of the sea on one side and rolling pine forest on the other.

Cities and towns

Bordeaux is filled with historic buildings, wide squares, a modern and swift tram system, and street after street of swish shops. [TripAdvisor member, Plymouth]

The Roman spa town of Dax has great shops sitting alongside the historic Roman ramparts and the bubbling spa waters. The steaming water which constantly pours from the underground spa is supposed to be a cure for a whole host of ailments [TripAdvisor member, Plymouth].

Sexy, stylish Biarritz was a magnet for the Swinging Sixties jet set and still retains its aura of elegance and elan. This is the place to see and be seen [TripAdvisor member, Plymouth].

Arcachon is a classy seaside town with good beaches and good, if pricey, restaurants, cafes and bars.

St Emilion is a heart-warming ‘ugly duckling grows up and becomes glamorous swan’ tale. In the 8th century a hermit called, Emilion dug out a cave for himself in the rock. A monastery followed. Then it blossomed into a gorgeous medieval hilltop village, surrounded by endless vineyards that produce full-bodied deep red wines.

What to eat, where to find it
The Arcachon Basin is France’s most important oyster producing region, and so you will find delicious, fresh oysters on every menu in the small villages and towns on the edge of the bay. Much of Aquitaine cuisine is based on goosefat, and foie gras, a goose-liver pate is a speciality.

Keep an eye out for meals containing ‘Périgord’, which will indicate a dish containing truffles. Any meal is best rounded off with a smooth coffee served with a small Canele, a delicious French pastry with custard centre and caramelized crust.

Bordeaux is famous for its wines, and if you have a fine palette and a few quid, go in search of a bottle of Bordeaux 2009. According to French experts, this year’s red will be the first great vintage of the 21st century, because of incredible growing conditions not seen since the 1940s.

Events

Stumbling upon the fiesta in Parentis and seeing the running of the bulls was an unexpected treat. [TripAdvisor member, Essex]

Where to stay

La Réserve, on the banks of Lac Biscarosse, has the twin benefits of a beautiful lakeside beach with golden sand and shallow waters, and its own refreshing pool complex. The parc is set among miles of pine forest, with many great cycle routes for explorers. The kids’ playgrounds are popular, and there is more than enough to keep teens busy, including a range of watersports on the lake.

On the siblu website we say it is “immense, with a life of its own in a scary Triffid-type way”, and Nigel Thompson, travel editor of the Daily Mirror, called it “Incredible. A heap of sand 350ft high, half a mile wide and almost two miles long.”

Pyla is a giant sand dune, the biggest in Europe, on the coast of Aquitaine and just below the beautiful Arcachon Basin (home to the best Oysters in Europe, another great reason to visit).

Despite its size Dune du Pyla is, essentially, a mountain of sand, so is it really worth the visit?

Yep. Especially if you have kids. And especially if they are the runny jumpy kind.

The climb - whether you take the 190 steps laid up the side of the dune or forego the man-made support and tackle the bank of sand instead – is a daunting one that doesn’t promise much in the way of reward.

But as you reach the top, stunning views are instantly revealed. Ahead is a golden beach that slopes into the deep-blue Atlantic Ocean and behind is another ocean, of pine trees that stretch to the horizon.

Look along the ridge of Pyla and you will see silhouettes of people intent on tackling the dune still further, or children charging head first down the steep slopes, sinking into the sand as they moon-walk to the bottom.

It’s a wonderful feeling and an hour exploring gives you a great excuse to tuck into an ice cream or beer at one of the many café’s at the foot of Pyla.

Siblu’s La Réserve holiday parc is just 40 mins from the Dune du Pyla and from the Arcachon Basin. You can watch our film about the parc here.