One of those surf trips that ends with a golden Glow

Sometimes a surf trip doesn’t start big—but ends up being unforgettable. One of those weeks where everything aligns: mellow swell, warm air, barely any wind, and the freedom to dive into the ocean whenever you want.

That’s exactly the kind of week we got in Seignosse at the end of June. With the occasional detour to Bidart.

And it was the best of both worlds: longboard bliss mixed with shortboard sessions on a point-like break.

Missed the swell? Still scored.

We had the whole month of June as a possible window—except for one week. And you guessed it: that one week turned out to be the best Europe had seen in a while. Clean, solid lines around a meter high, 11 to 12-second period, and barely any wind.

Still, our week looked promising too. The plan started to take shape: if conditions stay small but clean, we’ll turn it into a longboard trip. Sounds like a win.

After a bit of calendar shuffling, we hit the road on Sunday morning. Twelve hours later, we rolled into our campsite in Seignosse.

First stop: Les Bourdaines. Warm water, a mellow swell, and hazy sunshine. A perfect first session, with both lefts and rights on offer thanks to the sandbanks. We wrapped it up with a great meal at Cabane Couleur Locale, right on the beach.

Le Penon: Home base with peaks and potential

The following days made it clear: Le Penon was our go-to spot. Early mornings, park the car by the dunes, walk over—and boom, you’re standing on a massive beach with views of Hossegor, Capbreton, and on clear days, even the Pyrenees.

On the best day, it hit 35°C. The swell lines were clean (1.2m at 11s), and even better once we were in the water. It was a dream session: perfect peaks, occasional barrels the locals made the most of, a mellow crowd, and a point-like section that worked from low to almost high tide.

Spot Info: Le Penon (Seignosse)

• Type: Beach break with seasonal sandbars / point-like shapes

• Best Swell Direction: W to NW

• Best Wind Direction: E to SE

• Tide: Low to mid and almost high

• Level: All levels

• Watch out: Strong rip currents at outgoing tide – solid paddle fitness recommended

Explore more surf spots in France »

Mini road trip to Bidart

One day brought some light onshore winds, and Windy showed calmer conditions near Bidart—just south of Guéthary. So we drove 45 minutes and entered a whole different world.

Rolling hills, tucked-away beaches, and a laid-back vibe. We scored two solid sessions. Waves looked small from the beach, but once in, it was fun and playful (0.9m at 9s).

We saw kids surfing with helmets (totally logical with those rocky reefs) and soaked up the village atmosphere near the beach and tiny harbor at Plage Centrale.

We wrapped it up at Uhabia, a small beach with a shortbreak-style wave—perfect for a last mini session.

Spot Info: Bidart (Uhabia & Plage Centrale)

• Type: Reef & beach combo

• Best Swell Direction: W to NW

• Best Wind Direction: E to SE

• Tide: Incoming to mid and semi high

• Level: Intermediate (due to rocks and shortbreak)

• Watch out: Rocks under the surface and rip currents at high tide

Back in Seignosse, we finished the day with a sunset surf. The wind had dropped. That golden light shining through the lip of the wave, crystal-clear water… one for the memory books.

A few things we noticed

• Fatbikes everywhere: Surfers cruising over the beach with boards in side racks. Looks like the new normal.

• Helmets in the water: More and more surfers—kids and adults alike—are wearing them.

The morning we didn’t paddle out

On our final morning, we stood at Les Bourdaines again. No wind. Swell had picked up. Perfect, long, clean lines.

But we were tired. And mostly—just deeply satisfied. So instead of paddling out, we snapped some pics for this post, grabbed a croissant, and started the drive back to the Netherlands.

Yes, including the usual Paris traffic jam.

But also: with a head full of sun, surf, and a few unexpectedly perfect sessions.

Where We Stayed

Camping Naturéo – A luxury surf campground in Seignosse with an on-site surf school, pool, and lodge tents. Perfect if you like your surf trips with a touch of comfort.

Read the full review here »

Surf Lessons in Seignosse?

Looking for a more personal surf school than the one on the campground?
Check out Coco Surfschool by Annelies. She keeps her lessons small—max 6 people—and super flexible.
Visit the website here »