A typical day centres on the surf. The school drives you to whichever stretch of beach is working that day, so you are not stuck with one spot when the wind or tide is wrong. You get at least four hours of coaching and guided surfing a day, split across sessions so you aren't in the water for one exhausting block. Beginners start on the sand with pop-ups and safety, then move into the whitewater. Intermediates work on reading waves, paddling into unbroken swell and turning.

The main difference from many surf camps is the choice of base. You can take a hotel room with breakfast and dinner, a four-person mobile home on a campsite 50m from the sand, or a two- or four-person villa. That makes it easy to bring a family with young kids, a couple, or a group of friends without forcing everyone into one style of stay. Board, wetsuit and all transport during the camp are included whichever base you pick.

The school runs several operations around Montalivet. There is the main surf school at Plage Sud and a stand-up paddle school at Lona Park. There is also a surf school at EuroNat, the large naturist resort just up the coast, which is a fairly unusual thing to find. If the swell drops flat, paddleboarding is right there as an alternative.

Thomas Bilbao leads the team. All the coaching is done by instructors holding the French national surf qualification. The school states it has a 100% safety record, which matters on a coast known for strong currents and shifting sandbanks.

Montalivet sits in the Médoc, between the ocean and a huge pine forest, with the vineyards of the Médoc wine region a short drive inland. The beaches run uninterrupted for miles, with lifeguarded zones in season. The town itself is small and relaxed, with a weekly market, seafood restaurants and a long cycle network through the forest.

The season runs April to October. Spring and autumn usually bring the most consistent swell and emptier lineups. July and August are warmer and busier, with smaller summer waves that are friendlier for beginners.

What's included

- Accommodation in a hotel, campsite mobile home or villa (depending on package) - Half board at MontaHotel (breakfast and dinner) - All transport during the surf camp - Surfboard hire - Wetsuit hire - 4+ hours of surf lessons and guiding per day - Coaching by nationally qualified surf instructors

What's not included

- Travel to and from Montalivet - Meals at the campsite and villa options (self-catering) - Lunch at the hotel unless full board is booked - Travel insurance - Stand-up paddle sessions unless arranged with the school - Personal expenses - Tourist tax where applicable