Surf & Yoga Camp on France's Atlantic Coast

A typical day starts with breakfast at camp, then a surf lesson (usually two sessions per day, grouped by ability). The instructors are in the water with you, and if you're a complete beginner you'll be standing on the board by day two or three. After lunch, there's a yoga class on the camp deck — the instructors focus on positions that help your surfing and stabilise your muscles. The rest of the afternoon is yours: you can borrow a surf skate, play ping pong or volleyball, walk into the pine forest, or just lie on the beach.

Dinner is cooked at camp — healthy, self-cooked meals, often eaten together at long tables. After that, people head to the beach bar or the party tent. At Vieux-Boucau, the tents are strung with fairy lights and there's a Mojito Bar with live bands and DJs. At Moliets, most guests end up at L'Open, a legendary surfer bar. The camps organise flunky ball tournaments and theme parties, but you're never forced into anything — you can just watch the sunset and go to bed early.

What makes this different from a hotel-based surf holiday is the glamping setup. The tents are built on stilts and furnished with proper mattresses, so you get more space, less sand, and protection from wind and rain — but you're still sleeping under canvas. It's camping with the rough edges taken off. The camps are small enough that you get to know everyone, and the teamers treat you like a friend rather than a customer.

The location is what really sets it apart. Vieux-Boucau is right behind the dune — you walk a few minutes and you're on the surf beach. Le Pin Sec is next to a conservation area, so the beaches are quiet and the line-ups are empty. Hossegor, the centre of European surfing and home to the Quiksilver Pro France, is 20 minutes away. You can also take day trips to San Sebastián, Bordeaux, or the Dune du Pilat.

Surf lessons are run by qualified instructors who've surfed these breaks for years. They know exactly which bank is working on any given day, and they'll move the group to a different spot if the conditions aren't right. If you're already intermediate, you can skip the beginner lessons and get coaching on turning and reading waves instead. Board and wetsuit hire is included for the whole week.

What's included

- 7 nights accommodation in glamping tents - Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - 12 surf lessons - 5 yoga lessons - Surf equipment (board and wetsuit) - Surf skateboards, ping pong, volleyball, slackline - Camp activities and evening entertainment - Shuttle pickup from nearby stations (on request)

What's not included

- International flights - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Drinks at bars - Optional day trips