Itinerary & programme

1. 01

   Day 1: Dax to Arjuzanx (53 km, 150 m ascent)

   Leave the spa town of Dax behind and head in under the Landes canopy. Your route leads to the Arjuzanx site, an unspoilt pocket of nature where time seems to have stopped. Enjoy the calm of the lagoons for a restorative first evening.

   Things to do:

   • Watch migrating birds from the hides across the site

   • Swim in the clear waters of the Arjuzanx lake at the end of the day

   • Take a sensory walk on the waymarked trails around the reserve

   • Relax by the water for a first sunset in the forest

2. 02

   Day 2: Arjuzanx to Parentis-en-Born (72 km, 90 m ascent)

   A stage devoted to culture and tradition. Ride to Sabres and board the historic train to Marquèze. Discover the life of 19th-century Landes shepherds in a preserved hamlet, before setting off again for Parentis-en-Born.

   Things to do:

   • Ride the period train from Sabres station to the open-air museum

   • Watch demonstrations of old crafts: baking, spinning, shearing

   • Meet the Landes sheep and the local breed of cattle

     • Unwind in the calm, clear water of Pipiou beach

3. 03

   Day 3: Parentis-en-Born to Arcachon (49 km, 230 m ascent)

   Head for the Arcachon Basin and a stage of outstanding views. After climbing the majestic Dune du Pilat, you ride on to the refined villas of the Ville d'Hiver, between flowered gardens and Belle Époque architecture.

   Things to do:

   • Climb the highest dune in Europe for a breathtaking view over the Banc d'Arguin

   • Dive into the Atlantic waves on the wild beaches that line the cycle path

   • Stop at an oyster hut to taste the pearls of the Basin with your feet in the water

   • Explore the lanes of Arcachon and admire the extravagant 19th-century villas

4. 04

   Day 4: Around the Arcachon Basin (78 km, 140 m ascent)

   An emblematic stage combining boat and bike. Cross the Basin by boat to Cap Ferret, then come back on the cycle paths. Between oyster villages and charming ports, this loop reveals every side of the Basin.

   Things to do:

   • Cross by boat with your bikes to the Cap Ferret peninsula

   • Climb the Cap Ferret lighthouse to look out over the oyster beds

   • Wander the oyster villages of Le Canon and L'Herbe

   • Swim off the huge, wild Plage de l'Horizon facing the open sea

5. 05

   Day 5: Arcachon to Parentis-en-Born (45 km, 90 m ascent)

   This stage leaves the elegance of Arcachon to head inland via the Cazaux lake, an inland sea hidden among the pines. You ride on perfectly shaded cycle paths, far from the bustle of the coast, through the unspoilt landscapes of the Born. The day ends gently on the shores of the Parentis lake, where the horizon opens out between wooded dunes and fishermen's huts.

   Things to do:

   • Enjoy its crystal-clear freshwater beaches for a quiet, cooling break.

   • Take in the silence of the deep forest on the straight tracks through the pines.

   • Settle on the shores of Biscarrosse-Parentis to watch the seaplanes that made the place famous.

   • Stroll around the small port of Parentis-en-Born and watch the local fishermen come in at the end of the day.

6. 06

   Day 6: Parentis-en-Born to Mimizan (32 km, 100 m ascent)

   Pick up the Vélodyssée again and head south. The route guides you through the dunes to Mimizan. Between its flowered lake and its endless beaches, this historic seaside resort welcomes you for a stop between culture and ocean.

   Things to do:

   • Stroll the Promenade Fleurie island at Aureilhan, an outstanding waterside botanical garden.

   • Visit the UNESCO-listed bell tower porch

   • Watch the sun drop into the Atlantic from the beaches of Mimizan-Plage.

   • Try a surf lesson at one of the resort's many well-known spots.

7. 07

   Day 7: Mimizan to Léon (45 km, 150 m ascent)

   Follow the famous Vélodyssée! This section gives you perfect cycle paths, well away from the cars. You reach the Léon lake, a natural jewel surrounded by lush vegetation and the gateway to the Courant d'Huchet reserve.

   Things to do:

   • Ride down the Vélodyssée, between dunes, pines and ferns

   • Picnic along the Contis stream

   • Climb the Contis lighthouse for a rare view over the forest

   • Paddle down the river La Palue by canoe to the Léon lake

   • Swim and have dinner at sunset on the Léon lake.

8. 08

   Day 8: Léon to Hossegor (52 km, 160 m ascent)

   The route continues south, following the coastal lagoons and well-known surf spots. You arrive in Hossegor, famous for its distinctive Basque-Landes architecture and its sea lake, which moves with the tides.

   Things to do:

   • Take a traditional boat trip on the Courant d'Huchet (the Landes Amazon)

   • Go shopping at the famous surf brand outlets

   • Swim and taste oysters at the Hossegor lake

   • Have dinner at sunset by the lake

9. 09

   Day 9: A day in Hossegor & Capbreton

   Enjoy a day without luggage to explore the two neighbouring seaside towns. Between the fishing port of Capbreton and the stylish shops of Hossegor, this stage is ideal for soaking up the local way of life.

   Things to do:

   • Walk the Estacade de Capbreton, the historic pier facing the open sea

   • Cycle around the Hossegor sea lake (6 km of dedicated path)

   • Visit the centre of Hossegor

   • Picnic and watch the sunset on Santocha beach

10. 10

    Day 10: Hossegor to Dax (43 km, 180 m ascent)

    The last stage of your loop, back to where you started. You leave the bustle of the coast for the calm of the Landes countryside and the Barthes de l'Adour, a wild landscape that carries you back to the Fontaine Chaude.

    Things to do:

    • Relax at the foot of the Fontaine Chaude hot spring in Dax

    • Visit the Notre-Dame cathedral or the Borda museum

    • Stop for a treat and taste a madeleine de Dax

    • End the day with a spa treatment