La Dune du Pilat

Discover the Dune du Pilat

Explore the famous Dune du Pilat in Gironde from your Slow village Biscarrosse Lac campsite! This sand dune opposite Cap Ferret is one of the most famous in Europe and the world.

Your open-air hotel near the Dune du Pilat is just a half-hour's drive from this natural treasure, and you'll need to take the road between land and ocean to get to La Teste-de-Buch and then Pyla sur Mer, the adjacent commune of Arcachon where the Dune du Pilat is located.

The Dune du Pila is one of the symbols of the Arcachon basin, along with the cabanes tchanquées, and one of the most visited places of interest in the Nouvelle Aquitaine region.

What you need to know about Dune du Pilat

• It's the largest dune in Europe!

• It extends over approximately 3 kilometers
• The dune represents 60 cubic metres of sand
• Depending on the year, it can reach heights of between 100 and 115 metres, as it "moves" with the wind and tides.

You'll see just how incredible this dune is when you visit it: it's hard to imagine how amazing it is without seeing it with your own eyes.

Climbing the Dune du Pilat

From the parking lot, reaching the bottom of the dune requires a bit of a hike: a fun trail of around 400 metres, punctuated by explanatory panels, takes you there. The 110-metre-high Dune du Pilat is then a challenge to climb. The sandy soil makes the task quite challenging. In season, a staircase is installed to make theclimb easier! The climb takes just a few minutes on the gentlest slope of the dune, on the Atlantic Ocean side. Access to the dune is free and possible at all hours. Car parking, on the other hand, is subject to a charge, and can be paid for by credit card. At the top of the dune, a magnificent view of Lège Cap Ferret and the Atlantic coast awaits you!

Admire the breathtaking view from the top of the Dune du Pilat

The summit of the Dune du Pilat makes you quickly forget the climb, even if you've opted for the sand: an exceptional panorama awaits you from the top of the 110-meter-high moving mountain.

On the west side, the view is lost to the infinite ocean, but also plunges down to the Banc d'Arguin, the Cap Ferret peninsula and the Bassin d'Arcachon. The view is 360°. On the land side, the Landes de Gascogne forest stretches out at your feet. The dune plunges steeply down to the pine forest, offering a breathtaking view of Teste-de-Buch.

Other activities at Dune du Pilat

Walking along the crest of the dune in search of the most Instagrammable view is not the only activity on offer. The must-do leisure activity for thrill-seekers is paragliding: several clubs offer you the chance to soar from the sand mountain towards the ocean. A unique experience to share with friends, as you fly over the Arcachon basin. At the bottom of the dune, you'll also find boats that will take you to the end-of-the-world setting of the Banc d'Arguin.

Free activities are also available for families: guided walks on the dune, or a posted welcome at the summit with a telescope.

What can you do on the Dune du Pilat?

The view from the top of the dune is simply breathtaking. The ocean as far as the eye can see is an exceptional panorama. It takes about half an hour to "climb" the sand dune if you're well-shod (it's easier to climb in sneakers or hiking boots).

At the top, you can gaze at the landscape for hours without tiring of it!

Other activities can also be combined with the discovery of the Dune du Pilat for even greater pleasure in our Slow Village in Biscarrosse. Paragliding and various microlight flights are available to discover the dune and the Arcachon basin from an original angle, if you're a thrill-seeker. You'll fly like a bird over these magnificent landscapes.

For the more "down-to-earth", you can stroll from the dune to the Corniche beach at the foot of the Pilat Dune, ideal for a picnic, snack or swimming session!

During your vacation, you can also use the cycle paths in the heart of the Landes forest, the famous pine forest that attracts so many tourists every year.