A complete guide to surfing in Seignosse
With the legendary spots of Les Estagnots, Le Penon, Les Bourdaines and Les Casernes in the line-up, Seignosse has some of the best beach-break surfing on the planet. This stretch of sand has something for everyone, whether you’re a shortboarder looking for fast, hollow wave or a longboarder after a more mellow ride. And, with its vibrant surf culture, excellent surf instructors, and consistent surf conditions, Seignosse is an ideal destination for both beginners and experienced surfers looking to improve their surfing.
LESSONS | SURF SEASON | SURF FORECAST | SPOT GUIDE | ACCOMMODATION | GALLERY
Watch this: Surf In Landes: Who Said Winter Was Over – Seignosse, May 2024
Despite being one continuous stretch of sand, each break offers its own distinct set of surfing conditions. Winter storms batter the coast from January to April, redistributing the sandbars for the summer season ahead. Each break keeps its fundamental traits though; Le Penon entertains with its fun shorebreak, Les Bourdaines is a more shallow take-off with peaks up and down the beach and Les Estagnots is a fast, hollow wave that can hold shape to well over head high.
Surf Lessons in Seignosse
Seignosse offers excellent conditions for surfers of all skill levels, with lessons available for a safe and enjoyable learning experience. Professional instructors will guide you through the essentials of paddling, standing up, riding waves, and progressing to more advanced techniques as you improve. Lessons typically include equipment rental and can be booked as private sessions or group classes. With its reliable waves and vibrant surfing community, Seignosse is an ideal spot to learn and improve your surfing.
Eric Lafargue from Hossegor Surf Coaching, a qualified surf coach since 2002, offers lessons in Seignosse, Hossegor, and Capbreton. Eric is French, but he speaks English and German so there’s no language barrier on your way to ripping up the waves.
Book your lesson with Hossegor Surf Coaching for a fun and memorable surfing experience.
The Best Time of Year to go Surfing in Seignosse
Seignosse offers consistent surf year-round with seasonal variations. Generally, you can expect the following seasonal conditions:
- Spring: Moderate waves suitable for all levels, with warming water starting in April.
- Summer: Warm water and smaller waves, ideal for beginners, though peak spots can be crowded.
- Autumn: Optimal surf conditions with the best swells, fewer crowds, and warm water.
- Winter: Large waves for experienced surfers, requiring good paddle fitness, with colder water.
July and August may have smaller waves and the line-up can get crowded, but you’ll still have fun and it’s great for beginners. Summer evening sessions at Le Penon are some of my most memorable. May, June, September, and October are excellent times for a surf trip, with warm water and good waves. Winter in Seignosse requires you to be paddle fit as the water moves around a lot more and the surfing is more demanding. If you do have the fitness and skill level, winter offers the potential for incredible waves.
Seignosse Surf Forecast
Seignosse, Les Bourdaines surf forecast – surf report and surfing conditions for the next 3 days with swell components including wave height, wave direction and wave period, wind direction and weather forecast.
Seignosse surf forecast courtesy of surf-forecast.com.
Seignosse Surf Spots
Kevin’s take
Former ASP pro surfer Kevin Olsen gives us his take on Hossegor’s surf spots.
1. Casernes
Spot type: Beachbreak. Offshore wind: Easterly. Bottom type: Sand. Best tide: Mid
Wave size: 0.5 to 2.5 m. Swell direction: West, North Lat Long: 43.723639, -1.430379.
Sunset surf session in Seignosse | © Flickr – BlackSpeed1
Les Casernes is an exposed beachbreak that doesn’t work that consistently well. What’s more, it’s a 10 minute hike from the car park to the top of the dune, so you can’t just have a quick check of the conditions the way you can at Les Bourdaines and Les Estagnots. You can surf here all year round and it’s super quiet in winter when the campsite is closed. The spot works best at mid-tide in a northwesterly swell and straight easterly wind, but you can get a wave at any tide, just watch out for unforgiving currents in spring. It’s quite a well respected surf spot and can get busy in summer, but you can always walk up the beach and get a peak to yourself.
Kevin’s take:
Great spot in summer and the beach is endless sandbank after sandbank. When the banks are good, the waves can be world class and the spot works best when its around 1 metre swells and a low period. Works best on both tides. Get there early and avoid the weird blokes walking naked on the beach trying to befriend you.
2. Le Penon
Spot type: Peaky Beachbreak. Offshore wind: Easterly. Bottom type: Sand. Best tide: All.
Wave size: 0.3 to 2.4 m. Swell direction: West, North Lat Long: 43.709221, -1.434320.
Mick Fanning surfing in Le Penon, Seignosse | © Ultimate France
Le Penon is an outstanding beach break. The quality of the surf varies with the swell and the banks, but you can get nice waves here all year round. A light easterly wind combined with a westerly swell provides the perfect off-shore conditions. There are always a few surfable peaks up and down the beach with both lefts and rights. Often in summer, within a couple of hundred metres there’ll be a nice longboarder’s wave out back and a fast and fun little wave breaking right on the beach. Mid tide is best but you can surf at low and high tides if there’s enough swell. As with everywhere in Seignosse, you need to be wary of the powerful rips.
Kevin’s take:
One of my favourite spots in Seignosse with some of the longest ridable waves in town. All year round this is the most consistent and perfect wave with some heavy sections when the swell is good. I’ve had some of my best barrels here for the past 10 years. Very reliable and consistent. In the winter and summer ‘Le Penon’ and to the south of the skatepark can be amazing when the sandbars are lined up. When the surf’s small, you’ll get a perfectlong-boarding wave and easy surfing. Works best on the lower tides. Can be an easy paddle out, but be wary of the shorebreak.
3. Les Bourdaines
Spot type: Beachbreak. Offshore wind: Easterly. Bottom type: Sand. Best tide: Mid
Wave size: 0.5 to 2.5 m. Swell direction: West, North Lat Long: 43.697970, -1.437947.
John John Florence surfing in Seignosse | © Flickr – Wanaku
When you talk about surfing in Seignosse, you really have to put Les Bourdaines on a pedestal. The spot consistently gets world-class waves with lefts and rights popping off up and down the beach. With a westerly swell and an easterly wind you can get unreal glassy conditions. The ever-shifting sandbanks make it difficult to predict where the peak will be, but as general rule, the southern end of the beach is more mellow with a shallower drop-in, whereas at the northern end the waves are hollower and you can even get barrelled. When it’s working well, Les Bourdaines can get super crowded. With the often heavy shorebreak and strong currents, it’s not the best spot for learning, although some Seignosse surf schools do provide lessons here in the summer months.
Kevin’s take:
Les Bourdaines is always great in summer and everyone’s favorite summer beachie. Some of the best and most ripable waves and it works in all conditions. I used to have a surf school here (years ago) and we never had to leave or move to another location, because Bourdaines is a wave that works on the inside with the high tide or you can paddle out to the lower tide banks and surf alone. Works best on the mid to high tide and if the inside sandbar lines up expect perfect beach break barrels spitting onto dry sand. And hot babes on the beach too. Many surf schools so expect the crowds of all types.
4. Les Estagnots
Spot type: Beachbreak. Offshore wind: Easterly. Bottom type: Sand. Best tide: Mid
Wave size: 0.5 to 2.5 m. Swell direction: West, North Lat Long: 43.686346, -1.438828.
Gabriel Medina surfing in les Estagnots, Seignosse © Flickr – chde.eu
Les Estagnots is undoubtedly Seignosse’s most famous surf spot. This beach break continues to hold up huge rideable waves when everywhere else in Seignosse is maxed out. You can get good waves here at any time of the year and it works best in an easterly off-shore wind with a westerly swell direction. You’ll find quality A-frame peaks with as many lefts as rights and at high tide the spot can produce fast hollow barrels. When it’s working, it can get ridiculously crowded and you have to compete for waves with over-enthusiastic locals. Les Estagnots is often used for the Quiksilver Pro France event held in early October, which sees the best surfers in the world compete as part of the WSL pro tour.
Kevin’s take:
Possibly the best wave in France when the surf gets in the 2-3 m range and world class rides can be had when the best surfers in town use the jet ski and tow-in. Perfect barrel ride and another favorite spot. If you can’t ride the bigger stuff then in summer Les Estagnots is just the perfect spot for everyone. Had some of my best waves of my life here and expect the barrels of your life when the swell is good and the wind is blowing off-shore. Works in all the conditions though. When it’s small, it’s great for long-boarding and when it’s big you’ll see some life changing waves like never before. Now go surfing!
Places to stay
There’s lots of good accommodation for surfers close to the beach in Seignosse.
You’ll find everything from surf camps near the beach to campsites in the forest and boutique hotels to private apartments to rent. A stay at a surf camp is a great way to discover Seignosse’s beaches, learn to surf, have fun and meet new like-minded people. Here’s a selection of our favourite places to stay in Seignosse:
Les Maritimes
From 110 € per night
Les Maritimes in Seignosse, located 2.2 km from Les Casernes beach, offers family-friendly accommodation with a garden, bar, kids’ club, restaurant, free parking, and WiFi. Each unit features a terrace, fully equipped kitchen, dining and seating areas, flat-screen TV, and private bathroom. The campground includes wellness facilities, indoor and outdoor pools, yoga classes, a children’s playground, and bike hire. Penon Beach is 2.8 km away.
Hejmo Hostel
From 86 € per night
Hejmo Surf Hostel in Hossegor offers a blend of comfort and community, featuring private and shared rooms, a coworking space with high-speed internet, and a self-service kitchen. Guests can enjoy a heated pool, large garden, bike and surfboard rentals, and a bar-restaurant with rooftop and forest views. The hostel provides wellness activities like yoga and boasts a vibrant social atmosphere, making it ideal for surfers, remote workers, and travellers seeking both relaxation and adventure.
[booking_product_helper shortname=”seignosse”]
#seignosse Instagram Photos
Please leave a comment below if you need specific advice for your surf trip to Seignosse, or if you have any recommendations to help us improve this guide. Happy holidays!
