Continent |
Europe |
Country |
France |
Next Big City |
Marseille |
Next Town |
Beauduc, Salin-de-Giraud |
|
Type: |
Ocean |
Rider Ability: |
Beginner, Intermediate, Expert |
Features: |
Food, Parking |
Water
Type: |
Shallow, Chop, Small wave |
Hazards: |
No information |
Quality: |
Clean |
Best Tide: |
Tide independent |
Typical Mediterranean, not too much waves. Fairly shallow, but does get over about six feet after about 100m off the beach. The Mediterranean doesn't have tides.
Beach
Type: |
Sand |
Size: |
Big |
Hazards: |
Bystanders, Cars |
Beach Users: |
No information |
The beach is huge, really huge. It's hard sand, you can drive to the water with your car. Best is a 4x4 to drive on the beach, if you get stuck, not many people around, since it's in the middle of nowhere. Long sandy beach in a U-shaped bay, no structures or anything located along the beach, except for cars and people.
Weather
Spring:
|
Shorty, Normal |
Summer:
|
Shorts |
Fall:
|
Shorty, Normal |
Winter:
|
Normal, Thick |
Nice and warm during summer, can be a bit cold during winter.
Wind
Best Months: |
April, May, June, July, August, September, October |
Wind Type: |
Thermal |
Best Direction: |
S, SW, W, WNW, NW |
Main Direction: |
N, SE, NW, NNW |
If the mistral blows it's perfect here, you can't surf anywhere else but here. It's in a salt digging area. And everywhere it's flat. That makes the wind really good. Quite variable, but usually quite consistent, not too gusty. Best period for the wind: mid June to mid July: around 15 knots. The only offshore wind is East, for all other directions, you can find a place to ride (it's a closed, U-shaped bay). Beauduc is the place where the North wind blows the most, and 40 kts are quite normal.
How to get there
Transport |
Car |
Access
|
No walk |
The nearest airport is Marseille. But you do need a car (1-1.5 hrs) because there is no bus or similar to Beauduc. If you draw a line between Marseille and Le Grande Motte, Beauduc is exactly in the middle. If you have a detailed map you will see it. You have to drive over a sand road, they aren't even on the map! Only the place Beauduc is given. Follow signs from Paris or Marseille to Arles, then follow signs to Camargue, following to town of Salins-de-Giraud. Unless you have a big 4x4, it takes about 1hr to drive to the town because the road is so bad. Only accessible for cars not wider than 2m.
Extra information
It's in the middle of nowhere. Just take enough food and drinks with you because there is only a little snack bar in the summer season. Warning: you can't call with your cell phone, no service. Beauduc is a natural reserve. Camping is forbidden in the sand dunes. You can place your tents on the flat part of the beach, though. Not as good for wind protection, but much better for preserving this nature reserve.
Nightlife