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

Rules
None

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

No information