Tour of the Arcachon Basin

If you arrive early in Arcachon, you can park on the boulevard along the beach to the left of the pier, Jetée Thiers, or in the Jetée d'Eyrac car park 500 metres to the right.

(S/E) From the pier, take the road along the beach to the left of the pier to the Jetée d'Eyrac roundabout and continue straight on to the entrance to the cycle path.

(1) Follow this wooden path to the Port of Arcachon, continue along it, then straight ahead past the Market to arrive at the Port du Mouëng.

(2) Continue straight ahead, then take the first left onto Boulevard du Général Chanzy. Follow the boulevard to 10/12, then turn right onto Rue Michelet. Follow it to the large Boulevard Mestrezat.

(3) Cross the boulevard and take it on the left, go through a roundabout and continue straight ahead until you reach another roundabout.

(4) Go around the roundabout and cut between the^2nd and^3rd exits to take a road on the right. After 100 metres, turn left, then after 50 metres turn right and stay on the left until you reach Avenue du Général Leclerc (D650).

(5) Turn left and follow this avenue until you reach a roundabout. Take the^third exit (left) towards Port de la Teste. Keep left and drive along the port until you reach the^second street. Turn right onto Allée des Cordiers and continue straight ahead until you reach a path.

(6) Follow this path bordering the salt marshes of the Grand Large to the maritime and oyster port of Le Rocher. Continue straight ahead and pass the oyster beds.

(7) Turn right onto Chemin de la Peguilleyre, then turn left at the retirement home and take the first right onto Rue Lesca. Continue straight ahead on this street until you reach the railway line.
Cross the tracks to reach Avenue de Lattre de Tassigny and turn left towards La Hume for 350 metres. Just before the station car park, take the path on the left that runs alongside the railway line. Follow this path, pass under the railway line and join Rue du Port.

(8) Turn left, then take the^first right and walk along the Port de la Hume to the harbour master's office. Turn right, then immediately left. After 50 metres, at the end of the car park, turn left and head towards the beach. Turn right along the houses and continue along the path running alongside La Hume beach and the campsite until you reach the Impasse des Marées roundabout. Continue straight on until you reach Port de Meyran.

(9) Turn right onto Allée des Prés Salés and continue straight on until you reach the railway line. Turn left onto the cycle path between the road and the railway line. Follow this path, passing Port Lamajour and Port de Gujan, until you reach the Maison de l'Hume.

(10) Take the path on the left just before Maison de l'Hume, go around the basin and follow the waterfront to Port de Larros. Pass the port and continue straight on to Port du Canal. Turn right then left at Port de la Barbotière. Turn right to join Rue de la Barbotière. Turn left and continue straight on, passing the Lycée de la Mer school, to Port de la Molle, then continue straight on to the end of Avenue Tabarly.

(11) Take the path on the left and, after 100 m, take the cycle path on the right. Turn left at the end of the cycle path. Keep to the right and continue along the coastline and the Teich Ornithological Park. Follow this path, which leaves the coastline and runs alongside the Eyre river to the Port du Teich car park.

(12) Pass the park entrance and continue straight ahead along the harbour basin. At the end of the basin, continue straight ahead along the lagoon beach until you reach the Pont Neuf road. Turn right and continue along this road, passing a riding centre and continuing to a three-way junction at the entrance to the village. Turn left for 100 metres until you reach Rue du Stade, then turn left again and pass in front of the stadium. Continue along this street, which ends in a cycle path, until you reach the roundabout on Avenue de la Côte d'Argent.
Turn left and continue along the cycle path alongside the avenue until you reach the Relais Nature du Delta de l'Eyre.

(13) Continue along the cycle path along the avenue, pass the water treatment plant and continue for another 100 metres.

(14) Leave the cycle path. Turn left at the entrance to: then, after 50 m, take a path on the left leading into the forest. Pass under a high-voltage power line, keep right at the^first crossroads and continue along this path, keeping to the left until you reach Rue du Professeur Lande.
Turn left and continue along this street, which leads to the Port of Biganos. 150 m from the port, turn right and continue along Rue du Port until you reach the junction with Chemin du Bruillau.

(15) Leave Rue du Port and take the path on the left. Continue straight ahead until you reach Rue Marcel Pagnol. Turn left, continue to the end of the street and you will come to a path. Continue along this path, keeping straight ahead until you reach Rue du Chemin de la Hite.

(16) Continue straight on Chemin de la Hite, cross the Craste de Tagon and keep to the left. Pass Comprian and continue straight on towards Port des Tuiles. Before the port, turn right and continue on this road until you reach Rue de Comprian. Turn left and continue straight on this street until you reach Avenue du Vieux Bourg leading to Audange. Turn left onto the avenue and continue to the roundabout at the retirement home. Take the first right for 300 metres until you reach the cycle path that connects Biganos to Lège-Cap Ferret.

(17) Turn left onto the cycle path, pass Lanton, Anderno-les-Bians, then Arès and Lège.

(18) At the exit of Lège-Cap-Ferret, the cycle path splits in two: to the right towards the coast (Claouey, Les Jacquets), to the left towards the Lège-et-Garonne national forest.
Take the cycle path on the left and after 500 m keep left. Continue on this cycle path, pass under a high-voltage power line, continue straight ahead and cross the^GR®8.

(19) Continue straight ahead to join the cycle path coming from Porge and Lacanau.
Turn left and continue straight ahead on this cycle path until you cross the cycle path coming from Claouey.

(20) Continue straight ahead on the cycle path until you cross the cycle path coming from Petit Piquey.

(21) Keep right and continue on the cycle path. Pass close to the Maison Forestière du Truc Vert, cross the Truc Vert forest road at the campsite and continue until you cross the cycle path coming from Canon.

(22) Continue straight ahead until you cross Avenue de Bordeaux coming from L'Herbe. Cross the road and continue along the cycle path alongside the cemetery.

(23) At the end of the path, at the entrance to Cap Ferret, take the path on the right. Continue along this path for 300 metres, then turn right onto a street that will take you to Avenue des Lauriers. After 400 metres, this avenue leads to Avenue de l'Océan Cap Ferret. Follow this avenue to the left and continue straight on to the beach and the Jetée Bélisaire pier.

(24) Take the ferry (see timetable) which will take you back to Arcachon in 30 minutes (S/E).

The return journey from Cap Ferret to Arcachon is by shuttle bus (price: €13.50/person with bicycle)

(E) Boarding at Cap Ferret - Bélisaire Pier Times: 7 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.
(S) Disembarkation after a 30-minute crossing in Arcachon - Jetée Thiers

Given the distance and often high temperatures, it is best to set off early and take plenty of water with you.