Make the most of your vacation at **** Ker Helen to discover the hidden side of the Bassin d’Arcachon on a great trip aboard a pinasse! A new way of discovering or rediscovering all the nooks and crannies of the basin and the Cap Ferret peninsula from the sea!
The pinasse, Arcachon’s flagship boat
The pinasse, also known as the pinassote, is the iconic boat of the Bay of Arcachon. As early as the 16th century, this traditional flat-bottomed craft was used for fishing and oyster farming. In the mid-19th century, pinasse cruises became a real tourist activity for sailors, who took the first tourists on holiday along the coast of the Buch region.
The program for your pinnace trip
Departing from Cap Ferret (Grand Piquey, Le Canon…) or Arcachon (marina, Le Moulleau…), sail through sandbanks and small channels. You’ll discover the oyster beds, traditional villages, pretty beaches and villas of the Cap Ferret peninsula. For each excursion, the captain, never stingy with stories and anecdotes, offers you an à la carte program. Depending on the itinerary you choose, you can stop off at Île aux oiseaux, famous for its cabanes tchanquées, explore the Leyre river delta, or sail with or without a stopover around the Dune du Pilat and Banc d’Arguin. Escape guaranteed! To make your excursion even more enjoyable, you can opt for an oyster tasting accompanied by a small glass of white wine on board the pinasse, stop off at the terrace of an authentic oyster-farming hut or have lunch on a sandbank in the Banc d’Arguin Nature Reserve. Whether with family, friends or loved ones, this is an experience that will remain a highlight of your camping holiday in the Arcachon Basin!
Good to know
If you have a boating license, you can hire a pinasse (for up to 12 people) for a few hours, half a day or a whole day. But be warned: sailing solo on the Arcachon Basin is not all rest and relaxation, but it’s so much more exhilarating!
photo : Tourisme en Gironde