Activities and leisure
Activities & leisure pursuits
for you to discover in the Arcachon Basin
Just 5 minutes away from the oyster-farming villages of the Arcachon Basin, Aqualand and Magdeleine lake
The oyster farming village of La Teste is the nearest one, but it is also very easy to tour the Basin and find more of these stunningly enchanting villages. There are also Gujan-Mestras (where there is an oyster museum), l'Herbe, le Canon, Piraillan, Grand and Petit-Piquey, Audenge, Biganos and so on.
At Gujan-Mestras, you also have the water park Aqualand, stretching over 8 hectares (20 acres), where the attractions are water in all its forms. Another attraction very close to Quality Suites® & Spa Arcachon is Magdeleine Lake, a unique place in the middle of a pine forest with a casino (slot machines, poker and so on), a bowling alley, discothèque and games areas.
+ find out about the town of Arcachon
15 minutes from Arcachon town centre and the casino
The winter town, as it is known, has a remarkable ensemble of vast and sumptuous bourgeois villas cradled in luxuriant vegetation. Just a step or two from the sea front, the casino is set within the sumptuous Château Deganne. Open-air concerts and shows are given there in summer.
Bird island
Located in the centre of the Basin, this paradise is home to about 300 species of bird and the two emblematic wooden huts on stilts -the symbol of the Arcachon basin.
10 minutes from the Pilat sand dune
Just 7 kilometres from Quality Suites® & Spa Arcachon, stands Europe's highest sand dune, which reaches 100 metres at its highest point. Over a million people come every year to climb to the top, either via the stairs or, for the more adventurous, up the sand dune itself.
From the top you can enjoy an amazing panoramic view of the forest, dune and ocean below and observe the shifting of the dune towards the east caused by complex play between sand, winds and tides.
The Arguin sandbank
Located between Cap-Ferret and the Pilat sand dune, this massive sandbank shifts constantly to the rhythm of the sea currents and tides.
Come and spend the day here in summer,-you'll easily believe you are on an island in the Caribbean.
Teich bird reserve
Use a canoe or a sea kayak to explore differently the Leyre delta and observe the thousands of birds nesting there.
5 minutes from the hotel: Gujan-Mestras golf course (18 holes)
Golfers can enjoy not only a magnificent course but also the very friendly atmosphere of the club. Inspired by the courses in Florida, the layout blends harmoniously with the landscape combining pine woods and lakes with bunkers of white sand. The refurbished club-house has a terrace offering a panoramic view of 80 hectares (almost 200 acres) of pines.15 minutes from the hotel: Arcachon international golf club (18 holes)
Bordered by trees typical of the Arcachon region (maritime pines, mimosas, oaks and strawberry trees), the Arcachon international golf course is one of rolling hills for the first 9 holes of the course, followed by flatter terrain over the final 9 in which there are several water obstacles. Over the whole 18-hole course (5,820 metres, par 72) inexperienced and advanced golfers alike can take advantage of this carefully maintained natural setting and achieve their best scores.30 minutes from the hotel: Biscarrosse golf club (18 holes)
Fancy a more challenging course? Come to Biscarrosse then! Both the 18-hole and the 9-hole courses have been set in the middle of the Landes forest on the Atlantic coast. The challenging layout of the 18-hole course takes you close to sand dunes, while the fairways are narrow and rugged, requiring careful shot preparation if it is your first visit to the course.Once you've completed that first round however, you'll be eager to get back for a second one!
