For businesses

Planning a company away day on the Opal Coast

An hour from Lille, two from Brussels, three from Paris — and nobody's looking at their phone with a cliff in front of them

1 to 3 days
10 to 200 people
Year-round
Free introduction

Planning a company away day on the Opal Coast?

Tell us the date, the number of people and the budget: we’ll put you in touch with a local organiser who knows how to make it happen. Free for you, no obligation.

Describe my projectA ready-written email · one reply, one point of contact

A work meeting in front of a bay window looking out over the coast

A good away day isn't the one with the biggest room. It's the one people come back from having spoken to someone they'd never have spoken to in the office — and for that you need somewhere that doesn't feel like the office.

The Opal Coast has three things going for it: it's close (an hour from Lille, two from Brussels, three from Paris by train), it's different from anything your team knows, and it stays cheaper than the usual away-day destinations.

What you can do here

A morning of work, an afternoon of sand yachtingThe most popular format. Sand yachting needs no experience, works for groups of twenty, and puts everyone on the same level within ten minutes — including the boss.
A walk along the two capesTwo hours on the clifftop path, in small groups that keep reshuffling as they walk. It's free, it can't be cancelled, and it's what people talk about afterwards.Find out more
An evening at NausicaáEurope's largest aquarium can be hired out for the evening. A closing event that leaves a mark, especially for client-facing away days.Find out more
An indoor team-building workshopAn escape room, a fish-based cookery class, a tasting of local beers. The plan that doesn't depend on the weather, and you need one.
A visit to the harbour or fish marketBoulogne is France's biggest fishing port. It's hands-on, it's early morning, and it's an unexpected way to open an away day.Find out more

Where to meet

Three types of venue, depending on the format. Seaside hotels — Le Touquet, Hardelot, Wimereux — combining meeting rooms, bedrooms and catering on site: the simplest option if you're coming from afar. Characterful venues: châteaux, converted farmhouses, heritage sites, for formats that want to stand out. And town-centre venues in Boulogne, Calais and Dunkirk, better served by train and cheaper.

The factor that decides it most often isn't the room, it's the number of bedrooms on site. Below forty people, anything is possible; above that, the choice narrows quickly.

When to come

September to June. July and August are peak tourist season: accommodation is booked up, prices rise, and activity providers are busy with families. An away day in October or March costs less and is easier to organise.

The best value is in November, January and February — as long as you're prepared for the weather, which is part of the place's character too.

Getting there by train

The Paris-Nord line serves Boulogne, Calais and Étaples–Le Touquet. For a group from Paris, it's often quicker and simpler than a coach, and it settles the question of the last train home.

What budget to plan for

Rough guides, not quotes: prices vary a lot depending on the season, group size and provider.

Study day (room, breaks, lunch): 45 à 90 € par personne
Night in a seaside hotel: 90 à 180 € par personne
Half-day team-building activity: 35 à 70 € par personne
Group dinner: 35 à 80 € par personne

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to use you?

Nothing. The introduction is free for you, and it's the organiser who pays us. You pay no more and no less than if you contacted them directly.

Do you organise it yourselves?

No, and that's deliberate. We know the area, not away-day logistics: we point you towards those whose job it is, and stick to what we're good at.

How much notice do I need?

Allow two to three months for a residential away day of more than thirty people, a month for a single study day. Under three weeks, the good venues are already taken, especially in spring.

What if the weather turns?

It will. A programme on this coast always has an indoor alternative for the outdoor activity: it's the first question to ask your organiser, and a good one will answer it before you ask.

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