Visiting the Opal Coast by campervan

The Pas-de-Calais's Opal Coast, in the north of France, is the ideal spot to bring the family. A coastline that takes in golden sandy beaches with plenty of activities, views over the Channel from the clifftops, rock pools worthy of the Jurassic era, castles, museums, farms and much more besides.

Why not explore this secret corner of France by campervan, to really discover the region's hidden gems, take in its magnificent panoramas and win over the whole family?

Why visit the Opal Coast by campervan?

If you're after a trip where adventure and outdoor exploration take centre stage, the Opal Coast by campervan is your best option. Plenty of spots are available, far further off the beaten track than a hotel in the centre of town, letting you get closer to and immerse yourself in the nature of the Opal Coast, and spend your stay away from the bustle of city life.

Days can be spent exploring the wildest side of the Opal Coast, evenings are for grilling barbecues at sunset, and nights for chatting under the twinkling stars. No wonder this experience is unforgettable.

And it doesn't stop there. The region offers visitors plenty of extras to enjoy: games rooms, swimming pools, playgrounds, picnic areas, arcades and restaurants are all there to make your stay even more pleasant. So chances are you'll discover plenty to keep the whole crew entertained once you settle into your comfortable campervan on the Opal Coast.

What to do on the Opal Coast?

There's plenty to do for adults, and even more to keep the kids busy. Start by louer un van aménagé à Lille to kick off your road trip.

With 80 kilometres of beaches, it's the ideal place to build a sandcastle or fly a kite, explore the rock pools and discover the region's history. The Opal Coast is where Julius Caesar launched his invasion of Britain.

There are numerous museums and memorials from the First and Second World Wars, castles, forts and historic buildings galore, so children can explore and discover history first-hand.

There's no shortage of beach activities either: sand yachting at Le Touquet, where the sport was born (Queen Elizabeth II took lessons there as a teenager), boat trips (Boulogne, Wimereux, Dunkirk), fishing trips, and why not horse or pony rides along the sand or through the dunes or seaside forests (Le Touquet and Hardelot)?

There are goat farms, ostrich farms and children's farms to visit, nature reserves and beautiful bays where you can watch seals dozing and spot seabirds flying noisily around them.

If the weather turns cool or damp, one of the region's top attractions is Nausicaá in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France's national sea centre and the largest aquarium in Europe. There's a seated, covered sea lion show, a meeting with the penguins in their Cousteau-designed enclosure, and a behind-the-scenes tour with the keepers.

You'll see thousands of fish, including turtles, a giant octopus and jellyfish, sharks, giant tortoises, caimans and a large touch pool where children can stroke a ray – it's the ideal way to spend a morning or afternoon.

The Opal Coast by campervan:

You're in for some lovely surprises as you drive your campervan along the Opal Coast, from the mouth of the Aa to Berck-Plage, north of the Somme bay.

Travel along the part of the coastline closest to England and explore the region's huge variety of landscapes: seascapes, wild dunes, wide beaches and dizzying cliffs.

Dunkirk:

East of Dunkirk, the town of the famous privateer Jean Bart, discover the Dunes de Flandre. This area has 15 km of beaches, 700 hectares of dunes and four seaside resorts: Dunkerque-Malo les Bains, Zuydcoote, Leffrinckoucke and Bray-Dunes, on the Belgian border.

Work up an appetite with a short hike on the Circuit des Dunes or a bike ride along the Route du Lin cycle path. Sample a few local culinary specialities such as potjevleesch or carbonade flamande, followed by a rhubarb tart or a nieulle biscuit, all washed down with a beer from the Nord.

Calais:

The next stop on your itinerary is Calais, an unmissable destination known for the famous episode of the Burghers of Calais during the Hundred Years' War. It's also a hub for anyone heading to Britain by ferry or by train through the tunnel.

Your campervan will be itching to take you to the famous cliffs of Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez, which form the nature reserve of the Grand Site des Deux Caps. The Blanc-Nez cliff, 134 metres high, gives you an incredible panoramic view over the white cliffs of Dover, as well as the Strait of Dover and its busy shipping traffic. As long as you're not afraid of heights, you can even spend the night in your campervan overlooking these breathtaking panoramas.

Make a quick stop in Wissant, a charming town tucked between the two capes. Continuing along the coast between Ambleteuse and Wimereux, you'll enter the Dunes de la Slack area, part of Natura 2000, a network of exceptional nature sites. Then comes Boulogne-sur-Mer, France's biggest fishing port. Visit the fish market to learn all about fishing, or buy fresh fish to cook in your van.

Touquet-Paris-Plage:

Continue the road trip towards Touquet-Paris-Plage, with a quick stop in Hardelot-Plage. Like most of the Opal Coast's seaside resorts, you can enjoy all your favourite seaside sports there: kitesurfing, windsurfing, sand yachting and more.

Touquet-Paris-Plage is known as the jewel of the Opal Coast. This popular destination will welcome you with open arms. Soak up the very distinctive atmosphere of this upmarket seaside resort, with its luxury boutiques, Anglo-Norman villas, wide beaches, numerous bars and its golf course tucked between the pine forest and the dunes. Le Touquet hosts major sporting events such as the Enduropale, the Rallye du Touquet, the Touquet Bike and Run, and more. A little further on, the international kite festival is held every year in Berck.