Coastal europe
Great breaks
The surfing capital of Europe, Aquitaine, has a coastline stretching for hundreds of miles, names like Biarritz, Hossegor and Lacanau attracting surf-envy from the rest of Europe. This area of south-west France plays host to regular World Pro surfing events, and has a vista of ocean, lakes and pine forests for all to enjoy.Alternative Aquitaine offers ideal packages for those who want waves with their holiday, an example of which is the classy Les Grandes Vagues five-bedroom beach apartment, just 50m from the beach at Hossegor. There is room for surfboard storage and pro surfing tutors are on hand to offer help, should you need it. Weekly prices for 2007 start from £950.
www.alternative-aquitaine.co.uk
Up for a Challenge?
Sunsail, provider of top-class watersports holidays around the world, has introduced a series of new events at its Mediterranean clubs – Vounaki (Greece) Marverde, Perili and Phokaia (all Turkey).For sailors, the Laser (dinghy) Speed Challenge involves learning to use a speed-measuring GPS, then hitting the water in an attempt to reach the highest speed, recorded on a Top Gun-style leader board. Winners receive a T-shirt, a mention on the Sunsail website, and a chance to compete in the end-of-season speed challenge event in Weymouth for a Sunsail holiday, a weekend’s sailing tuition at Sail Laser.
www.sunsail.co.uk
St Tropez rocks
If you enjoy your water holidays with a bit of variety, then coasteering could be the activity for you. And where better to give it a go than on the Cote D’Azur in the South of France. Adventure Sports Holidays offers a full range of ‘extreme’ activity holidays around Europe, one of which is set in St Tropez where you will tackle the coast round Cap Camarat to L’Escalet beach. It’s not for the faint-hearted, as there are various rock traverses to manoeuvre and climb, although you can take a dip in the sea if it gets too hot. The setting boasts palm trees, vineyards and a clear blue sea in which you can swim or snorkel and the price starts at £329 per person, including accommodation, activities, equipment and tuition.
www.adventuresportsholidays.com
Love for sail
If you want to brush up on your sailing skills, then one of the best outlets for this is Minorca Sailing. The centre, located on the Mediterranean island of Minorca, is one of the best equipped in Europe, offering accommodation, tuition and equipment for both sailing and windsurfing.Learner classes take place in relatively shallow waters, while the advanced courses cover everything you could need to know, teaching you about sailing techniques and racing tactics. Prices vary as there are five different types of accommodation that you can stay in. For example, in the middle of July for a Group E apartment is £1,233.
www.minorcasailing.co.uk
Portugal is kite good
Estoril, 26km west of Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, boasts a spectacular coastline with numerous excellent beaches and has emerged as a world-class watersports destination. Superb facilities exist in the area for kite surfing, surfing, windsurfing, bodyboarding, water skiing and all types of sailing, and events hosted this year include the World Sailing Championships (28 June - 13 July) and the Guincho Wave Masters (1-9 September), a leg of the Kiteboard Pro World Tour.Mundi Color Holidays (www.mundicolor.co.uk) offers 5-star breaks in Estoril close to Guincho beach, with lessons and equipment hire available. Prices start at £429 per person for three nights and £721 for seven nights.
www.visitportugal.com
The surfing capital of Europe, Aquitaine, has a coastline stretching for hundreds of miles, names like Biarritz, Hossegor and Lacanau attracting surf-envy from the rest of Europe. This area of south-west France plays host to regular World Pro surfing events, and has a vista of ocean, lakes and pine forests for all to enjoy.Alternative Aquitaine offers ideal packages for those who want waves with their holiday, an example of which is the classy Les Grandes Vagues five-bedroom beach apartment, just 50m from the beach at Hossegor. There is room for surfboard storage and pro surfing tutors are on hand to offer help, should you need it. Weekly prices for 2007 start from £950.
www.alternative-aquitaine.co.uk
Up for a Challenge?
Sunsail, provider of top-class watersports holidays around the world, has introduced a series of new events at its Mediterranean clubs – Vounaki (Greece) Marverde, Perili and Phokaia (all Turkey).For sailors, the Laser (dinghy) Speed Challenge involves learning to use a speed-measuring GPS, then hitting the water in an attempt to reach the highest speed, recorded on a Top Gun-style leader board. Winners receive a T-shirt, a mention on the Sunsail website, and a chance to compete in the end-of-season speed challenge event in Weymouth for a Sunsail holiday, a weekend’s sailing tuition at Sail Laser.
www.sunsail.co.uk
St Tropez rocks
If you enjoy your water holidays with a bit of variety, then coasteering could be the activity for you. And where better to give it a go than on the Cote D’Azur in the South of France. Adventure Sports Holidays offers a full range of ‘extreme’ activity holidays around Europe, one of which is set in St Tropez where you will tackle the coast round Cap Camarat to L’Escalet beach. It’s not for the faint-hearted, as there are various rock traverses to manoeuvre and climb, although you can take a dip in the sea if it gets too hot. The setting boasts palm trees, vineyards and a clear blue sea in which you can swim or snorkel and the price starts at £329 per person, including accommodation, activities, equipment and tuition.
www.adventuresportsholidays.com
Love for sail
If you want to brush up on your sailing skills, then one of the best outlets for this is Minorca Sailing. The centre, located on the Mediterranean island of Minorca, is one of the best equipped in Europe, offering accommodation, tuition and equipment for both sailing and windsurfing.Learner classes take place in relatively shallow waters, while the advanced courses cover everything you could need to know, teaching you about sailing techniques and racing tactics. Prices vary as there are five different types of accommodation that you can stay in. For example, in the middle of July for a Group E apartment is £1,233.
www.minorcasailing.co.uk
Portugal is kite good
Estoril, 26km west of Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, boasts a spectacular coastline with numerous excellent beaches and has emerged as a world-class watersports destination. Superb facilities exist in the area for kite surfing, surfing, windsurfing, bodyboarding, water skiing and all types of sailing, and events hosted this year include the World Sailing Championships (28 June - 13 July) and the Guincho Wave Masters (1-9 September), a leg of the Kiteboard Pro World Tour.Mundi Color Holidays (www.mundicolor.co.uk) offers 5-star breaks in Estoril close to Guincho beach, with lessons and equipment hire available. Prices start at £429 per person for three nights and £721 for seven nights.
www.visitportugal.com
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