Overview

Plage des Dunes is the main kitesurf spot at Les Sables d'Olonne, on the Vendée Atlantic coast. A 300m wide designated kite zone with a technical area on the beach. No rocks — sandy bottom throughout. Significant wave and lateral current at the water's edge. The zone is free and unorganised off-season, officially buoyed in July and August. At high tide the beach narrows significantly — prefer low tide for launching. Access via the marked path, 200m walk from the car park (2m height barrier). FFVL-labelled spot.

Suggest an edit

Spot forecast for Plage des dunes | Sables d'Olonnes

Sunrise 08:32 · Sunset 19:12

Open-Meteo

Premium weather models. Get the professional models (ECMWF, GFS, ICON, MeteoSwiss…) and a 16-day forecast. Without a subscription: Open-Meteo over 5 days.

Go Premium

< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Swell and waves

Swell and tides over 8 days. Premium members see the swell and tides over 8 days. Without a subscription: 5 days.

Go Premium

Wave height: < 0.5 m 0.5–1 m 1–2 m 2–3 m ≥ 3 m

Swell data by Open-Meteo Marine

Tides

Heights above lowest astronomical tide, in the spot's local time. Computed 4.5 km from the spot.

Tuesday 20 October High tide 00:26 · 3.3 m Low tide 06:48 · 2.1 m High tide 12:58 · 3.6 m Low tide 19:33 · 1.9 m
Wednesday 21 October High tide 01:46 · 3.5 m Low tide 07:54 · 1.9 m High tide 14:02 · 3.8 m Low tide 20:27 · 1.6 m
Thursday 22 October High tide 02:37 · 3.8 m Low tide 08:43 · 1.6 m High tide 14:48 · 4.1 m Low tide 21:10 · 1.3 m
Friday 23 October High tide 03:15 · 4.1 m Low tide 09:24 · 1.3 m High tide 15:26 · 4.4 m Low tide 21:47 · 1 m
Saturday 24 October High tide 03:51 · 4.4 m Low tide 10:02 · 1 m High tide 16:03 · 4.6 m Low tide 22:23 · 0.7 m

Plage des dunes | Sables d'Olonnes: when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

311h

in June · 27.5 rideable days

The season runs from April to September, peaking in June: 25 rideable days a month and 311 hours of usable wind, at 20 °C. The low point is December, at 15 days.

Kiting is forbidden here from 9h to 19h, between 01/07 and 31/08. Haute saison : baigneurs et plagistes présents dans la zone — respecter la distance de sécurité. Zone technique à dégager avec courtoisie.

Rideable days per month

Month with time restrictions

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 55%13-20 knots · 37%21-30 knots · 7%31+ knots · 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 55% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 9 °C. The wettest month is January, with 93 mm.

Monthly averages: Plage des dunes | Sables d'Olonnes

Monthly averages — Plage des dunes | Sables d'Olonnes — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	18.0	159 h	9 °C	93 mm
February	17.0	177 h	11 °C	77 mm
March	19.5	176 h	13 °C	58 mm
April	22.5	236 h	16 °C	38 mm
May	25.5	308 h	18 °C	50 mm
June	27.5	311 h	21 °C	12 mm
July hours	27.5	330 h	21 °C	20 mm
August hours	27.0	258 h	22 °C	15 mm
September	22.0	233 h	19 °C	77 mm
October	17.5	169 h	18 °C	78 mm
November	18.0	162 h	14 °C	73 mm
December	15.0	132 h	10 °C	43 mm

Photo gallery of Plage des dunes | Sables d'Olonnes

This spot is waiting for its first images

Ridden here? One photo or video, and the spot comes alive for everyone discovering it.

Technical details of Plage des dunes | Sables d'Olonnes spot

The spot works with winds from N, SSE, S, SSW, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW, NNW.

Rideable Not rideable

Local association recommendations

FFVL certified spot

Spot functioning

Access to Plage des Dunes 2. Car park with 2m height barrier — park alongside the road if needed. Access to the beach and kite zone via the marked path, approximately 200m walk — zone is on the left. At high tide there is no space to launch — always favour low tide. Zone is 300m wide with a matching 300m technical area on the beach. In summer, politely ask beachgoers to clear the technical zone — this generally works well.

Spot opening date · Required level

Spot opening date: Open all year round
Open year-round. Kite zone marked with buoys July-August. No access restrictions out of season. Best season May to October. North to northwest sea breeze typical in summer afternoons.
Required level: Intermediate

On the water

Atlantic beach with waves and a lateral current at the water's edge — not a flat water spot. Sandy bottom, no rocks. Moderate swell in westerly conditions. Tidal range significant — the beach is wide at low tide and very narrow at high tide. Best sessions at low to mid-tide.

Wind specificities

Northwest sea breeze is the signature wind — arrives side-on starboard, clean and reliable in summer afternoons. North-northwest and south-southeast also work well. South and southwest provide wave conditions. The wide Atlantic fetch gives powerful and consistent wind. Summer thermal cycle builds from midday.

Hazards

Sand fences protecting the dune at the top of the beach. In summer, beachgoers and swimmers don't always respect the designated area. Ask them courteously to move away from the launch and riding area. Things usually go well in this area.

Something out of date? Suggest an edit