The ‘breathtaking’ European beach that looks like the middle of the desert – and it’s less than 2 hours from the UK
A BEACH in a popular European holiday destination has been compared to the middle of the desert – with its huge dunes offering amazing views for miles around.
Some people think that a long-haul flight is required to see some of the world’s most exotic places, but there are some much closer to home.
Just an hour and 40 minutes from the UK is Bordeaux in France, which is close to the biggest sand dune in Europe, La Dune du Pilat.
The dune towers high over a unique landscape and offers panoramic views of both the ocean and a forest, as well as desert-like vistas across the sand.
One person who captured its beauty well was Tiktoker Romi Nouu (@romi_nouu) who visited during a particularly picturesque sunset.
Her video shows the view out to sea from the top of the 360ft dune, as well as some of the views across the nearby forest.
She described the dune simply as the “best place”.
Photo bloggers EyeEm compared the site to being in the middle of the desert, saying: “It might seem strange to visit a sand dune, but this one – 60 km from Bordeaux – is the tallest one in Europe.
“Try not to feel like you are in the desert when you stand on it.”
The nearby beach, Arcachon Bay, is also worth a visit on its own, without the impressive dune standing behind it.
The small inland sea is open to the ocean and known for its “exceptional natural heritage,” according to France Voyage.
The bay is protected by the peninsula of Lège-Cap-Ferret as well as Dune du Pilat and has a mild climate and plenty of sunshine throughout the year.
The sandy beaches are also near to “beautiful oyster villages” like L’Herbe, Piraillan or Le Canon.
France Voyage say they provide tourists with an opportunity to “walk along the flowery streets lined with charming huts, and take a gourmet break on the terrace while enjoying fresh oysters.”
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The dune has a total score of 4.5/5 from more than 5,400 reviews on TripAdvisor, with most people amazed by the views and sunsets.
One wrote: “Excellent experience. It took for a while to get to the top but it was worth the effort. The views were amazing! Unbelievable place!”
Another said: “I can’t describe my feelings when I saw this amazing panoramic view, it was something unreal.”
A third added: “The dune is breathtaking, particularly at sunset. The panoramic view from the top takes in the forest behind and the sea in front and is worth the fairly energetic climb.”
Accommodation in the nearest town to Dune du Pilat, Pyla sur Mer, is available from £45 per night.
However, campsites nearby offer cheaper options.
Arcachon Bay isn’t the only beach in France to have been compared to a more exotic destination by tourists.
In recent years, the beaches and landscapes of Île Callot have been likened to Tahiti by both travel experts and holidaymakers.
In a review on TripAdvisor, one holidaymaker wrote: “Great white sand just like in Tahiti.”
While another added: “A very beautiful beach, only the water temperature differs from the beaches of Tahiti.”
Meanwhile, this lesser-known island in Greece is said to be better than Mykonos.
And in the UK, there is a British island that looks just like the Caribbean.