Biarritz
Bonbon Surf and Yoga retreats are intimate wellness and surf retreats with a hedonistic twist. We love a good mix of everything that makes you feel good from the inside out. Our curated retreats brings forward a way of seeing wellness from a joyous perspective, rather than limitations and achievements. We believe in simplifying wellness and taking a step back from extremes. Our retreats combine the things that make you feel good, which can sometimes feel so simple; daily movement, being present, spending time in nature and the ocean, good and nourishing food and simply allowing yourself to enjoy. All this while soaking up the dramatic and beautiful landscape of the Basque Country and Atlantic coast.
The Food: Philosophy
Our concept of simplifying wellness and bringing joy into it runs through our philosophy around food as well. We love food and we love to share this passion through our retreats, and believe shared dinners can bring so much joy. The food at our retreats is colorful, nutritious, home-made and wholesome. With each meal, we share some fun and easy facts about the food and it’s benefits, and the idea behind the dishes. We want to show that eating well for your mind and body does not have to be restrictive or boring. For every dinner, we also have wine pairings, where the focus often lie on natural wines.
A typical day
A typical surf and yoga retreat week in Biarritz may consist of a bunch of sweet things like; lazy beach days, refreshing dips in the Atlantic sea, garden apéros, early morning croissants on the way to surf and that feeling of slight excitement and nervousness. Throw in some natural wines, relaxing yoga, a night in Biarritz town, sunset picnic with bubbles, homemade nutritious dinners and you get the idea.
Typical day
08:30 Morning Vinyasa yoga and breathwork with Maria Eskitxabel
09:45 Breakfast
11:00 Off to surf at our neighborhood beach
13:30 Lunch at the house or in town
Time to stroll in Biarritz, hang on the beach or rewind
18:00 Garden Apéro
19:30 Home-made dinner by our holistic health coach
The Surf
We’ll be out in the water every day, enjoying the fresh Atlantic Ocean. Surfing is a perfect example of movement full of contrasts. It can be calming and a perfect way to unwind, while also giving you that energy boost when you need it most. That's what makes it such a unique way of movement.
We welcome all levels, whether it's your first time, you’ve fallen in love with surfing (it happens to many) and want to learn how to make turns, or you're an experienced surfer looking to explore the best spots in the area.
Surf Lessons
Beginner & intermediates
We offer surf lessons for beginner and intermediate levels with our surf teacher Johanna at the nearby, beautiful beach Erretegia. Originally from Sweden, Johanna has years of teaching experience. She runs a local surf school with her husband Christoph here in Biarritz and spends her winters teaching skiing in the Alps.
Surf Guiding
More advanced
For experienced surfers wanting to discover what Biarritz has to offer, our surf guiding is perfect for you. Lucas, the host of Casaviel, will take you to the best spots of the day and help you get comfortable in the local waters. You’ll also have the chance to try out some of Lucas' beautifully handmade boards during your session.
THE YOGA
We’ll have daily yoga sessions, either in the morning or afternoon, depending on the best surf conditions. Yoga is a great complement to surfing, as they both balance the mind, body, and energy, in their own unique ways.
Our wonderful yoga teacher, Maria Eskitxabel, blends her expertise in wellness and yoga with her background in functional nutrition. She teaches a mix of Vinyasa, Hatha, and Yin yoga, along with breathing techniques.
In today’s fast-paced world, Maria believes yoga is a form of self-therapy that helps you reconnect with both mind and body through breath and movement.
Each session will be tailored to our guests’ experience levels, ensuring everyone gets the most out of their practice.
The location
Our home base is Biarritz, where we soak up everything that the dramatic Basque Country has to offer. This French coastal town is close to the Spanish border and just a couple of hours from the stunning Pyrenees mountains. You’ll find stunning surfing beaches, historic buildings, cosy restaurants, and cute boutiques. Biarritz is the perfect blend of a laid-back surf town with urban charm, creating an atmosphere that feels both relaxed and alive.
The house
Our home for the retreats in Biarritz is the lovely Casaviel, a beautifully renovated stone house over 300 years old, just a 10-minute walk from the nearest beach. It is intimate and cozy, with a beautiful garden where we can enjoy al fresco lunches or sip afternoon vermouths.
Our wonderful hosts, Lucas and Diane, along with their adorable dog, will welcome us for five days and ensure we are fueled and ready for our morning surf sessions. You won’t want to miss their delicious breakfasts and brunches!
Travel and transportation
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A: There are many convenient ways to get to Biarritz. You can fly straight to Biarritz (depending on your departure destination, there will most likely be a layover in Paris). A more affordable option (not always, the train from Paris and Biarritz can sometimes be quite expensive) is to fly to the bigger cities nearby and continue by bus or train:
Option 1. Fly to Bilbao and take a bus.
Bus company: Alsa, BlablaBus, Flixbus (1,5-2h)
Option 2. Fly to Paris and take a train.
Train: SFNC / Trainline (4 h)
Option 3. Fly to Bordeaux and take a bus or train.
Train: SFNC/ Trainline (2 h)
Bus: BlablaBus, Flixbus (2,50h)
We recommend comparing and looking for buses and train connections here: https://www.omio.com
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The lovely guesthouse Casaviel is located between Biarritz and Bidart, with a 10 minute walk to the closest beach and around a 10 minute bus trip from Biarritz city center. There is a direct bus going from both the train station and the Biarritz city center to the house (bus nr 38). A one-way ticket costs 1,20€ and you can pay with card or apple pay inside the bus.
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A: There are many convenient ways to get to Biarritz. You can fly straight to Biarritz (depending on your departure destination, there will most likely be a layover in Paris). A more affordable option (not always, the train from Paris and Biarritz can sometimes be quite expensive) is to fly to the bigger cities nearby and continue by bus or train:
Option 1. Fly to Bilbao and take a bus.
Bus company: Alsa, BlablaBus, Flixbus (1,5-2h)
Option 2. Fly to Paris and take a train.
Train: SFNC / Trainline (4 h)
Option 3. Fly to Bordeaux and take a bus or train.
Train: SFNC/ Trainline (2 h)
Bus: BlablaBus, Flixbus (2,50h)
We recommend comparing and looking for buses and train connections here: https://www.omio.com
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The lovely guesthouse Casaviel is located between Biarritz and Bidart, with a 10 minute walk to the closest beach and around a 10 minute bus trip from Biarritz city center. There is a direct bus going from both the train station and the Biarritz city center to the house (bus nr 38). A one-way ticket costs 1,20€ and you can pay with card or apple pay inside the bus.
Retreat participation
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Yes! Joining a retreat is a great way to travel solo and meet new friends. We have solo travelers, friends, couples at our retreats.
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No, Our retreats are open to all genders. We warmly welcome everyone to try out this form of traveling.
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Most definitely <3 We welcome everyone to our retreats!
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Yes! Joining a retreat is a great way to travel solo and meet new friends. We have solo travelers, friends, couples at our retreats.
-
Most definitely <3 We welcome everyone to our retreats!
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No, Our retreats are open to all genders. We warmly welcome everyone to try out this form of traveling.
The surf & yoga
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We cater all levels of surfing, from first timers to more experienced ones. For the first timers, beginners and intermediates learning to turn, we offer surf lessons with our amazing surf teachers Johanna and Christoph. For the more experienced ones we have our lovely surf guide Lucas who will show you the best spots around town. We also have a quiver of colorful longboards and cruisers to try out, handshaped by Lucas.
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The weather in Biarritz in May and June is usually around 20 degrees during the days and 15 celsius during the nights. In October, the weather is usually more stable and a bit warmer, with temperatures around 22+ and a bit warmer evenings than in the beginning of summer. The water is warmer in the fall than in the spring, so most of the days you’ll only need a short wetsuit. In the spring we normally
recommend a 3’2 long wetsuit.
As both the ocean and mountains surround the area (which is what makes it so special and beautiful) the weather can sometimes be hard to predict. We’ve had retreats in May with +25 degrees everyday and sun and we’ve had retreats in June and July with more rain.
As a common rule the waves are softer in the summer and have more power in the fall, but also this changes a lot. We always have a spot to go to with more sheltered waves if the waves happen to be bigger.
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The yoga is a mix of Hatha, Yin and Flow sessions by the lovely Maria Eskitxabel. The yoga sessions are adapted after the group, and take into consideration the surf activity during the day. We’ll have sessions that are more demanding and other sessions that are more restorative and meditative.
-
We cater all levels of surfing, from first timers to more experienced ones. For the first timers, beginners and intermediates learning to turn, we offer surf lessons with our amazing surf teachers Johanna and Christoph. For the more experienced ones we have our lovely surf guide Lucas who will show you the best spots around town. We also have a quiver of colorful longboards and cruisers to try out, handshaped by Lucas.
-
The yoga is a mix of Hatha, Yin and Flow sessions by the lovely Maria Eskitxabel. The yoga sessions are adapted after the group, and take into consideration the surf activity during the day. We’ll have sessions that are more demanding and other sessions that are more restorative and meditative.
-
The weather in Biarritz in May and June is usually around 20 degrees during the days and 15 celsius during the nights. In October, the weather is usually more stable and a bit warmer, with temperatures around 22+ and a bit warmer evenings than in the beginning of summer. The water is warmer in the fall than in the spring, so most of the days you’ll only need a short wetsuit. In the spring we normally
recommend a 3’2 long wetsuit.
As both the ocean and mountains surround the area (which is what makes it so special and beautiful) the weather can sometimes be hard to predict. We’ve had retreats in May with +25 degrees everyday and sun and we’ve had retreats in June and July with more rain.
As a common rule the waves are softer in the summer and have more power in the fall, but also this changes a lot. We always have a spot to go to with more sheltered waves if the waves happen to be bigger.
Cancellation & insurance
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Yes, please make sure you have your travel insurance up to date before traveling.
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Please see our terms and conditions.
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Yes, please make sure you have your travel insurance up to date before traveling.
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Please see our terms and conditions.