La Gabaret - Best activities on the Île de Ré and a little further away

The perfect place to embrace life

Activities - Our favorite spots of the Île de Ré
Activités - Nos lieux préférés de l'Île de Ré

La Gabaret reconciles the hyperactive and the contemplative: nature lovers, gastronomes, beach lizards, cycling enthusiasts, wave lovers, joggers, bird watchers, aesthetes and history buffs!

Here are some activities we love on the Île de Ré that you might also enjoy. Click on an item to get more details.

Bicycle Salt marshes Beaches Sailing school Surf & kitesurf Stand-up paddle Waterski, wakeboard & tubing Scuba diving Jet ski Boat rental and catamaranning Yoga Tennis Golf Horse riding Helicopter Don't miss activities a little further away, in the beautiful Charente-Maritime region.

The bicycle, a must-have on the Île de Ré

Cycling is the main mode of transport used on the island. The numerous cycle paths, some of which run along the sea, allow you to leave for as long as you like... 10 minutes to 10 hours for a complete tour of the island.

To restore you, make stopovers in the "cabanes à huitres" or the seaside restaurants. Our favourite stopovers: La cabane du Féneau in Loix, le Café du Commerce in Ars-en-Ré, les Huitres de Trousse-Chemise in Les Portes-en-Ré, la Cabane de La Patache in Les Portes-en-Ré, le Café du Phare in Saint-Clément-des-Baleines, and l'Ecailler in La Flotte.

La Gabaret has 4 adult bikes at your disposal. A few meters from the house, Mathilde offers you all types of electric or mechanical bikes (not forgetting the cart, if you have small children!)... and even a Mehari to go on an excursion! It is better to book in summer.

les vélos de mathilde

Other bike rental companies in Saint-Martin-de-Ré:

Beach bikes cyclo surf You too

Salt marshes

100 salt producers perpetuate age-old techniques which consist of skilfully organising the passage of sea water from one basin to another, then harvesting the salt in a traditional manner, as in the Middle Ages, between June and September. The salt marsh eco-museum, located in Loix, explains these techniques.

But the discovery of the salt marshes is above all the experience of an intact nature, with an exceptional richness of fauna and flora, and unforgettable sunsets that can be contemplated by bike, paddle or kayak. For birdwatchers, and all nature lovers!

Île of Ré is surrounded by beaches

To the west, facing the ocean, surf and kite spots follow one another:

Gros Joncs beach at Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré, 20min by bike
Gollandières beach at Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré, 20min by bike
Grenettes beach at Sainte-Marie-en-Ré, 25min by bike...

To the east, the sea is more quiet and La Cible beach (5min by bike from La Gabaret) is the ideal place to take a dip as soon as you feel like it!

Sailing school, for all ages and all levels

La Cible beach, Saint-Martin-de-Ré, 5min by bike, and Gros Joncs beach, Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré, 20 min by bike

Ile de Ré Voile welcomes you in La Cible beach (Saint-Martin-de-Ré) or in Gros Joncs beach (Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré) and offers group or private lessons:

sport catamaran (from 6 years old)
optimist (from 6 years old)
windsurfing (from 10 years old) and funboard
and "moussaillons" courses to help youngsters discover the sea (from 4 years old).

ile de re voile

Two surf schools about 20 min from La Gabaret

They offer group and private lessons on request. Board and wetsuit rental available.

Gros Joncs beach, Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré, 20min by bike

Ré Surf: 4 nice instructors, online booking possible, board rental at 10€/hour.

Résurf

Pas des boeufs beach, Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré, 20min by bike

Surf'in Ré; 3 instructors who will make you progress quickly, board rental at 10 €/hour.

Surf'in ré

A paradise for kite surfing

Several kitesurfing schools nearby offering group lessons, private lessons, summer courses, equipment rental and supervised sailing.

Beaches near Rivedoux-Plage, 30min by bike

Ile de Ré Kitesurf: state certified instructor, first lesson in the water, equipment provided (radio, helmet, vest, slippers, wetsuit), supervised navigation possible.

ile de re kitesurf

Boutillon beach, La Couarde-sur-Mer, 25min by bike

Philovent school: two qualified instructors, first lesson in the water, equipment provided (radio, helmet, waistcoatn booties, wetsuit), supervised navigation possible.

Philovent

Beaches near Ars-en-Ré, 40min by bike

Alex Robin offers kite & foil courses in summer.

Alex robin

Stand-up paddle, for all profiles

Excursions in the channels of the salt marshes at nightfall, or paddling on the waves of the ocean, choose the practice which corresponds to you!

Marina of Saint-Martin-de-Ré, 5min walk

Ile de Ré Nautisme offers you stand-up paddle trips from the port of Saint-Martin-de-Ré, you will embark on a 12 meters trawler which will take you to the most beautiful spots on the island (Fiers d'Ars, Pointe d'Arcay...).

Ile de Ré Nautisme

Gros Joncs beach, Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré, 15min by bike

Ile de Ré Voile offers board hire at Gros Joncs beach.

Ile de ré voile

Two stand-up paddle schools offer introductory courses in the waves and hikes in the salt marshes.

Gollandières beach, Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré, 20min by bike

Papaï Paddle, at Plage des Gollandières

Papaï Paddle

Plage des Prises, La Couarde-sur-Mer, 25min by bike

Sup Evasion, at Plage des Prises.

sup évasion

Scuba diving: many wrecks to discover

Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré, 20min by bike

Oceania Diving Services is a small family company that offers first dives, discovery dives or an excursion on a wreck, including for children!

Oceania diving Services

Saint-Martin-de-Ré, 5min by bike

Experienced divers (medical certificate, proof of level, and diving canet required) will choose Le Nautilus, an association diving club, to discover about twenty wrecks, from 10m to 50m deep!

Le Nautilus

Waterski, wakeboard, turbing: only 5 minutes away from La Gabaret

Marina of Saint-Martin-de-Ré, 5min walk

With Ile de Ré Nautisme, you will embark with Florent Renard, in the marina of Saint-Martin-de-Ré.

Ile de Ré Nautisme

Jet ski rides and excursions

Ré-Glisse and Jet-Révasion offer you jet ski rentals and rides, with or without a licence.

Plage Sud, Rivedoux-Plage, 30min by bike

Ré-Glisse : many options, including a trip to Fort Boyard on a jet ski (2 hours, two departures per day)

Ré Glisse

Boutillon Beach, La Couarde-sur-Mer, 25min by bike

Jet Révasion: several discovery and tour packages, as far as the whale lighthouse.

Jet Révasion

Boat rental, with or without skipper

Marina of Saint-Martin-de-Ré, 5min walk

Full or half day charter, with skipper: head for Fort Boyard or the Ile d'Aix, or take a tour of the island to discover the fiers and old port of Ars, the wild beaches of Les Portes-en-Ré, the Baleines lighthouse and the port of La Flotte.

Ile de Ré Nautisme

Marina of Saint-Martin-de-Ré, 5min walk

Ragonot Marine offers two semi-rigid boats, Eagle 6 and Eagle 6.7 (without skipper), starting from Saint-Martin-de-Ré to navigate according to your wishes. Optional equipment: wakeboard, water ski, towed buoy.

Ragonot Marine

Catamaranning with skipper

Marina of Saint-Martin-de-Ré, 5min walk

Dream-on offers catamaran trawler cruises. Day or half-day trips to the proud of Ars, the banc du bucheron, Fort Boyard, the Ile d'Aix, La Rochelle and its old port, or the pertuis rétais... Lunch possible on board.

Dream'on Catamaran

Tennis, with or without teacher

In Saint-Martin-de-Ré, 5min by bike, and in Le-Bois-Plage-en-Ré, 20min by bike

Ré Tennis Club offers two indoor courts in Saint-Martin-de-Ré, and 5 outdoor courts in Le-Bois-Plage-en-Ré (Gros Joncs beach).

Lessons from 16 euros/hour and 5-day courses during the summer.

Ré Tennis Club

Go to the golf by boat

Les Portes-en-Ré, 30min by car or 10min by boat

The golf de Trousse-Chemise (30 minutes by car, 10 minutes by boat) offers a 9-hole course open all year round, a putting green, a bunker approach and exit area, a practice range on the marsh and a pro-shop.

Golf de Trousse-chemise

For a boat ride to the golf club:

Ile de Ré nautisme

Horse riding, between beaches, vineyards and forests

Equipassion and the Haras des Evières offer lessons and rides through the wooded paths, vineyards, salt marshes and beaches of the Ile de Ré (for experienced riders).

La Flotte, 15min by bike

Equipassion, in La Flotte

Equipassion

Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré, 15min by bike

Haras des Evières, in Le Bois Plage

Haras des Evières

Helicopter, original and spectacular!

From La Rochelle Ile de Ré airport, 30min by car

Take a tour of the island with Héliberté: you will fly over the bridge, the fort and the Abbey of La Flotte, Saint-Martin-de-Ré, fortified by Vauban, the salt marshes ofLoix, the beaches of Les Portes-en-Ré, the Bois de Trousse Chemise, the Fierd'Ars, the Baleine lighthouse at the western end of the island, La Couarde-sur-Mer, the Bois Plage and Sainte Marie. All of which will leave you with unforgettable memories!

An optional stop at an oyster farm in Ars-en-Ré is possible on certain dates.

If you want more, discover a unique view of La Rochelle or Fort Boyard.

Héliberté

Loix, 20min by car or 35min by bike

Planet Sport & Loisirs in Loix , also offers flights over the Ile de Ré by ULM.

Planet sport & loisirs

A little further away

The Charente Maritime region is full of architectural and cultural places of interest.

La Rochelle

35min by car

Don't miss the visit of the old port and its three towers, the maritime museum, the aquarium for children... and the many restaurants listed in the Michelin Guide, including the famous Christopher Coutenceau with its 3 stars.

La Rochelle tourisme Michelin guide

Recommended: by speed boat from Saint Martin, to enjoy the impressive arrival in the old port and avoid the traffic.

The Marais Poitevin

1h by car

The Marais Poitevin is timeless. Its biodiversity is exceptional.

Parc marais poitevin

Rochefort, the Versailles of the sea

45min by car

Discover the city of Rochefort (called the Versailles of the Sea) its fascinating maritime history with its royal rope factory.

Visit the website of Rochefort Tourist Office:

Rochefort ocean

Activities
on the Île de Ré

The perfect place to embrace life