Le Bel Ami
What to order: several small dishes to share and the wine bar's mezzes; the menu changes with the season
Open every day at lunchtime and in the evening · book on TheFork
geocalia
Day itinerary · 49.71° N · 0.21° E
The arches of Étretat from the water, by kayak or paddleboard, two hours and three quarters from Paris.
Kayak or paddleboard facing the Porte d'Aval in the morning, sharing plates at Le Bel Ami, Maurice Leblanc's house and the Manneporte in the afternoon. May to September.
Leaving from
Direct flight to París fromBarcelona 2 hMadrid 2 hAlicante 2 h 15Valencia 2 h 15Sevilla 2 h 45
Part of ÉtretatEnglish Channel
Add to my trip
Total time13 h
By car2 h 45 each way
From Paris2 h 45 by car
Kayak1–2 h · from €15
DifficultyModerate
Cost€70–110 pp, without petrol or tolls
SeasonMay – September
BookingLunch; kayak, no
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave Paris 2 h 45 by car
from Paris by the A13; park at the Guezane, at the entrance to the village
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1
Kayak and Stand-Up Paddleboarding in Front of the Étretat Arches
Voiles et Galets · kayak €25 for two hours · no booking · pay in cash
- 3 min on foot
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2
Le Bel Ami
sharing plates · book on TheFork
25-27 rue Alphonse-Karr, 76790 Étretat · +33 2 27 43 56 25
Restaurant €€Book - 6 min on foot
- 3
- 30 min on foot
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4
The Falaise d'Aval, the Needle and the Manneporte on Foot
the Needle and the Manneporte in the afternoon light · free
+33 6 82 77 87 55
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Back home
in Paris around 21:15
Approximate cost
About €65–80 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Kayak and Stand-Up Paddleboarding in Front of the Étretat Arches
Almost everyone sees Étretat from above. This plan starts from below, on the water: the village sailing club hires kayaks and paddleboards on the beach itself, and in two hours you approach by sea the Porte d'Aval and the Needle, which from the promenade seem far. Afterwards, lunch at a bistro in the centre, the house of the author of Arsène Lupin and, in the afternoon light, the falaise d'Aval path to the Manneporte.
The day, hour by hour
7:00 · Leave Paris. Two hours and three quarters along the A13. Park at the Guezane and walk down to the promenade.
10:00 · Kayak or paddleboard. At the Voiles et Galets hut, beside the sailing boats. No booking: you sign, pay in cash and set off with a life jacket and a dry bag.
12:45 · Lunch at Le Bel Ami. Small plates to share and mezzes, on rue Alphonse-Karr.
14:30 · Le Clos Lupin. The staged tour of Maurice Leblanc's villa, five minutes from the promenade.
16:00 · Falaise d'Aval and Manneporte. The climb on the west side, now with the sun facing the arch.
18:15 · Return. In Paris around 21:15.
Time2 h
Change the route
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
Crêperie Lann Bihoué
What to order: a Norman special galette, such as La Vallée d'Auge (camembert and caramelised apple, €14.50), and for dessert La Manneporte with ice cream
Every day · some tables without booking · 10:00 to 12:00 only galettes and traditional crêpes
Le Donjon Gourmet Restaurant
What to order: the Les Galets menu, five courses for €109; the vegetarian Le Jardin, three courses for €69, if you want something shorter
Booking essential on TheFork · the website does not publish opening days
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Étretat
From May to September: in summer the club hires out every day; in spring and autumn, only at weekends and on good-weather days. Everything depends on the sea: with waves of more than half a metre or wind you do not go out, and then the plan is land-only.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Bring cash and a change of clothes
The club does not accept cards and you are going to get wet.
- 2Check the forecast the day before
With waves of more than half a metre or wind they do not hire: swap the order and climb the falaise d'Amont first.
- 3Do not pass under the arches
It is forbidden, in a kayak too.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book a kayak in Étretat?
No, it is hired on the spot at the beach. The guided outing with an instructor does need to be booked beforehand.
How much does this plan cost?
Kayak, lunch and Clos Lupin, between €70 and €110 per person, without petrol or tolls.
Can children go?
Yes, if they can swim; small ones accompanied in a double kayak.
What if the weather is bad?
Swap the kayak for the falaise d'Amont and the gardens.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/france/normandy/etretat/itineraries/etretat-kayak-under-the-cliffs-and-lupin
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.