{"id":43514,"date":"2026-10-20T21:49:22","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T19:49:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/hiking-tours\/hiking-opaal-coast\/"},"modified":"2026-10-20T22:17:05","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T20:17:05","slug":"hiking-opaal-coast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/en\/france\/pas-de-calais-2\/hiking-opaal-coast\/","title":{"rendered":"Hiking along the Opal Coast: a gem in northern France"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hiking along the Opal Coast: 3 Days on the GR120  <\/h1>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Vast beaches, seawater in the most beautiful shades of blue, green fields. Hiking along the Opal Coast means becoming one with nature\u2014with a touch of history here and there.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">In short: the Opal Coast on foot<\/h2>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Route:<\/strong> approximately 56.5 km along the GR120 trail along the C\u00f4te d&#8217;Opale, from Calais to Ch\u00e2teau d&#8217;Hardelot<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Stages:<\/strong> Calais \u2013 Wissant (18.5 km), Wissant \u2013 Boulogne-sur-Mer (25 km), Boulogne-sur-Mer \u2013 Ch\u00e2teau d\u2019Hardelot (13 km)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Highlights:<\/strong> Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez (Grand Site des Deux-Caps), Wissant Bay, Dunes de la Slack, the fishing harbor of Boulogne-sur-Mer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Access:<\/strong> by train from the Netherlands via Brussels and Lille<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Extra:<\/strong> a day-long boat trip through the Saint-Omer marshes, a UNESCO biosphere reserve<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Train:<\/strong> I traveled by train via Lille to Calais. On the way back, I traveled from Boulogne-sur-Mer via Lille back to the Netherlands.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-9-16 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Wandelen langs de Opaalkust: 3 dagen over de GR120 \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7\" width=\"563\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/I5PlIOCeL8A?feature=oembed\"  allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leaving Calais: How the Opal Coast Got Its Name<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A vast beach, countless white beach huts, a walker here and there. Everywhere I look, sand and more sand. The patterns left behind by the receding water are still completely intact. A true work of art. I\u2019ve just left the town of Calais behind me and am setting out on a journey of just under 60 kilometers that will take me along the C\u00f4te d\u2019Opale, or the Opal Coast.  <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Calais-Cap-Blanc-Nez-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-43509\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Calais-Cap-Blanc-Nez-980x735.jpeg 980w, https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Calais-Cap-Blanc-Nez-480x360.jpeg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The name didn&#8217;t just come out of thin air. The French painter \u00c9douard L\u00e9v\u00eaque coined it in 1911, when he compared the ever-changing colors of the sky and sea to the reflections of a semi-precious stone: the opal.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43470\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Cap-Gris-Nez-2-e1792508201199-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Cap Gris-Nez - sheep on the coast\" class=\"wp-image-43470\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43465\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Cap-Blanc-Nez-Wissant-3-e1792507911942-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Cap Blanc-Nez - Wissant - coast, blue sea\" class=\"wp-image-43465\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43469\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Cap-Gris-Nez-Audresselles-3-e1792508190398-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Cap Gris-Nez - Audresselles - Sun on the Water\" class=\"wp-image-43469\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He wasn\u2019t exaggerating at all. For the first few kilometers, I was mostly just amazed. The sun on the water really does conjure up all kinds of colors: light blue, turquoise, dark blue\u2014all mingling in the rippling waves. I thought this was something you\u2019d only see near tropical islands. But look at that\u2014just a few hours\u2019 travel from the Netherlands, I feel as if I\u2019m on the other side of the world for a moment.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cap Blanc-Nez and the Dover Patrol Monument<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the wind in my hair, I walk toward Cap Blanc-Nez, the first of the two capes I\u2019ll be passing. Although I hardly come across anyone, there\u2019s plenty of activity on the water: ferries making the crossing to Dover, cargo ships passing through the English Channel heading north or south, and the occasional fishing boat. After a few kilometers along the beach, I walk through green fields, up hill and down hill, hearing nothing but the crunch of my shoes on the gravel path. A small group of donkeys looks at me curiously.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43463\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Cap-Blanc-Nez-Wissant-1-e1792507878163-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Cap Blanc-Nez - Wissant - green trail\" class=\"wp-image-43463\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43466\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Cap-Blanc-Nez-e1792507924392-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Cap Blanc-Nez - Dover Patrol Monument\" class=\"wp-image-43466\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43478\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Calais-Cap-Blanc-Nez-4-e1792508640448-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Calais - Cap Blanc Nez - donkeys\" class=\"wp-image-43478\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After more than 11 kilometers, I reach Cap Blanc-Nez, marked by \u201cDover Patrol\u201d\u2014a monument in the shape of an obelisk commemorating the Allied fleet that patrolled the English Channel during World War I. In any case, this hike isn\u2019t just about nature. Every so often, a bunker appears on the horizon\u2014a remnant of wartime.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Grand Site des Deux-Caps: chalk cliffs with a view of England<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cap Blanc-Nez, together with Cap Gris-Nez\u2014a bit further on\u2014is part of the \u201cGrand Site des Deux-Caps,\u201d a 23-kilometer-long protected coastal strip. Standing on this cape, 134 meters high, with the chalk cliffs below me, the white cliffs on the other side loom into view. Dover, England, is the closest point here, about 30 kilometers away. As long as the sun is shining, I\u2019ll continue to see the cliffs for the rest of the trip.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As I head back down, a little further on I come to a unique passage leading to the sea\u2014a crevice between the high cliffs, formed by erosion, through which a small path has now been built. At low tide, you can walk out onto the beach here; at high tide, you can watch and listen from a small set of steps as the crashing waves pound against the cliffs.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43489\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Cliffs-in-Dover-e1792509530247-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"The Cliffs at Dover\" class=\"wp-image-43489\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43464\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Cap-Blanc-Nez-Wissant-2-e1792507890800-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Cap Blanc-Nez - Wissant - path to the sea\" class=\"wp-image-43464\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43471\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Cap-Gris-Nez-3-e1792508215761-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Cap Gris-Nez - lighthouse\" class=\"wp-image-43471\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wissant Bay<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the tide slowly but surely rises and the water draws ever closer, I walk the last few kilometers along the beach toward the seaside village of Wissant. To actually enter the village, I have to step over large boulders to keep my feet dry. By late afternoon, not a single centimeter of beach is visible. While windsurfers compete here for the national title, I set out to find a place to sleep. White, stately villas, built by the elite in the late nineteenth century, give way toward the center to half-timbered houses surrounding a charming little square.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Calais-Cap-Blanc-Nez-2-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"Calais - Cap Blanc-Nez - donkeys\" class=\"wp-image-43417\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Calais-Cap-Blanc-Nez-2-980x735.jpeg 980w, https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Calais-Cap-Blanc-Nez-2-480x360.jpeg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next morning, I find myself once again on a vast beach. Ahead of me, in the distance, I can see Cap Gris-Nez; behind me, I can just make out the obelisk at Cap Blanc-Nez. This is Wissant Bay. For the first few kilometers, I walk along the beach, the sound of the sea in my ears. As the beach gets narrower and narrower, and large boulders take over, a few houses also come into view. Here, I head into the dunes to reach the second cape: Cap Gris-Nez.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cap Gris-Nez: the second cape<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This second cape is busier. As a result, separate walking trails have been marked out here to explore the cape. Detailed information signs tell visitors about the history of this place\u2014about the customs officers who worked here in 1900, the last lighthouse keeper, and the battles and bombardments that took place here during World War II.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43473\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/WIssant-1-e1792508365901-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"WIssant - village church\" class=\"wp-image-43473\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43476\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Wissant-5-e1792508428824-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Wissant - white beer - Blanche de Wissant\" class=\"wp-image-43476\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43474\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/WIssant-3-e1792508392418-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"WIssant - seagull by the sea\" class=\"wp-image-43474\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the official GR120 now heads a short distance inland, I prefer the coast. The sound of the sea, the beautiful colors\u2014it\u2019s addictive. There\u2019s a lovely trail here, too, that offers a continuous view of the ocean. The splendor of the colors is even more beautiful than it was near Calais. The green of the meadows and the turquoise of the water only serve to enhance each other. Sheep graze lazily, and every so often a bunker looms into view. I walk on like this for kilometers\u2014sun, wind, nature. And always those white cliffs across the way. This is pure enjoyment.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43477\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Audresselles-e1792508613951-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Audresselles - Homes on the Coast\" class=\"wp-image-43477\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43478\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Calais-Cap-Blanc-Nez-4-e1792508640448-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Calais - Cap Blanc Nez - donkeys\" class=\"wp-image-43478\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43480\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Calais-Cap-Blanc-Nez-3-e1792508673817-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Calais - Cap Blanc-Nez - GR145 - Via Francigena\" class=\"wp-image-43480\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Audresselles and Ambleteuse: a fishing village and a fortress in the sea<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first village I come across is Audresselles, a charming little fishing village where it\u2019s especially quiet. White houses with colorful windows, a small square with a few seafood restaurants. I rejoin the GR120 and sense that I\u2019m approaching civilization. After Audresselles, I soon walk into the village of Ambleteuse, where an old fortress in the sea really stands out.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43485\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Wimereux-e1792509422566-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Wimereux - beach house\" class=\"wp-image-43485\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43481\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Cap-Gris-Nez-Audresselles-1-1-e1792508698843-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Cap Gris-Nez - Audresselles - flowers\" class=\"wp-image-43481\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43491\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Fort-bij-Ambleteuse-e1792509567553-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Ambleteuse - Fort\" class=\"wp-image-43491\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dunes de la Slack and the seaside resort of Wimereux<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To my great surprise, after Ambleteuse I suddenly find myself in the woods. This is where the protected dune area known as the Dunes de la Slack begins, dotted here and there with pine trees planted to hold the sand in place. With about 18 kilometers already under my belt, this means I\u2019ve got my work cut out for me. For kilometers on end, I plow through loose sand. It\u2019s a challenge, but a very beautiful one. Everywhere I look, I see dunes, with marram grass swaying in the wind. It takes a moment to get used to it: it\u2019s quiet here\u2014for the first time, no sound of strong winds or raging waves. Just the rustling of leaves, the buzzing of an insect. And always that bright blue ocean not too far away.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Dunes-de-la-Slack-2-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"Dunes de la Slack - Dunes\" class=\"wp-image-43419\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Dunes-de-la-Slack-2-980x735.jpeg 980w, https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Dunes-de-la-Slack-2-480x360.jpeg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before I reach Boulogne-sur-Mer\u2014my destination for today after 25 kilometers\u2014I pass through Wimereux. It\u2019s a seaside resort with that typical old-world charm. Stately yet charming buildings in all sorts of soft colors, a wide boulevard where people eat ice cream and waffles, enjoying each other\u2019s company and the surroundings.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Boulogne-sur-Mer: France\u2019s largest fishing port<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Arriving in Boulogne-sur-Mer means taking a stroll through the harbor. Above me stands the dome of the Notre-Dame Basilica in the historic center, the only part of the city to have survived World War II. The harbor area was destroyed and rebuilt. Today, it is France\u2019s largest fishing port, where tens of thousands of metric tons of fish are landed and processed each year.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-7 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43486\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Boulogne-sur-Mer-richting-Plage-Equiven-2-e1792509470925-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Boulogne-sur-Mer toward Plage Equiven - coastal path\" class=\"wp-image-43486\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"773\" data-id=\"43484\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Boulogne-sur-Mer-richting-Plage-Equiven-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Boulogne-sur-Mer - Walking along Plage Equiven Beach\" class=\"wp-image-43484\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Boulogne-sur-Mer-richting-Plage-Equiven-1.jpeg 684w, https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Boulogne-sur-Mer-richting-Plage-Equiven-1-480x542.jpeg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 684px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43487\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Boulogne-sur-Mer-richting-Plage-Equiven-3-e1792509500993-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Boulogne-sur-Mer toward Plage Equiven - shifting sand dune\" class=\"wp-image-43487\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As I walk through the harbor, I see the hustle and bustle of fishermen, fish processors, and market vendors. By around ten o\u2019clock, the busiest part of the day is already over. In a small eatery, fishermen are drinking coffee or having a bite to eat. Once I\u2019ve passed the harbor and see the young dunes where the hovercraft once departed for Dover, I head toward \u00c9quihen-Plage. It\u2019s raining nonstop, and the wind has picked up a notch compared to the past few days, so it\u2019s a real struggle. Now that I know how beautiful it is here in better weather, I can look past the rain and see that this route, which follows the coast the whole way, is another little gem.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-8 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43499\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Haven-Boulogne-2-e1792522044841-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Boulogne Harbor - bar\" class=\"wp-image-43499\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43498\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/haven-Boulogne-1-e1792522026776-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Boulogne Harbor - fishing net\" class=\"wp-image-43498\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43500\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Haven-Boulogne-3-e1792522061712-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Boulogne Harbor - Fresh Fish\" class=\"wp-image-43500\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>From \u00c9quihen-Plage to Ch\u00e2teau d&#8217;Hardelot<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the seaside resort of \u00c9quihen-Plage, the route takes me a short way inland. I walk through meadows and fields toward Ch\u00e2teau d&#8217;Hardelot, where the cozy tea house is a welcome place to take a break.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Side Trip: Boating Through the Saint-Omer Marshes<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">About an hour\u2019s drive from the coast lies the town of Saint-Omer, surrounded by a unique UNESCO biosphere reserve with more than 700 kilometers of navigable waterways. It\u2019s well worth setting aside a day to explore this area.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Starting from the last traditional shipyard in the marsh, Les Faiseurs de bateaux, we sail in an authentic wooden boat through narrow and sometimes slightly wider waterways. It\u2019s an idyllic little trip under wooden bridges, with overhanging willows and ducks in or along the water. Some 200 different bird species live throughout the area. At the same time, real life goes on here as well. We pass by detached houses and fields where vegetables grow. This marshland is home to France\u2019s only remaining active \u201cvegetable marsh,\u201d where cauliflower is the primary crop. While many marshes elsewhere in France were completely filled in for large-scale arable farming, the Saint-Omer marsh remained intact and is still farmed using traditional methods.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43502\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/overnachting-moeras-1-e1792522153833-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Overnight stay in the Saint-Omer Marshes\" class=\"wp-image-43502\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43503\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/overnachting-moeras-2-e1792522175823-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Overnight stay in the Saint-Omer Marshes - dock with a boat\" class=\"wp-image-43503\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"43501\" src=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Moeras-st-Omer-1-e1792522135280-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"St. Omer Marshes - Boats\" class=\"wp-image-43501\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the evening, I sleep in a farmhouse located on a small island in the marsh. The name, \u201cLa Fermette de Marie Grouette,\u201d is based on the legend of the marsh witch Marie Grouette, who is said to have lived deep in the dark waters of the marsh. My hostess, Muri\u00ebl, picks me up in a small boat; I stay in a beautiful butterfly-themed room and have the enormous garden all to myself. Here, peace is true peace, and silence is true silence.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Practical Information for Saint-Omer<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>At <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lesfaiseursdebateaux.fr\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"www.lesfaiseursdebateaux.fr\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Les Faiseurs de bateaux<\/strong><\/a> you can take a guided tour of the shipyard and rent a small boat. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Visitor Center in Saint-Omer: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lamaisondumarais.com\/fr\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.lamaisondumarais.com\/fr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>La maison du Marais<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Saint-Omer is accessible by train from Boulogne-sur-Mer or Calais. The trip takes between one and one and a half hours.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Staying on a small island: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fermette-marie-grouette.fr\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"www.fermette-marie-grouette.fr\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Fermette Marie Grouette<\/strong><\/a>. Muri\u00ebl rents out two rooms and serves dinner and breakfast, all homemade.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Learn more about the nature reserve <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/en\/france\/vendee\/poitevin-marshes\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"20661\">Marais Poitevin<\/a><\/strong> in the Vend\u00e9e<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hiking the Opal Coast on the map<\/h2>\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/embed?mid=1HIfPpQIkE6dAPX9INrBVwihnrWZXwgk&#038;ehbc=2E312F&#038;noprof=1\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"><\/iframe>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Practical Information About Hiking Along the Opal Coast<\/h2>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Stages from Calais to Ch\u00e2teau d&#8217;Hardelot<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Stage<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Distance<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Overnight Stay<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1. Calais &#8211; Wissant<\/td><td>18.5 km<\/td><td>Wissant<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2. Wissant &#8211; Boulogne-sur-Mer<\/td><td>25 km<\/td><td>Boulogne-sur-Mer<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3. Boulogne-sur-Mer &#8211; Ch\u00e2teau d&#8217;Hardelot<\/td><td>13 km<\/td><td>&#8211;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Total<\/td><td>56.5 km<\/td><td>\u00a0<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can shorten the second stage by, for example, spending the night in Ambleteuse or Wimereux. You\u2019ll then walk the remaining kilometers on the third day.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The GR120 at a glance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The entire hike (GR120) is 175 km long and starts in De Panne, Belgium, and ends in Le Tr\u00e9port in Normandy. Of course, it\u2019s also possible to hike in the opposite direction. In that case, you\u2019ll usually have the wind at your back.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The route is well marked with red-and-white signposts. It\u2019s easy to stay on the route\u2014such as the section between Cap Gris-Nez and Audresselles\u2014because there\u2019s only one trail to follow. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gr-infos.com\/en\/gr120.htm\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.gr-infos.com\/en\/gr120.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Information about the GR120<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>By Train to the Opal Coast<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From the Netherlands, you can reach Calais (as a starting point) by taking a train via Brussels to Lille. From there, take a local train to Calais. Trains depart from Boulogne-sur-Mer to Lille, allowing you to travel back to the Netherlands. <a href=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/en\/category\/train-travel\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/category\/treinreizen\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Taking a Vacation by Train<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Eating and Staying Overnight While Traveling<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Along the way, the only places to eat are in the various villages along the route. Be aware of the lunch closing times: restaurants close at 2:00 p.m. So be sure to bring something to eat with you.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can spend the night in the various villages. There are plenty of small hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, and campgrounds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What else is there to do on the Opal Coast?<\/h2>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Calais<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Calais City Hall Bell Tower:<\/strong> the <strong>city<\/strong> hall whose 75-meter-high bell tower is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can climb it for a view of the city and the harbor. In front of City Hall stands a famous sculpture group by Auguste Rodin.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dragon de Calais:<\/strong> a massive, mechanical dragon made of wood and steel, painted in the colors of the sea, that moves along the boulevard. The artwork is about 15 meters high and 25 meters long, and it can also make sounds and breathe fire. You can take a ride on the dragon\u2019s back. www.compagniedudragon.com<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Grand Site of the Two Capes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>There is a small visitor center that <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lesdeuxcaps.fr\/maison-du-site-des-deux-caps\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"www.lesdeuxcaps.fr\/maison-du-site-des-deux-caps\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">provides information about Les Deux-Caps<\/a><\/strong>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Website about <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/geoparktransmanche.org\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/geoparktransmanche.org\/en\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">geology<\/a><\/strong> in this area<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Boulogne-sur-Mer<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The city has a historic center that includes a basilica with an impressive <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/crypte.boulogne-sur-mer.fr\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/crypte.boulogne-sur-mer.fr\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">underground crypt<\/a><\/strong>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Haven\u2019t walked enough yet? There\u2019s a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.streetart.boulogne-sur-mer.fr\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"www.streetart.boulogne-sur-mer.fr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">street art walking tour<\/a><\/strong> featuring more than 100 murals spread across 5 routes. You can pick up a map at the Office de Tourisme or download a free app.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For seafood lovers: a walk through the harbor area in the (early) morning is well worth it. Have a coffee with the fishermen, or enjoy some fresh fish, at<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.le-chatillon.com\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"www.le-chatillon.com\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Le Chatillon<\/a><\/strong>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nausicaa.fr\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"www.nausicaa.fr\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nausica\u00e1<\/a><\/strong>: Europe\u2019s largest aquarium. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Ch\u00e2teau d&#8217;Hardelot<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chateau-hardelot.fr\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.chateau-hardelot.fr\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Castle with a tea house<\/a><\/strong>.  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions About Hiking Along the Opal Coast<\/h2>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How long is the hike along the Opal Coast?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The route from Calais to Ch\u00e2teau d&#8217;Hardelot is approximately 56.5 kilometers, divided into three stages: Calais\u2013Wissant (18.5 km), Wissant\u2013Boulogne-sur-Mer (25 km), and Boulogne-sur-Mer \u2013 Ch\u00e2teau d\u2019Hardelot (13 km). The entire GR120 is 175 kilometers long and runs from De Panne in Belgium to Le Tr\u00e9port in Normandy.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How do you get to the starting point in Calais by train?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From the Netherlands, take the train via Brussels to Lille. There, transfer to a local train to Calais. For the return trip, take the train from Boulogne-sur-Mer to Lille and from there back to the Netherlands.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why is it called the Opal Coast?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The name C\u00f4te d&#8217;Opale was coined in 1911 by the French painter \u00c9douard L\u00e9v\u00eaque. He compared the ever-changing colors of the sky and sea to the reflections of opal, a semi-precious stone.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Is the GR120 along the Opal Coast well-marked?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, the route is well marked with red-and-white markers. If you want to stay on the coast where the GR120 heads inland\u2014such as between Cap Gris-Nez and Audresselles\u2014you can easily do so because there is only one coastal path.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Which direction is best for hiking the GR120?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both directions are possible. If you walk from south to north, you\u2019ll usually have the wind at your back.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Where can you eat and stay overnight along the way?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019ll only find places to eat in the villages along the route, and restaurants close at 2:00 p.m. So be sure to bring your own food. You can spend the night in the villages along the way, at small hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, and campgrounds. If you want to shorten the second stage, stay overnight in Ambleteuse or Wimereux.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What should you keep in mind regarding tides?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Part of the route runs along the beach. At high tide, the water reaches the cliffs and boulders\u2014as at Wissant, where there may be no beach left by late afternoon. At the passage to the sea near Cap Blanc-Nez, you can walk onto the beach at low tide. So be sure to keep an eye on the tides.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What else can you do near the Opal Coast?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">About an hour from the coast lies the Saint-Omer Marsh, a UNESCO biosphere reserve with more than 700 kilometers of navigable waterways. Saint-Omer is accessible by train from Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer. In Calais, you can climb the belfry and see the Dragon of Calais; in Boulogne-sur-Mer, you can visit the basilica\u2019s crypt, explore the street art routes, and visit the Nausica\u00e1 aquarium.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hiking along the Opal Coast: 3 Days on the GR120 Vast beaches, seawater in the most beautiful shades of blue, green fields. Hiking along the Opal Coast means becoming one with nature\u2014with a touch of history here and there. In short: the Opal Coast on foot Leaving Calais: How the Opal Coast Got Its Name [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":43515,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[347,255,191],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43514","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pas-de-calais-2","category-france","category-hiking-tours"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43514","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43514"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43514\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43525,"href":"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43514\/revisions\/43525"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43515"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43514"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43514"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43514"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}