# Opal Coast: Calais to the Bay of Somme

> 2-day road trip of about 118 km (73 mi) with 5 stops, from Calais to Saint-Valery-sur-Somme. About 1 h 37 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/opal-coast/

**At a glance:** 2-day road trip of about 118 km (73 mi) with 5 stops, from Calais to Saint-Valery-sur-Somme. About 1 h 37 min of driving in total. Chalk capes facing England, dunes and the seals of the Bay of Somme.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 118 km (73 mi) |
| Driving | 1 h 37 min |
| Suggested days | 2 |
| Stops | 5 |
| Route | Calais → Saint-Valery-sur-Somme |
| Countries | France |
| Updated | August 9, 2026 |

## Route description

Calais is the arrival point for ferries and the Channel Tunnel. Leave town on the D940, which follows the coast west to Cap Blanc-Nez, white chalk cliffs facing Dover; on a clear day the English coast is plainly visible across the Strait. Beyond Wissant, Cap Gris-Nez is the closest point in France to England.

Boulogne-sur-Mer is France’s leading fishing port, with a walled upper town and the large Nausicaá sea centre. South of it the landscape changes to dunes and pine woods, and Le Touquet-Paris-Plage is an elegant resort with a wide sandy beach and villas among the trees.

The route ends at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme on the Bay of Somme, a vast tidal estuary where seals rest on the sandbanks, best seen from Le Hourdel at low tide. A heritage steam railway runs round the bay in season. Never try to cross the bay on foot without a guide, as the tide comes in fast.

The D940 is narrow through the villages and exposed to strong winds on the capes, which can make high-sided motorhomes feel unsteady. Spring and September are pleasant and quieter; the seaside car parks and campsites are busiest during French summer holidays.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Calais** (France)
2. **Cap Blanc-Nez** (Escalles, France): White chalk cliffs facing Dover. On a clear day you can see the English coast.
3. **Boulogne-sur-Mer** (France)
4. **Le Touquet** (France)
5. **Saint-Valery-sur-Somme** (France)