Île de Ré

On France's Atlantic coast, a long bridge connects the island of Île de Ré to the mainland city of La Rochelle. With its tiny settlements and miles of bike paths flowing through farms and along white-sand beaches backed by pine woods, this lovely island appears to be a world apart.

Le Bois Plage en Ré, in the UNESCO-listed capital town of Saint-Martin-de-Ré, is the most well-known beach. The sands on the beach seem to go on forever, so it's easy to choose a position with lots of elbow room.

Farther afield, on the western end of the island, the Conche des Baleines, a long half-moon beach with golden sands flanked by pine trees, has an even more private air.

The Île de Ré's beachfront is covered in fine, pillowy sand for kilometres, and the best way to uncover the secret beaches is on an electric bike, which can be hired in Saint-Martin-de-Ré.

Location: Atlantic coast