A haven of well-being between sea & forest
Finnish timber holiday home sleeping 9, a 5-minute walk from the beach, in the heart of a protected nature reserve.
The house
We dreamed of somewhere simple and full of light, open to the coast, where people genuinely come together. Le Chalet Moana grew out of that dream — and it carries its name.
“Ala Moana”, in Hawaiian, means “on the path to the sea”. A name chosen in echo of our love of the ocean.
A house built from high-grade Finnish spruce timber, brought overland and then assembled entirely on site by a team from Finland. The bioclimatic design and the deep roof overhang capture the low winter sun while shading the high summer one.
The natural dune rising above the garden was deliberately preserved, and the local flora replanted with holm oaks and maritime pines — the dominant species of this protected area, classified Natura 2000.
A bright, open, cocooning world: a house without corridors, designed for shared moments with family and friends, where every room opens onto the outdoors and the light.
You choose a house from pictures. You remember it for everything else.
The spaces
Nine beds across two floors, with no corridors and no dark corners. And three bathrooms holding four showers and a double freestanding bath: five to six people can wash at the same time.
Ground floorThe heart of the house: a double-height space under exposed beams, opening flat onto the terrace through wide sliding doors. Deep sofas, thick rugs, and nothing but forest on the horizon.
Ground floorFully equipped and open to the living room, with a large island and its stools. The ribbon window frames the pines: you cook facing the forest.
Ground floorA long solid-wood table with benches, for meals for nine. The glass doors fold right back: in fine weather the table simply carries on out onto the terrace.
Ground floorA 140 cm double bed and a baby cot, in a bright room panelled in white timber that opens straight outside. Ideal for parents of little ones.
Ground floorA 140 cm double bed and a 90 cm bunk bed against a soft green wall. Four beds in one room: the children's room, or the cousins'.
First floorUp in the eaves, a 160 cm bed, a deep green wall and a roof window open to the pine tops. A discreet desk for those extending the stay to work remotely.
First floorOpen onto the main volume, it works as a second living room: a 140 cm sofa bed, a desk corner, TV and hanging chair. The teenagers' den, or the games room on rainy evenings.
Ground floorTwo bathrooms downstairs, each with its own black marble walk-in shower, twin basins and brass fittings. Two people shower here while two more use the upstairs bathroom.
First floorUpstairs, under the rafters: a freestanding bath, a black-and-white chequerboard floor and tall windows onto the trees. The room you linger in.
First floorTwo rain heads side by side, under a roof window. With a family it is the detail that changes everything: no fighting over the showerhead, and nobody waits their turn coming back from the beach.
First floorA genuine private Finnish sauna, with its own window onto the trees. After the beach, after the bike ride, or simply because it's raining: ten to fifteen minutes, then a cool shower.
OutdoorsA large south-facing timber terrace, the picnic table, the barbecue, and sand that begins where the decking ends. The dune rises just behind.
OutdoorsWhen the sun drops, the house quietly folds in on itself. The sofas, a blanket, the moon travelling along the glass façade: often the best moment of the day.
Amenities
The house is built for long family stays: you can really cook here, do your laundry, and be properly warm.
Around the house
You could spend the whole week between the dune and the terrace. You could also see a great deal: distances are short and the roads are quiet.
Four beaches, four different moods.
On foot, by bike, or on the water.
Enough to fill a rainy week as well as a sunny one.
The essentials of the region.
The best of Vendée produce.
Travelling from the UK, Benelux, Germany or Switzerland.
Practical information
The essentials, and answers to the questions we are asked most often — particularly from abroad.
The house is in Longeville-sur-Mer, in the Vendée, on France's Atlantic coast. The nearest airports are La Rochelle (about 1 hr 10 by road) and Nantes Atlantique (about 1 hr 20), which offers the widest choice of European routes.
By train, the stations of Les Sables-d'Olonne (≈ 25 km) and La Roche-sur-Yon (≈ 30 km) connect to Paris Montparnasse in 3 hr 30 to 4 hr. From the UK, ferries to Caen, Cherbourg or Saint-Malo put the house around 4 hours' drive away.
The beach, the sailing school, the cycle paths and a restaurant are all within walking distance. For markets, theme parks and days out, a car is strongly recommended. Parking is free on the property.
We correspond in English and French, both before and during your stay. The house welcome book is available in both languages.
Yes. The Finnish sauna is private and included in the rental, with no supplement and no need to book. It can be used dry or as a steam sauna.
Yes, on request, with a €25 supplement. Please tell us when booking if you are travelling with a pet — the same supplement applies if you need to charge an electric car.
July and August weeks, along with French school holidays, generally go several months ahead. For a high-season stay, it is best to write to us from the previous autumn.
No platform commission is taken, so for exactly the same stay the rate is fairer for you. You also have a single point of contact, from the quote right through to departure.
Gallery
Photographs taken at the house. Click to enlarge.
Guests who stayed
« Great location, walking distance from the beach. Very spacious and modern home. Extremely friendly hosts. »
« A wonderful beach home, close to the sea and very quiet and peaceful. »
« A spectacular house with great style. Walking distance to the beach, in a pleasantly quiet area. »
Request a quote
Tell us when you'd like to come and how many you'll be: we reply personally, in English or French, within 24 to 48 hours.
You write, we answer — it really is that simple.
The house is rated 4.91 out of 5 by 182 guests there.