The tour for staying power. Through the lonely backland, via the entertaining Tagliamento River to the 10 km long beach. For adventurers and die-hards, this round trip offers an extremely varied experience with unforgettable impressions.

General information

• Bibione Family Card
• Bibione Wikipedia
• Bibione tourist information
• Veneto tourist information
• Climate
• Wind, waves, weather

Navigation rules

Bathers, passenger ships and boats always have priority. The reed landscape should not be entered away from the accessible areas.

Dangers and risks

There is a lot of boat and ship traffic in the canals, so always paddle with foresight.

The eastern part of the Canale Lugugnana is barely more than 20 m wide and there is little space to avoid boats and their waves. It's easy to get pushed to the shore and into the reeds if you don't paddle against the waves in time. If in doubt, it is best to wait on your knees until the strongest waves have died down.

On the Tagliamento River you are often confronted with eddy water on the bank, which can be exhausting. Especially in the area of the port of Marina Uno on the western shore of Lignano, just before the mouth of the sea, you should not paddle too close to the shore due to the low water level.

The mentally toughest part certainly comes after the Lighthouse (Faro di Bibione) at the east end of Bibione. Fatigue and loss of concentration can make the swell (150-200 m from the beach) seem really difficult, so expect a few water landings. You also have to watch out for the bathers and find a way to deal with monotony for eight kilometers.

Directions

You can actually only reach Bibione directly by car or boat. The nearest train station is in Latisana, the nearest airports are in Trieste, Treviso and Venice. Public transport to Bibione can of course be found especially during the summer season.

If you travel by car, there is only access via the SP 74 from the north. One kilometer after the bridge over the Canale Lugugnana you take the first exit to the right at the roundabout and continue straight west for 5.5 km towards the lagoon, passing the port Porto Baseleghe – Bibione Mare Spa. You continue straight along Via della Laguna, going past the harbor and to the free parking lot (as of 2020) next to the campsite and in front of the beach. You can also park along the street.

Parking

Between the entrance to Camping Capalonga and the beach (Stabilimento Balneare Seven) there is a spacious parking lot, which understandably fills up quickly on nice days. Therefore, it is best to start paddling early in the morning. It is also permitted to park on the side of the road along the access road.

SUP rental

Aloha Water Sports Center
On the beach in front of Via Pegaso, 30028 Bibione
Phone +39 (0)347 2780500

Windsurf School Tornado
Beach in front of Via Rigel/Lira, 30028 Bibione
Phone +39 (0)328 4321284

LagoonRent
Phone +39 (0)347 1399853

Tour

From the beach in Bibione Pineta we head west into the lagoon and past the harbour. Behind the port, turn right (east) into the canals which lead north of the bathing resort to the Tagliamento. Down the river to the sea and along the beach of Bibione back to the start.

Length

24.5 km

Time

6 - 7 hours

Start and landing

On the beach in front of the Stabilimento Balneare Seven in Bibione Pineta.

Between biodiversity and beach feeling

Bibione, with its 12 km of sandy beaches, is the bathing resort with the longest access to water on the northern Adriatic coast - along with Jesolo Extending between the Tagliamento to the east, the nature reserve Vallevecchia in the west and the local recreation area around the Valgrande to the north, this bathing resort is well known by many Europeans from their childhood. There is less nightlife here than in neighboring Lignano, but Bibione scores with more beach life and cosiness.

Of course this huge area is also surrounded by different canals and we dare the experiment of mastering 25 km in one go. The route is strategically laid out because we prefer to start easy and ride the hardest part at the end.

So we get on in Bibione Pineta at the Stabilimento Balneare Seven and decide to start early because the parking spaces here are free and therefore occupied quickly. It also allows us to take advantage of the relatively fresh morning air before it gets really hot.

We enter the water right in front of the lifeguard tower no. 4 and immediately paddle to the right towards the breakwaters in front of Brussa Beach. When the air is clear you can also see Caorle from here and with a bit of luck you'll even detect the Chiesa della Madonna dell’Angelo at the end of the Spiaggia Levanto.

After the breakwaters, it makes sense to paddle in the direction of the fairway so as not to get stuck in the sand on the way to the Bibione lagoon. Along Camping Capalonga we head up against the gentle current to the port (Porto Baseleghe), paddling past fishermen, motor boats and a pirate ship. The Perla Nera runs daily from different locations and has a grat program for parents and children during their two-hour tour.

After the port we turn right - well signposted - into the Canale Lugugnana and after a few hundred meters we find ourselves in no man's land. Our journey through the backland begins in a seemingly endless reed belt 40 m wide. There is a tried-and-tested remedy against the gentle current: paddling on the bank. We do that, but we have to be careful not to be driven into the reeds or get stuck in the sand when the boat waves are strong.

After 3.5 km, the canal first makes a sharp left turn and then continues to the right, where the width is halved and you have to keep control of the waves in order not to be pushed onto the bank by the boats. On the other hand, many boats seem to slow down for us, which makes things a lot easier. In addition, we finally enjoy a current in the direction of travel, which should remain upright until the end of the tour.

Arriving at the Tagliamento, we treat ourselves to a short break in the significantly cooler freshwater and let ourselves drift a few meters towards the sea. Then it's back to work. As so often here, the wind comes from the south-east today and blows towards us as soon as we stand upright on our SUPs again. Unfortunately, this temporarily neutralizes the current, which should carry us nicely here. Also, the boat traffic on the river does its best to keep the water wavy. We pass the cute Marina Punto Verde and, despite growing tired, enjoy the great weather and camaraderie in the group.

Shortly before the mouth of the sea, countless yachts anchor in the river. The wind has died down a bit and we passively let ourselves be carried downstream while we follow the activity on board and in the water. A few minutes later we already see Lignano's Marina Uno on our left. But beware! The waves can easily push paddlers into the eddies on the shallow banks and, as you might expect, you'll have to paddle harder to move forward.

Once on the sea, turn right towards the old lighthouse of Bibione (Faro di Bibione). On the nice stretch of beach in front of the tower, there is one last break on the mainland before the last eight kilometers along the beach will be tough. To be honest, we even recommend this timeout to every paddler! Not only for the body, especially for the mind. Because now it can sometimes get really wavy and with dwindling endurance and concentration, nerve-wracking water landings can occur.

Far ahead we can make out the blurred contours of the Laguna Park Hotel. But it's a good two and a half hours to get there if you concentrate and paddle fairly quickly. And at some point you inevitably come to the point where you ask yourself: 'Am I paddling, or am I being paddled?'. The sea is setting the pace more and more, but the south-east wind in the back relieves us slightly. Nevertheless, it steadily pushes us from the sea to the beach and we are forced to paddle starboard almost continuously. We only change the sides of the paddle for a short time in order not to be blown too hard to the busy beach. After all, we want to avoid just paddling in a zigzag course.

A few days ago, the 23 km long tour around Lignano demanded a lot from us and we are now clearly feeling the additional mileage. Without having at least three liters of water on all boards, we wouldn't be able to finish this as planned. When it comes to water supply on such mammoth tours, make sure that it has a high mineral content, because you will urgently need the electrolytes at the end of the tour.

After a little more than six hours we are back in front of rescue tower number 4. We made it and we are crushed. The jubilation is short, the hugs are warm, then we quickley establish a horizontal posture. Because lying on the sand in the water, seems to be most comfortable at the moment. Finally we get to enjoy some water buoyancy after six hours of work.

Alternative: If you want to shorten the tour by four kilometers (about an hour), you can get on at the port of Porto Baseleghe and thus save yourself the circumnavigation of the peninsula of Bibione Pineta in the west of the seaside resort. But that's about it with the cheating, you really have to do the rest once you're on your way, because there are no other direct waterways back to the parking lot at Stabilimento Balneare Seven.

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The post Aloha Watersports Center – Bibione first appeared on SUP Atlas - Paddle More.

General information Bibione

• Bibione Family Card
• Bibione Wikipedia
• Bibione tourist information
• Veneto tourist information
• Climate
• Wind, waves, weather

Paddleboarding

From a paddling perspective, Bibione is very similar to neighboring Lignano, as its circumnavigation also leads over the Tagliamento River, a few hinterland canals, a lagoon and over the sea. Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts due to the lack of other waterways. Bibione's lagoon is relatively small and leads to Vallevecchia, a nature reserve, either over the sea or via canals. In the east you quickly cross the Tagliamento and are then on the beach of Lignano Riviera. If you love monotonous straight-ahead paddling, you can of course try covering Bibione's almost ten kilometer long coastline - it is definitely a mental challenge of a special kind.

Swimming

In front of and around Bibione there is a sandy beach that is up to 300 m wide and about 12 km long. The sand comes from the Friulian Dolomites and is washed away to the coast by the Tagliamento River - also a great waterway to paddel. The water is clean and the resort got its EMAS approved environmental certification in 2014. There are also many wonderful places to read a book in the sun or to throw yourself into the waves away from the tourism beaches with umbrellas and infrastructure. 

Worth seeing

The small weekly market takes place every Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the corner of Piazza Mercato and Via Sagittari. Here you can not only buy regional fruit and vegetables, but also great fish, gifts and textiles.

The popular Faro di Bibione was built around 1900 and today also serves as a popular location for exhibitions, concerts, conferences and other events. Also worth mentioning is the idyllic beach around the lighthouse and the green area behind it. The lighthouse can be visited free of charge on selected dates. For people with reduced mobility, a free shuttle bus can also be booked from June to September (reservations at: iat@comunesanmichele.it or phone +39 (0)431 444846.

The Paleontological Museum 'Michele Gortani' in located in Portogruaro. It was founded in 1976 and lets you explore 500 million years of earth history with free admission. The town's Villa Comunale, which houses the museum, is also worth a visit from an architectural point of view.

In Fossalta di Portogruaro there is an Ethnographic Museum. It provides information about life at the turn of the 20th century and comes up with an impressive photo collection.

The Reptile House reveals insights into the world of reptiles, insects and fish and also exhibits a number of fossils. With the Bibione Family Card you enjoy a 10% discount on admission.  

Extra Tips

The increasingly popular Bibione half marathon has been taking place every May for a number of years. It's one of the first highlights of the summer season and holidaymakers can take advantage of great special offers at hotels and resorts.

Also in May all beach volleyball fans get their money's worth. For one full weekend, (almost) everything revolves around the Beach Volley Marathon.

The Luna Park Adriatico invites you to invest your change in cotton candy, roller coaster rides and arcade games in the evening. With an area of almost 12,000 m² and over 60 attractions, it is one of the largest fun parks in Italy.

Anyone who has always wanted to set sail on a pirate ship can do so in various places in Bibione. The ride on the Perla Nera can be booked directly on board and offers animation and fun for young and old.

The Valgrande near Bibione is the perfect local recreation area. It doesn't matter whether you are on foot, on horseback or by bike. The extensive network of paths in the middle of the countryside offers a lot of variety for those looking for relaxation. Of course, kayakers and stand up paddlers will also find nice waterways here. 

Anyone paddling down the lagoon of Bibione on their own by SUP or by kayak, can rent the appropriate paddling equipment and also recieve the right maps to find hidden restaurants along the way.

Overnight Stay

Savoy Beach Hotel & Thermal Spa
Corso Europa 51, 30020 Bibione
Phone +39 (0)431 430144 

Hotel Laguna Park
Via Passeggiata Al Mare 20, 30028 Bibione Pineda
Phone +39 (0)431 430144 

Hotel Ca D'Oro
Via Taigete 16, 30028 Bibione
Phone +39 (0)431 43227

Camping Lido
115 Viale dei Ginepri, 30028 Bibione
Phone +39 (0)431 438480

Camping Village Capalonga
16 Via della Laguna, 30028 Bibione
Phone +39 (0)431 438351

Appartamenti Aurora
Via Bilancia 42 (Check-in takes in Via Sagittario 28), 30020 Bibione
Phone +39 (0)431 438905

Gastronomy

Chiosco Lilly Bar
Viale della Luna 1, 30028 Biboione
Phone +39 (0)338 7873 747

Blue Marino
Via Marte 29, 30028 Biboione
Phone +39 (0)324 8028 437

Wunderbar
Viale Aurora, 70, 30028 Bibione
Phone +39 348 799 7625

Havana
Via Baselgehe 2, 30028 Biboione
Phone +39 (0)349 1398 271

The post Bibione first appeared on SUP Atlas - Paddle More.