Mediterranean Serenity Expedition: Provence & Cote d’Azur
Beyond offering picturesque landscapes, this voyage is an odyssey through coastal elegance, secluded paradises, and the timeless allure of the Mediterranean. Join us on this extraordinary expedition, where each stop becomes a memorable chapter in a story you'll carry with you for a lifetime.
Discover, Explore, Cherish
Embark on an exclusive Mediterranean boat tour where the French Riviera's azure waters beckon and hidden paradises await. Begin in Toulon, a city rich in naval history. Cruise to Porquerolles, an island of pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters. Discover Embiez, a tranquil treasure in the heart of the Mediterranean. Explore La Calanque de Morgiou, a coastal wonderland where turquoise waters meet limestone cliffs.
Dive into Marseille, where history, culture, and Mediterranean charm unite. Wander the historic Vieux-Port, ascend Notre-Dame de la Garde for panoramic views, and savor culinary delights. Conclude in Cassis, a picturesque harbor town with charming streets, dramatic Calanques, and gastronomic pleasures.
For those starting their boat tour in Toulon, Toulon Hyères Airport is the nearest point of arrival. You can quickly embark on your unforgettable sea adventure with a short transfer from the airport at the beginning of your journey.
Join this unforgettable journey through coastal elegance, secluded paradises, and the timeless beauty of the Mediterranean. It's not just a trip; it's a Mediterranean odyssey to cherish forever.
Toulon
Toulon sits halfway between Marseille and Saint-Tropez, on a deep natural harbour that has served as France's main Mediterranean naval base since the 17th century. The working Arsenal de Toulon still hosts the country's aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle when in port; charter yachts moor in the adjacent civilian basin. The Mont Faron cable car climbs 600 metres from the harbour to a memorial and panoramic view. The Old Town Cours Lafayette daily market is the largest fresh-produce market in Var. Beyond Toulon, the Îles d'Hyères are an hour east by sail. Season runs April through October.
Hyères
Hyères sits at the eastern end of the Var coast, with three offshore islands — Porquerolles, Port-Cros, and Île du Levant — known together as the Îles d'Or (Islands of Gold) for the mica-rich rock that catches the sun. Porquerolles is the largest and most visited: a village of 200 people, vineyards, sandy north-shore beaches at Notre-Dame and Plage d'Argent, and a national park covering the wild south. Port-Cros is the first marine national park in Europe, with snorkel trails on the seabed. Hyères is 2 hours from Saint-Tropez and 90 minutes from Toulon. Season runs May through October.
Embiez
Embiez is a small private island 300 metres off the Provence coast at Six-Fours-les-Plages, between Marseille and Toulon. Bought in 1958 by Paul Ricard (founder of the pastis distillery), the island has been kept as a low-density mix of vineyards, an oceanographic research institute, and a single 720-berth marina that serves as the only structure visible from the mainland. The south coast holds rocky swimming platforms and small sand coves, with a path that circles the islet in under an hour. The shallow channel between Embiez and the mainland is itself a sheltered anchorage. Embiez is 30 minutes from Bandol and 90 minutes from Toulon. Season runs April through October.
La Calanque de Morgiou
Calanque de Morgiou is one of the deepest of the calanques — the narrow limestone fjords that cut into the coast of the Calanques National Park between Marseille and Cassis. The cove extends about 700 metres inland from the open sea, with vertical white cliffs on both sides rising to 300 metres above the water. A small fishing village at the head of the calanque holds about 60 cabanons (fisherman's huts), a single restaurant, and a few moorings on the wooden quay. The cove's entrance is also the location of the Cosquer Cave, an underwater entrance leading to a 27,000-year-old painted prehistoric chamber 37 metres below the surface. Morgiou is 30 minutes from Marseille and 60 minutes from Cassis by sail. Season runs April through October.
Marseille
Marseille is France's oldest port city, and the water has always done the talking — fishing boats still tie up at the Vieux-Port while traders sell the morning catch at the quay. The reason to come by boat sits a 30-minute sail south: Calanques National Park, a 20-kilometre stretch of limestone fjords where you anchor in turquoise inlets you cannot reach by car. Sail further and the Frioul Islands, the Château d'If, and the harbour villages of Cassis and La Ciotat open up within an easy day's reach. Back ashore, climb to Notre-Dame de la Garde for the view, then dinner at a quayside bistro — bouillabaisse, sea urchin, and the wines of Cassis. The season runs May through October; the mistral wind shapes the calendar, so check the forecast before planning a long passage.
Cassis
Cassis is a small fishing port 20 kilometres east of Marseille, at the edge of the Calanques National Park — a 20-kilometre stretch of limestone cliffs cut by deep narrow inlets that drop directly into the Mediterranean. The most famous calanques — En-Vau, Port-Pin, Sormiou, Morgiou — are reachable only by boat or long hike, with white pebble beaches at the head of each fjord-like cove. Above the town, the 200-metre Cap Canaille is one of the highest sea cliffs in France. Cassis is 90 minutes from La Ciotat and 2 hours from Marseille Old Port. Season runs April through October.
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