From the Vieux-Port, the same boats that pass the Château d'If can turn the other way, round the southern tip of Marseille and run along the most spectacular coast in Provence: the Calanques National Park. On foot it takes hours of hot, rocky walking to reach a single calanque. By boat you see a dozen in a morning, and swim in one.
What you see
- The Marseille coast: the Corniche, the Prado beaches and the little ports of Les Goudes and Callelongue.
- The islands of the Riou archipelago, a protected seabird habitat, and the sea caves along the cliffs.
- The calanques: Sormiou, Morgiou, Sugiton, and on longer trips En-Vau, Port-Pin and Port-Miou towards Cassis.
| Type of trip | Duration | Typical inclusions | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast boat tour | 3–4.5 h | Swim stops, snorkelling gear | Seeing the most in half a day |
| Catamaran cruise | 3–8.5 h | Picnic or lunch, rosé, swimming | Comfort and a relaxed pace |
| Snorkelling trip | 3.5 h | Wetsuit, fins, mask | Underwater life |
| Sea kayak | 3–7 h | Guide, kayak | Active travellers |
| Guided hike | 5 h | Picnic | Walkers, budget |
Small-group boat tour from €79 From Marseille: Iconic Calanques Boat Tour with Swimming
Marseille's best-selling Calanques trip, with well over 1,700 reviews. A fast boat heads east along the Calanques National Park towards Cassis, stopping to swim and snorkel and visiting places such as Riou island and a sea cave. For many visitors this is the highlight of a Marseille stay.
- Sormiou, Morgiou, Sugiton and more from the sea
- Riou island and a sea cave
- Snorkelling gear, wetsuits, soft drinks and GoPro
Catamaran cruise from €79 Marseille: Calanques Catamaran Cruise, Picnic & Swimming
An all-inclusive catamaran cruise along the most beautiful calanques between Marseille and Cassis, with a picnic, rosé, swimming and snorkelling. Choose a half-day or a longer version on the listing.
- Picnic and rosé included
- Snorkelling gear, wetsuits and GoPro
- Maximum 24 guests, two skippers
Full-day sailing catamaran from €169 Marseille: Calanques Catamaran Cruise with Lunch & Wine
A full day on a sailing catamaran to some of the finest calanques between Marseille and Cassis, with lunch and wine on board and plenty of time in the water.
- A whole day under sail
- Lunch, rosé and soft drinks
- Snorkelling and wetsuits included
Day cruise from €125 Marseille: Calanques Eco Boat Cruise with Lunch and Wine
A seven-hour boat day through the Calanques National Park with lunch and wine on board and stops to swim, operated as an eco-minded cruise.
- A long day along the Calanques
- Lunch with wine
- Swimming stops
Boat and snorkel excursion from €45 Marseille: Snorkelling in the Calanques National Park
A sea excursion that mixes relaxing on board with guided underwater exploration, with all the snorkelling kit — wetsuit included — provided.
- Wetsuit, fins, mask and snorkel provided
- Time to relax on the boat
- Underwater life of the national park
Guided hike from €35 Marseille: Calanques National Park Guided Hike with Picnic
A guided walk through the Calanques National Park on foot, with the coast, the creeks and the story of the landscape explained, and a picnic. Note that the park restricts access to its massifs on days of high fire risk in summer; the operator cancels and refunds in that case.
- Coastal paths and creeks of the national park
- Picnic included
- Cancelled with a full refund if conditions are unsafe
Guided sea-kayak tour from €60 Marseille: Hidden Côte Bleue Calanques Half-Day Kayak Tour
A guided sea-kayak tour of the calanques of the Côte Bleue, the quieter coast west of Marseille, reaching coves and beaches you can only get to by water. A bestseller with over a thousand reviews.
- Hidden coves reachable only from the sea
- Swim when the weather allows
- Free photos from your guide
Guided sea-kayak tour from €76 Cassis: Calanques National Park Sea Kayaking Tour
Paddle the famous calanques east of Marseille from Cassis — Port-Miou, Port-Pin and En-Vau — with an instructor who tells you the stories of the coast. Half-day and longer versions are offered.
- Port-Miou, Port-Pin and En-Vau
- Instructor-guided
- Private option available
How to choose
- One half-day: the bestselling “Iconic Calanques” boat tour, with swimming and snorkelling.
- A slower day: a catamaran with picnic or lunch and plenty of time in the water.
- With the Château d'If: choose a Frioul cruise for the islands and a separate Calanques trip on another day — they go in opposite directions.
- From Cassis: short boat trips or kayak tours reach En-Vau and Port-Pin quickly.
Tips
- Trips run mainly from spring to autumn; the Mistral and rough seas can cancel them.
- Boats anchor offshore for swimming — they do not land at the calanques.
- Bring a towel, swimwear, sun cream and a light layer for the ride back.
- Book ahead in July and August — the best trips sell out.
- On land, access to the Calanques massifs may be restricted on high fire-risk days in summer; the sea is not affected.
