The colorful seaside village of Cassis is the gateway to a network of secret beaches in Calanques National Park, along France’s Mediterranean Coast. The best way to visit these hidden beaches is with an easy Cassis boat tour that will take you on a scenic journey along the coast and into the rocky harbors that hide these secluded beaches.
On my recent trip to the South of France I spent a day in Cassis and took my own boat tour to Calanques National Park. I was so impressed by the experience that I wanted to share it with you and give you some tips that I wish I’d known before I arrived in Cassis.
Why Take a Cassis Boat Tour?
One of the highlights of any trip to Provence is a visit to the Calanques National Park. Located along the French Riviera between Marseille and La Ciotat, Calanques National Park is known for its beautiful, and hard-to-access, beaches. These beaches are situated in narrow, rocky coves, which are called calanques, or “creeks”, that have been carved out of the forest shoreline. A boat tour from Cassis is the safest and easiest way to see the beautiful calanques along the Mediterranean coastline.
The Basic Cassis Boat Tours to the Calanques
There are a few different basic boat tours from Cassis to the Calanques. They are all on boats similar to the one in the photo above (that’s the actual boat I was on – the Notos II) but they vary in terms of duration and the number of calanques you see. Here are the basic routes:
- 3 calanques in 1 hour
- 5 calanques in 80 minutes
- 8 calanques in 1 hour, 50 minutes
- 9 calanques in 2 hours, 20 minutes (the last one, Sormiou, is pretty far away!)
As of late 2025, the prices for these tours seem to be the same as in the summer. Adult tickets were priced at €21, €25, €29 and €33, respectively. Prices for youth aged 0-11 were about 1/3 less than the adult price.
There’s nothing fancy about the basic boat tours from Cassis except the views, which are spectacular. My boat had audio commentary in both English and French, although at times it was quite difficult to hear. I followed our route on Google Maps to know which calanques we were touring and to get more information about each one.
Although the basic boat tours from Cassis don’t include swimming, there is a good chance you’ll get wet! Consider packing your belongings in a waterproof bag and be careful with your phone or camera when the water is splashing over the side. You’ll also want to be very careful about sun protection and hydration if your tour is in the summer sun, so choose seats in the shade if possible, bring a water bottle and cover up with layers and sunscreen before the boat departs.
Cassis Boat Tours with Swimming in the Calanques
Most Cassis boat tours just tour the calanques without having a swimming stop. However, in the high season there are several daily departures that include a stop (often labelled as a “détente”) for swimming. The calanque where you stop for swimming will depend on the amount of boat traffic and the water conditions.
The boats can’t sail all the way into the beach in each calanque, as there are roped-off swimming areas (can you see the yellow buoys in the photo above?). Thus, the boat tours that include a swimming stop are restricted only to confident swimmers, as there are no shallow areas or lifeguards on duty – you jump right off the boat into the Mediterranean!
Prices for the calanques tours with swimming seem are currently €40, and last a total of two hours (including swimming).
Cassis Boat Tour Tickets
Taking a boat tour from Cassis to the Calanques is a lot easier than you’d imagine. Several different boat operators work together to fill a full schedule of boat tours. They all sell their tickets from a single wooden kiosk – I forgot to take a photo, but if you were standing at the same place as I took this photo it would be just over to your right, near the beach (and also you would be standing in the water…).
To buy a ticket for a Cassis boat tour, you just go to the kiosk and tell the staff your preferred departure time. They don’t accept reservations by phone or email, so just swing by when you arrive in Cassis and choose from the available sailings later in the day. You will be given a ticket that says your departure time and they will verbally tell you the name of the boat to look for on the adjacent dock.
Plan to be ready at the boat at least five minutes before the scheduled departure time, and more like fifteen minutes if you want to choose from all the available seats.
Is a boat tour from Cassis to the Calanques worth it?
Absolutely! The French Riviera is known for being an expensive luxury travel destination, but I thought the prices for the boat tours were very reasonable in light of their duration and comfort levels. I also loved that I could just show up and go out on the next boat, without needing to reserve in advance and then worry about coordinating the bus or train to make my scheduled departure.
I absolutely love to swim, so my biggest regret about my own Cassis boat tour is that I didn’t choose one of the options that included a swimming stop. Next time I’m in the area I will absolutely take advantage of the opportunity to swim in that crystal-clear turquoise water.
Other Ways to Visit the Calanques in the South of France
You don’t have to take a Cassis boat tour to reach the Calanques National Park (although it’s definitely the easiest way!).
It is possible to hike from Cassis to many of the Calanques. Download the official Mes Calanques app to get information about hiking routes, trail closures and current conditions.
The hikes to the Calanques can be strenuous and there are no services en route, or upon arrival at the beaches. Novice hikers will definitely want to join an organized hiking tour to have the expertise of a local guide.
If you’re not up for a hike, it’s also possible to join a kayak tour to the Calanques. These depart from the Port Miou district in Cassis and visit three calanques.
It’s also possible to visit the Calanques by boat from Marseille. Make sure you choose one of the trips that go to the Calanques National Park (like the two I’ve linked here) as some operators run trips out to the Frioul Islands and try to pretend they are the Calanques! 😲
Alternately, the last, highly-rated tour I’ll link below will take you on a four-hour sailing from Marseille to the calanques on the northwest coast of the city: they are still stunning calanques, but they don’t fall within the boundaries of the national park.
I visited Cassis as a day trip from Marseille, which turned out to be one of my favorite cities in the South of France.
Make sure to read my guide to the best things to see and do in Marseille, as well as my seven-day Provence itinerary (no car required!).
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