Day 1 - Marseille the magnificent and the Frioul Islands
Your holiday begins in the bustling Mediterranean city of Marseille and your hotel is located right in the centre on the old port. Founded by the Greeks 2600 years ago, Marseille is the oldest city in France. A cosmopolitan pot-pourri of neighbourhoods, culture, and architecture, Marseille itself would suffice as a week-long walking holiday. From the picturesque Vieux Port, your ferry takes you to "Chateau d'If" island, made famous by the novel of "Monte Cristo" (not included - 30min crossing). Another 15 min ferry crossing takes you to the Frioul Islands. Other than the restaurants that you find in the port area, the islands are a protected oasis of wilderness. Rare plants are dotted about the sun-bleached walking paths, with great viewpoints of the city and swimming opportunities along the way. Return by ferry to the Old Port.
Walk : Marseille > The Frioul islands > Marseille | 1h30 to 3h | 10 km - 7 miles | Elevation: +10m/-10m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Marseille
A 30-min private taxi transfer takes you to the Col de la Gardiole pass, high above the Calanques of Cassis. You're among a garrigue vegetation of shrubs and aromatic herbs, their perfume concentrated by the penetrating Mediterranean sun. Soon you find a shaded and deeply encased valley that descends in tight zigzags towards the sea and here you reach the Calanque of En Vau. This is followed by a short but steep climb through the jagged limestone to reach the Calanque of Port Pin, a narrow finger-of-an-inlet complete with a sandy beach, the perfect stop for your secluded picnic. The third Calanque is Port Miou, over a kilometre long but ultra-thin, lined on both sides by picturesque sailboats sheltered in this quiet cove. You walk straight into the centre of Cassis, a small town set on the Mediterranean with just a handful of narrow streets & restaurants huddled tightly around its port.
You begin your walk in Cassis, on a small country lane surrounded by vines. Then you climb towards Cap Canaille on a wide track. At just under 400m, Cap Canaille is the highest sea cliff in France and one of the highest in Europe. Facing the vast expanse of the Mediterranean Sea the 360° view is incomparable, taking in the bay of Cassis below. From here, the walking path remains above the vertiginous cliff (without getting too close!) as you make your way along the impressive coastline. Your walk leads into the adjacent town of La Ciotat with its stunning port, naval construction site and sandy beaches (and you've earned a swim!). At the end of the walk, take a taxi in La Ciotat for a transfer back to Cassis (easy to find in the centre - transfer is not included, around 25/30€).
A short morning transfer takes you to the start of the walk at the imposing foot of the Sainte Victoire mountain. A jagged spine soars to the 1000m summit and that is your day's goal. And though it may look imposing the climb is steep but there is no scrambling involved. On a clear day from the summit the snow-peaked Alps are visible to the north and the Mediterranean to the south. Once at the the top you can choose to continue walking along the spine, or descend due south to the village of Vauvenargues, where Pablo Picasso found his eternal rest. A local bus will take you back to Aix en Provence. (ticket not included)
