Cassis and the Calanques

The experience begins in Marseille and heads toward the Mediterranean coast. The road climbs through pine woods and vineyards before reaching Cassis, a small harbor town at the edge of the Calanques National Park. A walk through its narrow streets leads to the harbor and waterfront, lined with colorful houses. There is time for a short boat excursion into the Calanques and a light lunch. The route then continues along the clifftop Route des Crêtes to Cap Canaille, where the cliffs rise to nearly 400 meters above the sea. From the viewpoints, the coastline opens onto broad views across the bay of La Ciotat and the island of Île Verte. A visit to a local Cassis winemaker introduces you to the white wines for which this small appellation is best known. Following the coastal road back to Marseille, the day ends at the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde, with wide views over the harbor, Fort Saint-Jean, and the Old Port.

This experience connects two distinct coastal settings shaped by the same Mediterranean shoreline. Between Marseille and Cassis, the Calanques form a continuous landscape, but life along the sea takes on very different scales and rhythms, from a major port city to a small harbor town. Christopher and Laurent know this stretch of coast intimately. Traveling with them allows you to follow one of the region’s most dramatic roads without the distraction of driving, while stopping at their favorite viewpoints. From the cliffs above the sea to the boat ride within the Calanques, each perspective adds to a fuller understanding of the coast. In Cassis, lunch by the harbor is followed by a visit to a local winemaker, placing the village’s white wines within the everyday life of the port and its surrounding vineyards. Back in Marseille, the view from Notre-Dame de la Garde widens the frame again, returning you to a larger Mediterranean city shaped by exchange, movement, and arrival.

You will be guided by Christopher or Laurent, licensed guides based in Marseille. They have been guiding travelers across Provence for more than eight years, building on more than twenty-five years of personal familiarity with the region’s landscapes, towns, and cultural rhythms. Their work draws on long observation of Provence’s varied terrain and everyday life, allowing them to share both well-known sites and the lesser-noticed stories that make the region distinctive. Christopher is originally from England and Laurent is French. Both spent many years in London before relocating to Marseille in 2013, traveling widely during that time and developing a deep curiosity about place and culture. In 2018 they launched their guiding venture together, bringing their passion for connection and cultural exchange to experiences across Provence. Their approach unfolds at an easy pace with space for conversation, close observation, and pleasure of shared time.

Comfortable walking shoes. Sunscreen and a hat. A camera or SmartPhone to capture the occasion.