Provence: Mountains to the Mediterranean
- Walk from the holy Sainte Baume mountains to the French Riviera
- Enjoy beautiful views from the Cap Canaille; the highest sea-cliff in Europe
- Relax by the azure blue waters of the Calanques National Park
- Feast on freshly caught seafood and 'Boullabaisse', a rich fish stew
- Soak up the Mediterranean atmosphere with an apéritif by the port of Cassis
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Marseille and transfer to Pont d’EtoileMarseille is easily accessible, located in the South of France it is about 3.5 hours from Paris by TGV, the city also has its own airport, just 25 minutes from the city centre by bus.
A transfer from Marseille train station to your hotel in Pont d’Etoile (20 mins) is included in your tour. Pont d’Etoile is located 2km from the town of Aubagne, just north of Marseille and at the foot of the Sainte Baume Mountains. Enjoy the views from your tranquil hotel, relax by the pool or on the terrace with a drink.

Situated about 2 kms from Aubagne this hotel is set in the countryside and in the heart of the Saint Baume Mountain range. It offers glorious views of the Garlaban Mountains and you can enjoy relaxing on their shaded terrace or by the outdoor pool. Rooms are generously-sized and with a modern décor. Packed lunches are available. Please request on check-in.
Leaving Aubagne behind, you are immediately immersed in the Provencal hinterland of small hamlets as you climb toward the ridge above Vallon St Clair. Panoramic views of Marseille and the coast start to open up. You soon come to the interesting village of Plan d’Aups, perched at 682m, where remains hint at a Roman past. Spend the next two nights here.
Ascent/Descent: 850m/280m

Offering 13 rooms the Lou Pèbris d’Ai Hotel has a heated swimming pool and is wonderfully located in the heart of the village. It has an excellent restaurant producing typical cuisine in a relaxed environment.

Five spacious and country charming rooms overlooking the outstanding Sainte-Baume mountain. Maison Rouge was built by a highly qualified team of carpenters out of three different types of wood: Italy poplar, Douglas pine and Red Cedar.Nested in a protected forest and preserved area, quiet is our luxury.
On leaving the village you are immediately immersed in the colours and smells of the alpine meadows of the LUbac estate. Soon the path zig-zags and ascends steadily through the wooded Vallon de Betton. Work your way up to the Marie-Madeleine Cave, a popular pilgrimage site. She is said to have retired to this holy cave where she gave herself up to a life of penance for thirty years. Return through the shaded forest.
Ascent/Descent: 615m/615m

Offering 13 rooms the Lou Pèbris d’Ai Hotel has a heated swimming pool and is wonderfully located in the heart of the village. It has an excellent restaurant producing typical cuisine in a relaxed environment.

Five spacious and country charming rooms overlooking the outstanding Sainte-Baume mountain. Maison Rouge was built by a highly qualified team of carpenters out of three different types of wood: Italy poplar, Douglas pine and Red Cedar.Nested in a protected forest and preserved area, quiet is our luxury.
Follow the bed of the ancient Chemin de Fer railway which leads you directly up to the Peace Monument at Col de Bertagne. Above you towers the massive stone face of Pic de Bertagne, descend through the herbs and shrubs. Pass the ruins of the Cistercian Abbey and watch the source of its water bubble out from the rocks.
Walk through the park and picnic areas of the town of Gemenos before arriving at the Church of St Martin. Take a bus to Cassis, where you will spend the next three nights.
Cassis is a small picturesque port town and located just East of Marseille, it’s a firm favourite with the locals as a weekend getaway. Enjoy the relaxed, authentic atmosphere of this part of the Côte d’Azur, without the pomp and crowds of some more well-known towns on the Riviera.
Ascent/Descent: 6200m/700m

Located away from the hustle and bustle of the harbour area yet only a 5-10 minute walk from it, experience the best of both worlds at this peaceful hotel. A real highlight is the extensive outdoor pool, flanked by palm trees and with a convenient poolside bar. Rooms are clean and comfortable and each come with a private terrace or balcony with views to the garden, village or sea.

This is a charming family run hotel located about 5 minutes’ walk from Cassis’ picturesque harbour and beach.

The location of this boutique hotel is one of its highlights as it is close to the harbour, the beach and many shops and restaurants. The rooms are decorated in a modern style and have all the necessary amenities.
A taxi transfer (15 mins and payable locally) takes you to the town of La Ciotat where you start today’s walk. Look backwards for a view of Les Trois Secs, Le Bec de lAigle and the Isle Verte.Turning inland, you can review your routes of the previous three days as the path snakes along the Cliffs of Soubeyranes, passing Grande Tete and Cap Canaille. On reaching the Belvedere des Calanques, you descend through the quiet valley beneath La Route des Cretes before finally joining the quiet back road alongside the vineyards of Cassis.
Ascent/Descent: 660m/660m

Located away from the hustle and bustle of the harbour area yet only a 5-10 minute walk from it, experience the best of both worlds at this peaceful hotel. A real highlight is the extensive outdoor pool, flanked by palm trees and with a convenient poolside bar. Rooms are clean and comfortable and each come with a private terrace or balcony with views to the garden, village or sea.

This is a charming family run hotel located about 5 minutes’ walk from Cassis’ picturesque harbour and beach.

The location of this boutique hotel is one of its highlights as it is close to the harbour, the beach and many shops and restaurants. The rooms are decorated in a modern style and have all the necessary amenities.
Start today’s walk around the Quai des Baux, passing chic waterside cafés. Pass by the up market Plage de Bestoun, lapped by turquoise blue water and make your way through the streets of Port Miou. Descend to the waterside at the Calanque de Port Miou, crammed with gleaming white boats. After a short ascent, descend back to sea level at the Calanque de Port Pin. Ascend to the Calanque den Vau with views of its calm water. You then descend to the Vallon den Vau which leads through a pinnacled, rocky ravine to the beach of the Calanque itself.
Ascent/Descent: 540m/520m

Located away from the hustle and bustle of the harbour area yet only a 5-10 minute walk from it, experience the best of both worlds at this peaceful hotel. A real highlight is the extensive outdoor pool, flanked by palm trees and with a convenient poolside bar. Rooms are clean and comfortable and each come with a private terrace or balcony with views to the garden, village or sea.

This is a charming family run hotel located about 5 minutes’ walk from Cassis’ picturesque harbour and beach.

The location of this boutique hotel is one of its highlights as it is close to the harbour, the beach and many shops and restaurants. The rooms are decorated in a modern style and have all the necessary amenities.
After breakfast check out of your hotel. From Cassis train station, take a train back to Marseille (20 mins) for your onward travel. If you have more time to explore Provence, why not consider our Classic Provence trip? Just ask your Destination specialist for more information.
Other Information
Is it for me?This self-guided walking tour in France’s Provence region is perfect for those looking for a combination of mountains and coast and to experience a different side to the French Riviera. Rated moderate, you will be walking on a mixture of mountain trails and coastal paths. The ascent can be significant on some days, so it’s ideal for those looking to work up an appetite! Stay in comfortable family run 3* hotels along the way.
Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&B’s, inns, and guesthouses.
Solo Travellers
As a guide, we would suggest that the minimum age of traveler this tour would be suitable for is: 12 Years
This trip is graded ‘moderate’ with average daily distance being 14km. Ascent and descent can be significant on this trip, so you should have a good level of fitness and be used to walking in hilly terrain to really get the most of this trip. You will be on a mixture of mountain trails and coastal paths. Provence can be rugged underfoot, so you need to be sure footed.
You will be staying in comfortable 3* hotels. They all offer a warm welcome to walkers and traditional hospitality. Please see below for an example of the accommodation used on this tour.
Alternate accommodation
During the high season you might be booked into alternative accommodations which are not listed in the main daily description. If those listed here are unavailable the alternative accommodation will be of the same or better standard than those described.
Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
If you require single rooms within your party we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable. This trip is available to solo walkers but a supplement is payable to cover the extra costs that are not shared.
Meals
Breakfasts are included each day and tend to be a buffet selection with lots of sweet treats like home made jams and pastries. Savoury tastes are also catered for with cheeses, ham, eggs and bread available.
Packed lunch items can be bought locally from supermarkets or the local boulangerie (bakery). In France, boulangeries are still an important part of everyday life and can be found on most streets. In Pont d’Etoile and Plan d’Aups, you can also ask your accommodation to prepare a packed lunch for you (payable locally).
2 dinners are included in Plan d’Aups. Other dinners can be purchased in each town, with several options available in Cassis, you will be spoilt for choice! Provençal specialities that shouldn’t be missed include, Bouillabaisse, a rich fish stew made up of a minimum of three different kinds of fish, Soupe au Pistou, a summer vegetable soup, typically served with a dollop of tasty pesto sauce, and Moules Marinière, ’sailor mussels’ served with lots of garlic, onion and herbes de Provence. Wash it all down with a glass of pastis de Marseille or a glass of refreshing vin blanc de Cassis.
Some trails are waymarked and you will be provided with maps and route notes. You will also have access to the Macs Adventure Smartphone App enabling you to follow the route using your phone's GPS so you will have no problems finding the way.
- 6 Nights accommodation in 3* hotels
- 6 Breakfasts
- 2 Dinners (in Plan d'Aups)
- Transfer from Marseille Saint Charles train station to first hotel
- Luggage transfers
- Maps, route notes, pre-departure information pack
- GPS tracks and access to the Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app
- 24 hour emergency telephone support
- Travel to Marseille
- Travel from Cassis
- Lunches & 4 Dinners
- Drinks and snacks
- Bus transportation on Day 4
- Taxi transfer to beginning of walk on Day 5
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses or equipment
- Additional nights
This trip is available to start any day of the week between March and May and between October to November. Any time within these dates are ideal for walking, with March, April & November being the cooler of the available months with average temperatures being around 15 degrees Celsius. May and October are warmer with temperatures between 15- 25 degrees. We do not offer this tour in June, July, August or September due to high temperatures and many trails are closed due to a high risk of wild fires. Even outside of these dates there may be closures due to unusually high temperatures. Please take advice of local authorities and do not walk on closed trails, contact us if you are ever in doubt.
Fly: into Marseille-Provence airport. From here there is a shuttle bus approximately every 20 minutes to the SNCF Marseille Saint-Charles train station which takes about 25 minutes. Details of the shuttle bus can be found here. A transfer from the train station to your first hotel is included. You may prefer to fly into one of the Paris airports, from where you can make your way into the city centre (Paris Gare de Lyon) to take a direct TGV to Marseille (3.5 hours). For train details please check www.sncf.com
Train: Eurostar from London St-Pancras International to Paris (Gard du Nord). Change here and travel to Paris Gare de Lyon, from here take a direct TGV train to Marseille. The whole trip takes about 8 hours and can be booked at www.eurostar.com.
From Cassis train station you can take a train back to Marseille (about 20 mins). Train details can be found at www.sncf.com. From Marseille you can take a TGV train to many locations in France and Europe, or continue home via one of the methods mentioned in the ‘Getting to’ section.
All your belongings will be transferred between accommodations. We do ask you keep your baggage to one bag per person (maximum weight 20kg).
Provence: Mountains to the Mediterranean in the Press
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Featured in the Telegraph's "The Secret Med - Best Holidays to Book Under the Radar": https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/family-holidays/secret-med-best-holidays-book-under-the-radar-locations/
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.
We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised as Provence is an extremely popular destination.
This trip is graded ‘moderate’ with average daily distance being 14km. Ascent and descent can be significant on this trip, so you should have a good level of fitness and be used to walking in hilly terrain to really get the most of this trip. You will be on a mixture of mountain trails and coastal paths. Provence can be rugged underfoot, so you need to be sure footed.
All your belongings will be transferred between accommodations. We do ask you keep your baggage to one bag per person (maximum weight 20kg).
Our pre-departure information pack has detailed advice and a kit list on what to take. This includes good waterproof gear, walking shoes/boots, and lots of other useful bits and bobs.
You can use public transport or local taxis to continue to your next overnight stop.
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