Day trips, simple boat rides, parties, and cocktail parties: there are multiple options for a cruise in the Calanques of Marseille. To help you choose the best one for you, we have put together a detailed comparison of the best boat trips in the Calanques of Marseille.
⚡Are you in a hurry? Here are our favorite boat trips in the Calanques:
- The best short excursion: Bleu Evasion
- The best day trip: A day on a sailboat
- The best evening on a boat: Cocktail party
Table of Contents
Affordable Boat Tours
If you are only in the area for a short time, there are many basic cruises at affordable prices that last just a few hours.
Calanques and Château d’If
The Calanques-Château d’If shipping company offers tours of the Calanques on large boats that can seat up to 275 people.
Relax in a comfortable seat while the crew guides you through the middle of the rocks and the crystal clear water of the Calanques National Park.
If you are on a tight schedule, the Essentiel des Calanques tour allows you to enjoy all of the magnificent scenery in less than three hours.
Although short, this boat tour lives up to its name: you will see all of the essential sights in the Calanques.
Duration: 2 hours and 15 minutes
Price: €26 per person
We like:
- The family pack for 2 adults and 2 children for only €84
- The very affordable prices
We don’t like as much:
- The boat is often crowded
- You have to arrive early to get the best seats
Icard Maritime
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An associate of the Calanques-Château d’If shipping company, Icard Maritime offers guided tours in addition to tours such as the Essentiel des Calanques.
The shortest round trip lasts about 45 minutes, during which you can discover the bay of Marseille’s harbor and the island of Château d’If, where you will make a brief stop.
This is the ideal trip for those who want to go out to sea quickly without going too far from Marseille.
Duration: from 45 minutes to 3 and a half hours
Price: €11 per person for 45 minutes
We like:
- The guided tour is available in many languages (English, Spanish, Mandarin, Russian, etc.)
We don’t like as much:
- The boat is often crowded
- You have to arrive early to get the best seats
La Visite Des Calanques
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This company offers year-round boat tours that last from 45 minutes to 2 hours, perfect if your time is limited.
You can choose to visit three, five, eight, or nine creeks, depending on how long you want to spend. All the tours depart from and return to the Port of Cassis.
Duration: from 45 minutes to 2 hours
Price:
- 45 minutes (3 coves): €17 per person
- 2 hours (9 creeks): €29 per person
We like:
- The guided tour with many interesting and amusing details
- The frequency of departures (every 30, 45, or 60 minutes)
We don’t like as much:
- The boats depart from the Port of Cassis instead of the Old Port of Marseille
- You have to arrive very early to get the best seats
Half-Day Boat Trips
Eco-Calanques: an afternoon in the creeks
On the Quay of Honor of the Old Port, Captain Thibault waits to take you on a superb excursion in the National Park of the Calanques of Marseille.
A passionate guide, Thibault will help you discover the splendid landscapes of the Calanques. His anecdotes and historical knowledge of the area and the city of Marseille will give you a deeper understanding of and admiration for the region.
The trip will give you the opportunity to see the relief of the Calanques, the beaches, the huts, and the buildings of Marseille as you sail past the city on your way to the Calanques of Sormiou.
You will also get to explore the bed of one of the creeks during the swimming break.
This excursion is not only unique because of the intimate outing with friends or family that Thibault’s twelve-seat boat allows; the boat also has a hybrid engine for reduced fuel consumption.
Thibault makes it a priority to increase his passengers’ awareness of the fragility of the ecosystem.
This excursion is perfect for a short getaway with a small group without disturbing the biodiversity of the area.
Duration: 4 and a half hours
Price: starting at €88 per person or €44 for children under 12 years old
We like:
- The boat’s eco-friendly hybrid engine
- Snorkels, masks, and fins are provided for the swimming break
- Thibault also offers similar full-day trips
We don’t like as much:
- The boat can feel cramped with twelve people aboard
Information and booking (site in French)
Bleu Evasion – all-inclusive excursions
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Of the many agencies that offer boat trips in the Calanques, Bleu Evasion is one of the highest rated and most appreciated by visitors.
Everything you need to have a great time in the Calanques is included in the price: a boat, skipper, gasoline, wetsuits, cold drinks, snorkeling equipment, and even GoPro cameras (when available).
Bleu Evasion offers tours of different lengths: morning, afternoon, or full day.
You can also choose between a motor boat with 8 to 12 seats or a catamaran with 15 to 25 seats.
The passionate skippers will take you along established routes to discover the Calanques, including time for swimming, lunch, relaxation, and conviviality in a unique setting.
Duration:
- Morning: 3 hours
- Afternoon: 4 and a half hours
Price:
- Morning on a motor boat with 12 people: €89 per person
- Afternoon on a motor boat with 12 people: €129 per person
We like:
- Everything is included in the price
- In case of cancellation due to bad weather, you get a full refund
- You can also choose a nighttime excursion in the port of Marseille
We don’t like as much:
- There are no toilets on the motor boats
- You have to book an entire boat to take a day trip
Balade en mer Marseille
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If you want to get off of the beaten track, the Balade en mer Marseille agency’s tours were made for you.
The skippers offer tours away from the crowded creeks, allowing you discover unusual areas hidden from view. They also know every corner of the creeks and are happy to share anecdotes and fun facts about the places you visit.
The itinerary of the trips is not fixed; it evolves based on weather conditions. The agency does offer reference tours that can be done in the morning, in the afternoon, for an entire day, or even at night.
You will, of course, be able to swim and eat both while at sea and on land.
Duration:
- Morning: 3 hours
- Afternoon: 4 hours
Price:
- Morning on a Medline III semi-rigid boat for 6 to 10 people: €40 per person
- Afternoon on a Medline III semi-rigid boat for 6 to 10 people: €70 per person
We like:
- The unusual itineraries that take you away from the crowds
- The skippers’ anecdotes
We don’t like as much:
- The boat can only carry a maximum of 10 people
Information and booking (site in French)
Day Trips With a Meal or Tasting
A day on a sailboat
This exceptional excursion invites you on board a sailing boat built in 1949.
On this very well-preserved rig, you will discover Marseille and its creeks with swimming breaks in the middle of idyllic scenery.
If you want, the crew of the sailboat will be delighted to introduce you to seafaring: you can learn about sailing and the rudiments of seamanship during an unforgettable day on board an exceptional boat.
A drink and a cold buffet prepared by a caterer are included in the price, and all of the products are organic, fresh, and in season. The meal is nutritious and suitable for all diets (vegetarian, pork-free, etc.).
This excursion is a one-of-a-kind experience that combines awe-inspiring natural scenery with the authenticity of a dual-masted sailing boat in perfect condition.
Duration: 7 hours
Price: from €130 per person
We like:
- Drinks are included (fruit juice and coffee in the morning, rosé at noon) to perfectly complement the organic cold buffet
- Masks, fins, and snorkels are included
We don’t like as much:
- The boat has 30 seats, so you’ll likely travel with a few strangers
Information and booking (site in French)
Cruise and tasting
This exceptional cruise takes place on a beautiful boat. You will discover the creeks of Marseille and the surrounding islands of Frioul, including a view of the Château d’If.
The tasting takes place on the boat while it is anchored in a hidden cove. You will get to taste and learn more about Provencal wines as well as try delicious regional tapas.
After the tasting, you can swim and snorkel in the quiet cove with the equipment provided.
Although lunch is not included, you are welcome to bring your own food or eat at a seaside restaurant.
This quiet and intimate cruise combines discovering the Calanques Park’s landscapes with high-end wine tasting.
Duration: 8 hours
Price: from €1,400 for a group of 8 people (€175 per person)
We like:
- The wine and tapas tasting
- The boat is air-conditioned and has Wi-Fi
- Snorkeling equipment is included
We don’t like as much:
- Besides the wine tasting, lunch is not included
Cocktail Parties in the Calanques
Cocktail party on a sailboat
You can also spend an amazing night (with dinner included!) on the same 1949 sailboat mentioned earlier.
For about four hours, you can admire the sunset over Marseille and the Calanques from the deck of a dual-masted sailboat.
To complete the experience, a cold buffet prepared with organic cuisine and quality products is offered.
If the weather conditions allow it, you will even have the opportunity to do some snorkeling before dinner.
The evening ends with music, and you can even request your favorite songs!
This evening is sure to be an unforgettable time in a beautiful setting as you enjoying the last light of the day.
The cruise is only available during the summer, generally from May to the end of September.
Duration: 3 and a half hours
Price: from €75 per person
We like:
- The exceptional sailboat
- You can suggest your favorite songs or playlists
We don’t like as much:
- The boat has 30 seats, so you’ll likely travel with a few strangers
Information and booking (site in French)
Cocktail party on a boat
Captain Thibault from the Eco-Calanques agency once again welcomes you on board his eco-friendly boat for a cocktail party at sea.
The boat will drop anchor in one of the creeks of the Frioul Archipelago for an evening in a secure, quiet space in the heart of the Calanques.
You will be able to dive and swim with the equipment provided before returning to the boat for a quality cold buffet dinner.
Captain Thibault is always happy to share his anecdotes about the city of Marseille and the Calanques; this is many travelers’ favorite part of this trip!
At the end of the evening, you are encouraged to share your music to end the trip in a festive atmosphere.
Duration: 3 and a half hours
Price: starting at €65 per person
We like:
- Snorkeling equipment is included
- You can bring your own music
- The eco-friendly boat
We don’t like as much:
- The trip might be postponed if there are less than 5 participants
Information and booking (site in French)
Best Cruises in the Calanques: Comparative Table
| Price (starting at) | Duration | Boat Capacity | Food included | Drinks included | |
| Icard Maritime | €11 | 45 minutes | 197 seats | ❌ | ❌ |
| La Visite Des Calanques | €17 | 45 minutes | 75 seats | ❌ | ❌ |
| Calanques – Château d’If | €26 | 2 hours and 15 minutes | 275 seats | ❌ | ❌ |
| Balade en mer Marseille | €40 | 3 hours | 10 seats | ✅ | ❌ |
| Eco-Calanques | €88 | 4 hours and 30 minutes | 12 seats | ❌ | ❌ |
| Bleu Evasion | €89 | 3 hours | 12 seats | ✅ | ✅ |
| Day on a sailboat | €130 | 7 hours | 30 seats | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cruise and tasting | €175 | 8 hours | 8 seats | ✅ | ❌ |
| Cocktail party on a boat | €65 | 3 hours and 30 minutes | 12 seats | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cocktail party on a sailboat | €75 | 3 hours and 30 minutes | 30 seats | ✅ | ✅ |
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