MR Taxi organises your day in the calanques of Marseille and Cassis: drop-off and pick-up as close as possible to the trailheads, a programme adapted to the season and access rules, as a full day or half day from Marseille, Aubagne or La Ciotat. It is advisable to book at least 24 hours ahead, but I adapt even at the last minute.
At the gates of the Old Port, you enter another world. The Calanques National Park, the only peri-urban national park in Europe, unfolds along its coastline its white cliffs, its turquoise coves and its sun-scorched scrubland trails. For many of my clients, it is the excursion they remember for a lifetime. Here is how I organise it.
What few visitors understand at first
The Calanques are not a Riviera beach. It is a protected national park, accessible only on foot (most often) or by boat for some. There is no car park at the foot of the cliff, no snack bar at every cove, no shower after swimming. It is wild, and that is what makes it magical, but it means you have to prepare properly.
Depending on the season, car access to some calanques is regulated to protect the massif from fires, so check before you set off. Some are reachable only on foot after a walk, and others, like En-Vau, require a real hike.
My typical route for a perfect day
When I organise a Calanques day for my clients, here is what I most often suggest:
- Morning: drop-off at the Sormiou pass, then a walk down to the Sormiou calanque, a typical fishing harbour, turquoise water, century-old cabins. Ideal for a quiet morning swim. Depending on the period, car access to the pass may be regulated: I adapt and tell you the best drop-off point.
- Late morning: walk to Morgiou along the ridges. A twin calanque to Sormiou, more intimate, with its small restaurant by the water. If you would rather save your legs, I pick you up and drop you at the Morgiou pass.
- Midday: lunch in Cassis, on the port, on a terrace facing the masts. Bouillabaisse, grilled sea bream, panisses, well-chilled Bandol rosé. Time to catch your breath.
- Afternoon: boat from the port of Cassis to En-Vau, the most emblematic calanque of the park, with its cliffs, its translucent water and its white pebble beach. Times and durations depend on the boat company.
- End of the day: return to Marseille, with a possible photo stop on the way.
Seasonal variations
Outside summer: car access is generally more flexible, which makes it possible to link several Marseille calanques (Sormiou, Morgiou, Sugiton) in the day without excessive walking. Access rules change with the period, I adapt.
In summer: car access is regulated because of the fire risk. The boat from Cassis becomes the main solution, and Sugiton remains accessible on foot from Luminy.
Strong mistral: boats do not go out. In that case, I suggest falling back on the Gineste ridge hike, magnificent in strong wind, with panoramas over the whole massif.
From Aubagne or La Ciotat
If you are staying near Aubagne or La Ciotat, there are two options: the direct road to Cassis via the motorway, or the Cap Canaille ridge road, one of the most beautiful roads on the coast. You climb from La Ciotat, pass above the Figuerolles calanques, drive with the sea far below, and come back down to Cassis.
Who is this circuit suited to
The "Calanques day by private taxi" format particularly suits:
- Couples on a weekend who want to see the essentials without exhausting themselves in transfers
- Families with teenagers who can walk 20-30 minutes but would not do a full hike
- Foreign visitors who are not comfortable with Marseille public transport
- Cruise passengers who land in Marseille for the day and want to see the essentials before re-boarding
Tour options
- Full day (8h, departing Marseille): quote depending on number of people and programme
- Half day (4h, Sormiou + Morgiou)
- One-way to Cassis + pick-up at the end of the day
- Van up to 8 passengers available
I provide hats, water bottles and advice on the trails. The boat to En-Vau is booked separately with the Cassis operator.
To estimate your ride from your starting point, use our private transport page, which calculates the fare in real time based on your address and chosen time.
The last word: the Calanques have to be earned. But well prepared, it is one of the most beautiful days you can spend in the Mediterranean. Booking on 06 98 46 63 34 or instant quote.
