MARSEILLE & THE CAMARGUE’S UNIQUE LANDSCAPES

The charming city of Marseille in the South of France, in the heart of Provence, is the oldest city of France and the major port of call in the Mediterranean. With 35.5 miles of Mediterranean coast with blue sparkling waters and fine sandy beaches, Marseille boasts an exceptionnal situation in an incomparable environment under the most beautiful sun in the world.

Our luxury holidays in the South of France take you to discover the beauty of Marseille and its patchwork of 111 villages. You will enjoy maiden swim and dives in creeks of clear water, in the “Calanques”, gem at the edge of Marseille, with magnificent white cliffs overhanging the sea, visit some small ports like Callelongue or Sormiou, go where the wind carries you during a fantastic sailboat ride between the Frioul Islands and the Calanques. Your travel advisor will also introduce you to Marseille culinary traditions and its variety of tastes and colors during a cookery class on the theme of “Boullabaisse” before exploring the diversity, richness and beauty of the Camargue wild landscapes.

TOUR THE OLD CITY OF MARSEILLE

Your first three nights will be spent at the magnificent Hotel Dieu, a city landmark built in the 18th century, formerly the city’s hospital centre that gazes across the Vieux Port towards the iconic hilltop basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde. You will arrive in style with a private transfer from Marseille airport, then all will be nothing but relaxing and reviving. Days here will be spent at leisure, admiring the unique architecture, soaking up the sunshine and swimming in the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea. After a day of discovery with our historian, from the Old Port to the Old town, the Panier district and then to the Basilica Notre-Dame de la Garde, you will savor a diner of original gourmet creations, honoring the terroir of the region at award-winning restaurant Alcyone or the Petit Nice Passédat where you can wind down under the warm Marseille sun.

MARSEILLE EXCEPTIONAL NATURAL SURROUNDINGS

The two following days, it’s a wild and protected Mediterranean with exceptional seabed, adorable little coves that await you aboard our exclusive yacht. We’ll arrange for you to take diving trips to the underwater world of Calanques, hike on the vast network of paths covering the whole massif also exceptional for the beauty of the sites, the profusion of the plant life as well as the historical and archeological heritage of ancient wrecks. We’ll take you to the small harbour of Callelongue, Sormiou and Morgiou with their fishermen’s huts clinging to the cliffs. As the sun goes down in the creeks, you’ll haveyour taste buds salivate enjoying a bouillabaisse, a bottarga or a fresh lotte with Provençal rosés.

For your third day in the capital of the South France, you’ll immerse yourself in the rocky outline of the Frioul Islands, a white limestone on the indigo blue background of the sea where realty is mixed with legends. At If Castle, we’ll take you on a walking tour to learn about famous real or fictional characters imprisoned at the chateau like Edmond Dantes the hero of Alexandre Dumas’ novel “The Count of Monte Cristo” or the Count of Mirabeau, an activist of the French Revolution.

SEE THE FULL ITINERARY – CUSTOMIZE THIS EXPERIENCE

We design each itinerary around you, so this suggested itinerary is a starting point that we can tweak or transform into something completely bespoke to you. Contact us on +33 545 833 652 to start planning your holiday.