The 15 Marseille Sailing Trips That Earn Their Price

1.Sunset Sailing Cruise with Dinner and Wine

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 453 reviews · 1 day · from $64Our pick

Board the wooden schooner Goélette Alliance near Marseille’s town hall for an evening sail to the Frioul archipelago. Swim in a sheltered cove, enjoy a fresh vegetarian buffet and one glass of Provençal rosé, then return beneath the Old Port lights. Crew service is offered in English, French, and Italian.

“My partner and I absolutely loved this trip. The boat was gorgeous, the views were magical, and the guides were super friendly. The cove we stopped in for dinner was like something from a movie, and hid us wonderfully from the wind and choppier waves. The music choices were great and I’m a sucker for fairy lights. All in all, an amazing trip and I would highly recommend! My partner got sea sick and even he said he’d do it again in a heartbeat!”

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2.Frioul Calanques Sailing Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 433 reviews · from $113

Join a four-hour sailing trip from Marseille’s Mucem area to a Frioul calanque. Your skipper teaches basic sailing, invites you to steer and handle the ropes, then anchors for swimming and snorkeling before returning. Groups are limited to eight, with English and French guidance.

“It was so much fun, Eric was so positive and let us try to steer the boat. One of the best activities in Marseille!”

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3.Calanques Sailing Day Trip with Lunch and Wine

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 411 reviews · 7 hours · from $159

Spend seven hours aboard the historic Le Don du Vent, sailing from Marseille toward Sormiou, Morgiou, Sugiton, or La Côte Bleue. You’ll swim, snorkel, eat a fresh buffet, and sip organic wine while the crew, including Samir and Sam, keeps the day relaxed and friendly.

“Loved this boat day. The boat and staff are wonderful and everything is timed really well. Must do”

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4.Calanques Catamaran Tour & Standup Paddle

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 411 reviews · 3 - 4 hours · from $93

Cruise from Marseille’s Vieux-Port toward Vallon des Auffes, Château d’If, and the Frioul Islands. Your English or French speaking crew provides snorkels, paddleboards, soft drinks, snacks, and wetsuits when needed. Expect two swimming stops, local stories, and time to jump from the catamaran roof.

“beautiful view, everything was on time. we had 2 stops with the boat, got shnorkels and sap to enjoy the sea.”

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5.Calanques Catamaran Cruise, Picnic, & Swimming

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 192 reviews · 5 hours - 450 minutes · from $104

Spend a day on Grenadine, a comfortable 24-person catamaran, with two skippers, stops at Riou Island, Sormiou, Morgiou, Sugiton, and the Blue Cave. Mary, Julie, or Clemence may be among the skippers. Your fare includes lunch, rosé, soft drinks, snorkeling gear, wetsuits, and GoPro cameras.

“We had such a spectacular day on this cruise! We're not big water enthusiasts, so we were nervous ahead of the tour, but it was stunning and worth going. The guide shared many facts about the area while we rode through the calanques, and the swimming places were beautiful. They also made sure we never went hungry or thirsty. We absolutely loved this!”

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6.A day on a catamaran in the Calanques – All inclusive

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 174 reviews · 8 hours · from $152

Board the maxi-catamaran Samba in Marseille’s Old Port for an eight-hour day through the Calanques. Sail or cruise by electric and thermal power, stop to swim and paddle, and enjoy a buffet, wine, soft drinks, and an aperitif. The route changes with the weather.

“Beautiful trip! The boat was gorgeous, gave enough time to swim, tan, enjoy the boar, eat lunch, and relax. The lunch was good and there was plenty of food. There was a lot of space for many people. Would absolutely recommend and do again!”

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7.Set sail for the Château d’If and the Frioul Islands

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 138 reviews · 3 hours · from $69

Join a Marseille-born guide for a three-hour boat trip from Mucem to Vallon des Auffes, Degaby Island, Château d’If, and Frioul. You’ll have 90 minutes to walk, eat, or swim, with masks and paddles provided. French and English guiding is available.

“Amazing tour with a friendly guide. Great opportunity to explore and swim - good use of the time available. Fun ride back to shore! Would recommend for anyone who prefers a relaxed, hassle free experience and smaller groups.”

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8.Sunset catamaran cruise, buffet & drinks

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 121 reviews · from $72

Join the Le Feng Shui catamaran at Mucem for a four-hour evening cruise toward the Frioul Archipelago. Enjoy sunset views, a seasonal bio-sourced buffet, live background music, one wine or beer, and open-air seating on deck, the rooftop, or nets.

“Sortie sympathique Repas correct Peut-être un peu trop de monde…”

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9.Sailboat Cruise with Lunch, Swim & Organic Wine

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 109 reviews · 7 hours · from $159

Join the small crew aboard Eleanor Mary for a seven-hour cruise from Marseille’s Old Port. Sail toward the Calanques National Park or Côte Bleue, stop to swim and snorkel, share a fresh vegetarian buffet, and enjoy organic white wine and rosé with up to 12 people.

“We had an amazing time on the sailboat cruise. We were able to visit the Calanques National Parc with time to stop for a swim and enjoy a delicious lunch! The sailboat crew was thoughtful and did a great job taking care of the passengers. Highly recommend taking this trip!”

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10.Evening sailboat trip to the Calanques du Frioul with buffet and organic wine

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 79 reviews · 3h 30m · from $94

Meet at pier 2 beside Marseille’s city hall for a 3.5-hour evening sail to the Frioul archipelago. Enjoy a vegetarian buffet from La Casa Consolat, organic Provençal rosé, music, swimming, snorkeling, and sunset views before returning under the Old Port lights.

“La croisière était très sympa ! L’équipage à bord a été super agréable et les différents plats / boissons proposés étaient délicieux ! À recommander !”

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11.Sunset Evening & Dinner at Sea on a Maxi Catamaran in Frioul

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 69 reviews · 3h 30m · from $128

Set sail from Marseille’s Old Port at sunset, pass Château d’If, and anchor in Grand Soufre Bay for swimming, paddleboarding, drinks, and a buffet dinner. The French and English-speaking crew handles the sailing while you enjoy Frioul’s cliffs, calm water, and the city lights on the return.

“Un équipage au top ! Une belle sortie ! Je recommande ++”

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12.Calanques Catamaran Cruise with Lunch & Wine

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 54 reviews · 8h 30m · from $199

Spend 8.5 hours aboard a 30-person catamaran from Marseille’s Port de la Pointe Rouge. Your skippers guide you to Riou, Sormiou, Morgiou, Sugiton, and a quiet swim stop, with lunch, rosé, snorkeling gear, wetsuits, and GoPro cameras included.

“Super activité qui a vite viré au cauchemar à cause de la météo… beaucoup de vent et de pluie, beaucoup de temps avant de nous donner des vêtements chauds alors qu’on était tous gelés sur le bateau, l’excursion était bien mais j’aurais pensé les guides plus fun… je recommande quand même car la météo ne se prévoit pas toujours malheureusement. Bon repas et bons équipements à bord, mais je cherche encore les paddles et trampoline annoncés dans la description.”

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13.Frioul Archipelago Catamaran Cruise with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 49 reviews · from $90

From the foot of Marseille’s Mucem, board the Feng Shui catamaran for a six-hour outing around the Frioul Archipelago. Expect open-deck views, a seasonal buffet, unlimited soft drinks, one beer or wine, music, and time to swim in a sheltered Mediterranean cove.

“Had a great day. We sailed for an hour to get to a quiet bay of crystal clear water. Once there we stopped for 4 hours to eat and swim, then set off back home. If you’re a fussy eater like myself, you should bring your own lunch. The buffet wasn’t to my taste but as I am more fussy than most. It contained beef, cheeses, salad and potatoes. The bar and drinks (especially unlimited soft drinks) were great. The staff were very friendly and chatty, the obviously love the job. The atmosphere was communal and positive. There was a range of families, couples and young adults.Read more”

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14.Château d’If and Frioul Calanques Sailing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 21 reviews · 3 hours · from $93

Spend three hours aboard La Flâneuse, a traditional Marseille tartane, with English or French-speaking captains. Sail around Château d’If, cruise past the Frioul Islands and Vallon des Auffes, then stop in a cove for coffee, PAC lemon syrup, swimming, and snorkeling.

“consiglierò sempre e per sempre questa avventura. i ragazzi ci hanno regalato un momento di poesia e non solo per la bellezza dei posti: il fascino della barca a vela con tutta la sua gestione ha impreziosito tutto il nostro viaggio a Marsiglia insieme a un tuffo imprevisto nelle acque di Ottobre sotto un sole che scalda insieme al caffè bevuto mentre si ascoltano racconti su luoghi e fatti di una città incredibile”

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15.Day sailing in the heart of the Calanques with organic lunch and wine

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 20 reviews · 7 hours · from $153

Meet the crew at Marseille’s Old Port for a seven-hour sailing day through the Calanques. Expect swim stops, snorkeling gear, a seasonal vegetarian buffet, rosé, and stories about local history and geology. If Captain Thibault is aboard, you may also get hands-on help with the sails.

“Really informative, very friendly. Great lunch with lots of wine. I certainly recommend.”

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