Inspiring Hikes: Cassis and Les Calanques
Catching a bus was a spur-of-the-moment decision. So was booking accommodation in Marseille. I admittedly didn’t do much research for this part of the trip. Essentially, I knew two things: that I was going from Barcelona to Milan and that Marseille was more or less in the middle of those two cities.
Marseille was fine and all, but I knew pretty early on that I wasn’t staying on the best side of the city, so I did what I normally do. I googled where to go, and the internet provided me with a pretty clear consensus. Cassis it was.
The bus from Marseille to Cassis and back runs a couple of times a day. It’s a quick 35-minute journey to what feels like a completely different world where the ocean is bluer than the sky itself, and everyone lives like they’re on vacation at a slow and laid-back pace. And this is where our hike begins.
GETTING THERE
The bus from Marseille to Cassis runs every two hours and goes the full round trip about 5 times a day. It’s important to plan your trip accordingly if you are considering traveling from Marseille by bus and ensure that you return to town with plenty of time to catch the last one.
When my friend and I made the journey, we nearly missed our bus to Cassis due to the sheer amount of people trying to get on. If you’re planning on going this route, I definitely recommend being assertive and early to the bus stop, or you may end up wasting 2 hours waiting on the next coach.
THE TOWN OF CASSIS
I could hardly believe my eyes when we stepped off the bus from Marseille. It was quaint, picturesque and bustling with activity. I often tend to luck into things when I travel, and this was no exception. We had stumbled into Cassis on a Friday morning, which just so happened to be an open-air Provencal market day. The sights and smells overwhelmed.
There were stalls with fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and cheeses. There were local artisans selling crafts, oils and handmade French soaps. It was so authentically French, and it all looked so tempting. A container of raspberries and some sparkling water was honestly all I needed for the perfect breakfast on the beach.
The town itself is gorgeous, bursting with colour and filled with the sounds of waves breaking over the pebble-filled beach. It’s big enough that there’s lots to do in and around Cassis, yet small enough to feel personal and secluded. And the best part is that it’s right on the doorstep of the Calanques National Park.
THE TRAIL
To reach the trailhead, you’ll need to head West from the middle of town, following the coast until you reach Traverse du Soleil. From that street, you’ll want to follow Avenue des Calanques to the entrance of the park.
Once you’re inside, the pathway is very clear and well-marked. It’s also extremely heavily-trafficked, so you can follow the flow of other hikers to the three main Calanques closest to Cassis: Port Miou, Port Pin and d’En Vaut.
The trail is great for hikers of all ages and skill sets, but the farther you trek into the park the rockier the terrain gets, so hiking poles are great to have but not necessarily mandatory, in my opinion.
If you’re a slow hiker, like me, it should take from 3 to 3 1/2 hours to see the three Calanques, however one or two of them could be visited in about an hour and a half, if you’re pressed for time or just aren’t up to hiking long distances. The natural beauty is enough to satisfy, even on the shortest of walks.
The views are top-tier as you traverse your way through the park. Watching ships go in and out of the Calanques, cutting through the startlingly blue waters, you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped right into a post card. Beautiful beaches with crystal-clear waters lay in wait to be enjoyed by travelers from all over. Stop for a swim or simply take a break to enjoy the picture-perfect scenery that abounds in this gorgeous part of the country.
I found the trail to be pretty straight-forward to follow, but if you’re looking for a bit more guidance, I frequently make use of my All Trails app to find maps of different hiking routes. Google Maps will also do the trick, provided that you have internet connection.
If you’re visiting in the summer months, be sure to bring plenty of water, as this part of France gets very hot, and make sure you check the fire-danger levels at this website, as the park can be shut down if the potential for wildfires becomes too high.
The list of reasons to visit this geographically stunning part of the country just go on and on. If you’re making your way through the south of France, this year, the Calanques National Park is an absolute must for your vacation bucket list!
