Full-day sailing cruise from Marseille on a wooden ketch from EUR 139. Chef-prepared buffet, organic wine, swimming and snorkeling in the Calanques.
A Calanques sailing cruise from Marseille built around a full day on the water, a chef-prepared buffet and organic wine is the closest this niche gets to a proper occasion rather than a quick swim stop. Aboard the wooden ketch Le Don du Vent, this EUR 139 cruise trades speed for atmosphere, sailing out from the Vieux-Port toward the calanques with lunch and drinks served on board rather than left for you to pack.
What Makes This Calanques Sailing Cruise from Marseille Special?
Most Marseille boat tours run half a day on a motorboat or catamaran; this one commits to a full day under sail on an authentic wooden yacht. The chef-prepared vegetarian buffet, paired with organic white and rosé wine, is included in the ticket price rather than sold as a supplement, which is unusual at this price point. Sailing itself is also part of the appeal here, a genuinely different pace and feel from a motor-powered crossing.
Is the Calanques Sailing Cruise Worth It?
Yes, for travelers who want the full day and the meal as much as the swimming. At EUR 139, roughly double the price of the half-day motorboat option, you get a full day at sea, a real sit-down lunch, wine, and two swim stops instead of one. It's a weaker value if you only have a few free hours, in which case the Calanques Swim & Snorkel Boat Tour covers the swimming for less than half the price.
What Does the Sailing Cruise Include?
Your ticket covers coffee and navette biscuits on boarding, the vegetarian buffet lunch, organic wine, snorkeling gear, a paddleboard and a swimming belt for less confident swimmers. Additional alcoholic drinks beyond the included wine and any hotel transfer are not covered, so plan your own way to and from the Vieux-Port.
Who Should Book This Marseille Sailing Cruise?
This suits couples, small groups and anyone celebrating an occasion who wants a full day at sea with a proper meal rather than a quick half-day swim stop. It's a weaker fit for travelers on a tight schedule or a tight budget, or for anyone who specifically wants to guarantee a stop in the Calanques rather than an alternate route like La Côte Bleue on a rough-weather day.
Prices and What's Included on the Sailing Cruise
Tickets start at EUR 139 per person, which covers the full day, lunch, wine and water equipment. That's a meaningful step up from the EUR 79 half-day options, but it also replaces a day's food budget, since lunch and drinks are included rather than bought separately in town.
Getting to the Vieux-Port Meeting Point
Le Don du Vent departs from the Old Port of Marseille, walkable from most central hotels or a short ride on the metro to the Vieux-Port stop. Arrive with time to spare for boarding, since a full-day sailing departure tends to run on a tighter schedule than a half-day motorboat trip.
Insider Tips for the Calanques Sailing Cruise
Pack a light jacket or wrap for the sail back in the late afternoon, when the breeze picks up over open water. If you have dietary restrictions beyond the standard vegetarian buffet, mention them when booking rather than on the day. Because the cruise is not a strict tour of every calanque, ask your booking confirmation which cove is planned that day if you have a specific spot in mind.
How This Compares to Other Marseille Boat Tours
For a shorter, cheaper option with two dedicated snorkeling stops, the Calanques Swim & Snorkel Boat Tour runs half a day on a motorboat instead. If you'd rather have paddleboards and a diving board on a bigger boat, the Calanques Catamaran Tour covers a wider stretch of coastline. For an evening version of the sailing experience, the Sunset Dinner Cruise runs a shorter route with a seated dinner instead of lunch. The official Calanques National Park site has useful background on the coves this cruise may visit.
Prices from 139 EUR as of 2026-08-09. Prices may vary; confirmed live at checkout.
