Bleu Evasion Calanques Boat Tour Review: What to Know Before You Book

What to expect on the Bleu Evasion Calanques boat tour

Coves such as En-Vau and Sugiton can only be reached on foot or by sea, and in summer the footpaths into the national park can close on high fire-risk days. A boat is the simplest way to see several calanques in one morning. Bleu Evasion’s Calanques boat tour with swimming is the most-reviewed Calanques boat tour from Marseille we found on GetYourGuide, and it costs from $90 per person.

Use the calendar below to see which of the morning, afternoon and sunset departures have seats on your dates. Cancellation is free until 24 hours before the start, and the listing lets you reserve now and pay later.

The boats are small, fast motorboats. The operator’s own site describes them as open boats with a sunbed at the front, a shade at the back, a fresh-water shower and a fridge. Each tour carries up to 12 passengers and a skipper who drives the boat and gives the commentary. You swim straight off the boat, with masks and snorkels provided.

No one on our team has been out on one of these boats. For this review we read recent traveler reports, paying particular attention to what people said about the crossing in windy weather, the number of swim stops and the language of the commentary. We also checked the live listing and Bleu Evasion’s own price list on 24 September 2026.

Recent reviews raise five practical points:

• On windy days the boat runs fast into the waves, and passengers near the front can get soaked on the way out.
• The route depends on the wind. When the sea is rough, the skipper may stay around the Frioul islands or leave from Cassis instead.
• Most of the tour is spent on the boat. Many groups get two swim stops, and some get one.
• There is no toilet on board.
• Commentary is in French and English, and several travelers who booked English say they heard mostly French.

The listing says the route can change with the weather, although its promise of “the sea breeze on your cheeks” doesn’t suggest how wet a windy crossing can be. Guides score 4.8/5 on the listing, transport 4.7 and value for money 4.5. On a calm day, reviews describe a lively half day with clear water, a cave swim and a skipper who knows the coast well. On a windy day, a wet crossing and a shortened route can make the $90 price harder to justify.

Tips for booking the Calanques boat tour

• Choose the Pointe Rouge departure if you can get there easily. The listing says leaving from Pointe Rouge saves 40 minutes in the Calanques, and that a Vieux-Port start sometimes drops a morning swim stop. Pointe Rouge is in southern Marseille, and the operator’s site says parking there is free.
• Pick the afternoon option if En-Vau and the Cassis coves matter to you. The listing says En-Vau, Port-Pin and Port-Miou are visited on the afternoon tour only. On the operator’s own price list, the afternoon costs more than the morning.
• Wear your swimsuit under your clothes and pack a dry bag. Keep your phone sealed on the crossing and bring a warm layer for the way back. Two reviewers say the front seats get the most spray. Some boats hand out rain jackets or ponchos, though one recent traveler said there weren’t enough for everyone.
• Check the wind forecast and your messages the evening before. Start times and departure points can change at short notice when the sea is rough. If the forecast is very windy and a calm day matters to you, contact the operator while you are still inside the 24-hour free cancellation window.
• Use the pre-trip form to ask for English commentary. Bleu Evasion sends a short questionnaire before the tour asking about your preferences. Say that you need English, and mention anything you are hoping for, such as the blue cave or extra swimming.

How the half day works

The morning tour runs from 9:00 to 12:30 and the afternoon from 13:45 to 18:15, according to the operator’s own timetable. The sunset tour lasts about three hours and runs from 15 May to 31 August. The listing asks you to arrive 15 minutes before boarding for check-in and warns that there is no refund if you are late.

Several boats may leave at the same time, and your group may be split between them. The listing gives Riou, Sormiou, Morgiou, Sugiton and En-Vau as the main stops, with Port-Pin and Port-Miou as options. It also says the itinerary can be changed for the weather. The skipper decides the route on the day.

The Bleu Evasion price list has one set of prices for May to September and another for October to April, and recent reviews include departures in March, April and October. Outside summer the water is cold. The listing includes wetsuits “if the water is cold”, but a few travelers said none were handed out. One March traveler described water of about 13°C and no full-length wetsuits. Our best time to visit the Calanques guide has sea temperatures by month.

Stop 1: Pointe Rouge or the Vieux-Port

You meet at one of two harbors, depending on the option you book. The Vieux-Port is central and easy to reach on foot. Pointe Rouge is closer to the park, which is why the operator recommends it.

The operator sends several reminders about arriving on time, and the listing asks for a phone number so the team can reach you. One recent visitor found the meeting point tricky to find and said Google Maps worked better than Apple Maps.

Go to the toilet before you board. Several reviews mention that there isn’t one on the boat, which matters on a four-hour trip.

Stop 2: The crossing and the Riou archipelago

Many of the lower-rated reviews mention the ride out. On a calm day, travelers describe the crossing as fun, with the boat moving quickly along the coast past the Frioul islands. On a windy day, the boat goes fast into the waves and spray comes over the front. Several people were soaked for most of the trip, and a few describe seasickness and hard landings. One traveler said their partner hurt their back when the boat came down hard. The listing states that the tour is not suitable for people with back problems.

Reviews also suggest that how the boat is driven varies between skippers. One traveler on a rough day compared notes with someone on another boat that left at the same time, who described a smooth ride. If the pace feels uncomfortable, ask the skipper to slow down.

From the Vieux-Port, one traveler estimated about an hour to reach the Calanques. The first stop on the itinerary is the Riou archipelago, a group of islands off the coast, with 20 minutes for swimming and snorkeling.

Stop 3: Sormiou, Morgiou and Sugiton

This is the part of the coast with the tall limestone cliffs. The itinerary gives about 30 minutes at Sormiou, 20 at Morgiou with a swim and 30 at Sugiton. You see most of the coves from the water, and the swims are off the boat. One 2024 review says they rode past the beaches without landing on any of them. Another estimated that 80 to 85 percent of the tour was spent on the boat.

The listing also mentions a “blue cave” on the morning and afternoon tours. Several reviews describe swimming into a sea cave, and for some it was the highlight of the day. Others say it was skipped. You can ask for it on the pre-trip form, although one traveler said their request wasn’t followed.

Many reviews praise the skipper-guides by name. Clémence, Elsa, Félix and Julia are each named in more than ten reviews this year, and Christophe and Nico in several more. Guides score 4.8/5 on the listing, the highest of the three category scores.

Stop 4: En-Vau, Port-Pin and Port-Miou (afternoon only)

These three coves sit closer to Cassis, and the listing includes them on the afternoon tour only. The itinerary gives 20 minutes at En-Vau for photos, 20 at Port-Pin with a swim and 30 at Port-Miou. It doesn’t list swimming at En-Vau, and one traveler said they only passed it. If a swim at En-Vau is the reason for your trip, the guided Calanques hike from Marseille gets you to the water on foot. It is rated 4.7 from more than 600 reviews and costs from $40 per person, although summer hikes depend on the fire-risk level. Our boat vs hike guide compares the two.

Stop 5: The ride back

The return usually follows the same coast back to your harbor.

On the sunset tour you come back after dark. One person liked seeing Marseille lit up on the way in. Others mention rosé and snacks on board, and insects once the sun goes down. One traveler said their sunset tour finished at about 10pm.

The listing includes a GoPro camera. Some travelers say the skipper took photos and sent them by email later. Several others say there was no GoPro on their boat. One recent traveler received photos that showed people from a different group, so bring your own waterproof phone case if photos matter to you.

Away from the Calanques, Marseille’s boat trips also run out to the Frioul islands and the Château d’If, and there are sunset and catamaran departures from the Vieux-Port. These are other experiences around Marseille you can compare.

What can change on the day

Issues specific to the open boat

• No toilet. Several travelers said they would have liked to know this before booking.
• Space on board. With 12 passengers, a few reviews describe the boat as cramped, especially after swimming when everyone is wet. If space and a toilet matter to you, consider Bleu Evasion’s catamaran cruise with a picnic. It takes up to 24 passengers on a catamaran with toilets, visits the same coves when the weather allows, and is rated 4.8 from more than 300 reviews, from $90 per person. Its lower-rated reviews mention fewer swim stops, not wet crossings.
• Pace. For a slower day, the wooden sailboat trip with a buffet lunch and wine runs for 7 hours with two anchorages. It is rated 4.8 from more than 500 reviews and costs from $142 per person.

Other things that vary

• Commentary. Several travelers found it hard to hear the skipper over the engine, and some who booked English said the commentary was mainly in French.
• Schedule. Start times are sometimes moved, and on rough days the departure can move to Cassis. One traveler said a late change of meeting point cost them more than €100 in taxi fares.
• Included extras. Snorkel gear, soft drinks and the Calanques tax are standard. The GoPro and wetsuits depend on the boat.
• Smoking. A couple of 2025 reviews mention a skipper smoking on board.

There is also a private full-day trip on an electric-solar catamaran in the Calanques. It costs about $2,846 for up to 12 people, or about $237 per person with 12 on board. With no reviews on it yet, we have left it unlinked.

Is the Bleu Evasion Calanques boat tour worth it?

Yes, on a reasonably calm day. For $90 you get a small group, a skipper-guide who is usually well reviewed, swim stops with snorkel gear and a look at coves that are hard to reach any other way.

Book this tour if you want to see the Calanques from the water and swim in them, you don’t mind getting splashed, and you can go without a toilet for four hours. Choose Pointe Rouge if you can.

Book something else if you want a slow, dry cruise or you need a toilet on board. The catamaran or the sailboat day suits that brief better. If you want to set foot on the beaches, consider the guided hike.

If you do book, arrive at the harbor 15 minutes early. The listing says late arrivals are not refunded.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the Bleu Evasion Calanques boat tour?

The listing says 3.5 to 4.5 hours. The operator’s timetable runs the morning tour from 9:00 to 12:30 and the afternoon tour from 13:45 to 18:15. The sunset tour lasts about three hours.

Will I get wet on the boat?

On a calm day you may only get splashed. On a windy day the boat is open and runs into the waves, and several travelers were soaked on the crossing, especially near the front. Wear your swimsuit and keep your phone in a dry bag.

Which departure point should I choose, Pointe Rouge or the Vieux-Port?

Pointe Rouge, if you can get there. The listing says it saves 40 minutes in the Calanques, and that a Vieux-Port start sometimes drops a morning swim stop. The Vieux-Port is more central.

Is there a toilet on the boat?

No. Several reviews mention it, so go before you board. Bleu Evasion’s catamaran tours have toilets on board.

Does the tour run in October and winter?

Bleu Evasion publishes one price list for May to September and another for October to April, and recent reviews include departures in March, April and October. The sunset option runs from 15 May to 31 August only. Outside summer the water is cold, and wetsuits are not always handed out.

Is the tour suitable for children?

The listing states that it is not suitable for children under 2, pregnant women or people with back problems. Several families rate it highly. The operator says its boats carry life jackets and flotation noodles for weaker swimmers.

About this review

This review isn’t based on a trip of our own. It draws on recent traveler reports, including the critical ones, along with the GetYourGuide listing and the timetable and price list on Bleu Evasion’s own website. The price and rating were checked on 24 September 2026. Prices on this tour rise in the summer season, so confirm yours in the booking calendar. If you book through the links on this page we earn a commission, and the price you pay is the same.