8.15am - Meeting point at Aix en Provence Tourism Office
8.30am Depart from Aix en Provence
09.15am Arrive at Cassis
10.30am Boat Ride in the Calanques National Park
11.45am Free time for Lunch (at own expense) & personal discovery
1.30pm Depart from Cassis to Cap Canaille
3.00pm Wine Tasting of Provence Wines
4.30pm Return to Aix en Provence
Pick up at a centrally meeting point in Aix en Provence
This morning, we will come and pick you up at in front of the Aix en Provence Tourism office. The tourist office is located in the heart of the city, close to all the hotels located in the city center, usually a maximum 10 minutes walking distance.
Meet your English speaking local guide
Upon arrival at the meeting point, you will be welcomed by your English speaking guide who will be waiting with a sign bearing the name of the tour and with the Ophorus logo on it. Also, all our guides have a nominative badge so that it will be easy for you to recognize them. There, your guide will go over the itinerary and program of the day. Board your premium, comfortable A/C vehicle and begin your tour from Aix en Provence towards the lovely seaside village of Cassis.
Cassis village visit
Arrive in the fishing village of Cassis and discover this cute portside village as well as the calanques listed by Unesco as a world heritage national park. The land & sea area is known for its white cliffs and turquoise water. Follow your guide on a walking tour of the village so as to get your bearings. As you stroll through the narrow streets of Cassis, browse small shops and stores that sell local goods of Provence, far from the chain stores that you would find in larger cities. If you are in the village on a Wednesday or Friday morning, your guide will certainly take you to the local market where it is possible to taste local delicacies.
Boat Ride in the Calanques National Park
This full day tour from Aix en Provence also includes a panoramic boat ride of the Calanques that are located near Cassis. From the small port, reach the Calanques National Park that stretches from Marseille to Cassis to admire some of the most beautiful coves part of the steep rocky coast that developed in limestone due to erosion. The result is a breathtaking landscape that mixes turquoise waters with impressive limestone cliffs and inlets.
Enjoy some free time for personal discovery & lunch (at own expense)
The great thing about this tour is that the program has been designed to leave you enough time to thoroughly enjoy your time in Cassis. After your visit & 45 minute boat ride, you will have sufficient time to take in some of that "Provence atmosphere" and lose yourself in the small quiet backstreets compared to the bustling harbor. It will also be time for you to taste some of the local delicacies in one of the many restaurants or bistros of the village. Ask your guide for recommendations as there are a number of restaurants that serve fine meals. As you can imagine, fish & seafood are among the most popular dishes to be found in the village.
Reach Cape Canaille, the highest cliff in Europe
No tour to Cassis will be complete without a drive along the Route des Crêtes. As you leave Cassis, your drive will begin to head up towards the highest sea cliff in all of Europe. Of course, your driver/guide will stop in one of the many areas dedicated to take in the views over the village and the surrounding Mediterranean Sea. The views are stunning and make for a great opportunity for astounding photos.
Provence Rosé, red & white Wines
After the drive to Cap Canaille, it will be time for you to experience a wine tasting session in the Côtes de Provence - Sainte Victoire, an appellation that was created in 2005. The soil here is quite poor and is mainly formed of limestone and clay/sandstone. This 'terroir' is ideal for the production of elegant rosé wines and robust and generous red wines. For the Provence Sainte Victoire Rosé and red wines, the main grape varieties used are Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah. Occasionally, other varietals can include Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan or Mourvèdre.
After a short drive, arrive at a carefully selected winery of the Côtes de Provence Sainte Victoire wine producing area. Here, the view is stunning with the Montagne Sainte Victoire in the back and limestone plateaus that are often planted with Olive trees. Upon arrival, taste local Rosé wine and find out about the winery and the wine making process of this very popular wine. Depending on the winery visited, continue your tasting with reds and/or whites of the Appellation.
Return to Aix en Provence
After your wine tasting session, it will be time to make our way back to Aix en Provence. We will drop you off in the city center and that will be the end of our services.
Guide: English