French Riviera Walking Holiday: Hidden Coves & Island Trails

Things to know

• What’s included?

  Included:

  • • An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
    • 7-day French Riviera walking holiday (5 days of hiking)
    • Accommodation for 6 nights in 4-star hotels (double occupancy)
    • All meals: 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 6 dinners
    • Airport transfers on Day 1 & Day 7 to/from Nice or Marseilles airports to/from hotels
    • Boat crossings to/from Porquerolles and Port-Cros
    • Wine tasting at Château des Bormettes
    • Private transfers as noted in the itinerary
    • Tourist taxes

  Add-ons (pricing shown at checkout):

  • • Single occupancy room
    • Extra night(s) in Bormes les Mimosas or Geins Peninsula (before or after the tour)— please leave a note at checkout if interested

  Not included:

  • • Travel to/from Nice or Marseilles (flights, train, bus, etc.)
    • Airport transfers other than Day 1 or Day 7 starting or ending at Nice or Marseilles airports
    • Drinks
    • Personal expenses
    • Anything not mentioned in the “Included” section above
    • Insurance — recommended, available to add at checkout
    • Guide gratuities — optional
• How fit do I need to be?

  This trip is best suited for hikers with a good level of fitness who are comfortable being active for several hours a day. Expect hiking up to 15 km (9 mi) & 4 to 6 hours per day, with up to 600 m (2,000 ft) of elevation gain. 

  On most days, you’ll be walking 2 to 4.5 hours, with 180–430 m (590–1,410 ft) of ascent and 180–630 m (590–2,065 ft) of descent. Trails are non-technical, ranging from easy coastal paths to moderately challenging sections on uneven terrain. 

  Weather can play a role here: on days with strong winds or rough seas, coastal routes (especially around the Giens Peninsula) may be adjusted for safety.

  Want to see what else is there in the area? Discover more hiking and walking holidays in France here!

• How is luggage handled on this tour?

  Luggage logistics are simple and taken care of throughout the trip. Your main bag, whether checked luggage or a carry-on, is transferred between accommodations, so it’s always waiting for you. You won’t have access to it during hikes, but you can pack freely and even store extra items at the hotels if needed.

  During the day, you’ll carry a daypack with essentials like water, layers, snacks, and sun protection. We recommend keeping important items such as hiking shoes, documents, and medications in your carry-on when traveling, just in case of delays.

• What do I need to bring?

  Clothing:

  • • Hiking boots/shoes — waterproof, sturdy molded sole, deep tread and ideally well broken in
    • Hiking socks — one pair for every day or two days of the trip (hiking/sport specific padded socks, no cotton please)
    • Sun hat — wide brimmed hat or baseball cap/bandana combo
    • Warm hat & gloves — lightweight beanie and light-to-mid weight fleece or wool gloves
    • Hiking shirts — non-cotton, breathable short sleeve and/or long sleeve shirts
    • Warm top — mid-weight sweater or pullover of wicking material such as merino wool, fleece or polypropylene
    • Insulating jacket — down-fill or synthetic-fill insulated “puffy” jacket or warm, heavy weight fleece jacket
    • Hiking pants & shorts — nylon pants and shorts, zip-offs or leggings
    • Base layer/long underwear — 1 pair of wicking tops and bottoms that are lightweight to midweight, synthetic wicking materials such as polyester, polypropylene, merino wool, etc.
    • Rain gear — waterproof jacket and pants or high-quality poncho, breathable fabric such as Gore-Tex® or coated nylon (for the pants look for side zippers that will easily allow pulling them over footwear)
    • Casual clothing & footwear – comfortable clothes and shoes to wear in the evening after activities.

  Gear:

  • • Backpack — a 30–45 liter sized comfortable pack with a waterproof cover for use day-to-day while hiking
    • Personal luggage — small duffel bag, rolling suitcase or backpack
    • Hydration system — 2+ liters capacity, either water bottles or bladder/hose system and an additional water bottle
    • Trekking poles — telescopic/adjustable poles to help reduce the impact on joints and support hikers in steep and/or rocky terrain (strongly recommended)
    • Headlamp — preferably with an L.E.D. bulb that works with AA or AAA batteries
    • Picnic/lunch kit — knife, plate or bowl, box with closeable lid, utensils, etc.
    • Phone, charger, power bank
    • Waterproof travel case or pouch — used to keep important documents (i.e. passport, health/travel insurance, etc.) & phone safe from weather/water
    • Sunglasses, sunscreen, & lip balm
    • First aid kit — your guide carries emergency gear and a comprehensive kit, but pack whatever you feel you need
    • Personal toilet paper kit — toilet paper, wet wipes, sanitizer & sealable plastic bag(s) for carrying out used paper/wipes
    • Toiletries
    • Contact lenses & glasses
    • Prescription medication — with emergency back-up supply
    • Cash in local currency

  Optional items:

  • • Face masks — 2–3 recommended
    • Travel power adapter — electric power voltage in France is 230 V / 50 Hz and the plugs are type C & E
    • Support braces — joint braces if currently needed or from past injuries (e.g., knee, ankle, elbow)
    • Sleep mask & ear plugs
    • Bug repellent
    • Quick drying towel or bandana(s)
    • Swimsuit

  Got everything you need? Grab your gear through Active Junky and earn cash back on top outdoor brands — plus a $10 bonus on your first $25+ purchase. Shop now at Active Junky!

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and pricing

  • • For this French Riviera walking holiday, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 9:1. 
    • It takes a minimum of 4 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 12 participants.

  A French Riviera walking holiday can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

  Min. age requirements

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
    • Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the French Riviera walking holiday on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

  If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

• Is a single occupancy room available?

  The price for this French Riviera walking holiday is based on twin-share rooms, but a single occupancy room can be arranged at an additional fee. You can add it to your booking at checkout.

• Getting there and meeting location

  The starting point of your French Riviera walking holiday is Bormes les Mimosas, a small, historic hilltop village (considered one of the most beautiful villages in southern France). To get there, most people fly into Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) or Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE). From there, you will be transported to Bormes les Mimosas (airport transfers on Day 1 are included). Check-in at the hotel is available after 3 pm. 

  You will meet your guide at 6 pm in Bormes les Mimosas on Day 1.

• Safety measures and insurance

  We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.

  Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

• Deposit and cancellation policy

  Deposits

  Secure your spot with a 30% deposit upon booking! The remaining 70% of the trip price must be paid 90 days prior to departure at the latest. If booking within 90 days of departure, the full amount is required at the time of booking.

  Cancellations

  Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48-hour grace period. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options—Basic, Flexible, or Super Flexible. Depending on which one you choose, a different cancellation policy will apply to your booking.

  Basic

  • • If cancelled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If cancelled 90 or more days before departure, a 70% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled within 89 days of departure, no refund will be issued.

  Flexible

  • • If cancelled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If cancelled 90 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled 60-89 days before departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled within 59 days of departure, no refund will be issued.

  Super Flexible

  • • If cancelled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If cancelled 60 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled within 59 days of departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.