Hi, my name is Laura. Welcome to my travel guide on Calanque d’En-vau. I’m a professional photographer who lives in the French Alps in Savoie. I’m surrounded by mountains and lakes, and love living here. I don’t call myself a traveler per se because I don’t travel that often (I wish I could travel more). But I have been to some pretty cool places so far, all starting in 2016.
I was in university and did an internship abroad. My passion for discovering other countries began then. Concerning photography, I have been practicing this art for eight years now and recently made it my full time job. I make money by photographing faces, weddings and pregnancies and create personal memories by capturing landscapes, oceans and travels.
I’m just four or five hours drive from the very south of France and one of my best friends just moved near the sea. So we thought it would be a good idea to explore the French Riviera together for Spring Break. It was amazing. I only stayed for five days but I visited so many incredible places.
Our first stop was Bormes-les-Mimosas which is a typical French village. Then we went to Port Grimaud. This commune has stunning ports. We visited many calanques on our trip: Calanque de Sugiton, Calanque de Port-Miou, Calanque de Port Pin, Calanque d’En-vau, Calanque de la Triperie, etc. We stopped in St. Tropez, had an ice cream, and chased the turquoise waters in the small hike along Plage de l’Escalet and Cap Taillat.
Hiking to the Calanque d’En-vau Viewpoint
I have always known of Calanque d’En-vau because here in France it’s super famous. So I knew that I wanted to see it one day with my own eyes and I was not disappointed (to say the least). We hiked the whole day to find a special spot that gave us a full view above the calanque and sea.
Not many people know of this path as you have to look out for a little sign on a rock that you should follow to find the right way, and then hike to that panoramic spot. It’s absolutely worth it though. Of course, once we went down, we enjoyed a picnic on the Calanque d’En-vau beach. If you go in summer or in the shoulder season, it’s mandatory to take a quick dip.
I couldn’t say that Calanque d’En-vau is the most spectacular place to visit in Parc National des Calanques. However, it’s impressive from the top of the view that I just mentioned. You can’t forget to bring your camera if you go there. I knew what the calanque looked like from the photos but seeing it in person after two hours of hiking under the sun (and trust me, the hike was no joke) was a moment full of happiness. The water was so blue.
Where to Stay and How to Get There
Calanque d’En-vau is located not far from Cassis and Marseille. As you can’t park your car near the calanque (you can only walk to it), you should park near Port de Plaisance or Port-Miou. It’s free but you have to get there early before it’s full. I don’t know about public transport. I’m sure there are buses that take you there. Many blogs and articles can be found online through a simple Google search, so it’s not a difficult task to prepare your visit well.
People can stay in Cassis, Marseille or any other village nearby. The south of France has so many little towns to base yourself in. As long as you have a car, you can easily move around and drive east to west to visit more of the south. The location of your accommodation will depend on your budget and needs. Booking hotels in a big city like Marseille, obviously, incurs higher prices than the smaller villages which often have affordable rates.
Tips for Visiting Calanque d’En-vau
The top tip for Calanque d’En-vau is to prepare for your trip. There are many calanques located in different areas – you want to see them all, know where the hikes begin, where to park, how many hours it will take, etc. Don’t forget your sneakers. You won’t be walking on sand. It can take up to five hours. Flip flops aren’t an option. Water and sunscreen are a must, and your camera because you will be taking photos just about every five minutes.
