Private yacht cruise Antibes: snorkel the Lérins Islands

The underwater eco-museum sits just meters below the surface between two islands.

A private yacht cruise departing from Cannes takes you to Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat Islands off Antibes, where you snorkel in turquoise lagoons, swim, paddle board and relax on sunbeds aboard a modern Scandinavian-designed dayboat. The boat includes snorkeling equipment, a paddle board, wine and water; a live guide speaks English or French. A mandatory skipper fee of €300 applies per tour, paid on board.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private yacht cruise and island exploration

• Depart from Cannes
• Cruise along the Croisette
• Pass by Fort Royal on Sainte Marguerite Island
• Snorkel in underwater eco-museum
• Explore Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat Islands
• Swim, paddle board, and relax on yacht

The Experience

You depart from Cannes on the Saxdor 320 GTO, a sleek dayboat built for comfort and style. The boat carries you across calm water to the Lérins Islands in about 15 minutes—close enough that you spend most of your time in the water or on deck, not traveling. Once you arrive at Sainte-Marguerite Island, you can snorkel in the turquoise waters between the two islands and discover an underwater eco-museum: six statues submerged just a few meters deep, part of a protected marine reserve. The water is clear enough to see them without deep diving.

Between snorkeling sessions, you have the sunbeds on deck, a paddle board to take out, and the cabin with a toilet if you need it. The boat's sound system plays in the background. Wine and bottled water come with the cruise. If you want to move faster through the water, you can upgrade to a Seabob seascooter for an additional fee—it lets you glide across the surface and explore further out. Sainte-Marguerite Island itself is a natural reserve where you might spot protected species; Saint-Honorat Island, just across the water, is inhabited by Cistercian monks and has historical landmarks if you want to explore ashore.

The whole experience runs four hours. Your guide is there to navigate and answer questions about the islands and what you're seeing underwater, and they speak English or French. The skipper fee of €300 is paid on board when you arrive, separate from the booking price. This is a private cruise, so it's just your group—couples often book it for an afternoon escape, families use it to keep kids entertained in the water, and friend groups treat it as a floating day out on the Riviera without the crowds of the public beaches.

What’s included

• Snorkeling equipment.
• paddle board.
• bottled water and a complimentary bottle of wine.
• fuel to the Lérins Islands.
• use of the boat's sound system and shaded lounges.
• cabin access with toilet.
• a live guide in English or French.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Leo boat

Is this one for you?Book this if you have a free afternoon in Cannes and want to skip the crowded public beaches—the private boat means your group controls the pace, and the islands are close enough that you're in the water within minutes of departure, not hours into a day trip.

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Top questions

What's the underwater eco-museum I'll see while snorkeling?

Six statues are submerged a few meters deep in the turquoise waters between Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat Islands, part of a protected marine reserve. The water clarity lets you see them without technical diving, and a guide can point out the marine life around them.

Can I bring my own snorkeling gear or is equipment provided?

Snorkeling equipment is included with the cruise, so you don't need to bring your own or pay extra for it.

Is there time to swim and relax, or is it mostly traveling between stops?

The islands are only 15 minutes from Cannes, so you spend most of the four-hour cruise in the water or on the boat's sunbeds. You can snorkel, swim, paddle board and rest between sessions without long transit times eating into your day.

What happens if I want to explore Sainte-Marguerite Island itself?

Sainte-Marguerite Island is a natural oasis with protected marine and terrestrial species. You can go ashore to see Fort Royal, a historic monument famous as the prison of the Man in the Iron Mask. Saint-Honorat Island across the water is inhabited by Cistercian monks and has historical landmarks to visit as well.

Is the skipper fee included in the booking price?

No. A mandatory skipper fee of €300 per tour is paid on board when you arrive, separate from the cruise booking price.

Can I upgrade to a Seabob or other equipment?

Yes. A Seabob seascooter is available as an optional upgrade for €200, letting you move faster across the water and explore further out. It's added at checkout.