Cassis and Aix en Provence tour from Marseille - small group 7h

Two Provence towns in one afternoon, with time to linger where you choose

A 7-hour small-group tour from Marseille visits Cassis and Aix en Provence with a local guide, stopping at Cape Canaille for views over the coast, then spending two hours in Cassis village before heading inland to Aix. You walk the Cours Mirabeau, see 17th- and 18th-century mansions, and have free time in both towns. Groups stay under eight, ensuring personalized attention from your guide.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Cap Canaille30m
2. Château de La Gaude2h

Cassis and Aix en Provence sightseeing

• Photo stop at Cape Canaille
• Free time in Cassis village
• Optional cruise to see calanques
• Stroll on Cours Mirabeau in Aix-en-Provence
• Admire private mansions
• Free time before return to Marseille

The experience

How do you fit two of Provence's most visited towns into a single afternoon without feeling rushed? This tour builds the day around stops where you actually have time to breathe. You leave Marseille at noon and drive the Route des Crêtes, a winding coastal road that climbs above the Mediterranean. A photo stop at Cape Canaille gives you the vantage point most visitors miss: the cliffs rise 400 meters above Cassis, and on a clear day you see all the way across the water. The drive down takes you straight into the village.

Cassis itself sits in a working harbor where fishing boats still tie up alongside the restaurants. You get two hours to walk the narrow streets, eat lunch if you want it, or take an optional one-hour boat cruise to see the calanques: the narrow rock formations that cut into the coastline (this cruise costs extra and you pay the captain directly). Most travelers either swim off the beach or sit with a drink and watch the boats. There's no schedule pushing you. The guide waits in the village and you rejoin the group when you're ready.

Aix en Provence comes next, an inland city built around fountains and 17th-century mansions. The Cours Mirabeau is the main street, lined with plane trees and the kind of cafés where people sit for hours. You walk it with the guide, who points out the architecture and the history, then you have free time again before the drive back to Marseille. The tour ends around 7 p.m.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned minivan transport from Marseille.
• local guide in English or French.
• entry to Aix en Provence city center.
• two hours in Cassis village with free time.
• photo stop at Cape Canaille.

Before you book

Days and timesSaturdayDeparts at 09:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by A La Française Marseille

Is this one for you?The afternoon departure means you start at noon and return by 7 p.m., fitting the tour into the second half of your day in Marseille. Groups stay under eight, so you travel with a small group and get personalized attention from your guide rather than being one of thirty on a coach.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly are the calanques I keep hearing about?

The calanques are narrow inlets cut into limestone cliffs along the Cassis coast, with steep rock walls rising straight from the water. The one-hour cruise from Cassis Harbour passes three of them. You see the formations from the boat and can spot swimmers and climbers on the rocks. The cruise is optional and paid separately on the day.

How much walking is involved in Aix en Provence?

The Cours Mirabeau walk with your guide is gentle and flat, following the main street through the city center. After that, you have free time to explore on your own at whatever pace suits you. There's no requirement to walk further. You can sit at a café or return to the meeting point whenever you choose.

Can I really spend two hours in Cassis village, or is that just what they say?

Cassis village is small enough that two hours lets you eat, swim, walk the harbor and still have time to sit down. The guide stays with the group and waits. You're not on a tight schedule once you arrive. If you take the calanques cruise, that's one of your two hours, so you'd have the remaining time for the village itself.

What's the Route des Crêtes like to drive?

The Route des Crêtes is a scenic coastal road that winds upward from Marseille toward Cassis, with views of the Mediterranean and the cliffs. It's a regular road, not a highway, and the minivan handles it easily. You stop at Cape Canaille for photos before descending into Cassis.

Is this tour suitable for someone who doesn't want to swim or take the boat?

Yes. The calanques cruise is optional and costs extra, so you can skip it entirely. In Cassis, you can walk, eat, sit by the water, or explore the village shops. In Aix, the walking is leisurely and the free time is yours to spend as you wish.