Stand-up paddleboarding in Cassis Calanques: Learn to paddle

Glide through Cassis waters with expert gear and capture every moment safe and dry

A three-hour stand-up paddleboarding class in Cassis where you learn proper paddling technique from a specialist guide before paddling into Calanques National Park. The session starts at Port Miou, an ideal beginner spot, and takes you to Calanque d'en Vau with time for swimming and photos. A guide fluent in English or French leads small groups. Minimum age is 14.

The experience

Port Miou is where you start because it's sheltered and shallow: the right place to nail your paddling technique before heading into open water. Your guide spends real time on the fundamentals: how to hold the paddle, how to use your core, how to read the water. Only once you're solid do you push off into the Calanques National Park itself. The route to Calanque d'en Vau follows the limestone cliffs that make this coastline unmissable, and you're moving under your own power the whole way, not watching from a boat.

The guide carries premium equipment (boards, life jackets, waterproof bags for phones and keys), and stops are built in for swimming and photos. Three hours is enough to cover the paddle without rushing, and the pace lets you actually feel the difference between sloppy strokes and clean ones. You'll notice it in how the board responds.

What’s included

• Stand-up paddle board, life jacket, waterproof bag, and souvenir photos.
• paddleboarding technique instruction from a specialist guide.
• a three-hour paddle from Port Miou to Calanque d'en Vau in Calanques National Park.
• swimming and photo breaks built into the route.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 28 Apr 2027

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (14 to 70 years) · Under 14: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Captain John aventures

Is this one for you?Small groups with a guide who specializes in paddling technique suit anyone who wants to actually learn the skill, not just float on a board. The three-hour format and beginner-friendly launch point work for people with moderate fitness who've never paddled before.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

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.

Do I need paddleboarding experience to join this class in Cassis?

No. The guide teaches stand-up paddleboarding technique from scratch at Port Miou before you paddle into the Calanques, so beginners are the norm here. You do need at least moderate fitness and should be at least 14 years old.

What happens if I fall in the water during the paddle?

You're wearing a life jacket the whole time, and the guide stays with the group. The route to Calanque d'en Vau includes planned swimming breaks, so getting in the water is part of the plan, not an accident.

How far is it from Cassis town to where the paddleboarding starts?

Port Miou, where you launch, is one of the Calanques closest to Cassis and accessible by public transportation. The guide will confirm the exact meeting point when you book.

What's included in the three-hour session?

The stand-up paddle board, life jacket, waterproof bag, and souvenir photos are all included. The guide provides instruction and leads the paddle to Calanque d'en Vau.