Circular of Calanques starting from Luminy

Long circular in the calanques, starting from Luminy to Port Miou

You are in the Calanques National Park, which is subject to specific regulations. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in a fine of up to €1,500.

Details

398439
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 26.39 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 7 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,248 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,245 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 530 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Luminy car park.

Blue markings

(S/E) From the Luminy car park, head south. Barriers block vehicle access to the mountains. Take this path and you will reach Col de Sugiton, near a cistern.

Red markings

(1) Take the path that climbs to the left and goes around Mont Puget. Head northeast of Mont Puget to Col Ricard.

Green markings

(2) Take the path on the right. This path descends into a small valley, then climbs towards the ridges. Once you reach them, continue straight south; cairns discreetly mark the direction to take.

(3) Turn right onto the path, which curves to the right, then to the left, then heads south-west before joining theGR® (white and red markings).

(4) Follow theGR® to the right and continue south.

(5) At the crossroads, stay south by going straight ahead to reach a new crossroads facing Cap Gros.

White and redGR® markings

(6) Descend to the left into the valley, then climb back up towards Cap Gros. Continue climbing, staying on theGR® trail, to reach the Devenson cliffs.

(7) Begin the descent on the left into the Vallon des Chaudronniers.

(8) Continue to the right to reach the Col de l'Oule.

(9) Turn left, then immediately right to join the track at the entrance to Vallon d'en Vau.

(10) Turn right, then right again about 50 metres further on. Follow the Vallon d'En Vau track until you reach the start of a scree slope.

(11) Climb up this scree slope on the left, pass a trail on the left and reach the summit, at a large crossroads of trails and tracks.

Blue markings

(12) Take the track on the right, then immediately take the path that branches off to the right. Follow this path, which veers left to overlook the Calanque d'En Vau, staying as close as possible. Ignore the multitude of paths that branch off to the left. At a 90° left turn, overlook the Calanque de Port Pin and descend straight down to the beach.

White and redGR® markings

(13) Find theGR® and follow it to the right to climb back up to the Calanque de Port Miou. You will arrive above the caves.

Green markings

(14) Turn left onto a green-marked trail. At the fork (cistern), veer right and continue straight ahead until you reach a T-junction.

(15) Turn left, then, at the sharp left-hand bend, continue on the path opposite to join the Plateau des Mussuguières track. Follow this track to the left, crossing the DFCI serving La Fontasse. Continue north-west, following the yellow-brown markings then the blue dots to the Col de la Gardiole.

Yellow markings

(16) Take the path almost opposite and on the left. It is fairly easy. Stay on this path to follow the ridges, particularly the Estret ridge. Ignore all paths on the right and left.

(17) Once you reach the top of the Vallon de la Réserve, turn right.

Green markings

(4) Take the path on the left that you took on the way up to the next crossroads.

(5) Take the path on the right, which is somewhat difficult: when you can go to the right, there is a large white/green/white marker on the ground indicating a scree slope opposite. Join it to descend and return to the GR®.

However, it is important to take a good look at the scree slope before setting off. If you do not feel comfortable, continue to the point (7), take theGR® opposite and then turn right.

White and redGR® markings

(18) Turn right. You will come to another scree slope.

(19) Descend and continue straight ahead to reach a crossroads.

(20) Turn right and keep to the right to reach the Col de Sugiton.

Blue markings

(1) Continue straight ahead and retrace your steps to reach Luminy (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 154 m - Car park, Luminy
  2. 1 : km 1.49 - alt. 217 m - Cistern - Col de Sugiton (215m)
  3. 2 : km 4.51 - alt. 370 m - Col Ricard (352m)
  4. 3 : km 5.75 - alt. 410 m - At the fork, turn right.
  5. 4 : km 6.55 - alt. 525 m - GR junction
  6. 5 : km 6.85 - alt. 496 m - Trail junction at elevation 498
  7. 6 : km 7.2 - alt. 432 m - At the crossroads, descend to the left.
  8. 7 : km 8.88 - alt. 288 m - Devenson Cliffs
  9. 8 : km 10.46 - alt. 140 m - At the crossroads, continue to the right.
  10. 9 : km 10.8 - alt. 175 m - Turn left. - Col de l'Oule (174m)
  11. 10 : km 11.48 - alt. 74 m - Vallon d'en Vau trail
  12. 11 : km 12.18 - alt. 26 m - Pierrier en Vau, on the left
  13. 12 : km 12.49 - alt. 136 m - Crossroads above En Vau
  14. 13 : km 14.43 - alt. 2 m - Port Pin
  15. 14 : km 14.7 - alt. 51 m - At the fork, take the left path.
  16. 15 : km 15.81 - alt. 114 m - At the T-junction, turn left.
  17. 16 : km 18 - alt. 259 m - Col de la Gardiole (258m)
  18. 17 : km 21.45 - alt. 525 m - At the top of the Vallon de la Réserve, turn right.
  19. 18 : km 22.39 - alt. 372 m - GR junction
  20. 19 : km 23.33 - alt. 387 m - Pierrier
  21. 20 : km 24.09 - alt. 216 m - At the crossroads, turn right.
  22. S/E : km 26.39 - alt. 154 m - Car park, Luminy

Notes

Please note that from 1 June to 30 September, access to the massif may be restricted: more information.

The Luminy car park is very popular and you often have to park at the side of the road.

The hike can be done without a circular route by reaching Cassis from the point (19): there are buses to Marseille/Luminy.

The circular can also be done from Cassis (13) or Col de la Gardiole (19).

Given the multitude of paths and markings, it is essential to remain vigilant and ensure that you follow the directions and the route on the map.

Worth a visit

The route passes very close to the beaches of Calanque d'En Vau, Port Pin, and Sugiton: depending on the season, it is very pleasant to take a detour for a swim.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Les chéris d'amour
Les chéris d'amour

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very challenging hike with beautiful views, but very crowded, even for this time of year.
We took a wrong turn towards the end and headed back instead of following the route.
A total of 30 km, 1,370 m elevation gain in 8 hours.

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Lam
Lam
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A circular loop starting from Luminy. A very beautiful hike offering a pleasant tour of Mont Puget, where you can enjoy stunning views of Marseille and the calanques. A great opportunity to take some magnificent photographs.
The entire tour is quite demanding, with fairly high steps at the exits of the Calanque d'En Vau and Port Pin, and the need to remain constantly alert to the trail so as not to lose your way when there is no path. However, it is not particularly difficult.
The return via the Col de la Gardiole should be avoided on days when there is a strong north wind (gusts of 30-40 km/h are already very difficult). It is very exposed. This section from marker 14 to 17 must be very difficult in summer when it is very hot.
After marker 17 and up to 18, it's a bit of an adventure. There is no longer a clearly marked path and you have to stick to the trail, which allows you to navigate the rocks and trees.
The end of the route does not pose any major difficulties, despite a few descents on rocks before reaching the wide path that leads to the Sugiton pass.

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Devingt
Devingt

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great hike, but the descent through the scree is difficult to spot and quite dangerous as it is very technical.

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dzy
dzy

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

marking problem
There are no red and white GR markings on sections 3-4-5, which is misleading. The route can be found from section 6 onwards, as indicated in the guidebook. This takes you back down to Sugiton and the climb back up is difficult (follow the red trail).
Otherwise, very good.

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Musily
Musily

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Despite a bit of wind and a few drops of rain at the start, which gave us a bit of a scare given the rather weathered rocks and stones, it was a fantastic hike!
Let's be honest, it's still a bit physically demanding, it's long, there are some elevation changes which I personally found quite manageable, a few "bumps" towards the Calanques themselves, steps, it can be slippery, and it does require a bit of trail walking technique
But what a reward!

For your information, we started from Cassis and did the circular route from point 14, but then followed the 'normal' route.

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Lozest
Lozest

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike to do in mid-season.
Best done outside of weekends and holidays, as it gets very crowded when you arrive in Cassis.

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Phasme91
Phasme91

Good evening,

Thank you for your feedback!

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• Edited:

The user account associated with this content has been deleted.

• Edited:

The user account associated with this content has been deleted.

Phasme91
Phasme91

Hello,

How long did it take you to complete this hike?

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Phasme91
Phasme91

Hello,

Is it possible to hike to point 14 and then return to Marseille from Cassis?

Thank you in advance.

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paikea
paikea

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A pleasant hike without any major difficulties, with many nice spots for a short break or picnic. Not recommended in hot weather, as some areas are very busy during the high season.
Permission to visit is granted by prefectural decree and depends on wind conditions.

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celvil
celvil
• Edited:

Hello,

I would like to do this hike at the end of June if the site is accessible, but I would like to know if there are any major technical difficulties or complicated sections. I would like to try to do it in one long day.

Thanks in advance!

Céline

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