Calanque de Sormiou

Short loop via the Col des Baumettes to reach the Calanque de Sormiou.

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

263374
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.71 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 274 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 271 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 208 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 0 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the entrance to the Calanques park at La Cayolle. Be careful, as car thieves tend to frequent this car park. To avoid this kind of inconvenience, it is best to take the bus (which serves all the starting points for the hike).

(S/E) From the car park, go up the tarmac road to the Col de Sormiou (you can see the Stade Vélodrome between two rocky outcrops).

(1) At the pass, turn left and follow theGR®98(white and red markings). Leave the track on the left twice to cut a bend and rejoin the track. Continue opposite on the path that leads to the Col des Baumettes. The view of the Calanque de Sormiou is very beautiful.

(2) From the pass, follow the red markings to the right (caution: this is a junction of several paths:GR®51,GR®98and blue markings). Descend to the Calanque de Sormiou via a small stony path that ends between the houses and parked cars.

(3) At the beach, you can cool off with a swim or enjoy a drink at the restaurant. Take the alley between the row of old fishermen's huts and go up to the left along a path (brown markings) that runs alongside the access road to the calanque. Cross the road several times, always following the main path heading north-west, which leads back to the Col de Sormiou.

(1) Descend from the pass via the same road to the starting point (DA).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 108 m - Start
  2. 1 : km 0.82 - alt. 181 m - Col de Sormiou (181m)
  3. 2 : km 1.5 - alt. 171 m - Col des Baumettes (181m)
  4. 3 : km 2.61 - alt. 0 m - Sormiou Beach - Calanque de Sormiou
  5. S/E : km 4.71 - alt. 107 m - Arrival

Notes

From Marseille, you can take bus no. 23 at the Prado roundabout, La Cayolle stop.

 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 28 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 27857934

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The hike is easy on the way there! The scenery is magnificent, and it's quite convenient for a short hike Ideal in the off-season (October/November).
The return trip along the marked trail is quite steep, but there is an alternative route along the road!

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Thierry3134
Thierry3134

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent at this time of year

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bouvier francis
bouvier francis

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

the climb up the marked trail is very difficult

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User 8657206
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful views during the first and last parts of the hike.
The climb back up is quite steep, but we made it!
However, as it was off-season, there were a lot of people on the beach below and on the path. We had to stop several times on the way back.

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EmmanuelC
EmmanuelC

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent

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juliemolto
juliemolto

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A great hike with a splendid view! I highly recommend it!
Dogs are also allowed, which may be helpful for dog owners!

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Hoffmann
Hoffmann

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

At the start of the hike, take the small path parallel to the heath

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ABH
ABH

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

An impromptu hike in flip-flops, which obviously shouldn't be repeated as there are some narrow and slippery sections, but the hike itself isn't difficult and is well signposted. Very busy. Beautiful scenery

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Elivacheli
Elivacheli

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, but it does require a certain level of fitness and strong knees! Make sure you wear good walking shoes. The return route from the beach is no longer accessible (private residence closed). You will need to pick up the trail a little further up.
I highly recommend this outing.

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patriiixe
patriiixe

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a beautiful loop in a great location. Walking sticks recommended for the descent

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Robindesboa
Robindesboa

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful landscapes

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lena26
lena26

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Thank you for this route, which avoids a return trip to the cove. However, I wouldn't say it's an easy hike. Firstly, the steep path downhill is very rough, so watch your knees if you don't have walking sticks. Secondly, although the elevation gain isn't significant, it's over a short distance, so it's still quite steep. Finally, depending on how hot it is, the climb back up can be challenging, so it's best to be aware of this. As a bonus, from the Col de Sormiou, we made a short round trip to the Crête de Sormiou to see the landscape. It was wonderful. We thought the road was closed to cars, but apparently there must be many exemptions...

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JT
JT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy hike with beautiful views of Sormiou in the sunshine
Route followed with GPS; between the Col de Sormiou and the car park there is an easy path that follows the valley and avoids the road.
There were people at the bottom of the calanque because the road was open to cars on 11 November, but there were few people on the trail

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natdu
natdu

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Short, easy hike with varied landscapes. Beautiful view of Marseille from the Col de Sormiou.

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CRYVES
CRYVES

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

One small downside regarding the descent to the cove: while the first third is very passable, the other two thirds are via a path that is more like a large gully, requiring you to watch your feet more than the landscape, which is a shame.

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