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Car park located 3.8 km east of Marseille towards Cassis on the D559.
(S/E) Take the track next to the containers, heading due south towards “Col de la Gardiole/Calanque d’en Vau” for about 300 m. At the bend, turn left for a few dozen metres, then right onto the red-marked path; follow it to the Col de la Gardiole.
(1) At the pass, take the track straight ahead heading south, following the yellow markings towards Cassis and Port Miou. After about 600 m, at the fork, keep to the right and continue to the next junction.
(2) Follow the yellow and green markings straight ahead and, at the following junctions, continue straight on until you reach a track.
(3) Continue south along the track. Take the first zigzag and pass the IGN107 hill. Follow this lovely track, which heads south-south-west, until you reach the large left-hand bend.
Alternative route: see During the hike or nearby.
(4) At the bend, take the path on the right, marked in green. Leave this path when it turns sharply right to descend due south and reach the Cacau peninsula. After a short descent, you pass close to the blowhole.
(5) Climb straight ahead to a large cairn (elevation 41 m), then keep to the left whilst following the path to reach the stone spillways at the tip of Cacau (information panels on site). Continuing southwards, you reach the old quarry, which was in operation until 1930. At the boulders still lying on the ground, climb the rocky steps to emerge at the southern tip of the peninsula.
(6) Continue northwards, overlooking the Port Pin cove, along the narrow path that winds its way between the trees and piles of rubble. Once back in the hollow near the Trou Souffleur, descend to the left into the gully beneath the branches; the path leads down to Port Pin beach.
(7) At the opposite end of the beach, the slightly steep climb of the Blue-marked path begins. Do not go behind the beach where theGR® 51 and 98 pass. Follow this path south-south-west whilst enjoying the scenery that unfolds along this section. It overlooks the Calanque d’en Vau and offers a fine view of the cliffs of the Castel-Vieil plateau. After a wide bend to the right and a short descent, join the GR®.
(8) Continue left towards the west. Descend to reach the junction at the Vallon d’en Vau.
(9) At the junction, leave the track on the right and take the one on the left which descends to the Calanque d’en Vau.
(10) Leave the calanque and retrace your steps. Follow the green-marked track back to the previous junction.
(9) At the junction, take the sharp left-hand bend; ignore the path on the right which you came along. Follow the gently sloping valley to the next junction.
(11) At the junction, ignore the track heading off to the right. Continue straight on at the next crossroads. After about 600 m, the track turns right, heading north, and climbs steeply up a concrete surface. After a few zigzags, the track takes a sharp left-hand bend.
(12) At the hairpin bend, keep to the track on the right and quickly pass the Gardiole Forest House. At times, the path cuts across the track’s bends and arrives at the Col de la Gardiole.
(1) Turn left to rejoin the path taken on the way out, which meets the Route Gaston Rebuffat.
(13) Leave the road and take the red-marked path on the right-hand side of the bend. It climbs steeply and joins the track leading to the car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Very difficult 
Moderate 
