From Darboussières Beach to Calanque du Four à Chaux

Walking along the western part of the Giens Peninsula on the coastal path is a feast for the eyes, with a succession of islets, coves and beaches, sometimes appearing behind the branches of tall pine trees.
This is a fairly challenging route that follows some spectacular trails.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.81 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 253 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 260 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 91 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 0 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Head to the Giens Peninsula. You can pass through the double tombolo, a geological formation that is quite rare in the world and connects Giens to the mainland. At the exit of the tombolo, at the stop sign, follow the signs for Giens, La Madrague. On the road to La Madrague, at the junction with Chemin de la Table Ronde, turn left at the restaurant "La Bouillabaisse". Continue until you see the sign for "La Darboussière". There is a car park after this sign.

(S/E) From the car park, head south, go through the gate and you will find yourself on a stony path that leads to Plage des Darboussières.

(1) Take a short walk along the beach, then find the coastal path marked in yellow. From there, ignore all paths leading to the right and stay as close to the coastline as possible. Cross the Plage d'Escampo-Barriou beach.

(2) After the beach, the path splits in two. Keep left to continue along the coast. Pass Pointe du Rabat and continue to the crossroads.

(3) Follow the path on the left. Pass Pointe Escampo-Barriou and begin a very steep descent. Be careful, this descent is difficult, so take care and don't hesitate to sit down to get down! Continue to the protective wall at the edge of the path.

(4) At the low wall, take a small path on the left that leads to Pointe des Salis, where you will find the ruins of an old military fort.

(4) On your way back, continue along the coastline. Pass by the Calanque du Blé, the Pointe des Chevaliers and the Pain de Sucre, all of which offer breathtaking views.

(5) Stay on the left-hand path, continuing to follow the cliffs. Pass by the Plage de l'Aygade and continue to the Calanque du Four à Chaux.
(6) Cross the beach at the Calanque du Four à Chaux to find the path on the right that takes you back to the Allée des Asphodèles. At the intersection with Avenue René de Kniff, turn left. Continue straight ahead, pass the harbour master's office and turn right at the restaurant "La Bouillabaisse" to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 20 m - Parking
  2. 1 : km 0.4 - alt. 8 m - Darboussières Beach
  3. 2 : km 1.84 - alt. 16 m - Left-hand path
  4. 3 : km 2.27 - alt. 33 m - At the crossroads, turn left.
  5. 4 : km 2.8 - alt. 48 m - Protective wall
  6. 5 : km 4.85 - alt. 12 m - At the crossroads, turn left.
  7. 6 : km 5.9 - alt. 4 m - Calanque du Four à Chaux
  8. S/E : km 6.81 - alt. 18 m - Parking

Notes

There are no water points along the route and many areas are not equipped for picnics. Please note: there are a few steep climbs and descents, but these are perfectly manageable. If walking with children, please remain vigilant at the edge of the path and near the cliffs. Swimming is possible. Bring the necessary equipment, including flippers, mask and snorkel.

Worth a visit

The double tombolo is a geological formation that is quite rare in the world and connects Giens to the mainland. La Tour Fondue, departure for Porquerolles Island.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 57 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Safrica988
Safrica988

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The route itself is fantastic, but it was absolutely heaving today. If you really want to make the most of it (and if you can!), choose a weekday AND a time outside the school holidays. The path is well-maintained; the steps are high; young children will struggle to complete the whole route.

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Ulya
Ulya

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
I did it on 6 November in grey weather and it was very good. It must be very hot in summer.
The first part of the route is quite difficult, so you need to wear good shoes and, if possible, bring walking sticks.
We didn't meet many people.
At point 6, the yellow markings indicate to follow the coastal path to the left, which seems nice and also leads back to the car park.
Do not go there because when you get almost to the end, you can no longer pass and you end up in the water because the footbridge no longer exists.
Follow the Visorando route.

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Freco
Freco

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, not as difficult as advertised for some descents... just make sure you have good footwear and are sure-footed. Magnificent views, varied and often shaded route, with a most pleasant dip at Madrague beach, even at this time of year (November). Walking time 4 hours with a few photo and video breaks, total time 5 hours with picnic breaks at the battery and swimming. We continued along the coastal path at point 6, but it's not worth doing (it runs alongside fences and at the end you have to crouch down and then walk with your feet in the water along a low wall (or balance on a thin ledge a few centimetres wide for the more experienced).

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Marie Meulle
Marie Meulle

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike around the Giens peninsula, easy to follow.
I recommend it especially during the off-season.

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papahotel94
papahotel94

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A beautiful route that allows you to discover hidden corners of the western part of the peninsula.
There are no insurmountable difficulties, but if you want to enjoy the views and take your time, allow an extra hour on top of the time estimated by the app.

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JPT06
JPT06

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this hike in early October, when the weather was excellent. The summer months are probably less pleasant, perhaps even uncomfortable. The scenery is superb, with opportunities for swimming for those who are interested. The estimated time of 2 hours 50 minutes is very optimistic; it took us 3 hours 30 minutes with plenty of stops. The first part is more difficult than the second and requires good footwear, but there is no danger, just caution

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persegol
persegol

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful route. Challenging at the beginning with a few sections where you have to be very careful... a must-do!

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Viplayer
Viplayer

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike enjoyed by the whole family, following the recommended route: the views are magnificent! (It took us 6 hours, including breaks for swimming.)

The trail is mostly shaded and there are numerous places to swim at the start and end of the hike. However, be careful near the precipices if you are hiking with young children.

Note that you can finish the trail via the coastal path, which involves wading through water (no deeper than knee-high).

Enjoy your hike!

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Maumau43
Maumau43

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful route, the coastline is superb and very rugged, the path is sometimes difficult and steep, the information on the map is accurate, good hiking boots are essential, avoid trainers and flip-flops. Take great care with young or boisterous children, some sections are very dangerous and unprotected.
It took us 4 hours, taking the time to admire the magnificent landscapes and take photos and videos. 2 hours 40 minutes is for those who keep their eyes fixed on the trail when there is so much to see and enjoy on this route.
The signposting is very old and sometimes non-existent in important places, which is not befitting of such a touristy region.
A route to recommend.

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alainc5939
alainc5939

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Please note: The car park is temporarily closed due to construction work. Due to the current heatwave, you cannot cross the forest from Darboussières beach. We recommend doing this hike in the opposite direction and exiting the circuit at Escampo-Barriou beach (after Wpt 2) by following the signs for La Madrague.
In this hot weather, remember to take plenty of water with you.

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User 25180679

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike that is slightly steep at the beginning. Bring your swimsuit...

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chrspignans
chrspignans

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

One of the most beautiful trails in the region.
Good physical condition required.

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User 13720914

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very well marked and easy to find.

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vtx
vtx

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

High turnout on this sunny bank holiday, especially in the second half coming from La Madrague, which was much easier.
It's best to start with the difficult part and do the loop like the author did.
The first part requires commitment and good shoes. The result is well worth the effort...

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Rey13470
Rey13470

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Regarding the duration of the route indicated: 2 hours 40 minutes for 6.81 km.
Please allow around 4 hours, including one or two breaks and time to take in the various points of interest along the way.
Difficulty: suitable for experienced hikers without young children (some dangerous sections).
Otherwise, it is a magnificent location bordering the coastal path.

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