The Great Calanques Crossing

A very beautiful route, but demanding due to its distance and elevation gain. The scenery is extraordinary throughout the route.
We set off at 7.30 am from Callelongue and took 11.5 hours, including a 1-hour break during the day. Using the Visorando GPS app, I recorded 2,768 metres of elevation gain and 2,718 metres of elevation loss, which is significantly higher than stated in the description. You will need to leave a vehicle at the car park at Calanque de Port Miou upon arrival.
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

518953
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 24.23 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 12 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,253 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,251 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 431 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 0 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from Calanque de Callelongue.

(S) Immediately follow the red and white markings ofthe GR®51-GR®98and stay on this route until you reach the Col des Escourtines.
Follow the coastline, passing in turn the Calanque de la Mounine, an old battery, the Calanque de Marseilleveyre with its beach and bar, the Calanque des Queyrons and the Calanque de Podestat.

(1) Continue left on theGR®, do not take the green-marked path which branches off to the right. TheGR® climbs steeply up to the tops of the calanques, the first significant ascent, towards the Cirque des Walkyries. The scenery is spectacular.
Continue along theGR® along the heights of the calanques, overlooking the Îlot de la Mélette.

(2) Reach the Col de Cortiou then head back down towards the road (be careful, the descent is tricky).

(3) Cross the road at the Col de Sormiou, which leads down to the Calanque de Sormiou, and take the track opposite. Keep following theGR® markings, which overlook the Calanque de Sormiou.

(4) Pass the Col des Baumettes and continue along theGR® to the Baou Rond junction.

(5) Leave theGR® and turn right towards the Crêtes de Morgiou, following the blue markings. Please note that the descent towards Cap Morgiou is very technical and dangerous.

(6) Once at the bottom, turn left and continue down towards the Calanque de Morgiou. To the right, you’ll head towards Cap Morgiou and the cove where the Cosquer Cave is located.
We stopped for a snack at the Port de la Calanque de Morgiou.
Resume the hike by following the coastline, marked with red signs. A difficult climb followed by a technical section involving some scrambling (the chain that used to assist with this tricky section has been removed). Take care, as the rock is slippery. Descend the metal ladder to reach Calanque de Sugiton.

(7) At the cove, take the path on the left which climbs steeply, then left again at the next junction. Climb straight up to the track.

(8) Turn left onto this track. The surface is concrete. The climb is long, tiring and uninteresting.

(9) At a hairpin bend, leave the track to take a shortcut and rejoin it. Turn right and continue to the next junction, which rejoins theGR®51-GR®98.

(10) Turn right onto it and stay on it until you reach the finish. Cross the valley and head for the next junction.

(11) Take the path on the left and leave the track. From this point, you begin the ascent of the Col de la Candelle. Never stray from the red and whiteGR® markings, despite the numerous junctions with other paths.
The scenery is breathtaking. This section is difficult, long and involves a significant climb. At the pass, you will be at the highest point of the hike. The view to the west overlooks the calanques you have already crossed and the Îles de Riou. To the east, Cap Canaille, the Pas du Diable and the cliffs of Denvenson. You will also be able to see the route you still have to cover.

(12) At the pass, continue along theGR® which heads left and then descends into the valley floor. Pass above the Pas du Diable, also known as the Pas de l’Œil de Verre, and continue to the Col de l'Oule.

(13) Follow theGR® straight ahead (ground markings “En Vau”), which descends steeply into the Vallon d’En Vau. To the right, the path leads to the Belvédère d’En Vau.

(14) Turn right towards the Calanque d'En Vau and descend to a junction where theGR® branches off to the left.

(15) Take theGR® to the left. The climb is steep and very difficult over scree (120m elevation gain over 300m). Once at the top, cross the track and continue along theGR® which descends steeply towards the Calanque de Port Pin. At the bottom of the calanque, climb up the other side and follow theGR® along the Calanque de Port Miou.

At the end of the calanque, you’ll find the car park and the end of this journey (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 13 m - Start from Callelongue
  2. 1 : km 3.75 - alt. 46 m - Continue along the GR to the left; steep climb
  3. 2 : km 5.97 - alt. 246 m - Col de Cortiou (244m)
  4. 3 : km 6.37 - alt. 181 m - Cross the road and take the track opposite - Col de Sormiou (181m)
  5. 4 : km 7.1 - alt. 170 m - Col des Baumettes (181m)
  6. 5 : km 8.22 - alt. 244 m - Leave the GR and turn right
  7. 6 : km 10.43 - alt. 85 m - When you reach the bottom, turn left towards the calanque - Col du Renard (86m)
  8. 7 : km 12.63 - alt. 17 m - Take the path that climbs steeply to the left
  9. 8 : km 12.95 - alt. 91 m - At the track, turn left onto the concrete track
  10. 9 : km 13.79 - alt. 177 m - At a hairpin bend, leave the track opposite
  11. 10 : km 14.13 - alt. 208 m - Join the GR on the right and stay on it
  12. 11 : km 14.61 - alt. 216 m - Leave the track and head up to the left
  13. 12 : km 16.67 - alt. 425 m - On the left - Col de la Candelle (400m)
  14. 13 : km 20.36 - alt. 175 m - The GR is always ahead, heading towards En Vau - Col de l'Oule (174m)
  15. 14 : km 21.04 - alt. 77 m - Turn right towards the calanque
  16. 15 : km 21.7 - alt. 27 m - Follow the GR to the left, steep climb
  17. E : km 24.23 - alt. 16 m - At the bottom of the Port Miou cove, the car park

Notes

I have planned this route to be a challenging hike, both in terms of distance and elevation gain, as training for a multi-day hike: theGR®52Mercantour crossing. The hike was circular and took 11 hours and 30 minutes with a 15kg rucksack (including a 1-hour break) and an 11kg rucksack for my wife.

This route is only suitable for experienced and fit hikers.
Make sure you have good walking boots.
Water consumption: 3 litres, so make sure you take enough water with you.

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

4.5 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 6656498

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Done on 20 September 2025, superb hike! Very few people on the first part, a little more after Sugiton but still very quiet despite the beautiful weather.
The route was easy to follow, with several opportunities to swim. There weren't really any technically difficult sections, just the overall length of the hike. The views of Sormiou, Sugiton and the Calanqus des Pierres Tombées are magnificent!

Hike completed in 7 hours 50 minutes (travel time) / 11 hours 25 minutes overall, including swimming breaks at Morgiou, Sugiton and Port Pin. 30.9 km / 1387 m elevation gain to Cassis town centre according to my Apple Watch, so a little more than advertised.

To avoid having to park another car, just take the bus from the gendarmerie stop, which will take you back to Marseille (Metro Prado, Castellane). That said, in high season it may be full...

Machine-translated

Much
Much

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We went for a walk on a Saturday; there were quite a few people out, but it was fine. It was a brilliant walk; we followed the GR from Callelongue to Cassis, except for the climb up from Vau.

Machine-translated

hbg59
hbg59

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did the route on a weekday (Tuesday 7 May); there were few hikers, though it was slightly busier between the Morgiou and Sormiou calanques.
A magnificent hike, but a route reserved for experienced hikers with a few technical sections (ladder – short vertical descents or ascents (as the case may be) over rocks.
25 km – 1,150 metres of elevation gain – 7 hours’ walking.
Set off from Luminy at 7.30 am and arrived in Les Goudes around 5.30 pm, returning by bus (two changes, about an hour’s journey).
Must-sees: the Surgeton viewpoint and Cap de Morgiou (Cap de Sormiou not visited due to time constraints).

Machine-translated

• Edited:

The user account associated with this content has been deleted.

visorando
visorando ★

Hello,

Everyone hikes in the way that suits them best. It goes without saying that what is easy for some will be difficult for others, and vice versa. As Netra mentioned, this isn’t the right place to compare sporting achievements and disparage the vast majority of hikers. There is no ‘one’ truth here, but simply the expression of our own perspectives, particularly when it comes to rating trails.

The authors and moderators are here to share a passion, not to get worked up. They will always have our support, which is why I’m speaking up here. So either you adopt a more cordial tone that doesn’t disparage anyone, or we will no longer publish your reviews.

Machine-translated

Arnaud

Sur les sentiers des Vosges...

• Edited:

The user account associated with this content has been deleted.

• Edited:

The user account associated with this content has been deleted.

Netra
Netra ★

Hello,

Whether you like it or not, Mr Ran54, moderators are entitled to intervene in discussions. I must do so again in this thread as you are overstepping the mark!

Visorando is a place for sharing. It is not a space for comparing one’s sporting abilities and telling others that what they consider difficult or very difficult is a piece of cake for oneself.

Above all, it is not the place to hurl abuse at those who deserve credit for contributing to the site’s content. Your closing remarks directed at the author of this hike are unacceptable.

I urge you to tone down your comments. If necessary, the team of moderators may intervene to remove any inappropriate content. Don’t cry ‘censorship’ before we’ve even started; it will simply be a matter of… moderation.

Machine-translated

• Edited:

The user account associated with this content has been deleted.

le dd
le dd
• Edited:

As a keen hiker and the author of this route, I’d like to say a few words, since Nétra (Etienne) and the moderators have given me permission to do so. First of all, this site isn’t Facebook, where people can let off steam and criticise hikes without any restraint. These routes are described by enthusiasts who are seeking only one thing: to bring this site to life and share the hikes they have been on. It involves a lot of work, from researching the route and mapping it out to writing the description...
Given your lengthy messages—which, I must admit, are very well written—I invite you in turn to share your own hikes with us, which, unless I am mistaken, you have not yet done.
Please be aware that the descriptions reflect each hiker’s personal experience and are, before being published, checked by the site’s creators and moderators.
Admittedly, a few typos remain; to err is human, I suppose (and I shall correct them), but as for the rest, there is nothing constructive in your comments.
For your information, please be aware that the Calanques are considered medium-altitude mountain hikes, where every year the GRIMP teams from the Marseille Marine Fire Brigade are forced to intervene to rescue hikers who, like you, have assumed that the Calanques are merely easy walks.
Kind regards

Machine-translated

• Edited:

The user account associated with this content has been deleted.

Netra
Netra ★
• Edited:

Hello Ran54,

I’d be happy to accept your invitation, but it’s the author’s responsibility to incorporate the comments made about their walks, not the moderators’.

Machine-translated

• Edited:

The user account associated with this content has been deleted.

• Edited:

The user account associated with this content has been deleted.

• Edited:

The user account associated with this content has been deleted.

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.