The eastern part of Porquerolles Island

Hike on Porquerolles, towards the east of the island, with beautiful views of the island, the southern cliffs and Port Cros.
Recommended in case of strong westerly winds (70 km/h), making access to the western tip difficult.
The route is based on a day trip to the island (boat arrival at 10:45 a.m., departure at 5:30 p.m.) and a late picnic on Notre-Dame Beach.

Details

19535352
Creation:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 19.31 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 423 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 415 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 123 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 0 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Hyères (83400)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.002877° / E 6.201136°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3446OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) From the pier, head towards the lighthouse (passing below the main square). Go around the water treatment plant and turn right, passing two paths on the left and then one on the right.
You will come to another fork.

(1) Take the path opposite (west) towards the Gorges du Loup.
In strong winds, beware of gusts when accessing the point.

(2) Turn back and return to the previous fork.

(1) Turn right towards Les Chevreaux. The signs are visible in the other direction. After 300 metres, turn right.
At the point, head left onto the rocks, and the path through the woods will resume a hundred metres further on. Continue along the path on the right to reach the Porquerolle lighthouse.

(3) At the foot of the lighthouse, take the footpath to the right. Follow the coastal path to a four-way crossroads.

(4) At this point, the official path opposite is closed, and the coastal path on the right is difficult to access, so take the path on the left for 80 metres and turn right onto the small path that descends for about 120 metres.
At the crossroads (beware of the steep descent), turn right and walk back to see the beach 20 metres away.

(5) Turn back 50 metres and take the coastal path on the right.

(6) At Mont des Salins, continue along the coastal path on the right, which descends steeply. If there is a westerly wind, you can take shelter to the east of the building.

(7) Continue straight ahead on the footpath. Please note that on the next section, the path runs close to the cliff edge in places and there are some steep drops.

(8) Turn left onto the path towards Notre-Dame Beach. At the next fork, follow the path to the right, leave the woods and walk along the vineyards on the right. At the crossroads, turn right/left and continue along the edge of the woods, then turn left at the end of the fields.

(9) At the crossroads with the road, turn left for 100 metres then right. At the next crossroads, turn left (private property on the right). Take the second path towards the beach as thethird has been blocked off. On the beach, head left.

(10) If there is a westerly wind, this is the only sheltered option on the beach for refreshments. Turn left onto the path.

(9) Ignore the route you have already taken and turn left along Notre-Dame Beach.

(11) At the three-way junction, turn right onto the path leading up to the top of Les Mèdes.
To reach the tip of Les Mèdes, continue for about 900 metres.

(12) At the foot of the small esplanade, take the path to the right. There are two beautiful viewpoints at the top of the hill.

(13) Walk along the barracks. Turn left to reach the Galéasson Battery.

(14) Turn around and return to the fork.

(13) Head straight ahead.

(9) Continue straight ahead, ignoring the route you have already taken on the right, and continue with the sea on your right. This will take you to the pier (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 0 m - Pier
  2. 1 : km 2.02 - alt. 26 m - Fork in the road. Return trip to the Gorges du Loup
  3. 2 : km 2.28 - alt. 22 m - Gorges du Loup (Porquerolles)
  4. 3 : km 3.97 - alt. 53 m - Phare de Porquerolles
  5. 4 : km 5.59 - alt. 31 m - Pointe de l'Oustau de Dieu
  6. 5 : km 5.82 - alt. 6 m - Viewpoint
  7. 6 : km 7 - alt. 123 m - Mont des Salins
  8. 7 : km 7.36 - alt. 70 m - Before the Sarannier point
  9. 8 : km 8.05 - alt. 75 m - Return to Notre Dame
  10. 9 : km 9.7 - alt. 11 m - Crossroads of the circular
  11. 10 : km 10.21 - alt. 0 m - Fork in the road. Return trip. - Plage de Notre-Dame
  12. 11 : km 11.8 - alt. 12 m - Before Les Mèdes
  13. 12 : km 12.16 - alt. 41 m - Esplanade at the foot of the rock
  14. 13 : km 13.55 - alt. 87 m - Fork in the road. Return trip to the Galéasson Battery.
  15. 14 : km 13.96 - alt. 27 m - Galéasson Battery
  16. S/E : km 19.31 - alt. 0 m - Pier

Notes

The markings and directions are easy to follow.

To stop for a bite to eat, in case of westerly winds:
- You can stop at Mont des Salins, on the east side.
- Notre-Dame Beach is (partially) sheltered, provided you go to the western end (left).
- La Galère beach is well sheltered. (continue to the right at (8) or follow the signs halfway between (8) and (9).

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Le nouveau passionné de rando
Le nouveau passionné de rando

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with stunning views of the island and its cliffs, as well as the Var mainland. You walk along magnificent beaches, notably Notre Dame beach (out of season). You also pass by abandoned buildings formerly used by the military.

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Vivianne
Vivianne
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike, not difficult at all. It took us 5 hours and 45 minutes following all the points and 1 hour resting and swimming at the beach. However, there were no signposts. Thank goodness for Visorando's GPS.

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Marinoperrin
Marinoperrin

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello, everyone! 28 December 2024—After a picnic on Notre-Dame beach, I did the short circular from 9 to 14 and then back to 9 on this hike. I didn't meet anyone... the little climb at the beginning must discourage some people. We pass the remains of an old stone quarry (I think...). A little further up, the battery that pointed its guns towards Port-Cros and the coast, as well as the ruined old military buildings, are impressive and full of mystery... It's worth going down to Fort Galéasson (14), which is not on the waterfront. It's very pretty and old (1848), but be careful with children as the ditches are deep. The sign saying "military property - no entry" at the entrance to the path seems to be there only to absolve responsibility in the event of an accident. Very easy descent to the beach and point 9.

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jlf13
jlf13

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I based my own route on this interesting hike, but in reverse order. I also wanted to share a few observations about this itinerary, which allows you to get away from the DFCI trails that are very popular with mountain bikers of all kinds, even at this time of year. For those who are not too constrained by boat schedules, a detour via the Lequin and Alycastre headlands and Cap des Mèdes, passing by the edge of Notre-Dame beach, offers some beautiful views of the island. I did not go to Fort Galéasson, and at point 13 at the entrance to the path there is a sign saying "military property - no trespassing", I do not know if this is still the case. On the way back to the Ferme de Notre-Dame, on the path near point 9 of the description, a small yellow sign announces private property 200 metres ahead. It remains to be seen whether this section can be used without any problems. The rest of the route is very beautiful, despite the muddy and rutted paths after the night's rain. I also had to regretfully skip points 1 and 2 in order to catch the boat on time.

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RandoProvence
RandoProvence
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very enjoyable hike. Thank you to its author. As already mentioned, this hike mainly follows paths without bicycles, which means that even in mid-June we didn't meet many people. However, I think the elevation gain is underestimated (my watch stopped at 13.6 km and I was already at 431 m, without having descended to point 14). Be careful to find the path after point 12. We skipped points 10 and 14.

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ddragon
ddragon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Hike shared between tracks and trails. Many cliff-top trails with beautiful views.

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ajmart
ajmart

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you to the author of this superb hike. Superb landscapes, discoveries of the island (ancient military ruins, vineyards and olive groves, singing pheasants).
It was quiet because we did it on a weekday, on a Thursday.
It was also quiet because the route takes you off the cycle paths.
There are "wild" areas along the ridges with magnificent views.
Ideal for hiking and taking superb photos.

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Meric
Meric

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This route, which includes a few sections that were closed (due to uncut vegetation), allowed us to explore the island and avoid certain overcrowded areas.
We really enjoyed it, despite a few minor adjustments that were necessary.

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