The three coves: Podestat, Sormiou and Morgiou

de fr

A very beautiful hike in the Calanques massif, exploring the wild Calanque de Podestat. Then the very touristy Calanque de Sormiou before finishing with the picturesque Calanque de Morgiou. A difficult hike with some exposed sections and even a few secured climbing sections.
Start from the Baumettes neighbourhood (9th arrondissement), free parking at the end of the road (note: it fills up quickly, but you can easily park in the neighbourhood).

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

n°598019
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.60 mi
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 6 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 3,051 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 3,051 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 774 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3 ft
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Photos

Morgiou cove
The Calanque de Sormiou
Podestat cove
Marseille and the Vélodrome.

Description of the walk

Start from the Baumettes neighbourhood (9th arrondissement); free parking at the end of the road (note that it fills up quickly, but you can easily park in the neighbourhood).

(S/E) Cross the car park, take the path and follow the black markings (there is a climbing site on the left).

(1) Leave the main path and turn right across the clearing to continue on the path marked Black. Follow it to the Col de Sormiou.

(2) At the pass, cross the road and take the path opposite that climbs (triple markings: Blue / Black /GR®®51-GR®®98) towards the Col de Cortiou.

(3) At the pass (stunning views), begin the descent towards the Calanque de Podestat (note a small cave on your right at the start of the descent).

(4) Leave theGR®®98and turn left onto the green-marked path leading down (a challenging path with some secured sections, for experienced hikers).

(5) At this junction, follow the path marked with dotted green lines, which leads to the beautiful cave in the Calanque de l’Escu in a few minutes. Return to the crossroads and continue the hike on the green path. Just after this comes the first climbing section secured by a chain.

(6) The path joins theGR®®. Continue straight ahead on theGR®® (on your right is the path you will need to take on the return from the calanque) until you reach the path leading down to the Calanque de Podestat.

(7) Leave theGR®® and turn left onto the path marked with black dotted lines to the calanque. Take the path straight ahead that climbs back up to theGR®®.

(8) Turn right onto theGR®® (red/white markings) and head to the crossroads.

(6) Continue along theGR®® (do not take the green-marked path to the right as on the outward journey). Return to the Podestat junction.

(4) Continue along the outward route, passing through the Col de Cortiou and then Sormiou.

(2) At the pass, cross the road and continue along theGR®® via the track to reach the Col des Baumettes.

(9) Leave theGR®® and turn right onto the red-marked path which descends to the Sormiou calanque.

(10) Enjoy the calanque (swimming, toilets, bottled water at the bar, Sormiou huts) before starting the climb up the red-marked path to the place known as Le Carrefour.

(11) At the crossroads (huge cairn), turn right onto the blue-marked path towards the Morgiou ridge. Follow the ridge then descend towards the Col du Renard (still blue markings).

(12) At the Col du Renard, turn left onto the black-marked path which runs along the entire calanque to the picturesque little port of Morgiou.

(13) Enjoy this cove (swimming, toilets, bar). It is more picturesque and less crowded than Sormiou. To return to the start, take the road leading uphill and then the path (red markings).

(14) Continue along the red-marked path which follows the Morgiou valley up to the pass (do not take the yellow-marked path to the right).

(15) At the Col de Morgiou, cross the track and continue along the red-marked path which descends through the Vallon des Escampons to the small road at Morgiou, then return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 371 ft - Secure car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.16 - alt. 433 ft - Red/Black trail junction
  3. 2 : mi 0.76 - alt. 594 ft - Col de Sormiou (181m)
  4. 3 : mi 0.99 - alt. 755 ft - Col de Cortiou (244m)
  5. 4 : mi 1.13 - alt. 669 ft - GR51-GR98 junction / Green trail
  6. 5 : mi 1.78 - alt. 151 ft - Junction: dotted green trail / green trail
  7. 6 : mi 2.17 - alt. 174 ft - GR51-GR98 junction / Green trail
  8. 7 : mi 2.29 - alt. 157 ft - GR junction / dotted black trail
  9. 8 : mi 2.42 - alt. 144 ft - Intersection of the dotted black path / GR
  10. 9 : mi 4.75 - alt. 561 ft - Col des Baumettes (181m)
  11. 10 : mi 5.49 - alt. 36 ft - Calanque de Sormiou
  12. 11 : mi 6.26 - alt. 751 ft - The crossroads
  13. 12 : mi 7.13 - alt. 272 ft - Col du Renard (86m)
  14. 13 : mi 7.69 - alt. 3 ft - Morgiou Cove
  15. 14 : mi 8.08 - alt. 102 ft - Red trail / Yellow trail junction
  16. 15 : mi 9 - alt. 650 ft - Col de Morgiou (198m)
  17. S/E : mi 9.6 - alt. 371 ft - Secure car park

Notes

You’ll need good kit and plenty of water (at least 3 litres for the day) as it can get very hot in the calanques and shade is scarce.
You can buy bottles of water, but watch out for the price (for example, €3 a bottle at the bar in Sormiou).
Bring everything you need for a swim.
The calanques get busy in high season.
I highly recommend the IGN map at 1:15,000, ‘Les calanques de Marseille à Cassis’.

Alternatives
(4) To avoid this challenging section, continue on theGR®® to (6).

(11) At the crossroads, you can take the red-marked path opposite, which leads more quickly to the Calanque de Morgiou (but the route is much less scenic).

(12) At the Col du Renard, follow the blue-marked path to Cap de Morgiou, then return to the pass (+2km), approx. 40 mins round trip.

Worth a visit

Between (7) and (8), I recommend swimming with a mask as it feels like you’re in an aquarium. Swimming

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.

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Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 11 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
User 18416535

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Reliable route, magnificent landscapes.
The green trail is currently closed, so only the GR trail leads to Podestat.
Take plenty of water as there is no shade (incidentally, the bars in Morgiou and Sormiou do not accept credit cards and have no running water...).

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LaFeda868
LaFeda868

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A very beautiful hike, a little-used green trail of great beauty, with a few sections where you need to stay focused.
(No need to walk on water, just follow the green markings – not the dotted green line to Escu.)

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Thomjou
Thomjou

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Impossible to find the path after Calanque de l'Escu between 5 and 6. The only green path leads back up the cliff, with a rope running along a precipice, then no rope at all. I turned back, having really searched for the passage to Podestat... Maybe next time. Otherwise, a magnificent route, challenging but splendid.

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Yul83
Yul83
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The route is not very clear once you reach the Escu cave. We couldn't find the passage to the Podestat cove.
After point 6, heading north, we found a very tricky passage to the east, secured by a rope allowing us to progress crouched down for over a hundred metres along the cliff face. The rope didn't look very new and our 12 kg bags (for training) prevented us from progressing safely. So we turned back to point 4 via point 5.
For the rest of the route, everything was fine, the markings are very clear. The landscapes are magnificent and the view of the calanques is splendid!

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bobm730
bobm730

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The GPS track is unclear at Calanque de l'Escu. It shows a route on the water rather than a U-turn.
After turning back (I can't walk on water), I couldn't find the fork in the path leading to Calanque de Podestat. So I retraced my steps for a long way to head towards Calanque de Sormiou.
That said, the views are magnificent. The colour of the water, especially in the Calanque de Sormiou, is exceptional.

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JL83
JL83

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice route and description. Well done to the authors.
As others have pointed out, I think a classification of "difficult" rather than "very difficult" would be more accurate.
I think it makes sense to do the route in the direction indicated. This allows you to eat in Sormiou and descend (rather than climb) the steepest parts of the route (descent to Sormiou and descent to Morgiou).
The red/white, black and blue markings are excellent, the green ones a little less so (but still very good).
The 2-3 exposed sections (green section) are well secured. No need to worry unless you are prone to vertigo.
Magnificent views almost all along the route (except for the Morgiou-return to the car park section).

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Mimizen38
Mimizen38

Hello,
Can we do the route in reverse?
Because I definitely want to do the eastern part... and then, if time allows, the western part (because I'd like to go for a walk around the Old Port in the evening before the sun sets).
... so the timing is a bit tight, which is why I'm considering not doing the western part but still keeping it as an option if I feel that there's enough time.

By the way, where would you recommend going to watch the sunset? I was thinking that Notre Dame de la Garde might be a good place, don't you think?

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Nenette13
Nenette13

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A very beautiful hike with incredible views.
Quite challenging, whether you're going up or down, it'll burn your thighs.
There are two or three short but challenging sections, so those who are afraid of heights should refrain.

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EvyC
EvyC

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb walk!
Extraordinary visibility over the sea.

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Z34130
Z34130

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A little tricky with the Col du Renard (since it's not at a "high" point). A difficult hike, perhaps not entirely so. Everyone can judge for themselves!

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• Edited:

The user account associated with this content has been deleted.

culigan
culigan

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful, fairly challenging hike that is well worth doing, as these three coves are well worth seeing. Of course, not everyone can do this hike, as there are a few tricky but safe passages; we are in the coves and there is something for all levels!!!!!

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