The Malavettes

This circuit lets you discover magnificent panoramic views over the Mediterranean (the Gulf of Saint- Tropez up to the Dramont semaphore) and Mediterranean forests, as well as the remains of the Malavettes forester's house, now abandoned.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.43 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 326 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 324 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 250 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 67 m

Photos

Description of the walk

To access the start point, take the interior Saint-Raphaël road in the direction of Agay, which is called the Avenue des Golfs. Continue until the roundabout at the Carrefour des Veissières. Go in the direction of the Domaine du Parc des Veissières. Continue straight on the Avenue J.F.Kennedy to the end, and go to the bottom of the park. Park on the right-hand side in a small car park located just after an EDF transformer approximately 50 meters before the forest barrier. The end of the Avenue J.F. Kennedy ends here at a signposted dead-end.

(S) The walk begins at this forest barrier on a green and white marked trail. When you get to the reservoir, take the descending path straight ahead (ignore the small path climbing up to the right).

(1) A little further on are markers with two large cairns, then a path in front of the H63 fire protection sign "la Cabre". Keep to main track on the right.

(2) When you get to this intersection, take the second trail on the right and ignore the two tracks to the left, including the main track.

(3) After the small bridge, go right, cross the large track and take the path climbing slightly to the left of this one. After approximately 500m, the route takes you across a small stream to continue on the trail.

(4) When you get to the marker "Route des Malavettes" / "Carrefour de Colle Noire", take the left-hand path that leads to the Maison Forestière des Malavettes (an abandoned forester's house). Here, take the first path that descends to the right, and then cross the stream.

(5) The path climbs and on the left there is a magnificent view of the forest against the open sea. This lovely clear place surrounded by eucalyptus will make an ideal snack-stop.
Continue on the path that descends to the left. When you get to a concrete ford, cross the small stream to climb back up the path opposite. Cross another small stream again and then climb up to the Col de l'Essuyadou (altitude 170m)

(6) At the col, you need to turn right on a track located just in front of the tree marked yellow which leads to the Roche Noire intersection (altitude 250m). This small track will now be marked blue and offers a magnificent panoramic view of Saint-Raphaël up to the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. When you reach the blue cross marker, turn left and continue on this marked track up to a junction.

(7) Don't turn left, but go right-left and then continue straight, ignoring the forest barrier on the right.
When you get close to a pretty little pond, the path climbs back up. At the top, you need to turn right when you reach a rusty barrier; this small path takes you around another pond on your left, climbs up and joins the track you took at the start of the walk.

(1) Continue to the right on the joint section used at the beginning and marked green and white. Go back past the reservoir and down to the first barrier which served as the start point.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 101 m - End of avenue J.F. Kennedy
  2. 1 : km 0.92 - alt. 118 m - Cairns, keep the main track on the right
  3. 2 : km 1.69 - alt. 103 m - Intersection, take the 2nd path on the right
  4. 3 : km 2.26 - alt. 78 m - Small bridge
  5. 4 : km 3.96 - alt. 174 m - Colle Noire crossroads
  6. 5 : km 5.29 - alt. 201 m - View of the sea and the forest
  7. 6 : km 6.79 - alt. 175 m - Col de l'Essuyadou (171m)
  8. 7 : km 9 - alt. 95 m - Intersection, make a right-left
  9. S/E : km 11.42 - alt. 101 m - Departure car park

Practical information

Walking shoes are required.

In the nearby area

Panoramic view of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez in Saint-Raphaël. The old forester's house of Malavette.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 75 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
asoa
asoa

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Hello
We did this route in fine weather during the reconnaissance and again yesterday despite the overcast conditions!
You need a GPS! And above all, don't do it after heavy rain, as many of the paths are gullied.
View of the sea, Gulf of St Tropez, Mont Pilon
Various varieties of arbutus and white eucalyptus
Superb day out!

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Annick84
Annick84

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

As usual, when we leave our region we rely solely on the Viso trace, as the explanations are sometimes confusing. These Malavettes are a very pretty route, especially as it was a beautiful winter's day and there was hardly anyone around.

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asoa
asoa

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A pleasant and varied hike
Don't do this walk after heavy rain as the path is gullied!
Useful GPS

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bernard coulomb
bernard coulomb

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : N/A
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

This is a fine hike that complements the more "maritime" hikes but offers a more inland approach to the massif, especially if you have the time and inclination to cover all the different areas of the Esterel.
No problem tracking with GPS

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lestef
lestef

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A lovely walk with a beautiful panorama.
You come across a few people, but in November it's quite busy.

P.S.: Avoid during the hunting season 😞

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Visorando67
Visorando67

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

The étau hike was great...but only at the end were the explanations not very clear about the blue ones...having said that, it was a great experience.

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leopal
leopal

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

This is a beautiful walk that takes place on wide paths with gradual ascents most of the time. Beautiful views of St Raphaël, Mont Vinaigre and the Pic de l'Ours. The description is perfect, just follow the GPS route. This fairly easy route is not difficult.

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Aeggir83
Aeggir83

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

Lovely walk, some fairly steep sections, very pleasant with pretty scenery, worth doing again. Lots of mountain biking

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Crouillous
Crouillous

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very pretty ride. Lots of mountain biking.

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danielaime06
danielaime06

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

It was a really nice 4-hour walk, with time for a snack, thank you! It's true that a GPS track is essential if you don't want to get too lost as the route is rarely signposted. I'd like to make a few comments about the description and the waypoints (although I'm aware that it's not easy to do):
The starting car park is not well placed on the map at point D: you have to stay on avenue Kennedy without turning onto allée F. Passy, otherwise you end up in a cul-de-sac with no parking.
To make things easier, a few more WPs should be added, for example at the maison forestière (between 4 and 5), at the Roche noire crossroads (between 6 and 7) and at the 2nd rusty barrier (between 7 and 1).
At point 7, specifying that you should take "the wide Castelli track" would avoid any hesitation.

These are just comments that in no way detract from the pleasure of riding this route without any technical difficulties (the slopes are fairly gentle) and admiring the beautiful panoramas of the Esterel.
Thanks again for sharing

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Dubillot Eric
Dubillot Eric

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Quite a pleasant walk. The scenery is average, however, especially up to the Roche Noire crossroads. After that, the panorama is much nicer when you take the downhill path, but we made a mistake at the crossroads and took the path on the right, marked with a blue line on the second tree on the right. Thanks to the GPS for informing us of our mistake! So don't confuse the path with the track yet. The path is marked with a blue line and ends with a blue cross, as indicated in the description of the hike, which I found quite explicit ....
There you have it, otherwise no particular difficulties to report, this walk can be done in 3h30/4h00 on a normal walk, not at a sporting pace whatsoever....

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tatiminic
tatiminic

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

At this time of year, this route is splendid with the mimosas in bloom.
The signposting is almost non-existent and it's best to use the GPS route on our favourite app.
The panorama indicated at point 5 is no longer visible because the trees have grown in, but between points 6 and 7 there's a place to wedge yourself between the rocks with a breathtaking 180° view of the gulf from St Raphaël to Cap Camarat.
We really enjoyed ourselves.

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ffannette83
ffannette83

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : Yes

The hike was very good, with no difficulties... We even extended it at the Col de la Roche Noire.
The trails were pleasant and the esterel is still very beautiful, although there was a lack of panoramic views on the first part, but that's just to be critical, having done the marsaou and suvieres last week, the scenery is less impressive.
A very good day.
By extending the 15km, the walking time was 3h50, so we'll have to add a 15/20 minute lunch break.

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Marie-D
Marie-D

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

It seems that the exact name (according to the map) is not "Malavettes" but "Malavalettes".
No problem with the description, thanks to the GPS tracking on the phone.
The route leads through flowering butterfly lavender and white shrub heather.

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Bambou67
Bambou67

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A fine walk, with no particular difficulties, in fine weather.
The description of the route is not always precise enough and we hesitated several times. Fortunately, we had taken care to record the gpx track, which is reliable.
Crossing the mimosa forests is enchanting at this time of year!
Thank you for sharing this tour with us.

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