Tour du Ponant

This hike takes place partly along the water's edge and partly on trails near wooded areas. It allows you to discover the habitats of the Mediterranean coast. The northern part is a lovely place to watch the sunrise or sunset. The Bois du Boucanet is owned by the Conservatoire du Littoral. It is important to follow the marked trails (yellow markings) in this area so as not to impact the natural habitats and flora of these environments.

Details

18959796
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.59 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 5 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 4 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 6 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 0 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking is available on the banks of the Vidourle River, alongside the departmental road.

(S/E) With the lake on your right, follow the yellow marked trail and turn right to walk along the Vidourle, keeping to the markings. Follow the dyke, which bends to the left and leads to a fork where there is an observation platform showing the birds present in the area.

(1) Continue straight ahead along the Étang du Ponant to reach the Carnon road.

(2) Turn right onto the bridge to cross the Vidourle and, at the end of the bridge, turn right again onto the path that crosses the commune of La Grande Motte along the lake.

(3) Ignore the bridge on the right that leads to the peninsula and continue straight ahead for about 200 metres. Then turn right to stay as close as possible to the water and reach the port.

(4) Cross the harbour and continue along the lake until you reach the departmental road.

(5) Do not take the road, but follow the path on the right that runs parallel to it. You will reach the beach and the water sports centre.

(6) Continue along the riverbank until you reach a small car park and come out at the four-lane bridge.

(7) Turn right to cross the bridge, then right again at the exit to follow the Vidourle river. Reach the four-lane road with a central reservation.

(8) Turn right and follow the road. At the roundabout, turn right again to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1 m - Car park on the banks of the Vidourle
  2. 1 : km 3.08 - alt. 3 m - Observation platform
  3. 2 : km 4.8 - alt. 3 m - Crossing the bridge
  4. 3 : km 5.75 - alt. 3 m - Bridge on the peninsula
  5. 4 : km 6.25 - alt. 1 m - Port
  6. 5 : km 7.25 - alt. 2 m - RD junction
  7. 6 : km 8.52 - alt. 1 m - North Ponant Beach
  8. 7 : km 10.18 - alt. 4 m - Crossing the bridge
  9. 8 : km 11.87 - alt. 3 m - Four-way intersection
  10. S/E : km 12.59 - alt. 2 m - Car park on the banks of the Vidourle

Notes

The car park at the start is small: 6 to 8 spaces. Alternatively, you can start the hike at Ponant Nord (on the water sports centre side), where there is a larger car park (around 60 spaces).

The Bois du Boucanet is owned by the Conservatoire du Littoral. It is therefore important to follow the marked trails (yellow markings). It is forbidden to walk along the pond on the Bois du Boucanet section. A municipal by-law prohibits leaving the marked trails in this area.

Dogs must be kept on a leash.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 19 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
3.8 / 5
Fred et Sand
Fred et Sand

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 22, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

A hike to forget.
As soon as you leave the ‘town’, you reach the marshy section, which is swarming with mosquitoes and impassable. So you end up sticking to the side of the road to finish the circular route, and there, for miles on end, you walk alongside the dual carriageway.
Not a pleasant walk.

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pmb13
pmb13

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

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

The route is pleasant until you reach La Grande Motte. You can stop there and turn back, as the rest of the route is not particularly interesting. You follow a four-lane road and as soon as you get closer to the lake, the ground becomes muddy and marshy.

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User 15012375

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very good and beautiful hike.
It should be noted that the path along the Vidourle between points 7 and 8 is virtually non-existent, probably because it is rarely used.
Vegetation has reclaimed much of this section, reaching a height of around 2 metres in places.

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Duchene Brigitte
Duchene Brigitte

A big disappointment because the route is closed from April to June 2025 to protect wildlife.
It's a shame that this isn't indicated at the start of the route in Candillargues.

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bernardrome
bernardrome

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I regret the part that runs alongside the motorway. When we did it, the path along the banks of the lake was too wet. Especially from the water sports centre onwards, it was difficult to get through.
Otherwise, it's a very beautiful view.

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SabineB30
SabineB30

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route despite some sections along the roadside.

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Mh43
Mh43

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

sunglasses:

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Claude 2 Nîmes
Claude 2 Nîmes

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Caution: dangerous, unprotected crossing along the motorway (110 km/h).

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Chlebegue
Chlebegue

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful, easy route, but constant noise from cars (nearby road).

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athmos.oner
athmos.oner

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Very easy walk but too close to numerous roads with a speed limit of 90km/h.
The noise is very noticeable, and worse still, there are some rather dangerous sections along the roads.
Frankly, there are better and wilder places to visit, such as the Villeneuve salt marshes.

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pilou457
pilou457

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful and easy route, with only one drawback: the obligatory passage along the edge of a four-lane road, which is not reassuring, as the proposed route is impossible (clearing).

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marsae
marsae

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Nice walk,

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JPGI34
JPGI34

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A rather unpleasant stretch along a high-speed road, with unpleasant odours to boot.

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Emile GROS
Emile GROS

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike that I did in good weather.
Some beautiful views of the buildings in La Grande Motte and superb views of the Ponant lake.
New (I've done this route before) are the markings in the wooded section to protect the flora and fauna, which are readily respected.
One slightly unpleasant part is where the route follows the edge of the fairly busy road to Aigues Mortes. A minor inconvenience that is quickly forgotten.

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PC63190
PC63190

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short, easy hike with some beautiful views of La Grande Motte, horses and birds (flamingos). I did it starting from Ponant and going clockwise: 3, 2, 1, then D, 8, etc. A few less pleasant stretches along the roadside (but not too dangerous as there are cycle paths along the edge) before 8 and between 6 and 5.

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