Calanque d'En-Vau, Cassis

The most beautiful of the calanques, the narrow limestone inlets of the Calanques National Park between Marseille and Cassis. En-Vau is a fjord-like cove with towering white cliffs, a pebble beach and astonishingly clear turquoise water, loved by swimmers and rock climbers.

The walk from the car park at the Col de la Gardiole or from Port-Miou, on the edge of Cassis, takes about 1.5 hours each way via the calanques of Port-Miou and Port-Pin, with steep, rocky sections; wear good shoes and bring plenty of water. In summer, access to the park can be closed on days of high fire risk, so check before you go. In summer you may also need a free reservation to visit the Sugiton calanque. Boat trips from Cassis harbour visit the calanques without the walk.

The park is also crossed by marked hiking paths all the way to Marseille, and camping isn't allowed. Cassis itself is a lovely fishing port, about 3 km from its train station.