Les meilleures sorties en mer à faire en semi-rigide en France
With some 5,500 kilometers of coastline, France is one of the most popular destinations for boaters.
With a vast frontage to the Atlantic Ocean to the west, access to the Mediterranean basin and its millennia of history to the south, and a gateway to England via the Channel and the North Sea to the north, metropolitan France offers an incomparable variety of shores.
Coves, coves, bays, basins, deltas, lagoons, archipelagos ... are all geographical formations to discover, and which are perfectly suited to sea trips with small or medium-sized boats such as RIBs.
So, in order to plan your next outings, Orca Retail offers you a small overview of the spots not to be missed in France.
Now, discover the most beautiful boat trips on the French coastline!
1. The Calanques Park, from Marseille to Cassis
Let's start this list of must-sees with the Calanques National Park, the only European marine, land, island and peri-urban park. If you are from the Marseille area, no doubt the Calanques are your pride and joy, and are one of the good reasons to live in this region.
Stretching over the sea on a modest distance of 20 kilometers, the park of the Calanques attracts no less than 3 million visitors each year. As difficult to access as it is rich, the park gathers some 80 species of birds, reptiles, 900 species of plants and 60 marine species including dolphins and turtles!
A real Eden with turquoise waters, sailing and swimming in the Calanques will take you to the heart of the epic ancient adventures of the Mediterranean, in the middle of mythical places: Frioul Island, the Madrague, the bay of Cassis... in short, an unmissable destination in the Bouches du Rhône!
Difficult to access by land (and regulated in summer), the Calanques are worth visiting from the sea, especially to enjoy another point of view and more tranquility.
2. The islands of Lerins, Cannes
Let's stay in the south and more particularly in the department of Alpes-Maritimes with the archipelago of Lérins, composed of 5 islands, including two main ones: in the north, Sainte-Marguerite, famous for its fort which would have sheltered the Man in the Iron Mask, and in the south, Saint-Honorat, known for sheltering a Cistercian monastery
Accessible in a few minutes from the port of Cannes, these islands await you with a program on land: bird sanctuaries, pine and eucalyptus forests, ponds, museums and historical places.
Swimming around the islands is of course highly recommended!
3. The cliffs of Etretat
A true natural monument (and of our national tourist industry), the cliffs of Etretat impress as much as they inspire.
From their top or from the sea, the cliffs and arches of Etretat offer a spectacle of which one never tires, conducive to contemplation. To enjoy the view from the sea, you should preferably leave from Fécamp, between April and October.
Nearby, discover also along the Côte Fleurie the small typical ports of prestigious cities: Dieppe, Deauville and Trouville.
Located further south, the beaches of Cabourg, Ouistreham, Arromanches or Colleville-sur-Mer will plunge you into the heart of the Normandy landings.
4. The Dune of Pilat and the Bay of Arcachon
Another natural giant in France, the Dune du Pilat, the highest in Europe, majestically dominates the Bay of Arcachon and the Atlantic Ocean.
This favorite destination, between the tumult of the ocean and the tranquility of its iconic fishing villages on the basin side, is a marvel not to be missed under any pretext.
Arcachon and its winter city, Cap Ferret and its sumptuous villas, the parks and oyster huts, the bird island, the pine forests ... are a treat for the eyes (and the stomach)!
Well protected from the currents, the basin also offers an excellent playground for all water sports enthusiasts, and it is undoubtedly one of the best places in France to go out in a RIB boat!
5. The Camargue and Saintes-Maries-de-la-mer
It is one of the wildest regions in France! Go to the Camargue if you want to go on a sea trip where you will be able to observe shores untouched by human activity.
From Le Grau du Roi / Aigues-Mortes, go to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. If by boat from the sea you can't reach the heart of the Camargue regional park, its coastline is no less interesting to walk along.
See the lighthouse of La Gacholle, stop on the beach of Beauduc and continue until you see the lighthouse, then go to Port-Bouc and Fos-sur-mer to enjoy isolated beaches, and maybe hope to see dolphins!
6. The islands of Ré, Aix and Oléron
Let's go back to the Atlantic coast and more particularly to the region of La Rochelle, which is also not lacking in choices when it comes to sea walks! If of course the mythical Fort Boyard comes to mind, the department of Charente-Maritime hosts 3 of the most beautiful jewels of the coastline with its islands of Ré, Aix and Oléron. Although Ré and Oléron are connected to the mainland, there is nothing like discovering them from the water.
Among the must-see visits on these islands are the Chassiron lighthouse, the pedestrian streets of Saint-Pierre d'Oléron, and the castle of Oléron.
Very famous for its bike rides in the heart of a nature beaten by the iodized winds and its small stone villages, these islands will particularly please the nostalgic souls dreaming of a peaceful island life.
7. The 7 islands archipelago
Located in Brittany in the Côtes-d'Armor, this archipelago of 7 islands (Rouzic, Malban, Les Costans, Bono, l'Île-aux-Moines, l'Île Plate and Le Cerf), is a protected natural site that will be of particular interest to ornithologists, as it is home to an important bird reserve. Nature lovers will be delighted, as these rather inaccessible islands, with their hostile surroundings, are also home to other colorful animal species such as sea lions.
We advise you to leave from Perros-Guirec, Trégastel or Ploumanach, to go along the Pink Granite coast up to the lighthouse of Mean Ruz, before continuing north towards these small islands.
As its name indicates, the Pink Granite Coast is a very rocky coast, which from the land does not make it ideal for swimming, hence the interest to go by sea. In short, a ballad in a wild and mineral universe to discover small deserted islands, the dream of any adventurer!
8. Collioure, Port-Vendres and Argelès
Rendezvous in the department of Pyrénées Orientales and the region of Perpignan for this last stage at the Spanish border.
This Catalan region, often little known and not very touristy, offers its share of curiosities.
The three ports of Argelès Collioure and Port-Vendres will punctuate your boat trip along the wild Vermeille coast. As this coast is quite indented and has few beaches, discovering it from the sea seems ideal.
On the menu, rocky coves, views of the vineyards on the hillside, Catalan fishing boats, lighthouses of Cap Béar and Cap Cerbère.
9. The Gulf of Morbihan and Vannes
The Gulf of Morbihan is one of the most beautiful jewels of Brittany, located between the city of Vannes and the Bay of Quiberon.
In this enclave of water, sail peacefully from one island to another: île-aux-moines, île d'Arz, île d'Ilur, île d'Iluric, île Godec, île de Tascon and many others to discover.
A little Caribbean air within reach of the most famous corsair city in France, what more could you ask for?
10. Desert of Agriates and beach of Lotu
Let's finish our tour of France in the Isle of Beauty!
If of course Corsica is full of fabulous places such as the Calanques of Piana, the Lavezzi islands, the Sanguinaires islands or the cliffs of Bonifacio, the beach of Santa Giulia, we have retained here the beach of Lotu and the desert of Agriates.
It is a discreet and extremely well preserved site. As its name suggests, there are only a few abandoned sheepfolds in this Agriates desert . From the sea, admire the maquis which invades the whole coast, except for small dream beaches like the one of Lotu.
Start from the village of Saint Florent, and go up the coast towards the north-west: the beach of Fiume Santu, the tower and the lighthouses of Mortella will guide you towards Lotu. If you wish to continue the ballad, do not hesitate to make road towards the beach of Saleccia which faces the astonishing marshes of Padulella.
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