Making the most of Iles d'Hyeres
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
This is a tender port. Most likely to the center of Ile de Porquerolles.
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Situated around ten miles south of the town of Hyeres, which itself lies just east of Toulon, the Iles d'Hyeres have been justly described as the jewel of French Mediterranean cruising. Enjoying an almost sub-tropical climate, the islands are sheltered from the worst of the mistral and development has been carefully controlled to preserve the unique character of the whole archipelago.
Porquerolles is the largest, most westerly of the three islands in the Îles d'Hyères. It is about 7 km (4.3 miles) long by 3 km (1.9 miles) wide, with five small ranges of hills. The south coast is lined with cliffs, and on the north coast are the port and the beaches of Notre Dame, La Courtade, and Plage d'Argent.
Getting around
On Ile de Porquerolles, there is a good walk up to Fort St Agathe, a 16th century fortress with spectacular views of the bay, then on over the ridges to the south coast of the island. By contrast with the north, the south coast is steep and rocky, with stunning pine-fringed inlets. One can walk as far as the lighthouse at the southernmost tip and return through a valley shaded by olive trees and apricot orchards. A second walking path takes you to the NE side of the island, past two lovely sandy bays, Baie de la Courtade and Baie de Notre Dame, then uphill through pines and holm oaks to yet another fortress. The path continues along rocky…
On Ile de Port Cros all forms of traffic except pedestrian are forbidden and the island offers nearly 35 km of walking trails to explore amongst sub-tropical vegetation humming with cicadas. A good walk from the port takes you around the west side of island, the path initially very busy with tourists heading for the beach but becoming much quieter once you get beyond the beach. The south coast is even more dramatic (and the water even clearer) than Ile de Porquerolles. One can continue via the Les Crêtes path to climb the highest peak in the island, Mont de Vinaigre, from which there are breathtaking (if you have any left!) views over the…
Ferries from Porquerolles to Hyeres (25 minutes) all year round and to Toulon, Le Lavandou and several other destinations during July and August only. Ferries from Port Cros to both Le Lavandou (20 minutes) and Hyeres (one hour) all year round.
Money
Euro