Five good reasons to drop anchor on the Giens peninsula

Its double tombolo is an almost unique formation in the world. A tombolo? A coastal barrier that connects an ancient island to the coast. Unlike Quiberon, Giens has two. Two beautiful sandy spiers, great places for swimming and nautical sailing sports, which surround ancient salt flats, refuges for nearly 300 species of birds. Before melting into the sea, the peninsula which stretches to the south of Hyères takes the form of a caudal fin, rocky and wooded, notched with marvelous coves. With their colorful points, two small fishing ports,

La Madrague

in the north and

Niel

in the south, seem insensitive to the passing of time, just like the Lilliputian village of

Giens

perched on one of the peaks of an island bordering on 113 meters.

This is why we will let visitors in a hurry to leave for

Porquerolles

to take the time to taste the charms of this Var peninsula occupying the southernmost point of mainland France.

Here is our five-step program.

Read alsoOur essentials in Hyères, jewel of the Var Côte d'Azur

Dream in front of a flight of pink flamingos at the Salins des Pesquiers

The flamingos invade the ponds of Salins des Pesquier at the end of summer.

Pastor-Hebrard-tpm / press photo

Yes, the pastel feather balls perched high above the ponds are indeed pink flamingos. In August and September, they can be up to 2000 to attend the Salins des Pesquiers, in the heart of the double tombolo. In this wetland managed by the Coastal Conservatory, the mosaic of water bodies, the hammers between the canals and the carpets of sansouïres, resemble the Camargue. They are home to an exceptional ornithological heritage.

You can observe the white stilt, the elegant avocet or the Belon shelduck, a duck recognizable by its chest surrounded by a red band.

The salt road, on the west tombolo, reveals the wild and melancholy landscape of the old salt flats converted into a biodiversity reserve after the site was stopped in 1995. A place to discover as part of guided tours bookable at the 'Hyères Tourist Office, with an ornithological angle (supervised by the LPO, League for the Protection of Birds) or heritage, with an approach to the history of salt.

Information:

from the Hyères tourist office: hyeres-tourisme.com

Read also From Arles to Aigues-Mortes, the Camargue in freedom

Hike in a wild nature, on the Pointe des Chevaliers

Explore the peninsula on foot along the 6 km coastal path. Press photos

Pine grove where the coppery rumor of cicadas rises, scented scrub sculpted by the wind, schist cliffs plunging into the sea, the western end of the Giens peninsula is the wildest. Preserved from urbanization thanks to the presence of a military zone, it is surrounded by a 6-kilometer coastal path which unrolls invigorating panoramas on the islets and the open sea. It also offers some access to idyllic corners such as

Darboussières beach

. The departure is from the

port of Madrague

, a sheltered site on the north coast where the first fishermen settled in Antiquity. It takes about 3 hours to complete the 6 km loop. Avoid taking young children there,some passages are steep and dizzying.

Information:

check access to the forest massif before departure, on the var.fr website

Read also Marseille: the most beautiful hikes with a view around the Marseille city

Dive along drop-offs full of anemones

Scuba diving or snorkeling, discovering the seabed of the Mediterranean Sea Space / press photo

Like the underwater “chimney” carved into the rock at

Escampo Point

, the peninsula's dive sites are characterized by settings enhanced by the play of light. Caves and rocks torn from the cliff as well as a steep drop off draw astonishing underwater landscapes dressed in colorful anemones and gorgonians. Sites prized by Mediterranean fauna, octopus, girelles, corbs, dentis and other groupers, the density of which is favored by the extended protection zone of the Port-Cros National Park. For snorkeling enthusiasts, two freely accessible underwater trails awaken to underwater archeology. The first, near the

Fondue Tower

, at

the Bouvet beach

, unveils 150 amphorae submerged at a depth of 6 meters, coming from the cargo of an ancient wreck washed up at the Madrague de Giens and found in the 1970s. The second, at the other end of the west tombolo, in front of

the archaeological site d'Olbia

, allows you to discover the remains of a Roman quay.

Information:

Espace Mer, diving and nautical activities center, 1 chemin du Bouvet, la Tour Fondue.

Phone.

: 04 94 58 94 94.

Read alsoHiking, beaches, seabed ... What to do in Port-Cros, natural Eden off the coast of Hyères

Go kayaking from one calanque to another

Kayaking is one of the best ways to experience the coast.

Press photos

From

the port of Niel

on the south coast, we split the clear waters towards the west of the peninsula. Above, the delicate flaky schist cliffs crowned with a rolling pine forest. A few beautiful villas too, hidden in the trees, the presence of which can be guessed by the steep staircases that plunge towards the sea. Iridescent in gray, boulders and deep gashes outline wonderful creeks where you can dock for a swim. Depending on the depths and the proximity of the trees, the sea is adorned with navy, emerald or turquoise colors. We often meander between large slabs at the water's edge, lined with brown and bronze algae. Time to contemplate sea fish and tomatoes. From point to point,soon appear the two caves of

Calanque du Wheat

where one sneaks in to admire some stalactites, blue backgrounds for one of them and hear the chuckle of the surf.

Rental

: La Petite Flotille offers kayaks, paddles and boats, at the port of Niel and the port of La Madrague.

In June and the first half of September, possibility of transfer by car between the two ports to make a departure on one side and an arrival on the other.

Phone.

: 06 18 37 83 52.

Read alsoBacteria in seawater: our ranking of the cleanest French seaside resorts

"Lounging" on one of the irresistible beaches of the peninsula

One of the many coves that line the coast of the peninsula.

Hyères Tourisme / M Sarnette

Sand lovers will bet on the 4-kilometer ropes that form the double tombolo.

To the west, with turquoise waters and dunes dotted with sea swings protected by ganivelles:

Almanarre beach

, exposed to the mistral and popular with fans of nautical sailing sports.

It is also the “spot” where to admire the sunsets.

The east coast, with shallow bottoms, is more suitable for families, from Badine beach in the south to La Potinière in the north.

A few sandy or pebble coves carved into the cliffs of the southern part of the peninsula exude an irresistible charm.

We love the

Darboussières beach

and its many coves with gray-white pebbles or the

Pontillon beach

, a small ribbon of sand entwined by the pines.

Information:

download the

Hyères Plages

application

which mainly lists the tombolos beaches.

Read also From Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer to Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, our favorite Mediterranean beaches

Practical notebook

GO

During the summer season, parking is difficult on the peninsula given the increasing number of visitors and despite the presence of car parks.

The topography of the site is a source of traffic jams in high season.

By car, it is better to come early or outside of July and August.

OR SLEEP

The lodge of the Golden Islands

, located on Badine beach, on the tombolo est.

A contemporary 3-star hotel, with spacious rooms and wooden architecture.

Swimming pool and rooms with terraces.

From € 150 per double room.

The lodge of the Golden Islands, 4205 route de Giens, 83400 Hyères.

Phone.

: 04 94 41 38 39.

Information:

from the Hyères tourist office.