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Beach tour of the French Riviera

Beach tour of the French Riviera

If you are looking for a beach getaway over summer, why not turn your beach holiday into a beach tour? Better still; why not experience a beach tour in one of the most stunning holiday destinations in the world? Travel to the French Riviera over summer to experience the sun, sea and sand, surf and enjoy the laid back atmosphere throughout your trip.  Here are some of the best beaches to include in your beach tour, from west to east:
 
Palavas-les-Flots, Montpellier 
 
Start your beach tour at Port Pin, the quietest of the three beaches around Palavas-les-Flots, is a small beach surrounded by high cliffs.  Access is restricted during the summer months due to the high fire risk; however the beach is stunning, intimate and gives an adequate amount of privacy from the major tourist beaches.  Tours of the surrounding area can be taken on a boat, but what better way to soak up the scenery than on a canoe.  This way you don’t have to listen to loud engines of tourist ferries or any dreary on-board commentary.  The bright blue Mediterranean offers a stunning back drop while you soak up the sun or have a swim in the sea. 
 
Plage de l’Espiguette near Montpellier
 
Just a 30 minute drive east, this beach has been a blue flag beach for the past 20 years.  It is a very natural beach with flora and fauna growing from the sand dunes.  The only buildings in sight are light houses and the National Park Camargue is very close by.  There is unlimited space, the surrounding areas are quiet and what makes it a beach to visit is the fact that it doesn’t get as busy as other beaches during the summer months, but still offers stunning views.
 
Domaine de Verchant
 
Retreat into Montpellier and stay at the five star Domaine de Verchant.  This luxury hotel combines the archaic exterior, with a fabulous interior to create a stunning retreat after a long day of beach going.  Enjoy a dip in the stunning indoor or outdoor pools, the outdoor of which overlooks the hotel’s vineyard, and have a relaxing meal either in the hotel restaurant or in the comfort of your hotel balcony.  But be sure to get an early nights rest as you have only just started your French Riviera beach tour.
 
Plage du Prado
 
Two-and-a-half hours east of Montpellier, the Plage du Prado is a generic name given to the group of beaches that are around the Marseille area.  With a mix of pebble and sandy beaches, there are many beaches that you could visit around the area in a single day.  This beach is popular with locals who often take a dip in the sea after work or school, so if blending in with the locals is what you want, the Plage du Prado is a perfect hot spot for you.  The beaches are best to go to earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon when the sand is a little cooler to walk on during the summer months. 
 
Frioul Islands
 
Just off the coast of Marseille, approximately a 30 minute ferry journey away, are the Frioul Islands; These islands offer small rocky beaches that have plenty of privacy from other beach goers and the sand beaches display bright white sand and pure turquoise waters that you associate with a paradise getaway.
 
Le Petit Nice Passedat
 
Located right on the coastline of Marseille, Le Petit Nice Passedat hotel has a beautifully lit outdoor pool to relax at after your long day at the beach.  It also has a stunning restaurant where, if you choose a window table, you will have an uninterrupted view of the French Riviera.   From the outside, the hotel has a magnificent presence, from the inside, the stunning yet tranquil setting will allow you to unwind and recharge yourself for tomorrow’s travels to Hyères and St. Tropez.
 
Plage de l’Almanarre in Hyères.
 
Located an hour-and-a-half east of Marseille is the Almanarre beach, a five kilometre beach that runs parallel to the Route Du Sel ( Salt Road ), where, in the marshes, you can see flamingos.  The beach is popular with wind surfers and kite surfers.  The beach itself runs from the coast to a rustic peninsula town called Giens.  Away from the Hassel of tourists, the Almanarre is a relatively quiet beach which is much more popular with the locals to the town.     
 
St. Tropez at Pampelonne Beach
 
An hour-and-a-quarter east of Hyères, ( an hour-and-a-half is you take the costal, scenic route ) is the place that is known to host some of the rich and famous.  Pampelonne Beach at St. Tropez is a stunning beach with vast sands and clear waters.  Not all the famous beach is private, so enjoy access to the beach where there is always a chance that you could rub shoulders with some of the world’s most famous people.  Due to the popular nature of the beach, the best time to go is during off season, but if you are there during the peak of summer, don’t worry, the town of St. Tropez offers much more than just the beach so you will still have plenty to see and do.
 
Hotel La Residence de la Pinède
 
Located on the coast of the St. Tropez gulf is the Hotel La Residence de la Pinède, a beautiful, five star hotel which is very close to the centre of St. Tropez.  The hotel offers luxury rooms and luxury suites as well as having its very own gourmet restaurant among other restaurants and bars.  If you haven’t had enough of the beach yet, then the Hotel La Residence de la Pinède has its own private beach exclusively for guests so enjoy winding down for the evening on a private beach that has some 40 sun lounges or take a dip in the hotel pool which is central to the atmosphere of the hotel. 
 
Cannes.
 
Just less than two hours east of St. Tropez is Cannes, the city known to host the famous Cannes Film Festival is also host to numerous beaches.  Most of them are private, but paying to go on the private beaches can most definitely be worth it.  The French government planted numerous palm trees on the beaches to offer guests shade, they also constructed a 550 metre long underwater barrier to prevent jellyfish from stinging bathers.  At these beautiful beaches, you can find 81 showers as well as ample changing facilities and cafés and all set within a beautiful sun trap on gorgeous soft sands are crystal clear waters.  There’s a reason why the some of the world’s most affluent people flock to the beaches in Cannes.
 
Hotel Barriere Le Majestic Cannes
 
This hotel, located in central Cannes, is full of luxury, elegance and charm and has recently undergone a complete renovation.  This hotel features an outdoor pool as well as a private beach where you can take part in water sports.  There is also a private screening room, a fitness area and after all the beach going that you have been doing, a beauty spa to relax and unwind at.
 
Paloma Beach on the peninsula Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
 
Located south-east of Nice and just over an hour east of Cannes, Paloma Beach offers far more than just a beautiful beach; the area is surrounded by restaurants and Paloma Beach has its own hotel resort so be sure to take an extended stay here.  Hotel guests are offered numerous water sports to try such as, water-ski, wakeboard, wake-surf, jet-ski, parachute, paddle board, kids’ activities, helicopter and jet-ski combo, boat service and much more.  They also offer personal training and fitness coaches and scuba diving excursions.  

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