The charm of its high cliffs and crystal clear water make En-vau the most spectacular calanque in the national park. The calanque and its shingle beach are perfectly sheltered by majestic vertical walls that reflect and plunge into the turquoise waters. This exceptional protection also plays on the sunshine of the creek, since even in summer the calanque will gradually find itself in the shade from the beginning of the afternoon.
⚠️ ACCESS & FIRE RISK INFO
Access to the Calanques is regulated by prefectural decree throughout the summer. Before you go, check if the area is open today (updated daily at 6:00 PM).
Check real-time access status
En-Vau : The essentials before you go
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Difficulty :
Hard
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Walking time : 1h30 (one way from Cassis - Port miou)
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Terrain : Rocky trail + slippery limestone rocks + steep scree descent at the end
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Water : No water points. Plan at least 2L per person
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Outfit of the day : Going to En-Vau in flip-flops is bold… but it usually ends badly. Choose shoes with good grip!
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Sun exposure : The beach falls into shade from mid-afternoon
How to access En-Vau?
There are two access routes to reach the En-Vau calanque, plus an alternative via the ridge that offers superb viewpoints.The coastal route from Cassis (recommended)
This is the reference route, marked in red and white (GR51/98), allowing you to reach the En-Vau calanque via Cassis. The starting point is the calanque of Port Miou, then the trail passes through Port-Pin before reaching En-Vau. Allow 1h30 to 2h one way depending on your pace and breaks.At the level of the Port-Pin calanque, I can only recommend taking the alternative via the blue-marked route (+1 km). It follows the entire coastline and the ridges above En-Vau before rejoining the main path; the plunging viewpoints are exceptional.
For parking, the Gorguettes parking lot (Avenue des Gorguettes, Cassis) is free with 220 spaces. A free shuttle then serves the center of Cassis and Port-Miou. In high season, line 373 runs 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to midnight, every 15 to 20 minutes, for €1.60 round trip. Another option: the Presqu'île de Cassis/Bestouan parking lot (around €8/day), closer but very quickly full and sometimes closed due to high attendance.
The route from La Gardiole / Carpiagne
Longer but with slightly less elevation gain, this route starts from the Logisson parking lot, along the D559 road from Marseille to Cassis (called Route de la Gineste). The parking lot (very limited spaces) is located directly opposite the entrance to the Carpiagne military camp. Walk down the road toward the Gardiole forest and continue to the former parking area at the pass. (Reminder: access to the Gardiole pass has been permanently closed to vehicles since 2019. A renaturation project involving removal of the asphalt and restoration of the forest floor is underway). From the Gardiole pass, take the DFCI track toward En-Vau; the path then gradually descends while the hillside remains at the same level, creating the feeling of entering a kind of gorge that opens onto the sea at the final bend. The reward is well worth it.-
A beautiful swimming zone
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+100m above the sea
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Cliffs and crystal clear water
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Calanque seen from the crests
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View from the path of Castelvieil
The En-Vau Belvedere
A detour via the En-Vau Belvedere is a must. Perched at 170 meters above sea level, the belvedere offers a magnificent panoramic view looking straight down the calanque, as well as viewpoints over the imposing Castelviel plateau opposite, Cap Canaille, the Riou archipelago, and below, the Oule calanque with its deep blue waters, inaccessible by land. However, reaching it requires extra effort with a 2 km detour each way (around 1 hour) when arriving via the GR51/98 from Cassis.What you will discover on the beach
En-Vau beach is a narrow strip of pebbles about 50 meters wide, enclosed between steep cliffs. One feature sets it apart from all other beaches in the region: it gradually falls into shade from mid-afternoon in summer, as the high cliffs block the sun.Plan to arrive in the morning to enjoy the best lighting conditions.
The water is crystal clear for a precise geological reason: the permeability of Urgonian limestone naturally filters runoff water before it reaches the sea. No terrestrial sediment input disturbs the transparency of the seabed. Divers observe remarkable marine life, including brown groupers returning since the 1993 moratorium, gorgonians, barracudas, and lobsters along the drop-off at the exit of the calanque (15–44 meters deep).
Perfectly sheltered, En-Vau is a paradise for kayakers (Kayak rental from Cassis), but also for a few wild boars that sometimes swim among bathers and sunbathe on the beach (please do not feed them! they can become invasive, even aggressive).
- You can also get to the calanque d’En-vau by boat. More info here
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The Calanque
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Beach and cliffs of En-vau
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Wild boars at the beach
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The beach and the petite aiguille
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Rio Archipelago seen from the crests
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A very calm sea
❓ Frequently Asked Questions about En-Vau
How do you get to the Calanque d'En-Vau from Cassis ?
The most popular route starts from Port-Miou cove (Cassis peninsula) and follows the GR51/98 trail marked in red and white. Allow 1h30 to 2h one way. For parking, the Gorguettes car park (avenue des Gorguettes, Cassis) is free with 220 spaces. A shuttle bus then runs to Port-Miou for €1.60 return.
Can you drive to En-Vau or park nearby ?
There is no car park at En-Vau itself. From Cassis, use the free Gorguettes car park (220 spaces) and take the shuttle. From La Gardiole, limited roadside parking is available on the route de la Gineste, but this significantly lengthens the hike. The road to the Col de la Gardiole has been closed to vehicles since 2019.
Can you visit En-Vau by boat ?
Yes, the Calanque d'En-Vau can be reached by boat from Cassis or Marseille. However, regulations prohibit boats from crossing the buoy line at the narrow central section of the calanque, so it is not possible to drop passengers directly onto the beach. Boat tours departing from Cassis or Marseille offer a stunning view of En-Vau from the sea.
Is En-Vau suitable for children or pushchairs ?
Not for pushchairs. The trail is steep and ends with a rocky scree slope that is impossible to navigate with wheels. A baby carrier is required for very young children. Well-equipped children aged 8 and above can manage the hike with proper footwear.
Is En-Vau open in summer ? Are there access restrictions ?
Access to the Calanques is regulated by prefectural order throughout summer due to wildfire risk. The massif may be closed on certain days depending on weather conditions. Always check access status the evening before your visit (updated daily at 6pm).