Set sail from Marseille's Vieux-Port aboard Le Don du Vent, a two-masted wooden sailing boat built in 1947 and among the last of her kind still cruising the Mediterranean. Guests are welcomed on board with coffee, tea and local Marseille biscuits before heading towards the Calanques National Park, where limestone cliffs plunge into turquoise water and pine-scented coves open one after another along the coast.

The captain sails towards Riou Island, Sormiou, Sugiton or the Calanque des Égyptiens for the first anchorage, then continues to a second cove such as Sormiou or Sugiton, weather permitting. At each stop, swimming, snorkelling and paddleboarding are all included, with wetsuits and equipment provided on board — a proper break in the clear water that clears the mind as much as it cools the body, alongside plenty of time to simply relax on deck with a book.

Midday brings a vegetarian buffet lunch prepared by the onboard chef, served with organic white and rosé wine. Between stops, guests can stretch out on the teak deck, take in the panoramic views of the cliffs, or watch the crew handle the traditional rigging.

A day at sea in the Calanques combines sailing heritage, wild scenery and Mediterranean flavours — a complete escape, both physical and mental, just minutes from the Old Port.