What to do on the island of Les Embiez ?
Located in the Var, 10 minutes by boat from Six-Fours-les-Plages, the island of Les Embiez is a little jewel. It is far from mass tourism, the fauna and flora are very preserved. Just like the island of Bendor, it belongs to Paul Ricard and his family since the 1950s.
We had the chance to discover this place at the beginning of July and we particularly appreciated the tranquility. The tour of the island is only 6 km long, but it is full of surprises and secret coves that allow you to be alone. Cars are not allowed on the island, which is a great advantage for us!
How to come to the island of Les Embiez ?
? Boat to Embiez from Six-Fours-les-Plages
To begin with, an important point: how to get to the island of Les Embiez? Go to the pier of Six-Fours-les-Plages, a boat will take you in 10 minutes to the paradise every day of the year! ?
- Crossing available from 7:00 am to 12:30 am (from June 17th to September 1st)
- 17€ per adult on site or 15€ online
? Boat to Les Embiez from Sanary-sur-Mer
In summer, it is also possible to reach the island of Les Embiez from Sanary-sur-Mer in about 20 minutes.
- Crossing available from 9:30 am to 7 pm (from July 1st to September 1st)
- 18€ per adult on site or 16€ online
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Visit the island of Les Embiez in 2 days
1) Go arround the island of Les Embiez.
We strongly advise you to do it to discover the potential of the island! It allows you to soak up the atmosphere of this place and to spot small creeks.
For this you have different options :
- ?♂️: count 2 hours of walking (without the swimming stops)
- ?♂️: Bike tour : we went around the island by bike in less than 1 hour
- ?: A 40 minute train ride, 9€ per person. Available 7 days a week from April to October.
You will have to go through the pine forest and the vineyards! Yes yes, there is also wine on the island of Les Embiez… we told you: it is paradise.
WARNING: there is a protected area around the island which is strictly forbidden to swim. It is the Brusc lagoon. Why not? Because researchers are trying to restore the marine flora, especially a type of algae (posidonia grass) which is essential to the survival of the marine ecosystem. It is therefore forbidden to swim there so that people do not trample the restoration work. Be sure to read the signs and respect them.
2) The beaches and creeks of Les Embiez
Once you have found your favorite spot, take the time to enjoy the crystal clear water surrounding the island. We particularly appreciated the beach of Allemands and its incredible water color. It is not the most secluded, but it is reachable in less than 10 minutes walk from the port. It is, according to us, wide enough to be rather quiet (at least at the beginning of July). We went there around 10 am and we were only 6 to enjoy the beach.
By the way, if you want to sail between the island’s various beaches and coves, I recommend renting a boat. We’ve been working with Clic&Boat for some time now, and I can’t recommend them highly enough. So if you’re interested, click here.
For a wilder scenery, go to the south-east of the island of Les Embiez! There are some creeks without people. A little advice: enjoy these beaches at the end of the morning because in the afternoon some of them are in the shade. See the location of the coves on Google Maps : the first cove and here is the second one.
3) Enjoy water sports activities
The island of Les Embiez has a nautical base, Nautic Passion, with many activities. The reception is really top! We tested the paddle and the canoe, it is a good way to reach the different creeks.
Also at Nautic Passion, Yoga Paddle classes are given several mornings a week. Ideal to relax on the water in absolute calm. In fact, you are alone in front of the sea and yourself, there is nothing better to relax.
4) Walk around the island of Les Embiez
It is very pleasant to walk around the harbor with all the beautiful flowers. Special mention for the 8 villas of the Douaniers which have a lot of charm! It might be a good idea to stay in one of them for a romantic getaway ❤️… Petanque courts are also available free of charge for all visitors to the island.
Where to eat on the island of Les Embiez ?
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- Le Truck de l’Île : for a quick lunch with a view, we recommend this food truck located on the seafront, a few steps from the harbor. It serves burgers and ice creams. The staff is friendly and efficient!
- BQQ Grill : For lunch or dinner, the meat is excellent and the terrace very pleasant.
- Sarti : This is THE design restaurant of Les Embiez. The setting is really beautiful and the terrace overlooks a very quiet part of the port. The service and the food are impeccable.
Where to stay on the island of Les Embiez ?
Open from April to September, the only hotel on the island of Les Embiez is the hotel Helios **** LIEN. It is ideally located on the port and everything is done on foot. Completely renovated in 2016, the hotel offers quality services. A heated indoor pool with a spa are available. The buffet breakfast can be enjoyed on the shaded terrace. We loved having breakfast with the view of the harbor.
How to park on the island of Embiez ?
You have two options. First, you can bring your car to the island and leave it in the hotel parking lot. Be careful: traffic is only allowed from the pier to the parking areas, then traffic on the island is forbidden. The second option is to take advantage of the parking lot of the Hélios hotel which is located on the mainland, next to the pier of Six-Fours-les-Plages, for an additional fee.
Back on the mainland, we realized that we were really privileged on the island… because the beaches of Six-Fours were overcrowded! We already want to go back there… And why not discover Bendor!
For other ideas of escapades in France, go here.
This article is the result of a collaboration with Paul Ricard Islands, we have full editorial freedom.
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