Private Tour: Aix-en-Provence and Cassis Day Trip from Marseille

Start your day with a pickup from your centrally located Marseille hotel by luxury minivan, and then travel away from the coast with your private guide to the handsome little town of Aix-en-Provence. Glowing with artistic elegance at every turn, Aix is a delight to explore with its ornate architecture and some of the grandest streets in Provence. See 17th- and 18-century private mansions on a stroll along Cours Mirabeau boulevard, and then explore the tangle of narrow streets in Vieil Aix (Old Town) – flanked with craft shops and independent boutiques.

The famous French painter Paul Cézanne was born in Aix, and you can now visit the place where he once worked. Entry to the Cézanne Studio is at your own expense, but once inside you can walk in the artist’s footsteps and see countless artifacts that once inspired him. Alternatively, opt to continue exploring Aix independently.

After a break for lunch in town (own expense), leave Aix and head back to the French Riviera’s coastline in the direction of Cassis. Stop to admire views from the top of Cape Canaille and look out at its sheer cliffs plunging into the translucent blue waters of the Gulf of Cassis below.

From here, it’s a short drive down the hill into Cassis where you can do as little or as much as you please! Perhaps take a stroll around its endearing fishing port and harbor, or visit one of its waterfront cafes. If you want to visit the Cassis calanques – the area’s incredible limestone rock formations – then your guide will point you in the right direction for a sightseeing boat trip (own expense).

Return to Marseille in the late afternoon, and end your tour back at your hotel.