A Five Day Delightful Provence Honeymoon

Arrival in Marseille & Seaside Sunset – 2 nights

Marseille is a vibrant Mediterranean port city, the historic gateway to Provence, with colorful old quarters, lively terrasses by the Vieux-Port and easy access to the wild beauty of the Calanques National Park.

Your accommodation, Les Bords de Mer, is an intimate 19‑room boutique hotel set directly on the sea along the Corniche Kennedy, with every room opening onto the Mediterranean and bathed in soft pastel tones. Spectacular sea views from the rooms, a cool rooftop with outdoor pool and cocktail bar, and a serene spa with indoor heated pool, sauna, hammam and expert massages create a true cocoon for honeymooners. Just a short stroll from Plage des Catalans and the Vieux‑Port, this chic, contemporary address blends clean Art‑Déco inspired lines with a relaxed beach‑house feel, perfect for watching the sun set over the bay of Marseille with a glass of rosé.

At Marseille Airport, pick up your rental car and drive into the city (about 30–40 minutes), you will enjoy the freedom of having a rental car in Provence. Settle into your  sea‑view room, enjoy the rooftop heated pool and spa, and take a leisurely stroll along the Corniche Kennedy towards the Vieux‑Port, Marseille’s historic harbor lined with cafés and brasseries at the heart of this ancient Mediterranean port city.​

In the evening, savor a romantic dinner either at the hotel’s Mediterranean restaurant perched just above the water, or in the Vieux‑Port, perhaps trying a refined take on bouillabaisse, the emblematic saffron‑scented fish stew of Marseille.

Calanques Sailing Day 

This day is dedicated to the sea and the Calanques: embark from the Vieux‑Port for a full‑day sailing experience into the Parc National des Calanques, a protected area of dramatic limestone cliffs, hidden coves and turquoise water stretching between Marseille and Cassis.​ Enjoy a traditional sailing boat, gliding along the coastline and into the heart of the Calanques, with time to swim in secluded coves and relax on deck in an intimate, honeymoon‑friendly atmosphere.​

On board enjoy a fresh buffet  prepared by the chef, featuring seasonal Mediterranean produce, served with generous pours of organic rosé and white wines, so you can simply relax and toast your new life together.​

Throughout the day you enjoy a privileged discovery of the Calanques Park from the sea, with explanations from the crew about the local environment and the chance to anchor in a magnificent calanque for swimming, sunbathing and pure farniente.​

On the return, the boat offers exceptional views of Marseille’s maritime landmarks as you sail back into port: sweeping panoramas of the Palais du Pharo, the MuCEM, Fort Saint‑Jean and the basilica of Notre‑Dame de la Garde, affectionately called “la Bonne‑Mère”  (the good mother), watching over the city from its hilltop.​

From the sea to the Alpilles – 2 nights 

The Alpilles are a small, romantic mountain range in the heart of Provence, stretching between Arles and Avignon and classified as a protected Regional Natural Park. With their white limestone ridges, silvery olive groves, vineyards, cypress trees and fragrant garrigue of thyme and rosemary, they offer some of the most iconic Provençal landscapes, dotted with picture‑perfect villages like Saint‑Rémy‑de‑Provence, Les Baux‑de‑Provence, Maussane and Eygalières.

Your next hotel for two nights, Le Mas de la Rose, is a charming hamlet of 17th‑century stone farmhouses set in 25 hectares of lavender fields, olive trees and gardens near Eygalières, offering elegant rooms, a pool and a peaceful, countryside atmosphere perfect for a honeymoon.

In the morning, stroll through the steep cobbled lanes of Les Baux‑de‑Provence, a fortified medieval village classified among the “Plus Beaux Villages de France” (the most beautiful villages of France), and climb up to the Château des Baux, an open‑air citadel with impressive castle ruins, siege engines and sweeping panoramas across the Alpilles and the Plaine de la Crau.​

Discover the Carrières des Lumières, an extraordinary digital art space housed in former limestone quarries at the foot of the village, where masterpieces are projected floor‑to‑ceiling on 7,000 m² of rock, accompanied by music for a fully immersive, dream‑like experience inside the art.​ Take time for a relaxed lunch in or near the village before continuing to explore the ramparts, chapels and panoramic viewpoints that have made this “stone ship” of Les Baux a must‑see in Provence.

In the evening, enjoy dinner at the on‑site bistronomique restaurant, Le Potager du Mas, where the chef creates sun‑filled Provençal cuisine using vegetables from the estate’s own kitchen garden and fruit orchard, complemented by carefully selected local producers.​ Alternatively, venture a short drive to the beautiful, quaint village of Eygalières, with its stone houses and small squares, where you can choose among several convivial French bistrots and wine bars for a relaxed, authentic dinner à deux.