France Island Hopping Tours: 13 to Book

1.From Ajaccio: Sanguinaires Islands Boat Trip With Aperitif

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 767 reviews · 2h 30m · from $68Our pick

Join a French-speaking captain on a small-group RIB from Ajaccio or Porticcio. Reach Mezzu Mare in about 30 minutes, walk to its lighthouse for 360-degree views, swim in clear water, then enjoy Corsican charcuterie, rosé, and polyphonic music as the sun sets. Guides such as Greg and Baptiste are known for warm humor and confident boat handling.

“Géniale escapade aux îles sanguinaires. Des bonnes explications, beaucoup d’humour et d’émotions. Notre guide Baptise était génial ! Apéro au top ! Je recommande fortement !”

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2.Frioul Islands Boat Tour with Swim Stop

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 506 reviews · 2 hours · from $81

Set out from the Mucem with a French and English-speaking skipper for a two-hour trip around Marseille’s coast, Château d’If, and the Frioul Islands. You’ll swim from a semi-rigid boat, use the supplied masks and snorkels, pause at Port de Frioul, and rinse off with the onboard freshwater shower. Guides may include Gilles, Tomas, Victor, or César.

“Really good tour round the Frioul Islands Guide Tomas really helpful and informative couldn’t do enough for all Great couple of hours would recommend”

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3.Porto-Vecchio: Lavezzi Archipelago & Cerbicales Island Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 268 reviews · 4 hours · from $123

Join a French-speaking guide aboard the Avventura for a four-hour small-group cruise from Porto-Vecchio. Visit the Cerbicales Islands, Cavallo, Lavezzi, and Piantarella Bay, with masks, snorkels, fresh drinks, a toilet, and a shower on board. Guides including Cédric and Patrick add useful explanations and a relaxed Corsican touch.

“Lieux paradisiaque ! Paysage magnifique à chaque tour de tête ! Guide « Patrick » très professionnel avec beaucoup d’humour, petit faible pour l’accent corse ! Musique en fond pour plus d’ambiance. Mon mari et moi avons adoré. Romain et Mégane”

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4.Sunset Frioul Archipelago Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 221 reviews · from $91

Sail from Marseille’s Mucem area aboard a comfortable semi-rigid boat with a bimini, armchairs, storage, swim ladder, and freshwater shower. Your French or English-speaking skipper, such as Thomas, Victor, Arnaud, or Oualid, guides you past Vallon des Auffes and Château d’If before a sunset stop around Frioul.

“I loved hopping I to the Mediterranean for a swim and seeing the calanques and sunset on the water. Oualid was an outstanding boat pilot and great cool-spot-finder. Oualid was very accommodating to me — transportation mishap getting there. The whole trip was a vibe. Very laid back. And the small, typical Marseillais harbor was beautiful!”

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5.Brittany: Glénan Archipelago Sailing Day

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 92 reviews · 7 hours · from $112

Spend seven hours sailing the Glénan Archipelago aboard a comfortable maxi catamaran with an English- or French-speaking guide. You’ll make one or two island stops, depending on the option, enjoy two aperitifs on board, and have time for swimming and shore walks. Bring your own picnic, since the islands offer no place to buy food or drinks.

“Journée très agréable,détendue et informelle. Un vrai plaisir!”

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6.Frioul Archipelago Catamaran Cruise with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 49 reviews · from $90

Join the Feng Shui catamaran near Marseille’s Mucem for a six-hour cruise to the Frioul Archipelago. You’ll sail past the Bay of Marseille, swim in a clear Mediterranean cove, enjoy a seasonal buffet with wine or beer, and relax to music in the deck nets. English and French crew members are on board.

“Amazing definitely recommend. The water is amazing. Staff was incredible and the catered food was surprisingly delicious”

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7.Molène Archipelago: Sea trips from Crozon. Seals, dolphins,

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 41 reviews · 7 hours · from $129

From Camaret-sur-Mer, spend seven hours exploring the Molène archipelago with a French or English-speaking guide. Cruise past lighthouses, cliffs, forts, caves, and wild islets, watch for gray seals, dolphins, and seabirds, then enjoy 2.5 hours on Molène Island for a walk, picnic, or lunch. Binoculars are provided.

“balade en mer exceptionnel avec un guide pationné qui prend le temps de vous montrer chaque endroit exptionnel”

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8.Cruise of the 2 Islands: Porquerolles & Port-Cros with stops

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 39 reviews · 1 day · from $72

Spend a full day visiting Porquerolles and Port-Cros from Bormes-les-Mimosas. A small hybrid boat carries you along the Var coast with French commentary and written translations in English, German, Dutch, and Italian. You get about 4.5 hours on Porquerolles and 1.5 hours on Port-Cros, enough for a taste of both islands.

“Bonjour, C’était une très belle excursion. À refaire avec plaisir parce que visiter l’île de Porquerolles en 04h30 c’est trop juste. J’ai hâte d’y retourner.”

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9.Lerins Islands Boat Tour with Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 26 reviews · 4 hours · from $123

Join skipper Leo or another French and English-speaking guide for a four-hour speedboat trip from Nice to the Lérins Islands. Snorkel around Jason deCaires Taylor’s underwater sculptures, swim in Mediterranean waters, visit Sainte-Marguerite Island, and cruise past Antibes and the Baie des Milliardaires. Equipment and insurance are included.

“The whole trip/ experience was great. The boat leader, Leo was amazing and knew everything about the sights we passed. He always joined us on the guided snorkeling swim. 10 out of 10.”

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10.Catamaran cruise in the Frioul Archipelago in Marseille

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · 5 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $291Top rated

Set out from Corbières Port on a spacious catamaran with a maximum of 12 people. Captain Arno, Thomas, or Stéphane may guide the day, taking you past Château d’If, Vallon des Auffes, and the Frioul Archipelago before anchoring at Morgiret Cove for swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and a cold buffet with unlimited rosé.

“Great day on the boat. Captain made location change due to crowds to make our time more enjoyable for all guests”

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11.Lerins Islands Boat Excursion with Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $120

From Nice, join skipper Leo or another Nissa Croisières captain for a four-hour speedboat trip to the Lérins Islands. You’ll snorkel near underwater statues, explore Sainte-Marguerite, and cruise past Billionaires’ Bay. Masks, snorkels, insurance, and life jackets are included, with up to 12 people aboard.

“This was one of the highlights of our trip to the French Riviera. The bay and islands are unbelievable and snorkeling in the clear blue ocean was a once in a lifetime experience. My wife was a little nervous about the speed of the boat pre-trip but it was very safe and comfortable. The captain did a great job of giving us the highlights of the coast and he was very entertaining throughout the trip.”

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12.Brunch at sea in the Frioul Archipelago

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 8 reviews · 4 hours · from $88

Sail from Marseille’s city hall pier to the Frioul Archipelago aboard Le Don du Vent, a classic 1947 yacht. Enjoy welcome coffee, a chef-made Mediterranean brunch, organic wine, soft drinks, and a swim or snorkel stop. French and English crew members guide this four-hour, eco-friendly outing.

“Équipage très sympathique qui prend plaisir à nous faire partager leur envie de naviguer et de faire plaisir”

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13.Near Ajaccio: Sanguinaires islands Boat Trip Sunset Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 8 reviews · 3 hours · from $94

Join captain Guillaume from Tiuccia for a three-hour sunset cruise to Mezzu Mare in a 12-seat boat. Walk to a 19th-century lighthouse, swim in a wild cove, and enjoy Corsican charcuterie, cheese, wine, or beer with local music on board. The tour is in French and depends on good weather.

“Notre guide Guillaume était très sympa, il nous a expliqué avant de partir le déroulement de la sortie. Nous sommes arrivés les premiers sur les iles sanguinaires puis nous sommes répartis pour prendre l'apéro et se baigner dans un petite crique loin de la foule et ça vraiment c'était super. Guillaume prend soin de ses touristes. Nous étions ravis de notre sortie.”

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