Calanque de Sugiton

The Calanque de Sugiton is one of several coves or creeks dotted around the Marseille coastline and it is by far the best in my opinion. I had the pleasure of living right next door to this extraordinary place whilst studying at Kedge Business School during my Erasmus year in 2011.

I say it is the best of all of the different "Calanques" not because it is so beautiful, (all of the calanques are beautiful, in their own way), but because of all of the different activites that one can partake in at this particular calanque. Swimming, diving, hiking, rock climbing and mountain climbing are just some of the things that you can try here and I am going to give you an idea of what I did during the dozens of visits I made there.

Hiking & Lookout Point

The entrance to the calanque opens onto a pathway that slowly winds towards the coastline. The gradient is not too steep at all so it's suitable for people of all ages both young and old. There's lots of different plants and trees on either side of the path and plenty of benches dotted along it in case you need to take a rest.

The path continues for about 15-20 mins where you will eventually be greeted with a choice of three paths to take. The path to your right will take you on a short walk all the way to a lookout point which has breathtaking views of the ocean and the surrounding areas, including the neighbouring Calanque de Morigou which hides a tiny, idyllic fishing village and port.

Swimming, Diving & Rock Climbing

If you choose to take the path straight ahead you will be brought towards the coastline where you can go swimming and diving. Along the picturesque winding path it's not uncommon to see some brave souls like the guy in the picture above rock climbing. After a certain point the path will get a little trickier but you will be presented with two options. There is a longer path that is easier to traverse and a shorter one that is a little bit harder to traverse.

Once you arrive you will find an unbelievably beautiful alcove that will make all of the hiking to get there well worth it! There is plenty of space to lie out in the georgous Marseille sun and lots of different areas where you can jump into the crystal clear water for those who like a bit of a trill like myself! See the picture below!

The water is usually nice and warm and never really too choppy so it is also quite safe to swim there. The area is also pretty sheltered from the infamous Mistral wind which is always a plus! For those of you who like to let things "hang loose" so to speak, there is also a secluded area nearby reserved for nudists!

Mountain Climbing

If the breathtaking views of Marseille's coastline aren't enough, you can always take the path to the left. This path leads you on a winding trail that circles the Col de Sugiton, a small mountain overlooking both the coastline and the actual city of Marseille. Once you reach the top you will have your pick of views and the scenery is just spectacular as you can see from the pictures. This was probably my favourite thing to do here as the views are just out of this world.

I highly recommend that anyone who has the opportunity to visit this magical place does so as I guarantee that you will not regret it. I spent countless hours there during my Erasmus and have been back many times since. There is something for everyone to do and Marseille fantastic weather means you can go there nearly year-round.