Luxury South of France Yacht Charter

What to Do on a South of France Yacht Charter?

Anchor off the Îles de Lérins and take a tender ashore to the Cistercian monastery that has produced wine on this island for centuries. Sail to Corsica in a morning and be back on the French coast by evening. Take a tender into the Calanques at first light, twenty kilometres of limestone inlets with no road access and no hotels, and arrive before anyone else does. A South of France yacht charter covers more ground and reaches more coastline than any other format on the Riviera.

Pelorus designs South of France yacht charters around the full range of what the region offers. The Corsican coastline for those who want to sail beyond the Riviera entirely. The Calanques and the Provence coast for those who want genuinely remote sailing within a few hours of the most famous ports in the Mediterranean. The wine estates above Bandol and Cassis, the offshore islands, the quiet anchorages between the famous ports: the logistics, the permit applications and the aviation transfers for guests arriving from different places are handled before the group boards.


Plan Your South of France Charter

Why Charter a Yacht in the South of France?

  • The Calanques between Marseille and Cassis are accessible only by boat. Twenty kilometres of limestone inlets, no road access, no hotels.

  • Porquerolles, Corsica and Cap Corse all sit within a single charter window from the Riviera.

  • The Monaco Grand Prix and the Cannes Film Festival are better experienced from the water.

  • Anchor off Bandol, take a tender ashore to Domaine Tempier and return to the yacht for dinner as the sun drops behind the hills.

Best Experiences on a South of France Yacht Charter

The South of France coastline is more varied than the Riviera reputation suggests. These are Pelorus's recommended experiences across the region's most distinctive waters.

Best Experiences on a South of France Yacht Charter

The South of France coastline is more varied than the Riviera reputation suggests. These are Pelorus's recommended experiences across the region's most distinctive waters.

Classic Car and Coastal Road

A Porsche 356 Speedster, a Ferrari 246 GT Dino or a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, delivered directly to the dock and collected at the end of the day. The three coastal roads between Nice and Menton, the headlands of Cap d'Antibes and Cap Ferrat, the hill villages above Grasse: these roads were built for this. The cars are insured, delivered and collected by the supplier. The yacht is in the harbour when you return.

The Calanques by Tender

The twenty kilometres of limestone inlets between Marseille and Cassis have no road access and no hotels. The only way in is by boat. A private tender takes the group into cave systems, hidden coves and anchorages with vertical white cliffs dropping directly into clear water. The national park restricts visitor numbers in summer. Pelorus plans the Calanques leg around the national park access windows before the group boards.

Wine From the Water - Bandol and Cassis

Anchor off Bandol and take a tender ashore to Domaine Tempier, the estate credited with defining the Mourvèdre-led wines of Provence. Cassis white wines are produced directly above the calanques, vineyards visible from the water. The Îles des Embiez have a vineyard and an oceanographic institute on an island reachable only by boat. Pelorus arranges private tastings and cellar access that are not available to walk-in visitors.

The Events Circuit by Yacht

The Monaco Grand Prix circuit runs through the streets each May. The Cannes Film Festival occupies the first two weeks of the same month. Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez fills the Gulf of Saint-Tropez in late September. All three are better experienced from the water than from land. Pelorus manages the marina bookings, grandstand access and hospitality arrangements for each event as part of the charter.

Corsica in a Day

Corsica is four hours from the Riviera on a fast motor yacht. Cap Corse, Calvi and the Gulf of Porto offer Genoese towers on every headland, water that shifts between turquoise and deep blue and anchorages that predate French governance of the island. Most guests returning from a week on the Riviera have never been. Pelorus charters extend naturally to cover the crossing and back.

Sail the Riviera the Right Way

A sailing yacht changes the pace of this coastline entirely. The passage from Cannes to Saint-Tropez under sail, the overnight crossing to Corsica: these are experiences that a motor yacht cannot replicate. Pelorus works across a fleet of sailing yachts, from classic racing schooners like ELENA OF LONDON to performance yachts like MES AMIS, matched to the itinerary and the group.

Perfume, Vineyards and the Côte d'Azur Hinterland

Grasse, the world capital of perfume, sits forty minutes from the dock. A private workshop with a master perfumer allows guests to create their own fragrance from a selection of rare essences, with the finished vial to take home. Above Nice, the Château de Cremat vineyard on the Bellet hill, one of France's oldest wine appellations dating to 1941, is reached by e-bike from the port: Roman-built cellars, organic wines in three colours and a downhill ride back to the waterfront. In Nice's Old Town, a private rosé tasting led by sommelier and cookbook author Viktorija Todorovska covers the producers, the styles and the story of Provence rosé, paired with Niçoise street food.



Top Places to Visit on a South of France Yacht Charter

Here are Pelorus's recommended destinations across the region's most distinctive coastline.

The French Riviera

Best for events, culture and coastal access

The French Riviera runs from Marseille to the Italian border and contains more variety than the famous names suggest. Cannes and the Îles de Lérins for the Film Festival and the fortified monastery two nautical miles offshore. Antibes and Cap d'Antibes for the Picasso Museum, the Sentier du Littoral coastal path and the deep-water anchorages below the headland that have sheltered private yachts since the Belle Époque. Monaco for the Grand Prix circuit and Port Hercule. Saint-Tropez for the old port, the Pampelonne beaches and Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez in late September, when the gulf fills with classic racing yachts and the town returns to the version of itself that existed before the beach clubs arrived. The Cannes Film Festival, the Monaco Grand Prix and Les Voiles are all better experienced from a luxury superyacht charter than from land.

The Calanques and Provence Coast

Best for wild coastline and inland culture

West of the Riviera, the coastline changes entirely. The Calanques between Marseille and Cassis are twenty kilometres of limestone inlets with no road access and strict national park visitor limits enforced in summer. Arrival by tender at dawn, before the walking parties arrive from Cassis, gives access to coves and cave systems that the rest of the day's visitors never reach. Bandol and its Domaine Tempier vines sit directly above the water. Cassis produces white wines from vineyards visible from the anchorage. Port-Cros, a car-free island in the Îles d'Hyères, has some of the clearest water on the French coast and exceptional diving conditions with free-diving world champion Stéphane Mifsud.

Corsica

Best for sailing, remoteness and unspoiled coastline

Corsica is four hours from the Riviera on a fast motor yacht and receives a fraction of the attention of the mainland coast. Cap Corse in the north has Genoese towers on every headland and anchorages that predate French governance of the island. Calvi offers a Genoese citadel above a deep-water bay. The Gulf of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has red volcanic cliffs dropping directly into clear water. Propriano in the south has anchorages that rarely see charter traffic from the mainland. A South of France charter that extends to Corsica covers roughly twice the coastline of than one that stays on the Riviera.



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Popular Yachts to charter

A luxurious yacht anchored in clear turquoise waters, with two small sailboats nearby. The yacht features multiple decks and is equipped with various water toys. Palm trees and a sandy beach are visible in the background.
BOLD
From 875,000 EUR • 85.3M • 12 Guests
Sleek white yacht sailing through vibrant turquoise water under a blue sky with fluffy white clouds.
KAMALAYA
From 170,352 USD • 56M • 12 Guests
KING BENJI can accommodate 10 guests in 5 luxurious cabins.
KING BENJI
From 250,000 USD • 47M • 10 Guests
ELENA of LONDON
From USD • 55M • 10 Guests
Large sailing yacht named MES AMIS with tall white sails gliding past a steep rocky cliff topped with a lighthouse.
MES AMIS
From 155,000 USD • 44M • 10 Guests
A large white yacht anchored in calm blue waters, with two wooden boats approaching it. A lush green hillside with buildings is visible in the background under a clear blue sky.
CHRISTINA O
From 700,000 EUR • 99.13M • 34 Guests
RIANA
From 70,000 EUR • 42M • 10 Guests
Large white classic motor yacht named SHERAKHAN cruising on deep blue water under a clear sky.
SHERAKHAN
From 595,000 EUR • 69.65M • 26 Guests
OKTO superyacht luxury yachting with a pool aboard
OKTO
From 480,000 USD • 66.4M • 11 Guests
DELTA ONE
From 145,000 EUR • 38M • 10 Guests
A sleek sailing yacht anchored in turquoise waters, with a backdrop of lush green mountains and a clear blue sky.
BLISS
From 80,400 USD • 36.7M • 10 Guests
High-angle view of a luxury motor yacht SEVEN SINS with a glass-bottom pool on the deck and a fold-out beach club.
SEVEN SINS
From 300,000 EUR • 52M • 10 Guests

Why Charter in the South of France with Pelorus?

Private Access to the Calanques and Offshore Islands

Expert Captains, Private Tenders, Private Air

Marina Bookings and Event Access Handled

Itineraries Built Entirely Around You

Luxury South of France Yacht Charters for Every Traveller

FAMILIES

Porquerolles for shallow-water swimming and cycling ashore on a car-free island. The Calanques by tender with lunch on deck. A private perfume workshop in Grasse for the children. The itinerary moves at the family's pace, not the other way round.

COUPLES

A sailing yacht between Cap d'Antibes and Corsica. A private cellar tasting at Domaine Tempier, back on the water by evening. Dinner at Mirazur in Menton, three Michelin stars, with a car collecting from the dock.

GROUPS

Classic cars delivered to the dock for a day on the Corniche roads. Private wine tastings in Bandol and Cassis arranged before the group arrives. The itinerary built around what the group wants from the week, not a standard Riviera circuit.

The Best Time to Charter in the South of France

May - June: The Riviera at its most alive. The Cannes Film Festival in the first two weeks of May, the Monaco Grand Prix at the end of the month. Long days, warm water and anchorages that are busy but not yet at peak summer capacity.

July - August: Peak season with the warmest water and the longest days. The most popular anchorages fill quickly and the Calanques national park visitor restrictions apply most strictly. Pelorus plans the Calanques leg around the national park access windows and the tidal conditions.

September - October: The strongest month for those who want good weather without peak season pressure. Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez fills the gulf in late September. Corsica is quieter, the water is still warm and the Calanques are more accessible.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Calanques national park between Marseille and Cassis restricts visitor numbers and overnight anchoring in certain zones during summer. A private yacht with the right permits, arranged in advance, can anchor in bays that day visitors and walking parties cannot reach. Pelorus handles the permit applications before the group arrives.

The French Riviera has one of the most active superyacht charter scenes in the Mediterranean. Saint-Tropez, Cannes and Monaco attract the largest concentration of luxury yacht charters in Europe between May and September, with Port Hercule in Monaco and Port Canto in Cannes among the most sought-after berths on the coast. The Cannes Film Festival, the Monaco Grand Prix and Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez bring the Riviera to its peak each year. A luxury superyacht charter on the French Riviera is the format that gives access to all three without the logistics becoming the story. Pelorus manages the marina bookings, event credentials and hospitality arrangements for each before the group boards.

Sailing yachts suit the passages between Saint-Tropez, the Îles d'Hyères and Corsica, where the prevailing wind runs with the route and the sailing is the experience rather than the means of getting there. ELENA OF LONDON, a performance schooner built to the lines of a 1928 Transatlantic Race winner, and MES AMIS, an award-winning sailing yacht built for Mediterranean passages, both operate in these waters. Motor yachts suit those combining multiple events., the Grand Prix, the Film Festival, Les Voiles, where covering ground quickly matters more than how you cover it. SEAWOLF and KAMALAYA are both well suited to the Riviera circuit at pace. Pelorus works across both and advises based on the itinerary.

Yes. Nice Côte d'Azur Airport handles private aviation and is fifteen minutes from Port Vauban in Antibes. Cannes Mandelieu is closer to the Croisette waterfront. Monaco Heliport connects directly to Port Hercule for groups arriving by helicopter from Geneva, Milan or London. Pelorus arranges the aviation transfers and times the yacht's arrival to meet the group at the dock.

Port-Cros, a car-free island in the Îles d'Hyères, is one of the finest dive sites in the Mediterranean. The underwater trail at the Sentier de la Palud, the Dalles de Bagaud and the Rocher de la Gabinière are all within the Port-Cros National Park. Pelorus arranges private diving sessions at Port-Cros, including access to free-diving world champion Stéphane Mifsud, as part of the charter programme.

Bandol rosé from Domaine Tempier, tasted at the estate above the bay before returning to the yacht for dinner. Cassis white wines from vineyards visible from the anchorage. A private rosé tasting with a sommelier in Nice Old Town, paired with Niçoise street food. Dinner at Mirazur in Menton, a three Michelin-star restaurant following the lunar calendar, with a private car collecting from the dock. Pelorus arranges cellar access and private tastings that are not available to walk-in visitors.

Yes. Port Hercule sits directly below the circuit and several sections of the race are visible from the water. Pelorus secures berths in Port Hercule for Grand Prix weekend, alongside grandstand access and hospitality arrangements. The marina fills completely for race weekend and berth allocation is managed by the Monaco authorities, lead times of twelve months or more are standard for the best positions.

Cliff jumping at the Giens peninsula, an underwater snorkelling trail at Port-Cros shallow enough for beginners, a private perfume workshop in Grasse where children create their own fragrance from a selection of rare essences, e-bike rides through the Maures massif and tender expeditions into the Calanques sea caves. The South of France has more for children than most families realise, and a private yacht reaches the parts of it that hotels cannot.

Through Pelorus Junior, children follow their own age-appropriate programme on board alongside the main itinerary: treasure hunts, underwater discovery sessions and storytelling built around the coastline they are sailing through. For families travelling with particularly curious young minds, the Curious Minds programme turns the charter into a voyage of genuine discovery.

A tranquil seaside scene with clear turquoise water and a sailboat near rocky shores. Large boulders are visible in the foreground, and small sailboats can be seen in the distance under a clear blue sky.

Why We Love the South of France

The South of France is one of the few destinations where the yacht genuinely changes what is possible. The Calanques are only accessible by boat. Porquerolles belongs to whoever arrives the night before the ferries. Corsica is four hours offshore and most visitors never cross. The wine estates above Bandol and Cassis sit directly above anchorages. The Corniche roads are best driven in a classic car collected from the dock.

It is a coastline that reveals itself properly only from the water, only to those who know where to look, and only when the planning is done before the group arrives.

Design Your South of France Luxury Yacht Charter with Pelorus

Our charter specialists know this coastline in detail: the anchorages, the event logistics, the cellar doors and the permits that open the parts of this coastline most visitors never reach. Speak with a specialist to start planning your South of France charter.

Plan Your South of France Charter