Calanques: what activities to do with your dog?
Do the magnificent photos of the Calanques make you want to go there with your dog? You don't know what activities to do with your dog in the Calanques? Lots of ideas in this article!
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The Calanques, the turquoise water, the gigantic cliffs… For Musher and me, the Calanques are completely synonymous with a great vacation to share with your dog!
The Calanques National Park extends from Carry-Le-Rouet in the west to La Ciotat in the east. It therefore also includes the large city of Marseille and that of Cassis, among others.
I have already tested the creeks with my dog: we loved enjoying the region out of season. Although it's not the best season for water activities with a dog, we still found something to have fun together!
In this article, I give you lots of ideas for activities to do with your dog to discover the Calanques and the towns of the Calanques National Park.
Discover the Calanques while hiking with your dog
We start with the most obvious activity: the thousand and one hikes to do with your dog in the Calanques! For Musher and I, it's definitely our favorite activity.
The hikes may be numerous, However, you should not jump on the first path that comes along, especially with a dog! Indeed, most are quite steep and many even have tricky passages, with ladders or climbing. How many times we had to turn around after several kilometers of walking because Musher could not pass! It is therefore better to study your itinerary before setting off!
Moreover, the website of Calanques National Park set up a map library : you will find different maps by sector. Routes are drawn there and delicate passages are indicated by a triangle.
Using these maps or an IGN map, you will quickly find hikes of all levels and durations to do with your dog in the Calanques. There are a few islands with magnificent coves to discover. The advantage is that they are relatively small, so it is more difficult to get lost there than inland. If you want to ensure beautiful hikes with your dog without unpleasant surprises, I list my 6 favorites of the Calanques in this article: 6 hikes accessible to dogs in the Calanques.
The GR 51-98 crosses the Calanques from East to West, however the difference in altitude is significant and the difficulty high. To only do with a very well trained dog, and that you can carry during very acrobatic passages. On the other hand, bivouac being prohibited in the Calanques National Park, you will need to book accommodation if you wish to walk for several days. Fortunately, we have found the best accommodation for you to feel welcome with your dog, labeled QUALIDOG W'ouf course! Go to the bottom of the article to find our selection 😇
One last recommendation: the soil of the Calanques is quite abrasive in places. If you are going on long hikes with your dog, it is a good idea to prepare his pads with a moisturizing balm, or to accustom him to wearing special dog boots.
The Calanques along the water with your dog by the sea
The Calanques seen from the land do not at all look the same as seen from the sea! Discovering them on the water with your dog is extraordinary! Several activities are possible with a dog but it requires a little preparation.
An activity that we love to practice with Musher: canoeing! Make sure your dog feels comfortable in the water, so that he is not traumatized if he ever falls into the water. With a labrador like Mush', you might as well say that the question didn't even arise! His behavior had already shown us on numerous occasions his fish genes. I have also written an article for you to help you prepare yourself well for kayaking with your dog.
We know two dog-friendly kayak rental companies: Lo'kayak at Cassis and Carry Kayak at Carry-Le-Rouet.
Theoretically, it is also possible to paddling with your dog, but we do not have an address to recommend to you. If you test one, consider registering it in our Trop W'ouf addresses to share it with the community!
Please note: for these activities, have a safety jacket for your dog is mandatory. We carried out a comparison of several life jackets for dogs to help you choose.
On the boat side, there are also day or sunset cruises to visit the Calanques with your dog. On the other hand, you must call the cruise service providers, because they are the ones who decide directly whether they accept dogs on board their boat and under what conditions.
This Christmas, we tried a boat trip with Musher as a family, we validated! We walked in front of the Calanques leaving from the port of Cassis.
Cultural visits accessible to dogs in the Calanques
Do you want to discover the local culture of the Calanques with your dog? You will not be disappointed, because the Calanques are full of surprises.
The city centers of La Ciotat and Cassis are imbued with local architecture and atmosphere. The small streets, pretty squares and colorful houses are pleasant to visit with a dog. I still recommend going there out of season, because in the middle of summer you can barely get around! Are you feeling a little peckish? Find our dog-friendly restaurants on your way. You will also find churches and numerous chapels, witnesses of the religious culture of the local inhabitants. They cannot be visited with a dog, but they are worth the detour 😉
A La Ciotat, you can walk your dog in the magnificent Mugel botanical park and in le City Garden, a little smaller but very pretty too. Also, the Soft Way, a former railway line made pedestrian and green, allows you to cross La Ciotat. You will learn more about the city's heritage thanks to the explanatory panels along the route. You can also visit the shipyard with your dog and discover the history of La Ciotat’s port know-how.
To the east of Carry-Le-Rouet, Notre Dame du Rouet chapel is very pretty to see. The interior is, however, closed to the public. However, it is an opportunity for a stroll a little outside the city, which leads to a magnificent landscape, Saltwater Calanque with its viaduct, Rouet beach. You can also have a view up to the town of Marseille !
Exactly, speaking of Marseille, I highly recommend it Park of Longchamp Palace ! There you will discover the Palais Longchamp, a well-decorated water tower with a beautiful waterfall, erected to celebrate the arrival of water thanks to the construction of a canal to Marseille. Visiting the Palace and the surrounding museums is possible but unfortunately this is an activity prohibited for dogs. The Park is, however, memorable. You have a special article on the secrets of Marseille to discover with your dog to know more.
There are several great monuments to see in the cities, but you will only be able to see them from the outside with your dog. The same goes for museums, which unfortunately are not allowed dogs. As an example, here is the magnificent La Major cathedral in Marseille 😍
Whether you visit the towns or the Calanques, have fun finding the small fishing ports typical of the region. Several are hidden from Cassis to Carry-Le-Rouet and are very cute to explore.
To finish, the villages of Goudes and CallelongueOr Morgiou et Sormiou in the South of Marseille are very nice to visit with a dog. The typical fishing huts of these ancient hamlets show to what extent fishing was the main activity.
Where to swim with your dog in the Calanques?
Musher loves enjoy the beach in all seasons! They are generally quite small in the Calanques. The most accessible are also the busiest, completely crowded in summer. If you want to enjoy this activity with your dog, you will have to get up early or leave out of season. The famous Calanque de port-pinAnd the Lizard trail in Carry-Le-Rouet, have easy-access beaches.
It is also possible to swim with your dog in several other coves of the Calanques. However, most of the time, they are accessible after having warmed up the calves!
If it's cold or very windy, I advise you to bring a small microfiber towel for dry your dog after swimming. One winter, Musher happily enjoyed a swim in the sea as the air temperature approached 0°C. At the time, I didn't dry it when I got home. Result: the next day, she coughed all day! After an appointment with a veterinarian, she came down with kennel cough. Nothing too bad, but it only takes once for me to take precautions!
Prepare my vacation in the Calanques with my dog
First of all, I really advise you toavoid summer in the Calanques with your dog. The towns, like the Calanques, are crowded with people. Activities and beaches are also much more difficult to access, and less pleasant to experience due to the extreme crowds. Between the end of September and the beginning of June, it is calmer and it is less hot. You will be able to better enjoy activities with your dog.
To travel in the Calanques, RTM buses and maritime shuttles require you to be able to hold the dog in your arms or in a transport bag. Your dog must therefore be small or medium size and it will be accepted without extra charge. You can of course also travel by car.
Please note, the shuttle season runs from the end of April to the end of September. Outside of this period, you will not be able to visit the islands. It’s about the same time for activities like kayaking or paddleboarding.
The best for last: make the most of your vacation in the Calanques with our QUALIDOG-certified accommodation. You can rest there with your dog between your various planned activities.
With all this, you won't be bored! Whether hiking, at the beach or in towns and villages, I hope you will thoroughly enjoy your activities with your dog in the Calanques! Musher and I are going back very soon!