- Shelter
- NW, N, NE, W, SW
- Seabed
- sand, algae
- Anchoring
- Allowed
Deep calanque west of Morgiou in the Calanques national park, sand and posidonia bottom, small fishing cabanons at the head.
- Pontoon
- Beach
- Seagrass
Guide
Approach and anchoring
Approach from the south, keep clear of the rocks off Cap Morgiou to the east and the Pointe de la Melette to the west. The bottom is mostly posidonia with only a few sand patches, so search out clear sand; depths run 6 to 15 metres and often call for 45 to 55 metres of chain. A ring at the south-west corner takes a stern line. Sheltered from NW through N, NE, W and SW, but it can roll even without wind or swell, and swell from the south and SE rolls straight in. Gusts accelerate over the hills in a mistral and holding has failed for some crews, so do not count on it as a heavy-weather refuge.
Practical
No services in the calanque. Park wardens patrol the calanque, and once the tour-boat shuttles stop for the evening only anchored boats remain, so it grows quieter at night.
Ashore
Sentier des Calanques links Sormiou to Morgiou via the Col de la Selle in about 45 minutes. Restaurant Le Château at the head of the calanque serves lunch in season. Road access is closed to cars in summer so the beach stays quieter than Marseille city beaches.
History
Sormiou has around 130 cabanons, fishing huts built by Marseille families through the 19th and early 20th centuries, now protected within the national park created in 2012.
Key facts
- Type
- Anchorage
- Coordinates
- 43.20850, 5.42493 (43°12.51'N 5°25.50'E)
- Country
- France
- Shelter
- Sheltered from north-west, north, north-east, west, south-west winds
- Seabed
- sand, algae
- Anchoring
- Allowed
- Services
- Pontoon, Beach, Seagrass
- Boaters' rating
- 3.8/5
- Updated
- October 15, 2026
Getting there
Calanque de Sormiou lies at 43°12.51'N 5°25.50'E, that is 43.20850, 5.42493 in decimal degrees.
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Write a reviewFrequently asked questions
Which winds is Calanque de Sormiou sheltered from?
Calanque de Sormiou is sheltered from north-west, north, north-east, west, south-west winds.
Can you anchor at Calanque de Sormiou?
Yes, anchoring is allowed at Calanque de Sormiou.
How do boaters rate Calanque de Sormiou?
Calanque de Sormiou is rated 3.8/5 by boaters on BoatMap.
Explore the region
- France
- Provence and Côte d'Azur
- Marseille and the Calanques
- Camargue and Gulf of Fos
- Var
- Riviera · Alpes-Maritimes
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