Îles d'Hyères, Cote d'Azur / French Riviera
The Hyères islands, also known as the “Golden Islands”, are made up of three islands: Porquerolles, Port-Cros and Le Levant. Archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea, located off Giens and Cap Bénat, it constitutes the extreme southern tip of Provence.
Why this city?
The Golden Islands are home to a variety of Mediterranean landscapes ranging from maquis to fertile and cultivable plains. True gardens in the sea, the water is of exceptional purity and the seabed is home to a wealth of fauna and flora.
A paradise on the Var coast, the Hyères islands can be reached in just 15 minutes from the port of La Tour Fondue on the Giens peninsula, or in 50 minutes from the port of La Londe if you are coming from Lavandou or Saint -Tropez.
A crossing to the Hyères islands is always a real trip, with this feeling of being far from everything. The lucky ones will cross paths with dolphins!
Not to be missed on holiday in the Hyères islands
Each island of the archipelago has its own personality. Porquerolles, the Nature Island, is the best known, the most populated and the largest with 54 kilometers of trails. Located furthest west, this jewel of the Mediterranean, with an area of 1,254 hectares, is 7 kilometers long and 2.5 kilometers wide. Crescent-shaped, Porquerolles is a
extension of the Massif des Maures and is home to hidden treasures and dream beaches. To the south, you will discover impressive cliffs, while to the north, facing the mainland, sandy beaches. Argent beach is one of the most beautiful beaches of the Hyères islands with its white sand. As for Notre-Dame beach, it was voted the most beautiful beach in Europe. Located 3 kilometers from the port, it is further away than the previous one and therefore less
frequented. The Langoustier beaches, 4 kilometers from the port, consist of two beautiful beaches: one of black sand to the south, the other of white sand to the north. On the land side, you can explore the island by bike, through the pine forest and the vines. Visit the charming typical Provençal village, built around its central square and taste a good homemade ice cream.
Port-Cros, the authentic and wild island, is the first terrestrial and marine national park in Europe. With its 4 kilometers long and 2.5 kilometers wide, it is the smallest island of the archipelago, but also the most mountainous. Endowed with steep cliffs, it offers few beaches but the beauty of its landscapes and the richness of its biotope make Port-Cros an exceptional natural sanctuary.
The Levant, the naturist and bohemian island, is covered with abundant vegetation and its arbutus trees are reputed to be among the most beautiful in all of Mediterranean Europe. Its eastern tip is home to a perched village called Heliopolis, where nudity is required with the greatest respect and tolerance. The clarity of the water and the beauty of the seabed guarantee beautiful memories of diving or marine walks.
