Cannes: Private sailing tour to the Lerins Islands

The best part of this outing is the quick change of scene. You leave the Old Port with the Palais des Festivals behind you, pass the Croisette and Cannes yachts, then spend the main part of the trip around the turquoise waters of the Lérins Islands. It gives you a taste of the Riviera from the water without committing to a full-day charter.

I like the private format, since your group of up to eight does not share the boat with strangers. I also like the simple plan: sail, swim, snorkel, and relax, with drinks and a restroom included. The main catch is the additional €350 skipper charge, which is mandatory and paid on site, so the advertised group price is not the final cost.

Key points to know before booking

• Departure from Cannes’ Old Port: You set off near the Palais des Festivals, with the Croisette and harbor views immediately around you.
• Three hours around the Lérins Islands: Most of the experience is spent sailing, swimming, snorkeling, and resting near the islands.
• Private boat for up to eight: You share the boat only with your own group, making this a good fit for families or friends.
• Skipper fee is extra: A professional skipper is mandatory and costs €350 per trip, paid directly on site.
• Drinks and equipment are supplied: Soda, alcoholic beverages, snorkeling equipment, fuel surcharge, and an onboard restroom are included.
• Weather matters: Poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure.

Leaving Cannes from the Old Port

Your meeting point is in Cannes’ Old Port, listed as G2X7+GG Cannes. The port sits by the Palais des Festivals, so you begin in one of the city’s most recognizable spots rather than at a distant marina.

That location matters. You can pair the sailing trip with time along the Croisette, and the transfer from the city center is simple because the meeting point is near public transportation. Still, check the exact map pin before departure. A plus-code location is useful, but it is less clear than a named dock or boat berth.

The first 20 minutes are given to leaving Cannes and heading toward the islands. This is not dead time. You get the harbor, waterfront hotels, yachts, and the famous festival building from a different angle as the boat moves away from shore.

The short departure also helps the tour feel relaxed. You are not spending half the morning getting to the water. Once the boat clears the city, the focus shifts to the Lérins Islands and the open Mediterranean.

What the three-and-a-half-hour timing gives you

The total outing lasts about three hours and 30 minutes. Around 20 minutes are used for the trip out from Cannes, leaving roughly three hours for the island portion and the return.

That is a useful middle ground. A quick harbor cruise would not give you much time to swim, while a full-day charter may be too much if you have only a few days in Cannes. Here, you get a proper break without losing an entire day.

You should not treat the schedule as a tightly timed sightseeing tour. The island portion is built around a loose mix of sailing, swimming, snorkeling, and rest. The appeal is the change of pace, not a long list of stops or formal commentary.

This also means the experience will suit you best if you are happy with a flexible afternoon on the water. If you want detailed island history, several shore landings, or a packed route, this is probably too simple. If you want to get away from city streets and enjoy the sea, the timing works well.

Reaching the Lérins Islands by sailboat

The Lérins Islands sit just off Cannes, close enough for a short sailing trip but far enough to feel separate from the resort city. The route gives you the classic Riviera contrast: polished waterfront scenery at the start, then open water and low island shores.

The boat is described as an elegant sailboat. You can expect the main pleasure to come from being on the water rather than from a large set of onboard facilities. There is a restroom, drinks, and snorkeling equipment, but cabins are not included.

That last detail is easy to overlook. This is a short private sailing experience, not an overnight yacht charter. You will have space to enjoy the sea, but not the kind of private cabin arrangement that comes with a longer cruise.

The boat is also supplied with fuel, with the fuel surcharge included in the price. That removes one common extra from the final bill. The skipper charge, however, remains separate and should be part of your budget from the start.

Swimming and snorkeling around the islands

The three-hour island stop is where the experience earns its price. You have time to get into the water, use the supplied snorkeling equipment, and settle into a slower rhythm.

The water is described as turquoise, and the setting is intended for a sunny Mediterranean break. You might spend part of the time swimming and part of it simply sitting aboard, watching the islands and coast from the boat. The plan does not require you to be active the whole time.

Snorkeling gear is provided, which is handy if you do not want to pack your own mask and equipment. A towel is not included, so bring one. That is a small but important practical point, especially if you plan to swim more than once.

The tour suits mixed groups because nobody has to follow the same pace. One person can swim, another can snorkel, and someone else can remain on deck with a drink. Since the boat is private, your group can enjoy the outing without having to match the habits of a larger shared party.

The information does not promise a particular snorkeling site, marine life, or underwater route. Keep your expectations sensible. You are booking access to a pleasant island setting with time in the water, not a specialist wildlife excursion.

Drinks, alcohol, and the onboard setup

Soda and alcoholic beverages are included, which makes the trip feel more like a social outing than a bare transport service. You do not have to arrange every drink before leaving Cannes.

The onboard restroom is another practical plus. Three and a half hours is long enough for this to matter, especially for families or anyone who prefers not to depend on facilities at the islands.

The included equipment and drinks add real value to a private charter. You are not paying only for the boat movement. You are also getting the basic things that make a half-day on the water more comfortable.

Still, pack carefully. Towels are not supplied, and cabins are not part of the booking. The supplied information does not list a meal, so do not assume lunch or a full food service is included. If your group needs something substantial to eat, clarify that before departure or plan ahead within the information provided by the operator.

The private format and group size

This is a private activity for up to eight people. That is its strongest feature for the right group.

A couple can book it for a special outing, though the price makes more sense when shared among several people. A family or group of friends can spread the cost across eight places and keep the boat to themselves.

At the listed price of $1,384.73 per group, the base cost works out to about $173 per person if eight people attend. You must then add the €350 skipper charge, divided among your group. At two people, the per-person cost becomes much higher. At eight, it becomes easier to justify for a private Riviera experience lasting three and a half hours.

The private setup also gives you more control over the mood. You can talk, listen to the water, swim when you want, and relax without a large mixed group around you. The tradeoff is that a private boat does not automatically mean a personal route designed around every request. The supplied details promise a general sailing and island experience, not a custom itinerary with multiple destinations.

Understanding the skipper charge

A professional skipper is mandatory. The skipper is provided, but the €350 fee is not included in the online booking price and must be paid directly on site.

This is the most important cost detail. Add it before you compare this tour with other boat trips around Cannes. The base price may look straightforward, but your final group expense includes both the booking amount and the local skipper payment.

The additional charge covers the person responsible for handling the boat, so it is not an optional tip or upgrade. It also means you do not need to arrive with boating experience or a qualified captain of your own.

A skipper named Hubert is associated with the boat Georgette. If he is assigned to your departure, you may be sailing with the same skipper and boat connected with the warm, relaxed tone of this experience. Your confirmation should settle the exact boat and skipper details.

The mood: a calm break after city sightseeing

This trip works especially well after several busy days on the French Riviera. Cannes can involve plenty of walking, shopping, beaches, museums, and day trips. A few hours at sea gives your schedule a welcome change.

The experience has been described as relaxing and a good way to spend a day after a week of sightseeing. That is a useful clue about its character. It is less about collecting sights and more about giving yourself room to slow down.

You can also use the outing as a lighter alternative to a full beach day. Instead of staying on one crowded stretch of sand, you move away from Cannes and enjoy time around the islands. You still get swimming and sun, but the boat makes the experience feel more special.

The weather will shape the day. This is an outdoor activity that requires good conditions. If poor weather forces a cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. That policy provides some protection, but you should still keep a little flexibility in your schedule.

Who will get the most from this sailing trip

I would look closely at this tour if you are traveling with family or friends and want a private water experience close to Cannes. The group limit of eight is large enough for a small gathering but still keeps the boat personal.

It is also a good fit if you want:

• A short trip from central Cannes
• Swimming and snorkeling without arranging equipment yourself
• A private boat rather than a shared excursion
• Drinks included during the outing
• A relaxed break from sightseeing
• A simple half-day plan instead of a full-day charter

You may want another option if you are traveling alone or as a couple and watching every euro. The €350 skipper fee makes the value stronger for a full group and weaker for one or two people.

You should also look elsewhere if your priority is extensive island exploration on foot, a guided cultural tour, a meal at sea, or an overnight boating experience. Those features are not part of this plan.

Booking, cancellation, and practical details

Confirmation is normally sent at booking. If you reserve within four hours of departure, confirmation arrives as soon as possible and depends on availability.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted, and payment is not refunded for a late cancellation. The cut-off uses local time in Cannes.

Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate. The activity is near public transportation, though you should still allow time to find the correct point in the Old Port and identify the boat.

The booking is offered in English. Bring a towel, and remember that cabins are not included. Since drinks and snorkeling equipment are supplied, you can keep your packing fairly light.

Should you book the Lérins Islands sailing tour?

Book this if you want a private, easygoing Mediterranean outing and can fill enough places to make the cost sensible. The combination of Cannes harbor views, three hours near the islands, swimming, snorkeling equipment, drinks, and an onboard restroom gives you a well-rounded short charter.

The extra €350 skipper fee is not a minor footnote. Include it in your calculation before booking. For eight people, the shared cost is much easier to accept. For a couple, you are paying a premium for privacy.

My practical advice is to choose a day with a flexible weather forecast, bring a towel, confirm the exact meeting point, and ask for the final skipper and boat details. If you want a calm break after sightseeing and your group values having the boat to itself, this is a strong choice. If you want intensive sightseeing or the lowest possible price, keep looking.

FAQ

Where does the sailing tour start?

The tour starts at the Old Port of Cannes, near the Palais des Festivals. The listed meeting point is G2X7+GG Cannes, France.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately three hours and 30 minutes. About 20 minutes are allocated to leaving Cannes, followed by about three hours around the Lérins Islands.

How many people can join the private tour?

The private boat can accommodate a group of up to eight people. Only your group participates.

Is the professional skipper included in the price?

The skipper is mandatory and provided, but the €350 fee is not included in the online booking price. It is paid directly on site per trip.

What is included on board?

Soda, alcoholic beverages, snorkeling equipment, the fuel surcharge, an entrance fee, and use of the onboard restroom are included.

Are towels and cabins provided?

No. Towel use and cabins are not included.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you will be offered another date or a full refund.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.