Massif des Maures
Massif des Maures

Massif des Maures

In startling contrast to the frills and thrills of the French Riviera, the Massif des Maures—a small mountain range running parallel to the coast for 36 miles (60 kilometers)—feels wild and quiet. Casual and avid hikers will find plenty of adventures here on the orchid-lined slopes; those seeking natural serenity will find that in spades, too.

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Collobrières, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, 83610

The basics

Roughly translating to “the Moorish Mountains,” the Massif des Maures is what some might call hills—the highest point, Le Signal de La Sauvette, climbs to 2,559 feet (780 meters). True, it’s not much, but the views over the Iles d'Or islands and the Giens peninsula are still rarely short of spectacular.

The chain runs from east of Toulon to west of Cannes, and fragrant villages like Collobrieres and La Garde-Freinet hide a quieter side of Provence in their hillsides. Certainly, you don’t need to be an expert outdoorsman to find joy here—most visitors come for walks, light trekking, cycling, and horseback rides.

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Things to know before you go

  • Take the Corniche des Maures, a coastal road from Lavandou to the Saint-Tropez peninsula, for an incredibly scenic drive.

  • Autumn is an excellent time for village festivals, usually celebrating traditions like cork-tree harvests.

  • Many trails are well-marked and maintained; stick to these if you’re a beginner hiker.

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How to get there

If you're flying into the region, the closest airport is Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport. From there, your best bet is to rent a car—or hire a driver—to get to the Massif des Maures. The mountains can be reached via the D558 motorway, which winds through La Garde-Freinet, or D14, which goes to Collobrieres.

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When to get there

The Massif isn’t much higher in elevation than the French Riviera, so the weather will be pretty similar to what you’ll find in the beach towns—maybe slightly cooler. Ultimately, you’re dealing with the same constraints: money and crowds. Summer means bigger crowds and higher prices; spring and fall mean riskier weather but more elbow room. And that weather won’t be anything a jacket can’t fix.

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Where the wild things are

Though so close to human development, the Maures Massif is home to a surprising amount of flora and fauna. Beyond the cork oak, holly sweet chestnut, strawberry trees, and Aleppo pine, you might run across the Hermann's tortoise—one of the few places in Europe the species can be found, as well as badgers, lizards, tawny owls, and peregrine falcons.

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Frequently Asked Questions
The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
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