Think fjords, rugged coastline, and rocky crags rising up from sea waters crashing onto the shore. It’s the beauty that is much of Norway’s coast. There are similar natural wonders along the Mediterranean Sea near the City of Marseilles. They are called “calanques”, the Corsican word for “inlet”, and are very similar to Norway’s fjords. These calanques, not all of which can be reached by car, have formed in the rocky cliffs along the Mediterranean coast in a 20 kilometer stretch of shoreline between Marseilles and Cassis.

GrandTours features a visit to Cassis on its tour to Provence and the Cote d’Azur. This old coral-fishing village with cascading quaint houses spilling down steep alleyways will charm you in many ways. The backdrop of white limestone cliffs, rising up from the undulating beach and the sailboat marina will give unparalleled visual delights to every traveler making his way along the coast with its many charming villages.

GrandTours has arranged a two-hour cruise by boat from the harbor of Cassis to the calanques for an even closer encounter with these jagged sea walls. More adventurous travelers may be seen along the way exploring the calanques in kayaks or on the ancient footpaths that run along the coast.

Whether you’re setting your sights on a trip to the Norwegian fjords or would like to experience the fjord-like calanques of southern France, GrandTours can design an educational and comprehensive custom itinerary within the structure of a concert performance tour. Call us with your dream; amazing discoveries lie just over the horizon.