10 Day French Riviera Yacht Charter Itinerary
From Monaco’s harbour terraces to Porquerolles’ protected beaches, this westbound route balances short Riviera hops, landmark ports and longer passages along the Var coast.
YACHT CHARTER SOUTH OF FRANCE, PLANNED AROUND YOU
A 10 day French Riviera itinerary gives each harbour, island and anchorage enough time to reveal its own pace.
A private yacht is the most coherent way to explore this coast. Monaco, Cap-Ferrat, Nice, Antibes and Cannes sit close enough for relaxed morning passages, while Saint-Raphaël, Saint-Tropez, Porquerolles and Toulon extend the journey into the rockier Var shoreline. This 10 day French Riviera itinerary follows the Mediterranean westwards without turning every day into a transfer. Guests can swim before breakfast, arrive for lunch and still have an evening ashore. June and September are especially rewarding: the sea is warm, daylight is long and berths, restaurants and anchorages are generally less pressured than during the busiest weeks of July and August.
Embark in Monaco beneath the walls of the old town, then make the short run past Cap-d’Ail’s Plage Mala to the deep natural roadstead of Villefranche-sur-Mer. Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat brings Paloma Beach and the gardens of Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild; Nice opens around the Baie des Anges and Cours Saleya. Continue to the coves of Cap d’Antibes, the monastery and vineyards of the Lérins Islands, and Cannes’ Vieux Port. The route then crosses the red Estérel shoreline at Saint-Raphaël, reaches the harbour and Pampelonne shore of Saint-Tropez, pauses at protected Porquerolles, and finishes inside Toulon’s extensive natural harbour.
West Coast International shapes each yacht charter French Riviera proposal around the guests rather than a fixed timetable. Your broker selects from a hand-picked charter fleet, coordinates VIP restaurant and beach-club reservations, and adjusts anchorages, cruising speeds and nights in port with the captain. Explore the French Riviera yacht charter destination hub for wider planning context, then speak to a broker about the yacht, cabin layout and onboard style that best fit your party.
WHAT WILL YOU DO IN THIS YACHT CHARTER ITINERARY
10 DAYS OF FUN & RELAX
Port Hercule
Plage Mala
Villefranche Roadstead
Paloma Beach
Cours Saleya
Garoupe Bay
Île Saint-Honorat
Estérel Cliffs
Pampelonne Beach
Plage Notre-DameToulon Harbour
Michelin-Starred Dining
Day 1 – Monaco
Embark in Port Hercule, where the yacht can provision and settle the final details before departure west. Begin with a swim off Larvotto or take the tender ashore for the Oceanographic Museum and the lanes of Monaco-Ville. Lunch can be served on deck with the Rock above the harbour, leaving the afternoon free for Casino Square or a walk through the Saint-Martin Gardens. Return aboard before sunset for a first dinner overlooking the illuminated waterfront. The day is deliberately unhurried, giving guests time to meet the crew and establish the rhythm of the charter.
Day 2 – Cap-d’Ail and Villefranche-sur-Mer
A brief departure from Monaco brings the yacht to Cap-d’Ail, with Plage Mala set below steep limestone slopes. Swim early while the bay is quiet, then continue roughly five nautical miles towards Villefranche-sur-Mer. Its roadstead is one of the deepest natural anchorages on this part of the coast, sheltered beneath Mont Boron and Cap-Ferrat. Go ashore by tender for the ochre façades of the old town, the vaulted Rue Obscure and lunch beside the harbour. The evening may be spent at anchor or in port, depending on conditions and berth availability.
Day 3 – Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Only a few nautical miles separate Villefranche from Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, so breakfast can remain leisurely. Anchor off Paloma Beach for a morning swim, paddleboard session or tender run along the eastern side of the peninsula. Ashore, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild pairs a Belle Époque villa with nine themed gardens above the sea. Later, return to the yacht for lunch and move to a suitable anchorage according to wind direction. As afternoon traffic fades, the coastline becomes quieter; dinner on the aft deck suits the setting better than a rushed return to a larger port.
Day 4 – Nice and the Bay of Angels
Round Cap-Ferrat for the short passage into the Baie des Anges, usually about five nautical miles from the peninsula. The morning view takes in Nice’s long waterfront and the curve of the Promenade des Anglais. After a swim outside the designated coastal zones, tender into port and walk through the Old Town to the Cours Saleya market. Lunch ashore can focus on Niçoise cooking before an afternoon at the Musée Matisse or along Castle Hill. Rejoin the yacht for sunset across the bay, then dine aboard or remain in Nice for an evening in the city.
Day 5 – Cap d’Antibes
Leave Nice after breakfast for a passage of roughly 12 nautical miles to Cap d’Antibes. Garoupe Bay offers a natural first stop when conditions allow, with clear water close to the peninsula’s eastern shore. Continue by tender towards the small coves around the cape, or walk part of the coastal path near Plage de la Garoupe. Lunch can be arranged ashore or served aboard before the yacht shifts towards an evening berth near Antibes. The day trades city scale for pine-backed shoreline, while remaining close to one of the Riviera’s established yachting centres and its well-served marinas.
Day 6 – The Lérins Islands & Cannes
From Cap d’Antibes, the Lérins Islands are approximately eight nautical miles away. Arrive early between Île Sainte-Marguerite and Île Saint-Honorat, where the water is calmest before the day boats gather. Visit Fort Royal on Sainte-Marguerite or go ashore on Saint-Honorat to see the monastery and island vineyards. After lunch, cruise the final two nautical miles into Cannes. The afternoon can move from the Vieux Port to the Croisette, while the yacht prepares for dinner and the next passage west. An overnight berth gives easy access to the city without sacrificing the island time that defines the day.
Day 7 – Saint-Raphaël
Set out from Cannes for a passage of about 16 nautical miles towards Saint-Raphaël. The coastline changes as the red volcanic rock of the Estérel massif reaches the sea. Stop near Agay or another suitable anchorage selected by the captain, then swim against a backdrop unlike the pale limestone farther east. A tender exploration may include the waters around Île d’Or, recognisable by its square stone tower. Continue to Saint-Raphaël for an evening ashore around the old port. This is a more scenic cruising day, with enough distance to enjoy lunch underway without losing the afternoon to the passage.
Day 8 – Saint-Tropez
The run from Saint-Raphaël to Saint-Tropez is around 22 nautical miles, generally two hours on a displacement yacht cruising near 11–12 knots, subject to sea state and traffic. Begin with a swim before entering the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, then choose between a harbour berth and an anchorage with tender access. Lunch may be reserved along Pampelonne Beach, while late afternoon belongs to La Ponche, the old port and Place des Lices. Return aboard after dinner or stay in town for the evening. A St Tropez yacht charter day works best when the schedule allows both beach time and the village after the crowds thin.
Day 9 – Porquerolles Island
This is the route’s longest principal leg: Saint-Tropez to Porquerolles is roughly 38 nautical miles and commonly takes three to four hours at displacement-yacht speed. Depart after an early breakfast and arrive around midday at the largest of the Îles d’Hyères. Anchor where permitted and appropriate, then tender ashore for bicycles or continue by sea towards Plage Notre-Dame. Fondation Carmignac and Domaine de l’Île offer contrasting reasons to spend time inland, subject to seasonal opening and reservations. By evening, the island’s quieter pace replaces the Riviera’s busier ports; dinner aboard keeps the protected landscape at the centre of the experience.
Day 10 – Toulon
Wake for a final swim off Porquerolles before the approximately 15-nautical-mile passage to Toulon. The approach enters one of Europe’s largest natural roadsteads, framed by the hills behind the city and the Saint-Mandrier peninsula. After disembarkation, time permitting, walk the waterfront, visit the Mourillon quarter or take the cable car towards Mont Faron for a wider view of the harbour. The crew handles luggage and departure formalities while your broker remains available for onward arrangements. Finishing in Toulon avoids retracing the route and gives the itinerary a clear westbound progression from Monaco to the Var coast.
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west coast curates every detail of your itinerary
An itinerary on paper and an itinerary at sea are two different things. Weather shifts, a favourite restaurant is fully booked, a berth in the marina you wanted is gone by June. This is where a broker earns their place: West Coast International is a member of MYBA and ECPY, and every route we propose has been sailed, checked and refined with the captains and crews who run it.
Along this route, that means timing the Lérins Islands before the busiest tenders arrive, securing the right Saint-Tropez reservation, and planning the longer Porquerolles passage around the forecast rather than the clock.
Your broker builds the charter around you, not the other way round: the yacht that fits your party, VIP reservations at restaurants and beach clubs that don’t answer the phone in August, provisioning to your tastes, and a single point of contact from first call to final disembarkation. Browse our charter yachts or speak with a West Coast broker — we reply within 12 hours.
Along this Ionian route that means reaching Antipaxos before the excursion boats, securing a workable berth in Fiskardo, and timing the longer passages between Paxos, Kefalonia, Zakynthos and Ithaca around the day’s conditions.
Your broker builds the charter around you, not the other way round: the yacht that fits your party, VIP reservations at restaurants and beach clubs that don’t answer the phone in August, provisioning to your tastes, and a single point of contact from first call to final disembarkation. Browse our charter yachts or speak with a West Coast broker – we reply within 12 hours.
10-day French Riviera yacht charter itinerary
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
June and September usually offer the strongest balance of warm water, long daylight and a less compressed reservations calendar. July and August bring the greatest choice of seasonal venues but also the highest demand for berths and tables. May and early October can work well on a suitable yacht, with more flexibility built around weather.
The proposed route embarks in Monaco, normally at Port Hercule or another agreed local berth, and disembarks in Toulon. Exact marina assignments depend on yacht size, availability and harbour approval. The one-way format prevents backtracking and leaves more time for Saint-Tropez, Porquerolles and the Var coast.
Yes. Every route is adjusted around the yacht, weather, guest priorities and confirmed reservations. Your broker can add a second night in Cannes or Saint-Tropez, reduce city time, prioritise swimming, or change the embarkation and disembarkation ports. The captain retains final authority over safe navigation and suitable anchorages.
Most eastern Riviera legs are short: Monaco to Villefranche is roughly eight nautical miles, Villefranche to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat only a few, and Nice to Cap d’Antibes about 12. Longer passages include Saint-Raphaël to Saint-Tropez at roughly 22 nautical miles and Saint-Tropez to Porquerolles at around 38. Times depend on yacht speed and conditions.
A motor yacht is the most flexible choice for maintaining the full ten-stop programme and handling the longer Saint-Tropez–Porquerolles leg efficiently. Sailing yachts also suit guests who prefer slower passages and are willing to simplify some days. Larger crewed catamarans can work, although berth availability and tender operations should be checked for the chosen itinerary.
The Charter Fee includes the exclusive use of the yacht, the services of the professional crew, crew wages and meals, yacht insurance, ship’s linen laundry, and all standard onboard equipment in working order. Operating expenses such as fuel, guest food and beverages, marina fees, local taxes, communications, and other charter-related expenses are not included and are covered through the Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA), together with any applicable VAT and delivery/redelivery fees.
Seven days can cover Monaco, Cap-Ferrat, Cannes and Saint-Tropez, but Porquerolles and Toulon make the schedule more passage-heavy. Twelve to fourteen days create space for additional nights at anchor or a continuation towards Corsica.
Yes, provided the yacht layout and onboard equipment match the party. Short early legs reduce transfer fatigue, the Lérins Islands and Porquerolles offer swimming and easy shore exploration, and Nice, Cannes and Monaco provide alternatives when guests want time off the water. Families should discuss safety netting, cabin configuration, water toys and childcare expectations with the broker.
Corsica is the most natural major extension, particularly for a 14-day charter, with Calvi across the Ligurian Sea from the Riviera. Portofino and the Ligurian coast are another option east of Monaco. Either extension adds open-water mileage, so the broker and captain should assess yacht range, forecast, guest comfort and embarkation logistics before confirming it.
DISCOVER OTHER DESTINATIONS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
YACHT CHARTERING IN THE MEDITERRENEAN
Yacht Charter Corsica
Cross to Calvi for granite headlands, the citadel above the marina and a markedly wilder shoreline. Corsica works best as a longer extension with open-water passage time protected in the schedule.
Yacht Charter Portofino & Cinque Terre
Cruise east beyond Monaco towards Portofino’s compact harbour and the cliff-backed villages of the Ligurian coast. This is the natural counter-direction for guests who prefer Italy to the Var.
Yacht Charter Sardinia
Sardinia suits a separate West Mediterranean charter built around long beaches, granite coves and established superyacht ports in the north-east. It strengthens the next-stage destination journey without duplicating the Riviera experience.
