Voted the world’s most beautiful hike, this French gem beats the Machu Picchu
Picture a trail overlooking water of an almost unreal blue, flanked by dazzling white limestone cliffs: that is exactly what the most beautiful hike in France has in store for outdoor enthusiasts. A study by British website Sportshoes has just crowned the Calanques massif, between Marseille and Cassis, the best hiking destination in the world, ahead of some truly legendary rivals.
A score of 94/100 that beats the Machu Picchu
To draw up this ranking, Sportshoes did not simply compile traveller reviews. The running, fitness and outdoor specialist conducted an eye-tracking study with 200 participants. The method measures how long a person’s gaze lingers on a landscape, providing an objective way to assess its visual pull.
In total, 64 iconic sites around the world were analysed. The Calanques took first place with a score of 94 out of 100, beating the Plitvice Lakes in Croatia, the Lauterbrunnen Valley in Switzerland, and the trail leading to the Machu Picchu in Peru. The result confirms what many hikers had long suspected: this most beautiful hike in France has absolutely nothing to envy of the world’s greatest destinations.
What the massif actually offers hikers
Stretching across more than 20 kilometres between Marseille and Cassis, the massif unfolds some of the most spectacular scenery in the entire Mediterranean basin. The famous GR 98 trail crosses this territory with a range of routes, from accessible walks to more demanding outings for experienced hikers. Every type of walker will find something to suit them here.
Among the most visited spots, the calanques of Sormiou and Morgiou can be reached from the southern edge of Marseille. On the Cassis side, Port-Pin and En-Vau draw thousands of visitors every year, drawn in by their coves and sweeping panoramas. These are the very places that make this most beautiful hike in France an unmissable reference for anyone seeking a complete change of scenery just a few hours from Paris.
- GR 98: the main trail linking Marseille to Cassis over more than 20 km
- Sormiou and Morgiou: two calanques accessible from the south of Marseille
- Port-Pin and En-Vau: the must-sees on the Cassis side
- 8,500 hectares of land and 43,500 hectares of marine area protected since 2012
- 3 to 4 million visitors per year, according to France 3
A national park created in 2012 to protect a fragile heritage
The creation of the Parc national des Calanques in 2012 marked a decisive turning point. Since then, 8,500 hectares of land and 43,500 hectares of marine space have benefited from official protection. This institutional recognition aims to preserve ecosystems that are under increasing pressure from tourist footfall.
Because the popularity of this most beautiful hike in France comes with a direct downside. The park welcomes between 3 and 4 million visitors a year, according to France 3. In response to this influx, concrete measures have been put in place. The calanque of Sugiton is the clearest example: between mid-June and mid-September, a reservation is now mandatory and visitor numbers are capped at 400 people per day, to allow the vegetation time to recover.
Planning your visit to France’s most beautiful hike
This world ranking gives additional visibility to a site that is already under considerable strain. For hikers planning a trip, that means one practical thing: book ahead. The mandatory reservation at Sugiton between mid-June and mid-September is not a minor inconvenience, it is a condition of entry.
Outside that period, other calanques remain accessible without prior booking. Sormiou, Morgiou, Port-Pin and En-Vau all offer alternatives for experiencing this most beautiful hike in France to the full, without running into seasonal restrictions. Choosing the right time of year and the right route remains the key to enjoying this Mediterranean gem in the best possible conditions.
