The pretty little island so tiny you can walk round it in six hours
The small island is often described as a "floating forest", also famous for its stunningly clear water, and picturesque town, and can be walked in just six hours.
This small island is often described as a “floating forest”, also famous for its stunningly clear water, perfect for snorkelling, its picturesque town and shaded beach areas perfect for a picnic, and can be walked in just six hours.
Off the south coast of France in the Mediterranean Sea, lies a cluster of islands known as the Iles d’Hyeres, with Porquerolles as the largest, but only at four miles wide and just under two miles long.
The island started out with a village in the 1820s, with a church and lighthouse added later. In the early 1900s, the Belgian explorer François Joseph Fournier bought the island as a gift to his wife Sylvia, after which he added vineyards.
Today, Porquerolles is owned and protected as a national park by the French Government.
No cars are allowed on the island except for service vehicles, so Porquerolles is best explored by bicycle, either electric or otherwise, or on foot.
The circular hiking trail, generally considered to be a challenging route, can be completed in an average six hours and five minutes.
Boat trips which take around an hour and a quarter run year-round from La Tour Fondue harbour in Hyères, through the company TLV. Hyères is about an 11-hour drive from Calais, so it is recommended that stops are planned on the way, including Reims, Dijon or Lyon.
Each beach on Porquerolles is unique, from Plage de Notre Dame with its deliciously-smelling eucalyptus trees to Plage D’Argent, whose soft sand is reflected in its name, meaning “silver”. All the beaches are easily accessible thanks to the size of the island, with Plage de la Courtade just a short work from the port, and is rewarded with a backdrop of pine trees.
“Porquerolles… boasts one of the finest beaches that I've ever thrown down my towel on. Called Notre Dame – and about two miles east of the port - its crescent-shaped form wraps around beautiful, shallow, turquoise waters,” wrote MailOnline Travel Editor Ted Thornhill.
“It must be one of the best beaches in Europe.”
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Built in 1531 by King François as a garrison, Fort Sainte Agathe overlooks the harbour of Hyères. The tower was recently renovated in 2020, the walls are four metres thick, and the ceilings form a six-metre high vaulted dome with an oculus - circular opening - at its centre.
Due to its national park status, there are several restrictions on the island. The picking of plants and taking samples is prohibited, as are fires and smoking, so bonfires and barbecues are not possible. Camping is also banned.
Like much of the Côte d'Azur, the island is blessed with an excellent Mediterranean climate, with around 300 days of sunshine a year. Thanks to the sea breeze, the sun is not too intense.
It is recommended to visit the island from May to June or September to October, for the best weather but this is also when the number of visitors are at their peak. To avoid the crowds, therefore, November or April are the best time to visit.
