CONTACT EXPENATURE
Location of L'écobase ExpéNATURE
168 Avenue du Président Wilson, 13600 La Ciotat.
High season (July-August)
Open daily from 9am to 4pm.
July-August Wednesday-Friday-Saturday-Sunday 9am-7pm
Low Season (November to March, September, October)
By reservation only
Supervised activities every day on reservation between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Rental April, May, June, September, October Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for rentals. Every day from 9am to 4pm for supervised outings.
Year-round rental outside these periods on a private package basis
CONTACT FORM
Where we work
Sea kayaking, orienteering, mountain biking, dry canyoning, stand-up paddling, snorkelling, climbing...
Landscape type :

Sea kayaking, hiking, climbing
Sea kayaking, climbing, mountain biking, hiking...
landscape types :
Sea kayaking
Caving, hiking
Hiking
Sea kayaking
Orienteering, Sea kayaking
Sea kayaking, caving, dry canyoning/Via Corda.
Sea kayaking
Sea kayaking
Caving
Sea kayaking
Sea kayaking
Find our ECO-BASE
Located between Cassie and St Cyr et Bandol, just 30 minutes from the metropolises of Aix Marseille and Toulon, Expénature is in the heart of the Parc National des Calanques.
En-Vau, Port-pin, Port-Miou, Marseilleveyre, Sormiou or Morgiou no longer hold any secrets for you? We suggest you visit La Ciotat. A nearby town offering very different landscapes in a slightly less touristy environment!
Getting to Expénature by public transport
For all arrivals from La Ciotat-Cereyste train station Take a bus from the SNCF train station to the bus station (line 21 or 40 or 200 to go, line 10 or 70 to come back). Eden theater stop 2min walk from Expénature) The venue is also a 10min walk from the La Ciotat bus station.
- From Marseille Saint charles -> line to Hyères, Toulon,....
- From Toulon TER line to Marseille saint charles
From Marseille : Line 79 from Marseille Castellane stop (rue Dr Schweitzer) to terminus, tourist office. 10 min walk to Expénature. The Eden Théâtre stop is in front of our base.
From Cassis :
- LecarTreize Line 078 Stop Augustin Isard to stop La Licorne la ciotat
- M05 bus to collège Virebelle La Ciotat then 2km walk to Expénature
From Bandol and Saint-cyr-sur-Mer bus line 880
There are several parking lots close to the eco-base. The main one is at the marina, where access in winter is free! There's also plenty of parking along the beaches and in adjacent streets.
You can also combine parking with a stroll around town, by parking in one of the underground parking lots: Parc du Centre, Verdun, Vieux-Port, etc.
Cabs and Uber present throughout the area
If you're staying in La Ciotat, we recommend you come on foot or by bike! Mainly for practical reasons, since parking is difficult, especially at the height of the season. But it's also an eco-friendly gesture that means a lot to us!
By the way, if you're a cyclist, we'll be happy to keep it for you at or near the base.
Quality is what sets us apart.
What is an Eco-base?
Our project is to create a unique structure and operating mode that will become a model for the corporate world.
Frequently asked questions :
You can contact us to find out if a group has already been formed today. This will enable us to include you. Otherwise, reservations on the day of the outing are unlikely to be confirmed for technical reasons of mobilization of guides.
As a reminder, a group goes on an outing as soon as we have 5 participants in the slot.
We receive a large number of e-mails every day, so please call us or send us another e-mail. We'll do our best to get back to you!
1. A real sea kayak: performance and authenticity
Unlike seat-on-top kayaks, real sea kayaks are specially designed for more demanding sea conditions. They offer an authentic sea-going experience:
- Better manoeuvrability: These kayaks are slimmer and longer, so you can get around the water faster and with less effort.
- User-friendliness: Thanks to their closed hull, you're well protected from the elements (splashes, wind, etc.), making sailing more enjoyable, even in difficult conditions such as a strong mistral wind.
- Authentic sensations: With a sea kayak, you're closer to the experience of the great marine adventurers. You can offer your customers a real immersion in the maritime world, far removed from more basic craft.
2. Cold water protection: optimum comfort in all seasons
One of the big disadvantages of seat-on-top kayaks is that the paddler is constantly exposed to the water, especially in windy or splashy conditions. This becomes very unpleasant when the water temperature drops, which is often the case after a mistral gust. Even in midsummer, the water can drop to 14°C, which can quickly spoil the experience.
With our real sea kayaks:
- Thermal insulation: Thanks to their closed hull, paddlers stay dry, avoiding direct contact with cold water.
- Best splash protection: Even in rough seas, you don't have to worry about getting wet. This protection makes for a pleasant outing in almost any weather condition.
- Season extension: Our kayaks can be used all year round, without fear of temperature changes, unlike seat-on-top kayaks which are not suited to cooler or rougher conditions.
3. Speed and efficiency: further, with less effort
Thanks to their hydrodynamic design, our sea kayaks are much faster and more efficient than seat-on-top kayaks. This offers several advantages:
- Less fatigue for paddlers: they can cover greater distances using less energy. As a result, outings become accessible to a wider public, from beginners to the most experienced.
- Wider exploration: Thanks to superior speed and maneuverability, you can take your customers further afield, discovering less accessible areas or more secluded coves, offering them a more exclusive and richer experience.
4. Versatility and safety: tackle a wide range of conditions
Sea kayaks are designed to navigate in a wide variety of conditions, even when the sea becomes rougher or the wind blows hard:
- Stability and safety: Unlike seat-on-top kayaks, which can easily tip over in waves or currents, sea kayaks offer much greater stability, reassuring your customers of their safety.
- Ability to sail in more conditions: With our real sea kayaks, you can continue to offer outings even when conditions are less than ideal (light swell, moderate wind), where other providers would cancel or reduce their activities.
5. Supervision by an expert guide
By emphasizing that each outing is supervised by an expert guide, you can highlight :
- Professional guidance to ensure not only safety, but also technical advice on how to get the most out of sea kayaking.
- The discovery of seascapes from a more personalized and instructive angle, where the guide's expertise enriches the experience, in contrast to a simple, unsupervised outing on a seat-on-top kayak.
We invite you to browse our site in the rental section. You'll be able to reserve what you need directly online, even if it's only a few minutes away.
Our online system manages reservation stock in real time. Don't hesitate to send us an e-mail or call us after consulting the FAQ, we'll be happy to answer any questions you may have.
No problem! For a group of more than 15 people, you can fill in the form, indicating the activities and dates that interest you. We'll get back to you as soon as possible.
If you are a group of less than 15 people, you can book directly online. You will receive an invoice in your company's name.
Don't hesitate to give us a call for more details on possible formulas.
No !
Please note that we do not rent kayaks outside the time slots indicated on the site!
Whether you're renting or on a supervised outing, we recommend that you book online a few days in advance. Firstly, for obvious organizational reasons, but also because we'll get back to you if the weather doesn't allow you to go out. Finally, you'll be sure to have room on the day of your visit.
Stocks and available slots are updated directly on each of our products.
When you booked, you received a confirmation e-mail with the equipment you needed and the meeting place.
If you can't find it, you can always go back to the booked activity page. The GPS point is always indicated.
Our activities are designed to suit all levels, from beginners to experts. Each activity has different levels of difficulty, which our experienced guides will adapt to suit your experience.
Some of our activities are suitable for children, while others may have age restrictions. Please consult
Our cancellation policy sets out the conditions for refunds in the event of cancellation. Please consult it on our website or contact us
