Lérins Islands Day Trip
Itinerary from Cannes

Your Day, Hour by Hour

A Private Catamaran Day
from Port Canto to Lérins

Every charter with Nikaia Yachts is tailored to your group — no two days are identical. But the following itinerary gives you an accurate picture of what a typical Lérins Islands day trip looks like when departing from Port Canto, Cannes. Your skipper will adapt the routing, timing, and stops based on conditions, your preferences, and anything you want to add.

9:00 — Departure from Port Canto, Cannes

The morning begins at Port Canto marina, steps from the Croisette. Your skipper will have the Lagoon MY 40 ready, equipment stowed, and the day prepared. Boarding takes a few minutes. By 9:15, the catamaran is under way, leaving the Cannes waterfront behind as the bay opens up ahead.

The crossing to the Lérins Islands takes approximately 20 minutes at comfortable cruising speed. Your group spreads across the solarium and stern deck. The coast of Cannes recedes. The islands begin to take shape ahead — flat, pine-covered, surrounded by water that shifts from deep blue to luminous turquoise as the depth decreases.

9:30 — First Anchorage, Île Sainte-Marguerite

Your skipper chooses the first anchorage based on the day's wind and light conditions — typically on the sheltered northwest shore of Île Sainte-Marguerite, where the marine reserve creates extraordinary clear water over posidonia meadows. The anchor drops in 4–6 metres of water. The Mediterranean is directly below the boarding ladder.

This is where most guests understand why the catamaran matters. The boat sits completely still at anchor. The water is 25–27°C in summer. The visibility reaches 8 metres down to the sandy bottom. Paddleboards are deployed off the stern. Snorkelling gear is available for those who want to explore the posidonia meadows below. The 5-metre tender takes a group ashore to a beach that the ferry passengers cannot access.

11:30 — Tender Exploration

Mid-morning is the ideal time to use the tender to explore the shoreline of Sainte-Marguerite. Your skipper or a member of your group can take the Cherokee tender along the coast, accessing small coves and beaches that the catamaran itself cannot reach. For families with children, this is often the highlight of the day — complete independence to explore by a different means.

Those remaining on the catamaran can continue swimming, sunbathing on the solarium, or simply sitting in the shade of the panoramic saloon watching the water.

12:30 — Lunch at Anchor or Ashore

Lunch on a Lérins Islands day trip takes one of two forms, and your skipper discusses the preference when you book.

Lunch at anchor: A picnic or catered lunch on board, the catamaran still anchored in the cove. This is the quietest option — you eat on the stern deck or in the saloon with the islands around you and no one else nearby. Catering can be arranged in advance through our catering partner.

Lunch ashore: Your skipper can arrange a table at a sea-access restaurant near the islands. He maintains relationships with several establishments accessible by tender, and coordinates reservations as part of your booking. For groups who want a full Riviera lunch experience — rosé included — this is the preferred option.

14:00 — Sail to Île Saint-Honorat

After lunch, the catamaran moves to the second island. Île Saint-Honorat lies just 1km south of Sainte-Marguerite, separated by a narrow channel with clear, calm water. The crossing takes less than 10 minutes. Your skipper anchors off the monastery side of the island, where the water is shallower and calmer — ideal for afternoon swimming.

The Cistercian monastery, founded in the 5th century, is accessible by tender to the island's small jetty. The monks welcome visitors and the island's wines and liqueurs are available. The walking paths through the vineyard and around the medieval fortified tower are short and beautiful. Most groups spend 45–60 minutes ashore and return to the catamaran for the afternoon swim.

15:30 — Afternoon Swim & Solarium

The afternoon anchorage off Saint-Honorat is typically calmer and quieter than the morning position at Sainte-Marguerite — the day visitors have largely departed, and the light has changed to a warmer, lower angle. This is the solarium hour. Paddleboards out again, or simply lying in the sun as the islands and the distant Esterel coast fill the view in every direction.

17:00 — Return to Port Canto, Cannes

The 20-minute return crossing brings you back to Port Canto with the late afternoon sun behind you. Cannes comes back into focus — the Croisette, the Palais, the hotels along the bay. For some groups, this is when the catamaran's champagne or wine selection makes its appearance, marking the return in the right spirit.

Arrival at Port Canto around 17:00–17:30 leaves your group with the entire Cannes evening ahead. The day charter from €2,050 covers the complete itinerary above — catamaran, skipper, fuel, all equipment — for up to 12 guests.

Variations on This Itinerary

The itinerary above represents a standard Lérins Islands day. Your skipper adapts freely: some groups want more time at Sainte-Marguerite and skip Saint-Honorat entirely. Others want to include an hour sailing the Esterel coast on the return leg. Families with younger children often prefer a slower pace with more tender time. Corporate groups sometimes use the morning hours for a working session in the saloon. The catamaran fits around the group — not the other way around.

For groups wanting a sunset experience rather than a full day, a 4-hour evening charter to the Lérins Islands at golden hour is available from €1,000. Contact us to discuss the option that fits your group and dates.