Private Boat Charter in the Bay of St Tropez

The best part of this private boat charter in the Bay of St Tropez is control. You are not tied to a fixed group or forced to spend the whole trip sightseeing. With Matt or Sirio at the helm, you can cruise past St Tropez, stop in quiet bays, swim, snorkel, paddleboard, or turn up the fun with a towable tube or wakeboard.

I like the small six-person limit and the generous selection of water gear. I also like the relaxed family feel: children as young as six and seven have enjoyed the outing, while couples have had room to stretch out and simply watch the coast go by. The main consideration is the extra fuel cost, especially if you spend much of the four hours at high speed or towing equipment.

Quick points to know before booking

• You control the day: The route can include St Tropez, Plage des Graniers, Baie des Canebiers, and Port Grimaud, but the skipper can adjust the balance between cruising, swimming, and water sports.
• Up to six people share one price: At $300.72 per group, the base cost works out to about $50 per person for six people, before fuel and any pickup fee.
• Water gear is included: Paddleboards, wakeboards, waterskis, towable tubes, snorkels, and buoyancy aids are available at no extra charge.
• The usual departure is Cogolin: Departures from St Tropez, Saint-Maxime, or Port Grimaud cost an additional €50.
• Bring your own picnic: Food and drinks are not included, but ice, water, glasses, and a coolbox are provided.
• Weather matters: You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before departure, and poor weather brings a choice of a new date or a full refund.

Why a private boat works well in St Tropez

The Bay of St Tropez is easy to appreciate from the shore, but the water gives you a different view of the famous coast. A private boat lets you connect several places in one half-day without spending the whole time looking for parking, waiting for a public excursion, or following a fixed schedule.

This is not a formal sightseeing cruise with a long list of commentary stops. It is closer to hiring a skipper and a floating base for your group. You can ask for local information, and the guides have explained the history of St Tropez and the places along the route, but the strongest feature is flexibility.

That flexibility matters most for mixed groups. One person can snorkel while another uses the paddleboard. Children can try a towable tube, while adults stay aboard with a drink. If the group loses interest in a particular activity, you can move on without holding up strangers.

The boat is described as tidy, comfortable, and roomy enough for two people to lie back during the ride. With six people, space will naturally feel more limited than it does for a couple, but the private format still gives you far more freedom than a crowded shared tour.

The outing lasts about four hours. That is enough time for a good mix of cruising and stops, but not enough to linger everywhere for half a day. If you want lunch at Les Graniers or time to explore Port Grimaud, keep an eye on the clock.

Leaving Marines de Cogolin for the bay

The standard departure point is Marines de Cogolin. This is also where you return, unless you arrange another port in advance. You can request pickup at St Tropez, Saint-Maxime, or Port Grimaud for €50, so compare the convenience with the cost before booking.

Cogolin makes practical sense for an active boat day. The trip can include open-water sports near the port, and starting there may give you more time on the water rather than paying to reposition the boat from another harbor. If you are already staying near St Tropez, the paid pickup may be worthwhile, particularly for a group sharing the fee.

At booking, confirm your preferred departure point. The experience uses a mobile ticket, and confirmation is provided when you book. The activity is private, so only your own group takes part.

Before leaving, pack swimwear, towels, sun protection, and food or drinks for the coolbox. The operator provides ice, water, and glasses. Since fuel is handled separately, I would also ask the skipper how much high-speed towing you expect to do, especially if you are trying to keep the final cost predictable.

Port of St Tropez and the first look at the coast

The first listed stop is Port de Saint Tropez, with about 30 minutes to see the harbor. From the water, you get a useful introduction to the town’s two sides: glamorous yachts and busy quayside bars, all packed into a compact waterfront.

The superyachts are part of the spectacle here. Even if you have no interest in boating, the contrast between the old port setting and the oversized modern vessels is entertaining. Your skipper can also provide background on St Tropez and point out places along the shore.

This stop is more about views and atmosphere than getting off to sightsee. If your priority is swimming, you may prefer to keep this visit short. If it is your first time in St Tropez, the harbor gives you a quick orientation without using up too much of the four-hour charter.

Plage des Graniers for a swim and lunch option

The boat can anchor at Plage des Graniers for around 30 minutes. This is the first proper chance to get into the water, use a snorkel, or remain aboard and enjoy the bay.

You may also be able to reach the beach bar by tender boat. Lunch at Les Graniers restaurant can be arranged if requested, but food is not part of the standard price. If you want this option, make the reservation before the day of the trip rather than leaving it to chance.

Thirty minutes passes quickly if you are swimming, eating, and going ashore. I would treat this stop as a choice: use it for a short swim and a look at the beach, or skip the restaurant plan and save time for the longer water stop at Canebiers.

The beach setting may also be busier than a more open anchorage, particularly during the popular summer season. The advantage is convenience. You can combine a swim with a possible drink or meal instead of carrying everything back to the boat.

Baie des Canebiers, the main water-sports stop

Plage des Canoubiers, also called Baie des Canebiers or Millionaires Bay, receives the longest scheduled stop at about one hour. This is where the charter makes its strongest case for families and active groups.

Once moored, you can swim and snorkel around the boat or take out a stand-up paddleboard. Buoyancy aids are available, which is useful for younger children or anyone less confident in open water. The equipment list also includes wakeboards, waterskis, and inflatable towables, although the time and fuel cost will rise if you choose powered activities.

The bay is a good place to create your own rhythm. One hour allows a real swim rather than a quick dip, and it gives the group time to switch between activities. Children can try several pieces of equipment, while adults can take turns or stay aboard.

Past family outings have included snorkeling near Canebiers, paddleboarding by La Madrague, and towable activities elsewhere around the bay. That combination is worth noting: the charter is not limited to quiet sightseeing. Sirio has been praised for bringing out the equipment and helping children try different activities, while Matt has been described as prepared with paddleboards and tubing gear.

The drawback is that you cannot do everything at full length in four hours. Wakeboarding, waterskiing, and towable tubes use fuel at a much faster rate than gentle cruising. If the whole group wants an active sports session, tell the skipper early so the route can be planned around it.

Port Grimaud, the final change of pace

The planned visit to Port Grimaud lasts about an hour. Often called the Little Venice of France, this planned canal village offers a complete change from the open bay. You can leave the boat, walk around, and stop for lunch, an ice cream, or a beer.

This is the most land-based part of the outing, and it helps break up a day that could otherwise become four hours of sun and salt water. The canals make Port Grimaud photogenic, while the short walk gives anyone who has had enough swimming a chance to dry off and stretch their legs.

The tradeoff is simple. An hour in Port Grimaud means less time for snorkeling or water sports. If your group has come mainly for the boat, you can ask to shorten or skip the village. If some members want a pretty shore stop and others need a break from the water, Port Grimaud is a useful compromise.

Check the timing with your skipper if lunch is important. A restaurant stop can easily take more than the allotted hour, and the charter still needs to return to Cogolin on schedule.

Water sports, fuel, and what the price really covers

The base price is $300.72 for a private group of up to six. For six people, that is about $50.12 each before fuel. For two people, the same charter costs about $150.36 each, so the value improves sharply when you fill the boat.

That price includes the skipper and the use of water equipment: wakeboards, waterskis, stand-up paddleboards, inflatable towables, snorkels, and buoyancy aids. This is more useful than a simple boat ride because you do not need to rent separate gear for each activity.

Fuel is the cost that needs careful attention. A €100 fuel deposit is collected before the trip. Gentle cruising is estimated at about €15 per hour, while high speeds, heavy loads, wakeboarding, and towable inflatables can use roughly €45 per hour. Stopping in bays uses no fuel.

The deposit is not automatically lost. If the boat uses less fuel, the difference is returned after the trip. If the group uses more, the shortfall is invoiced afterward. For a four-hour outing, a gentle schedule might use around €60 in fuel, while constant high-speed sports could approach €180, based on the supplied hourly guide.

In practical terms, this means you can shape the final price. A calm cruise with two swimming stops costs less to run than a sports-heavy session. Ask for the fuel plan before departure if everyone has a different idea of what a boat day should be.

Food and drinks are another small planning point. You bring your own, and the boat supplies ice, water, glasses, and the coolbox. That is usually better for a private group than paying marked-up onboard prices, but you need to shop before arriving.

What the guides add to the day

Matt and Sirio are the names that come up in the experience details. Their roles appear to combine boat handling, local explanation, and help with the sports equipment.

Matt has been singled out for flexibility with pickup, useful explanations about the area, and arriving prepared with tubing equipment and paddleboards. Sirio has been praised for being attentive, showing the group attractive places, and helping children try snorkeling, paddleboarding, and a towable ride.

The strongest pattern is not a scripted lecture. It is the sense that the skipper listens to what your group wants. That can make a big difference when a family includes both confident swimmers and people who would rather sit in the shade.

For a more active outing, tell the guide at the start which equipment matters most. For a slower day, ask for more cruising and time at anchor. The private format gives you room to make that request without worrying about a busload of other people.

Who will enjoy this charter most

I would recommend this outing to a family, a group of friends, or a couple that wants the comfort of a private boat. It works especially well for groups with mixed interests because nobody has to commit to one activity for the entire morning or afternoon.

It is also a strong choice for children who want to try several water sports. The supplied accounts include two girls aged six and seven, with a towable tube becoming a favorite part of their trip. Buoyancy aids are available, but you should still discuss your children’s swimming ability and preferred activities with the skipper.

Couples can enjoy it too. With only two people aboard, the boat offers plenty of room to relax, cruise, and stop for a swim. The value is less compelling than for a full group, but the privacy and freedom may justify the higher per-person cost.

This is less suitable if you want a full-day cruise, a formal historical tour, or a guaranteed quiet anchorage throughout. The itinerary includes popular places, and the water-sports equipment can make the outing lively rather than peaceful.

Practical booking advice and weather rules

The experience requires good weather. If poor conditions force cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but cancellations or changes inside that window are not accepted.

The cutoff is based on local time. Since the boat day depends on water conditions, check the forecast shortly before departure and keep your schedule flexible if possible.

The tour is near public transportation, and most people can participate, according to the supplied activity details. Exact information about boat access, seating, and individual mobility needs is not provided, so contact Adventure Sports Limited before booking if anyone in your group has specific access requirements.

Book the departure port at the same time as the charter. The normal meeting point is Marines de Cogolin, while pickup from St Tropez, Saint-Maxime, or Port Grimaud adds €50.

Should you book the St Tropez boat charter?

Book it if you want a private, flexible half-day with swimming, snorkeling, paddleboards, and optional towable sports. It offers particularly good value for six people, and the combination of a skipper, several types of equipment, and stops at Canebiers and Port Grimaud gives you more than a standard harbor cruise.

Before committing, agree on the day’s priorities and budget for fuel. If your group wants high-speed towing for most of the trip, the extra charge will matter. If you prefer gentle cruising, a swim, a little snorkeling, and time at Port Grimaud, the base price is easier to manage.

Bring your own refreshments, request any paid pickup in advance, and tell Matt or Sirio what your group wants to do. With those details settled, this is a practical way to see the Bay of St Tropez from the water without giving up control of your time.

FAQ

How long is the private boat charter?

The experience lasts approximately four hours.

How many people can join the charter?

The private boat can take up to six passengers, and the price is charged per group rather than per person.

Where does the boat depart from?

The normal departure and return point is Marines de Cogolin. Pickup from St Tropez, Saint-Maxime, or Port Grimaud is available for an additional €50.

Is fuel included in the price?

No. A €100 fuel deposit is collected before the trip. Any unused amount is returned after the outing, while additional fuel costs can be invoiced afterward.

Can I bring food and drinks?

Yes. Food and drinks are not included, but you can bring your own and use the provided coolbox. Ice, water, and glasses are supplied.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If the experience is canceled because of poor weather, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You may also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.