Les Ammonites

Les Ammonites enjoys a perched hill-side location in a residential area set back around 1.5km from the town of Cavalaire-sur-Mer in the fabulous Côte d’Azur, south-eastern France.

Surrounded by wooded hills between St Tropez and Le Lavandou on the southern bay of the Var French Riviera and with a Famille Plus designation, the town of Cavalaire-sur-Mer is particularly welcoming to holiday makers and families with the same iconic palms, pine trees and sparkling azure sea of its glitzier neighbours as well as plenty of amenities including a bakery, supermarkets, cinema, bars and restaurants.

The 3km stretch of sand is a paradise for visitors with the wild Cap Lardier headland in the distance and the Îles d'Or shimmering offshore in the sparkling blue sea. The quality of the water at these beaches is particularly good for swimming, there is a designated bathing bay and a free summer shuttle bus runs parallel to the beach so it is easy to find those quieter spots.

There are so many maritime activities to be enjoyed in Cavalaire-sur-Mer - you can canoe, snorkel, sail, windsurf, jet ski and there’s also deep sea fishing and diving. Take the ferry to the lovely islands of Îles d'Or - Porquerolles is a sanctuary from the bustling mainland with its meandering footpaths, vineyards, castles and monastery.

Further along the coast heading east, around a 15-minute drive away, Gigaro is a very family orientated beach with restaurants and watersports. The wilder Plage d’Héraclée is a lovely spot for watching the sun rise and, if you are feeling adventurous, walk to Brouis Beach, a serene haven surrounded by unspoilt nature. Take a walk along the Fenouillet coastal footpath which leads through a nature reserve to Cap Carnarat or follow the wine trail and sample a glass of rosé in the small seaside resort of La Croix-Valmer (7km), situated at the foot of the pine covered Maures Massif.

For a change of scene, sophisticated and wealthy St Tropez (19km) has fine restaurants, boutiques, pretty painted fishermen’s cottages and a port where fishing boats are moored alongside luxurious yachts. Just south of the town, spend the day at the famous Pampelonne Beach with its glamourous beach clubs and a great range of watersports.   

Le Lavandou (22km) is another popular seaside resort with a yacht marina where you can watch the fishing boats bring in their catch. For a grand day out, the city of Toulon (60km) is a naval base with a maritime museum and a picturesque backdrop of limestone mountains - a cable car will shuttle you up Mont Faro.

For a quieter inland experience, visit Bormes-les-Mimosas (25km), a delightfully peaceful hillside village with stone walled houses and cascades of colourful flowers. Other idyllic villages close to Saint Tropez include medieval Grimaud, Gassin and Ramatuelle, all worthy of a picturesque lunch out with amazing views. Look out for La Môle, about half an hour by car, which has some wonderful walking trails through beautiful countryside.

Read more about Saint Tropez

Once a traditional fishing village, Saint-Tropez is now one of the most glamourous destinations of the Côte d’Azur and welcomes visitors from across the world.

However, there’s more to Saint-Tropez bay than exclusive beach clubs, glitzy boutiques and fine dining restaurants. From the family-friendly beaches of Sainte-Maxime to the vineyards of La Croix Valmer, Oliver’s Travels guests can truly admire this enchanting corner of the French Riviera whilst staying in one of our handpicked villas in and around Saint-Tropez.

Soak up the luxurious yet laidback vibe of Saint-Tropez as you wander around its marina lined with huge yachts contrasting colourful fishermen’s houses overlooking the bay. The old quarter is a warren of winding lanes with French designer boutiques, picturesque cafes and restaurants whilst Place des Lices hosts a vibrant Provençal market on a Tuesday and Saturday morning. Enjoy the most glorious vistas from Saint-Tropez’s 17th century citadel and maritime museum. Boat trips are another superb way to tour this part of the coast and passenger ferries cross the bay.

Just south of the town, follow Brigitte Bardot’s footsteps as you visit one of Plage de Pampelonne’s exclusive beach clubs, the most famous being Le Club 55 (always book well in advance). Stretching over 5km, Pampelonne’s long sandy beach is also loved for its vast range of summer watersports including jet-skiing, windsurfing and paddleboarding.

The picture-perfect villages of Saint-Tropez bay are beautifully located to make the most of the French Riviera scenery. On the hillside overlooking Plage de Pampelonne, Ramatuelle has attracted artists and writers over the years and is full of charm – look out for performances during its theatre and jazz festivals in the summer months. Meanwhile, hilltop Gassin is classified as one of France’s 'Plus Beaux Villages’ whilst flower-filled Grimaud is such a pretty medieval village with yet more stunning views of the coast.

Driving into the Maures hills, discover the characterful villages of La Garde-Freinet and Le Plan-de-la-Tour surrounded by oak and chestnut forests, a paradise for hikers, mountain bikers, horse-riding enthusiasts and other outdoor adventurists.

Back to the coast, take a boat tour of Port Grimaud, known as the ‘little Venice of the Côte d’Azur’, and experience its atmospheric Monday evening summer market. Across the other side of the bay, Sainte-Maxime is a lovely sheltered seaside town with pretty cafes, a daily market and gorgeous beaches. Families adore this area – there are tree-top adventures, tennis, mini-golf, a water park and coastal paths for biking and hiking.

Golf-lovers can appreciate a choice of courses – Golf Blue Green as well as the prestigious Beauvallon Golf Club and Golf Club Saint-Tropez. Wine connoisseurs should head to the wine châteaux of Saint-Tropez and Pampelonne as well as the vineyards of La Croix Valmer.

Not forgetting the idyllic shores of soft sand and crystal-clear sea of La Croix Valmer’s coastline from Plage de Sylvabelle to Plage de Gigaro, also home to a wonderful coastal walking trail with the most incredible flora and fauna alongside sensational views of the Mediterranean as you hike towards Cap Lardier and beyond.