Villa Basilic

Villa Basilic is located only 6km from the pretty village of Ramatuelle. Set at the top of a winding road, you can catch a glimpse of the sea from its hillside setting overlooking Plage de l'Escalet (1.8km) below.

Pass similar houses, holiday residences, towering pines and stunning rural vistas as you drive down the road to the small sandy bay below (Plage de l'Escalet). It’s such a pretty beach with clear water, popular with snorkellers and diving enthusiasts, and there is a little snack bar usually open in the height of the summer. A coastal hiking route passes the most stunning scenery as it twists towards Cap Taillat or Cap Lardier.    

Admire vineyards and more glorious landscapes as you drive to Ramatuelle, a flower-filled hilltop village with art galleries, café terraces, restaurants and summer events at its outdoor theatre. There’s a charming Provençal market on a Thursday and Sunday morning at Place de l'Ormeau.

One of France’s most famous beaches, Plage de Pampelonne, is around 7km away. This 5km-long sandy beach offers a vast range of summer watersports, beautifully positioned restaurants and exclusive beach clubs such as Nikki Beach and Le Club 55.

Meanwhile, Saint-Tropez (12km) is another wonderful day out. Potter around its old quarter, visit its twice weekly market, browse in upmarket boutiques and dine out overlooking luxurious yachts in the harbourfront. Ferries connect Saint-Tropez to over towns across the bay (Port Grimaud and Sainte-Maxime, for example) and there are plenty of boat tours along this part of the French Riviera.

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.