Private Boat Charter in the Bay of St Tropez

The best part of this private Bay of St Tropez charter is control. You are not tied to a large group or a fixed pace. With Matt or Sirio at the helm, your party of up to six can cruise past the port, stop for a swim, try the paddleboards, or spend more time simply enjoying the water.

I like the generous supply of free water-sports equipment, especially for families. I also like the easygoing mix of famous sights and quiet time in the bays. The main catch is the fuel charge: your $300.72 group price does not cover fuel, and active towing sports can raise the final cost.

Key points to know before booking

• Private boat for up to six: The price is charged per group, so the value improves sharply when you fill the boat.
• Four hours with a flexible route: You can combine St Tropez sights, swimming stops, water sports, and Port Grimaud.
• Equipment is included: Paddleboards, wakeboards, waterskis, towable inflatables, snorkels, and buoyancy aids are available at no extra charge.
• Marines de Cogolin is the standard departure point: Pickups from St Tropez, St Maxime, or Port Grimaud cost €50.
• Fuel is paid separately: A €100 fuel deposit is collected before departure, with the balance returned or invoiced afterward.
• Matt and Sirio add local guidance: Both are described as attentive skippers who explain the area and help guests use the equipment.

Why this charter works better than a standard boat outing

A shared boat trip gives you a timetable. This one gives you choices. That difference matters in the Bay of St Tropez, where one person may want to swim, another may want to paddleboard, and a child may be waiting for a towable tube ride.

The boat carries only your group, up to six people. You can set the tone yourself. Families can mix gentle cruising with active water sports. Couples can use the space to stretch out and enjoy the ride. Friends can make the outing as energetic as they like.

The skippers are a major part of the experience. Matt is praised for explaining the sights and arriving prepared with paddleboards and tubing equipment. Sirio is repeatedly described as friendly, attentive, and willing to show children different activities. The result is less like hiring a bare boat and more like having a flexible local captain who can shape the day around your group.

There is still a practical limit. Four hours sounds generous, but the bay offers more possibilities than you can fit into one half-day. If you stop often for swimming and sports, you may have less time in Port Grimaud or St Tropez. Tell the skipper your priorities early so the route matches your expectations.

Starting at Marines de Cogolin

The normal departure and return point is Marines de Cogolin. This is useful if you are staying near Cogolin, Port Grimaud, or the surrounding Gulf of St Tropez, but it is not the same as stepping aboard in central St Tropez.

A pickup from St Tropez, St Maxime, or Port Grimaud is available for €50. Be clear about your preferred departure port when booking. The extra charge is separate from the advertised group price, and arranging it in advance prevents confusion on the day.

The charter has a mobile ticket and confirmation is provided at booking. The departure point is near public transportation, though the supplied information does not specify the exact connections. Allow enough time to reach the marina and arrive ready for a four-hour outing on the water.

Before leaving, bring the food and drinks you want. The boat provides ice, water, glasses, and a coolbox, but meals and other drinks are not included. This is a small detail with a big effect on comfort. A simple picnic can save you from cutting a swimming stop short, and you can still choose to eat ashore at Plage des Graniers or Port Grimaud.

Port Saint Tropez and the superyacht view

The first suggested stop is Port de Saint Tropez, where you can look over the harbor and its famous quayside. The port is a good opening scene: superyachts sit beside bars and waterfront buildings, giving you the polished side of the Riviera in one compact view.

The scheduled visit is about 30 minutes. That is enough to see the harbor atmosphere without using half your charter at the dock. It is also a useful time to tell Matt or Sirio how you want the rest of the outing to run.

You may prefer more swimming and less sightseeing. Or you may want a slower look at the port before heading toward the bays. Since the trip is private, that conversation matters. The captain can adjust the balance, although the boat still has to cover the distance between stops.

The harbor is more about scenery and atmosphere than water sports. If your priority is wakeboarding, snorkeling, or a towable ride, do not let the first stop take too long. If you want the classic St Tropez setting, it is a worthwhile beginning.

Plage des Graniers for a swim and lunch option

Next comes Plage des Graniers, where the boat anchors in the bay for roughly 30 minutes. This is your first clear chance to get into the water, use a snorkel, or simply sit on deck and watch the coast.

You can also use the tender boat to reach the beach bar. A lunch reservation at Les Graniers restaurant can be arranged if you want a more formal meal. That option makes this stop useful for groups who prefer a proper break, though it also reduces time available for water sports.

The short stop suits a quick swim or snorkel. If your group needs time to change, get everyone into the water, and use equipment, 30 minutes may feel brief. Ask early if you want to stretch this part of the route, especially if lunch is not a priority.

The bay gives you a change of pace after the harbor. Instead of looking at the Riviera from the quay, you are anchored offshore with the water around you. For me, that contrast is one of the charter’s strengths: you get the famous port, then a quieter pause without leaving the St Tropez area.

Plage des Canoubiers and Millionaires Bay

The longest swimming stop is at Baie des Canebiers, also called Millionaires Bay in the tour description. The boat moors here for about an hour, giving you enough time to make proper use of the equipment.

You can snorkel around the boat, paddleboard, or swim. The boat carries stand up paddleboards, snorkels, buoyancy aids, wakeboards, waterskis, and inflatable towables. The exact mix you use depends on conditions, your group, and the skipper’s guidance.

This is likely the heart of the trip for active families and groups of friends. A child can try a towable ride, an adult can paddle around the boat, and someone else can stay aboard with a drink. The French family accounts describe combinations of snorkeling, paddleboarding, waterskiing, and a buoy ride, with children especially enjoying the inflatable tube.

The water-sports gear is included, which improves the value considerably. You do not need to rent each item separately, and you do not have to commit the entire outing to one activity. Bring the right attitude, though: the charter is not a dedicated training session. It is a flexible recreational outing with the skipper helping you get started.

This stop also affects fuel costs. Cruising gently and anchoring use little or no fuel, while high speeds and towing sports use more. The stated guide is about €45 per hour for high speeds, heavy loads, and towable activities, compared with about €15 per hour for gentle cruising. If you want to manage the final bill, tell the skipper how much fast towing you have in mind.

Port Grimaud, the Little Venice of France

The final suggested stop is Port Grimaud, a canal-side village often called the Little Venice of France. Here you can leave the boat and walk around, stop for an ice cream or beer, or have lunch.

About an hour is planned for this visit. That gives you time to see the canals and enjoy a break on land, but it is not a full village tour. Port Grimaud works well at the end because it gives everyone a chance to dry off and change the rhythm after the swimming stop.

The canal setting is different from both St Tropez harbor and the open bays. If your group includes people who do not want four straight hours of water activities, this stop adds variety. It also gives you a simple food option without requiring the group to return to the departure marina immediately.

There is a tradeoff. Every minute spent exploring Port Grimaud is a minute not spent snorkeling or using the towable equipment. I would tell the skipper at the start if Port Grimaud is a must-see or only a backup plan. The route is customizable, but four hours remains four hours.

What the equipment means for families

The included equipment is not a minor extra. It changes how easy it is to keep a mixed-age group happy. The boat carries buoyancy aids, so children and less confident swimmers have added support, while stronger swimmers can use the paddleboards and snorkels.

The supplied experiences describe children aged six and seven enjoying the trip, with a towable tube serving as a favorite final activity. That does not mean every child will enjoy every sport, but it shows how the charter can work for a family when the captain takes time to explain the options.

Sirio is specifically praised for getting equipment out so children could try snorkeling, paddleboarding, and a towable ride. Matt is praised for bringing tubing gear and paddleboards and for giving clear information while cruising. Those details matter because equipment is only valuable when it is ready to use and someone helps you understand it.

Safety equipment is included, but the supplied information does not give age, height, or swimming requirements for each activity. If you are booking with young children, ask about the activity rules before you reserve. Most people can participate, but the captain will still need to judge what is suitable on the day.

Price, fuel, and the real value

The listed price is $300.72 for the entire group of up to six. At full capacity, that works out to roughly $50 per person before fuel and any port pickup fee. For a private four-hour charter with several water-sports options, that is a reasonable group price.

For two people, the calculation is different. You still receive the privacy and flexibility, but the cost per person is much higher. One couple described having plenty of room to relax, which may appeal to you if privacy matters more than minimizing the price.

Plan for the €100 fuel deposit before departure. It is not automatically an extra €100 charge. If the boat uses less fuel, the difference is returned after the trip. If it uses more, the shortfall is invoiced at the end.

Gentle cruising is estimated at about €15 per hour, while wakeboarding, waterskiing, and inflatable towing can use about €45 per hour. Stopping in bays uses no fuel. Your final amount depends on how hard you run the boat, how many people are aboard, and how much towing you do.

Add €50 if you need pickup from St Tropez, St Maxime, or Port Grimaud. Food and drinks are also your responsibility, although the boat supplies ice, water, glasses, and a coolbox. When comparing this with a basic boat ride, count the included equipment and private format. When comparing it with a luxury charter, remember that this is a practical sports boat outing, not an all-inclusive yacht service.

Who will enjoy this four-hour outing most

I would recommend this charter most strongly to:

• Families who want several activities in one half-day
• Friends who can fill the six-person capacity
• Couples who value a private boat and room to relax
• Groups that want to mix sightseeing with swimming
• Anyone who wants a skipper rather than piloting the boat themselves

It is less suited to you if you want a long beach day, a formal guided history tour, or a quiet cruise with no engine noise or water sports. The itinerary includes explanations about the history and sights of St Tropez, but the main attraction is the water, the equipment, and the freedom to shape the route.

The boat is described as tidy, comfortable, and well suited to both quick cruising and slower rides. Still, comfort on a small boat is personal. A group of six will have less spare room than a couple, especially once equipment and coolbox items are aboard.

Weather, timing, and cancellation

The experience requires good weather. If poor conditions cancel the trip, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off follows local time.

The charter is usually booked around 27 days ahead, which is a useful planning clue for summer visits. If you want a particular date, especially for a family holiday or a full group of six, booking ahead makes sense.

Should you book the Bay of St Tropez charter?

Book it if you want a private, active half-day and can gather enough people to make the group price work. The strongest reasons are the flexible route, the included sports equipment, and the chance to combine St Tropez, Millionaires Bay, and Port Grimaud without joining strangers.

Before paying, decide how much pickup convenience you need and how much towing you plan to do. The €50 port collection fee and fuel charge are easy to overlook, but they affect the final cost.

For a group of four to six, I think this is a particularly good fit. Families should tell Matt or Sirio which children are swimming and which activities matter most. Couples can still enjoy the outing, but they should weigh the higher per-person cost against the value of having the boat to themselves.

FAQ

How long is the private boat charter?

The charter lasts approximately four hours.

How many people can join?

The private boat accommodates up to six passengers.

Where does the boat normally depart?

The standard departure and return point is Marines de Cogolin.

Can I depart from St Tropez?

Yes. Pickup from St Tropez, St 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, and any shortfall is invoiced afterward.

How much fuel might the boat use?

Gentle cruising is estimated at about €15 per hour. High speeds, heavy loads, wakeboarding, waterskiing, and towable activities use about €45 per hour. Stopping in bays uses no fuel.

What water-sports equipment is provided?

The boat provides wakeboards, waterskis, stand up paddleboards, inflatable towables, snorkels, and buoyancy aids at no extra charge.

Are food and drinks included?

No. You should bring your own food and drinks. The boat provides ice, water, glasses, and a coolbox.

Can I visit Port Grimaud?

Yes. The suggested route includes about one hour at Port Grimaud, where you can explore the village or stop for lunch, an ice cream, or a beer.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. If poor weather cancels the trip, you will be offered another date or a full refund.