10/02/2026
Destination
The Var region in the south of France is a dream destination, but it can also be daunting. Between the crowds and the endless traffic jams of the major seaside resorts, the same question often comes up: where to go on holiday in the south of France without giving up the seaside, easy access, and beautiful beaches? There is a preserved stretch of coastline, nestled between the deep blue of the sea and the green of the hills: Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer. Suspended between the sea and the maquis, Les Terrasses du Bailli stands out as the ideal home base for your holiday in the Var.
Looking to explore a more intimate, genuine, and authentic south of France? Rayol-Canadel is not a flashy resort. There are no concrete seafronts or deafening nightlife here. The charm lies elsewhere, in a rare balance between nature, elegance, and the sweet life. The village seems to breathe in rhythm with the Mediterranean, surrounded by gardens, pine forests, and hills that plunge down to the sea.
What strikes you most is the sense that everything is exactly where it belongs. The beaches are accessible without being overrun, the trails invite you to stroll as much as to hike, and you quickly feel like a local. It is the kind of place you discover almost by chance, and which becomes, year after year, a sanctuary destination.
Instead of aiming for the Gorges du Verdon, which are often far away and crowded, Rayol invites you to turn towards its immediate hinterland: the Massif des Maures. Mystical, dense, and intensely green, it offers a striking contrast to the coast. Just a few kilometers from Les Terrasses du Bailli, dive into a world of cork oak forests, secret trails, and breathtaking panoramas.
Hiking, meditative walking, observing biodiversity… Each outing is a total immersion. And what a pleasure it is, after the exertion, to return to the hushed comfort of the hotel, like a cocoon perched between the sky and the sea.
Forget Pampelonne! Rayol-Canadel stands out for the exceptional clarity of its waters and the richness of its seabed. The Rayol Marine Trail or the beaches of Cavalière offer a different way to swim. With flippers on your feet and a mask on your face, set off to discover a vibrant and luminous Mediterranean. And after a day spent in salt water, the heated pool at Les Terrasses du Bailli gently extends the relaxation.
Porquerolles is superb, but often saturated with tourists. Port-Cros, on the other hand, remains raw, rugged, and deeply wild. Accessible by shuttle from Le Lavandou or Cavalaire, the island is a natural sanctuary where you simply walk. No bikes, no cars, just the silence, the sea, and the trails. An intense day that ends with a well-deserved cocktail on the hotel terrace, facing those very islands you just explored.
Ultimately, the answer to “where to go on holiday in the south of France” isn’t a simple list of towns. It’s a lifestyle choice. Choosing Rayol-Canadel and Les Terrasses du Bailli means opting for an authentic, peaceful, and deeply inspiring Var. A side of the South that you discover, and then adopt for good.
