Porquerolles, island of beaches

Seventeen kilometres from downtown Hyères, you cruise along the flat D197 to the Giens peninsula, then wind down to the Tour Fondue, a 17th‑century fort and ferry slip. A brisk 15‑minute crossing and Porquerolles shifts scale: a 142‑metre plateau, pine and eucalyptus lanes, sandy coves to the north, cliffs and scrub to the south. Cycle past the Domaine de l’Île vineyards founded in 1912, break for contemporary art at Fondation Carmignac, and aim for Notre‑Dame beach, long praised for its translucent shallows.

For the day, your driver collects you at your Hyères hotel in a Mercedes and stays on call while you explore. Drop‑off at Tour Fondue, ferry timing handled, then you linger over coffee on Place d’Armes, rent bikes and roll out to Notre‑Dame or Cap des Mèdes. When you’re ready, pickup matches the ferry schedule, cold water waiting on board; back on the mainland, a local pro steers clear of tombolo traffic and gets you home smoothly.