Things to do in
La Rochelle

Our most recommended things to do in La Rochelle

La Rochelle: 2-Hour Sunset Sailing Cruise

1. La Rochelle: 2-Hour Sunset Sailing Cruise

Embark on boat trip on a maxi-catamaran of 16 meters. Meet at the dock located in front of the 2 historic towers of la Rochelle. After a welcome speech, you will sail up the channel, looking one last time at the city in full daylight. Admire the Richelieu Tower and the harbour of Les Minimes on the way. Once at sea, the crew will stop the engine and open the sails as the sun come down. Set up your picnic if you brought one and take in the views of the ocean as the sun sets on the horizon.  Have a chat with the crew to learn more about the local landscapes and history, or to ask questions about the boat. Start up a conversation to get to know the other passengers.  Once the sun has set, you will slowly start your way back, enjoying the lights of the city at night. You will arrive at the dock after passing between the two towers of the old harbor.

From La Rochelle: Sailing Cruise to Fort Boyard

2. From La Rochelle: Sailing Cruise to Fort Boyard

Get on board a sailing catamaran cruise from La Rochelle with a qualified captain and crew and set off to explore Fort Boyard. Sail through the islands as the wind blows and the tides rise and fall. Board your superb 16-meter sailing catamaran at the old harbor of La Rochelle. After the welcome briefing, cross La Rochelle Bay admiring the Richelieu Tower and the Sailing Harbour of Les Minimes. Once outside the channel, the crew will establish the sails and direct the catamaran through the islands to the legendary Fort Boyard. Sit back and enjoy the views or eat your picnic if you brought one with you.  Once at the Fort, you will sail around it, trying to approach it as much as possible in order to get the best views and photo opportunities.  On the way back, relax in the big trampolines under the sky. Enjoy the smooth rocking from the sea. Have a chat with the crew to learn more about the local landscapes, the history, or the boat. Arrive back at the dock with a head full of memories and a photo album full of wonderful pictures.

La Rochelle: Boat trip to Fort Boyard (2h00)

3. La Rochelle: Boat trip to Fort Boyard (2h00)

We await you at the departure from the Old Port of La Rochelle - a port famous for its 2 towers (the Saint Nicolas Tower and the Chain Tower) Let's go for a 2-hour guided sea trip towards the legendary Fort Boyard and the coasts of the island of Aix while admiring the most beautiful views of our coastline (the coasts of La Rochelle, Île de Ré and the 'Île d'Oléron). On board a heated and spacious ship, our crew will welcome you and remain available for any questions. Comments will also be translated into English.

La Rochelle: Entry Ticket to the 3 Towers

4. La Rochelle: Entry Ticket to the 3 Towers

Gain entry to the 3 medieval towers of La Rochelle with one ticket: Saint Nicolas, de la Lanterne, and de la Chaîne. Learn about their tumultuous history and royal past. Get your entry ticket for the main attractions in the Old Port of La Rochelle — the 3 Towers. Dating back to medieval times, learn about the tumultuous history of each of these towers.  From prisons for Huguenots and foreign sailors in the 16th-18th centuries, to military prisons in the 19th century, plenty was happening in La Rochelle in times gone by.  Discover the Saint Nicolas Tower dating back to the 14th century. See how it was equipped with royal living quarters, as well as a chapel, while functioning as a defense tower.  Mosey around the De La Chaîne Tower, also dating back to the 14th century. Home to exhibitions since 1998, it used to be a place to collect taxes from incoming boats and the entrance to the port. Learn how the tower was damaged and rebuilt in the 19th century.  Explore the De La Lanterne Tower, the old lighthouse, ship disarmer, and, later, prison for many centuries. Count the 600 graffiti prisoners left on the walls over the years.

La Rochelle: Catamaran Cruise

5. La Rochelle: Catamaran Cruise

Head out on a boat trip on a 16-meter maxi-catamaran and admire the La Rochelle coast. Your crew will be able to tell you about the local landscapes and history and also a bit more about the boat itself. Meet at the dock located in front of the 2 historic towers of La Rochelle. After an introduction, you will sail up the channel, admiring the Richelieu Tower and the harbor of Les Minimes on the way. Once at sea, the crew will stop the engine and open the sails for you to relax and soak up the views. Enjoy an apéritif if you brought one and take in views of the ocean, enjoying the lights of the end of the afternoon.

La Rochelle: Coastline Sailing Cruise

6. La Rochelle: Coastline Sailing Cruise

Start the day with a breath of fresh and salty air on a sailing tour. Meet at the dock, right in front of the two towers of the old harbor. Once aboard the 16-meter maxi-catamaran, the crew will give a quick safety briefing before setting sail. Head up the channel, admiring the different landmarks of the bay such as the Richelieu Tower, the sailing harbor of Les Minimes, or the "end of the world" lighthouse. Once out in the bay, the crew will unfurl the sails and stop the engines. Generally in the morning, the sea is quiet and few sailboats roam the sea. Take in the peaceful atmosphere, lie down on the trampolines, and let the waves rock you gently. Chat to the crew to learn more about the local environment, history, and nautical lifestyle. You will be back at the dock just before lunch, after one last parade between the old towers.

La Rochelle: 3-Hour Sailing cruise

7. La Rochelle: 3-Hour Sailing cruise

Meet at the Kapalouest pontoon, just in front of the old port, and start your sailing excursion. Once aboard the Columbus, the crew will give a quick safety briefing before setting sail. Sail along the channel admiring various monuments on the bay including, the Richelieu tower and the bout du monde lighthouse. Once in the bay, the crew will unfurl the sails and shut down the engines. Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and let the waves gently rock you. Chat with the crew and learn about the local environment, history, and the nautical way of life. You will be back at the dock after 3-hours, after a final passage between the two towers. The Columbus is a sailboat full of history and maritime heritage. This large 18-meter monohull was built in La Rochelle in the PINTA shipyards. Its first vocation was ocean racing since it participated in the Vendée Globe with the skipper and Rochelais owner Jean-Yves Terlain in 1992. In the early 2000s, the ship was transformed into an expedition sailboat dedicated to safeguarding the marine environment. It is best known for its numerous missions in defense of the environment and oceans with the Sea Shepherd, WWF, and BLOOM. Today it continues to charm and raise awareness among the general public when hosting its passengers in La Rochelle.

La Rochelle : Boat trip to Fort Boyard (2h00)

8. La Rochelle : Boat trip to Fort Boyard (2h00)

We await you at the departure from St-Jean-d'Acre of La Rochelle - a port famous for its 2 towers (the Saint Nicolas Tower and the Chain Tower) Let's go for a 2-hour guided sea trip towards the legendary Fort Boyard and the coasts of the island of Aix while admiring the most beautiful views of our coastline (the coasts of La Rochelle, Île de Ré and the 'Île d'Oléron). On board a heated and spacious ship, our crew will welcome you and remain available for any questions. Comments will also be translated into English.

La Rochelle: Les Minimes and Bay Boat Tour

9. La Rochelle: Les Minimes and Bay Boat Tour

Experience a boat trip in the seaport of La Rochelle, famous for its limestone cliffs. Enjoy a tour on a small boat with a maximum of 12 people, and marvel at the Les Minimes marina. Learn why the Richelieu Tower is so important to the city's history and many other interesting facts. Meet your captain at the dock, then hop aboard to begin an exciting tour of the bay. First, discover the old harbor, famous for its many waterfront restaurants that overlook the sea. Then, discover the Les Minimes marina, which has space to hold up to 3,500 pleasure boats. After this, pass by the Richelieu Tower, a famous red and black lighthouse dating back to 1627, and learn about the city's history. Ask the captain some questions if you like. Discover the channel and the bay. Feel the fresh sea breeze, and finish up by returning to the port where you started.

La Rochelle: Boat trip to Fort Boyard (2h00)

10. La Rochelle: Boat trip to Fort Boyard (2h00)

We await you at the departure from the Old Port of La Rochelle - a port famous for its 2 towers (the Saint Nicolas Tower and the Chain Tower) Let's go for a 2-hour guided sea trip towards the legendary Fort Boyard and the coasts of the island of Aix while admiring the most beautiful views of our coastline (the coasts of La Rochelle, Île de Ré and the 'Île d'Oléron). On board a heated and spacious ship, our crew will welcome you and remain available for any questions. Comments will also be translated into English.

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What people are saying about La Rochelle

Overall rating

4.7
(806 reviews)

This is a brilliant way to see a city in a short amount of time. The guide was professional and informative. We had a lovely small group of 4 people and had plenty of opportunities for photo stops. I would definitely recommend this as terrific value for money.

Excursion which our children aged 7 and 11 really enjoyed. We were able to get as close as possible to Fort Boyard and tour it by boat. I recommend, the “sailors”(?) are very nice 😉

Great time ! A very welcoming, friendly and professional team. The weather conditions were perfect, we loved it!

Very pleasant sea trip, professionally equipped and friendly 👍 I recommend

good visit to la rochelle good explanations from our guide