Renting a boat without a licence on the Étang de Thau
8 h€ 220-360 Calm
Spend a day gliding across the Étang de Thau on a licence-free electric boat, weaving between oyster beds, fishing villages and the calm waters around Bouzigues.
On the largest lagoon in the Languedoc, you can set off without a licence from several marinas including Bouzigues, Mèze and Marseillan. Rental companies offer small electric or petrol boats limited to six horsepower, available to adults with no prior training required. A short briefing at the pontoon is all you need before heading out, and the boat can carry between four and seven passengers depending on the model. You can cruise along the shellfish beds, pull up close to the oyster shacks that open in summer, then head towards the Pointe des Onglous at the entrance to the Canal du Midi.
Budget around €220 to €360 for a full day, fuel not included, with a deposit required at the time of booking. The season runs from April to October, with calmer mornings for sailing and afternoons that can get breezy when the tramontane picks up. Bring sunscreen, shoes that grip on deck and a cool box for a lunch break on the water.
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Réservation et acompte confirmés
Pièce d'identité et permis B au cas où
Crème solaire et lunettes
Chaussures à semelle souple
Glacière avec pique-nique et eau
Téléphone chargé et appareil photo
Book the boat online or by phone with a rental company in Bouzigues, Mèze or Marseillan, with a deposit required.
Arrive thirty minutes before departure for the handover, safety briefing and contract signing.
Leave the harbour at low speed and cruise gently alongside the first oyster beds, keeping the distance specified by the rental company.
Switch off the engine away from busy boat lanes, get out the cool box and enjoy a peaceful floating lunch.
Head towards the Pointe des Onglous to catch a glimpse of the Canal du Midi entrance before turning back gently.
Return to the harbour an hour before dark, moor the boat and hand the keys back to the rental company after the inspection.
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For anyone copying this
Do as we did
Suggestions
- Choose a morning slot for calmer conditions before the afternoon breeze sets in.
- Book a table at an oyster shack in Bouzigues to round off the day.
- Check the weather and wind strength the night before, the tramontane can change things fast.
- Ask the rental company for a map of the restricted zones around the shellfish beds.
- Bring a second pair of dry shoes for the drive home.
Variations
- - Remplacer la journée complète par une demi-journée de deux heures, plus accessible côté budget.
- - Partir depuis Marseillan pour pousser jusqu'à l'entrée du canal du Midi en aller-retour.
- - Combiner la navigation avec une dégustation d'huîtres et de vin de Picpoul à Mèze.
- - Choisir un bateau électrique silencieux pour observer les oiseaux de la lagune.
Atmosphere
by PlayTryBe team