A private Super Air Nautique 210 gives you two very different ways to see St-Tropez: glide past superyachts and villas, then cut the engine for a swim or fire up the wakeboard. Captain Matt shapes the outing around your group, with room for six and equipment for several water sports.

I like the small private setting, which feels far more personal than a large sightseeing boat. I also like the freedom to prepare your own playlist, stop for a drink at Plage des Graniers, or spend more time swimming in Millionaires Bay.

The main catch is price. At $1,779 for about two hours, this is a costly outing unless you fill the boat. Fuel is handled separately through a deposit, and an extra €50 applies if you depart from St-Tropez, Port Grimaud, or St. Maxime instead of the home port at Marines de Cogolin.

Key Points to Know Before You Book

• Captain Matt and Sirio provide a personal, flexible outing, with English and French spoken.
• The Super Air Nautique 210 carries up to six people, making the cost easier to justify for a full group.
• Plage des Graniers offers both a swim and a quick beach-bar stop, though the drink is not included.
• Baie de Canebiers, or Millionaires Bay, is the best swimming stop, with the chance to float beside the boat.
• Wakeboards, wakesurf boards, towable inflatables, wetsuits, and buoyancy aids are provided.
• Fuel can add to the bill, especially if you spend much of the trip at high speed or using the sports equipment.

Why This Boat Trip Feels Different

St-Tropez is often seen from the quayside, where polished yachts, designer shops, and famous restaurants crowd the harbor. From the water, you get a wider view of the resort and its famous bay, including private villas, anchored superyachts, and beaches that are harder to appreciate from town.

This is not a fixed sightseeing circuit in the usual sense. You have a private boat, a captain, and a short amount of time to decide how active you want the outing to be. You can cruise gently, swim off the stern, stop for a drink, or spend your fuel and time on wake sports.

Captain Matt is a key part of the experience. He drives the boat, explains what you are seeing, and gives instruction for wakeboarding and wakesurfing. One especially useful detail is that he can adjust his advice to the ability of the person behind the boat, which matters if teenagers or first-time riders are taking part.

Sirio may also be part of the crew, and the team can provide service in both English and French. The private format means you are not trying to match the pace or interests of a large group.

Boarding at Marines de Cogolin

The usual departure point is Marines de Cogolin, with pickup available from St-Tropez, Port Grimaud, or St. Maxime. The home-port departure has no collection fee, while the other ports add €50. Tell the operator your preferred departure point when booking, since the starting location changes both the cost and the shape of your short outing.

The boat is a Super Air Nautique 210, a model built for watersports as well as cruising. The boat has space for six people, but six is still a fairly intimate arrangement once you add bags, towels, and sports gear. For a family or group of friends, this is usually the right size. If your party is smaller, the price per person rises quickly.

You receive a mobile ticket, and confirmation is issued at booking. The departure area is near public transportation, which helps if you are staying in the St-Tropez area without a car.

St-Tropez Harbor and the Bay View

The outing begins with a look at the Port of St-Tropez. From the water, the harbor gives you a good sense of the town’s famous blend of old seaside resort, luxury marina, and nightlife address.

You pass close enough to see the large yachts and the quayside bars and restaurants. This is a sightseeing portion, not a full walking tour, so you will not have time to browse the harbor or stop at every waterfront venue. The advantage is that you see St-Tropez from the setting that made it famous: the bay, the boats, and the coast beyond town.

I would use this first stretch to settle into the boat and tell Matt what sort of two hours you want. If your group mainly wants swimming, say so early. If wakeboarding or wakesurfing is the priority, the captain can help use the available time more wisely.

Plage des Graniers for a Swim and Beach Drink

The first main stop is Plage des Graniers, a small bay near St-Tropez. The boat can anchor here for a swim, giving you a chance to cool off away from the town streets.

You can also wave to the tender boat serving the beach restaurant. It can collect you and take you ashore for a quick drink at the beach bar. That option adds a pleasant land break, but food and drinks are not included, so bring a payment method and check how much time you want to spend away from the boat.

The beach-bar stop is best for a group that wants a taste of the Côte d’Azur social scene without committing to a long meal. With only about two hours in total, a drink ashore will reduce time available for swimming or watersports. If you have children who are eager to ride the inflatables, staying on the boat may be the better choice.

The bay itself is also valuable without the beach stop. Anchoring creates a calm pause between the faster parts of the outing, and the boat gives you an easy platform for getting into the water.

Millionaires Bay and Swimming Beside the Boat

Baie de Canebiers, often called Millionaires Bay, is the second water stop. The name hints at the setting: this is a polished part of the St-Tropez coast, associated with grand homes and famous residents.

The highlight here is a swim around the boat. You do not need to arrange a separate beach visit or find a public access point. The boat becomes your base, with buoyancy aids available and wetsuits supplied if conditions make them useful.

This stop can be the most relaxing part of the trip. There is no need to rush ashore, and everyone can choose their own pace. Strong swimmers can move around the boat, while others can stay close to the stern with a buoyancy aid.

The short duration means you should keep an eye on the clock. Thirty minutes can pass quickly once everyone is in the water, especially if your group also wants time for wakeboarding or wakesurfing. Tell the captain if swimming matters more than seeing every planned stop.

Wakeboarding, Wakesurfing, and Towable Fun

The boat comes equipped with wakeboards, wakesurf boards, towable inflatables, buoyancy aids, and wetsuits. That makes this more than a sightseeing cruise. It is also a compact watersports session in one of Europe’s most famous resort bays.

Wakeboarding and wakesurfing are not the same experience. Wakeboarding involves being pulled behind the boat while standing on a board, while wakesurfing lets you ride the boat’s wake at a closer range. Towable inflatables are the simplest choice for a group that wants speed and laughter without learning a board sport.

Instruction is available from Matt, and this is one of the stronger reasons to book a private trip rather than simply rent a boat. First-timers can get help with technique, while stronger riders can ask for tricks or more challenging runs. Teenagers in particular may appreciate having an activity rather than sitting through a standard cruise.

There is a financial point to remember. Fuel use rises with high speeds, heavy loads, and towable sports. The operator takes a fuel deposit of €60 per hour booked before the trip, so a two-hour booking requires a €120 deposit. Gentle cruising uses about €20 per hour, stopping in bays uses no fuel, and sports use about €60 per hour as a guide. Any unused amount is returned after the trip, while a shortfall can be invoiced.

If you want both sightseeing and watersports, be realistic about the clock. A two-hour tour can include several short activities, but it cannot provide a long lesson, a relaxed meal, and an extended coastal cruise all at once.

Port Grimaud, the Little Venice of France

The final stop is Port Grimaud, a planned waterside village known for its canals. It is often called the Little Venice of France, a nickname that points to its distinctive boat-lined waterways and colorful waterfront setting.

The canals give the trip a slower finish. After the noise and speed of the watersports, this section lets you look at the architecture and moorings at a gentler pace. You may also hop off to explore the village and buy ice cream.

Port Grimaud is a good choice if you want a short taste of a different kind of Côte d’Azur town. It is not the same experience as old St-Tropez. The appeal is the canal layout and the view from the water, rather than historic lanes or a major museum visit.

Again, time is the issue. The listed plan allows about 30 minutes here, so an optional walk will be brief. If you depart from Port Grimaud, you may also save some cruising time, but the €50 collection fee still applies.

How the $1,779 Price Works

The headline price is high. At $1,779 for approximately two hours, this is not a casual budget activity. The value improves when six people share the boat, particularly if your group would otherwise pay separately for a private cruise and a watersports session.

You are paying for the boat, captain, private use, fuel-related flexibility, and a large amount of equipment. A standard boat excursion may cost less, but it will not necessarily let you choose between a swim, a beach drink, wakeboarding, and Port Grimaud in the same outing.

The extra costs need careful attention. Food and drinks are not included. Sunscreen and towels are not provided, so pack both. The €120 fuel deposit for a two-hour booking is paid before departure, then adjusted based on actual use. The €50 departure fee applies at the three alternate ports.

For the best value, bring a full group that genuinely wants the same sort of outing. Six people who all want a mix of cruising and watersports can make good use of the boat. A couple seeking only a calm harbor cruise may find the price harder to defend.

Who Should Book This Experience

I would recommend this trip most strongly to families with older children, groups of friends, and active couples who want more than a passive view of the coast. The minimum passenger age is eight, and the supplied equipment makes it suitable for a mixed group of swimmers and riders.

It also works well as a break from walking around St-Tropez. Two hours on the water gives you a change of pace without taking up a whole day. The private format is useful for families who need flexibility or do not want to share a boat with strangers.

You should think twice if your priority is a long, quiet cruise. The boat is designed for speed and watersports, and fuel charges reward gentle cruising but rise when you use the wake equipment. Likewise, anyone wanting a full beach meal, long time ashore, or a detailed tour of every coastal sight will find the schedule too tight.

The experience requires good weather. If poor conditions force cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. For your own comfort, bring sunscreen and a towel, and avoid scheduling the tour so tightly that a weather change ruins the rest of your day.

Is This Private St-Tropez Boat Tour Worth It?

Book it if you want an active, private outing and can split the cost among a group of up to six. The strongest combination is a short cruise through St-Tropez, a swim at Graniers or Canebiers, and one or two rounds of wakeboarding, wakesurfing, or the towable inflatables.

The tour is less convincing for a small party that wants only sightseeing. In that case, the $1,779 base price, fuel deposit, possible €50 collection fee, and separate drinks can add up quickly.

For the right group, Captain Matt’s instruction, the quality of the boat, and the freedom to set the pace make this a memorable way to see the bay. Just decide before boarding whether your priority is the view, the swim, or the ride. Two hours is enough for a lively taste of all three, but not enough for a leisurely version of everything.

FAQ

How long is the private boat tour?

The experience lasts approximately two hours.

How many people can fit on the boat?

The Super Air Nautique 210 has room for up to six people.

Where does the boat usually depart?

The normal departure point is the home port at Marines de Cogolin.

Can I depart from St-Tropez, Port Grimaud, or St. Maxime?

Yes. Collection from any of those three ports is available for an additional €50. You should state your preferred departure port when booking.

What watersports equipment is included?

Wakeboards, wakesurf boards, inflatable towables, buoyancy aids, and wetsuits are included.

Is food or drink included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. You can arrange a quick drink at the beach bar near Plage des Graniers, but you pay for it separately.

Is there a fuel charge?

A fuel deposit of €60 per hour booked is collected before the trip. For a two-hour booking, the deposit is €120. Unused fuel money is returned after the trip, while any shortfall may be invoiced.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.