Les Sentiers De La Mer, a collaborative economy platform, brings together owners offering half-board packages aboard their sailboats and outdoor travelers. It's an original initiative that aims to create links, while offering an experience of discovery and sharing.
A zero-carbon concept
On his retirement in 2017, Joseph Durand, a seasoned sailor for over 30 years, gave birth to the idea of Sentiers de la Mer. His aim was to bring together nature lovers, whether on foot, by bike, surf or sailboat, along coastal paths. The approach is based on a self-evident fact: for its founder, all '' share this active slowness that puts them in resonance with nature ".
The process is simple: the boat picks up hikers at each stopover port, welcoming them on a half-board basis for dinner, overnight stay and breakfast.
This initiative offers sailboat owners an opportunity not only to take their boats out to sea, but also to generate additional income. For hikers, the experience translates into unusual, itinerant accommodation that lets you enjoy both land and sea, as Joseph Durand explains: " Whether on the trails or aboard a sailboat, nature-lovers find their own rhythms, soak up the scenery, savor the moments and sensations.. ''. In 2021, this aesthete of beautiful landscapes has brought his project to fruition by surrounding himself with a team with one objective in mind: to reduce the carbon footprint weighing on the planet. Les Sentiers de la Mer is thus the convergence of a ''.. winning trio in terms of environmental impact, he likes to say: walking shoes for walkers, bicycles for cyclists, and sails for sailboats.
Dockside accommodation
Sailboats, comfortably sized between 10 and 12 meters, provide access to numerous stopover ports along magnificent coastal landscapes.
Well-equipped, our partner sailboats generally feature 2 or 3 double-berth cabins, offering travelers an intimate retreat. Sleeping is also available in the yacht's common saloon. This can accommodate 2 to 4 backpackers, and up to 5 with children. One of the cabins is reserved for the skipper.
The various on-board amenities guarantee optimal interior comfort, creating a pleasant cocoon for travelers after a day's hiking. Les Sentiers de la Mer thus offers a complete experience, combining the pleasure of travel with the serenity of the nautical setting, as shared by one of the yachtsmen: " I was about to retire when I discovered Les Sentiers de la mer, at the beginning of 2022. What I liked about the concept from the start was the opportunity to introduce the world of sailing and the marine environment to people who aren't used to it. On a more personal level, it allows me to keep up an activity that allows me to meet people in complete freedom: you can welcome hikers whenever you like. It's a great motivation to keep sailing and discovering new places on the Brittany coast, including some I've never been to before. We don't just offer unusual accommodation, far from it. With my wife, we're preparing hiking trails that are compatible with boat access to Belle-Île, the Gulf of Morbihan and the Vilaine estuary. This concept shows that it's possible to enjoy tourism with a light carbon footprint, without being too energy-hungry. It's important for me to give meaning to what I do. "
An adventure organized to the rhythm of nature
Each holiday is presented as a tailor-made trip. All you need to do is find a tour that inspires you on the Sentiers de la Mer website, or have a destination already in mind. We offer a wide range of itineraries along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts: the Crozon peninsula, Belle-Île-en-Mer, the calanques of the Côte d'Azur, the Vermeille coast, or the Spanish Basque Country...
The yachtsman acts as a local guide, pointing out the region's must-sees.
Once you've chosen a tour, simply complete the online form and an advisor will contact you to fine-tune the details of your getaway. The advisor then puts you in touch with the host, a yachtsman. Customer and host then organize the practical aspects of the itinerary. One hiker describes her experience: ''A pleasant formula that allowed us to savor the two facets of the coastline: walking the paths of Santiago de Compostela, with the pleasure of finding our mobile home at the end of the road in the evening; returning by sea, with a memorable swim in the ocean (the weather was just right!) And, all along the way, picturesque ports, panoramic viewpoints, breakfasts on deck... In short, a most pleasant cocktail of intensive walking and idleness.''
Discover boating in complete safety
On some itineraries, passengers can be taken aboard the yacht, either to a trailhead or to a destination before returning to port. These occasional transfers do not generate any additional costs. In this scenario, the hiker takes on the role of the boater's crew member. Wilderness activities require constant adaptation to hazards, and the skipper is the only person who can decide whether it's safe to sail to the next port of call. On most of the Atlantic and English Channel coasts, the tides will condition your stay, as they determine the entry and exit times for certain stopover ports. Should the yacht be unable to reach the next stopover, accommodation is still guaranteed.
Les Sentiers de la Mer offers a peaceful setting for all your activities. As a yachtsman, welcoming travelers aboard the boat on a half-board basis is a real pleasure dockside rental . If boat insurance does not cover this activity, a partnership with Home Assur, an annual insurance company, has been established to guarantee adequate coverage. If guests embark on a sailing trip, the service is complementary to the activity offered by Les Sentiers de la Mer, and is provided free of charge. Most boat insurance policies cover you and your crew, as long as you don't charge for the service," explains Les Sentiers de la Mer.
The aim of Les Sentiers de la Mer is to unite two practices that require the same modesty in the face of nature. Whether you're a boater or a walker, the two perspectives offer different views of the coastline, while inspiring a shared admiration. An invitation to discover nature in a different way.
