Going to the island of Porquerolles with your own bike or a rental mountain bike is the freest way to explore the dirt paths between the beaches and vineyards. The ferry companies serving the island offer bundled packages that combine the boat crossing and bike rental on-site, all in one ticket. However, it’s essential to understand what each package includes, from which port it operates, and what practical constraints it imposes once on the island.
Bringing your own bike or renting on-site: what the package changes
Do you already have a bike and prefer to ride with your own equipment? Most companies departing from La Tour Fondue accept personal bikes on board, for an additional fee on the crossing ticket. The price varies depending on the season and the company, but this extra charge is generally lower than a daily rental.
The boat + bike packages work differently. They include the round-trip ferry and the provision of a mountain bike directly in the village of Porquerolles, just a few meters from the port. The pickup is done upon presentation of the combined ticket, with no separate queue at the rental shop.
Comparing the two options before booking boat and bike packages for the island of Porquerolles allows you to decide based on a simple criterion: the combined package is cheaper than the sum of the crossing + separate rental. The savings vary by operator, but the principle remains constant.
Departure ports and companies: La Tour Fondue, La Londe, Cavalaire
The departure port determines the crossing duration, ticket price, and availability of bike packages. Three main boarding points cover the Var coast.
La Tour Fondue (Hyères)
This is the shortest departure to Porquerolles. The TLV-TVM company operates frequent crossings year-round. The crossing lasts about twenty minutes, making it the logical choice for a day of biking. Combined boat + mountain bike packages are offered by the Provence Méditerranée tourist office, available for purchase at their offices in Hyères and Toulon.
La Londe-les-Maures and Le Cros de Port-Cros
The Bateliers de la Côte d’Azur operate crossings from La Londe-les-Maures. The journey is longer, but departing from La Londe avoids the summer congestion of the Giens peninsula. Day packs including the bike are also available from the port of La Londe.
Cavalaire and Saint-Raphaël
From Cavalaire or other ports further east, companies offer day trips to the Îles d’Or, including Porquerolles. These longer crossings leave less time on the island for biking, making the bike package less relevant for cyclists who want to explore in depth.
Time slots and overcrowding: the mid-morning trap
The majority of visitors board between 9:30 AM and 11 AM. This concentration creates a simultaneous influx on the island’s paths late in the morning. On the narrow paths between the village and Notre-Dame beach, the crossing between pedestrians and cyclists becomes difficult.
For a more enjoyable day of biking, aiming for a departure before 9 AM or after 1 PM radically changes the experience. The paths to the lighthouse or Courtade beach remain passable without traffic jams, and the bike rental shops in the village still have stock available.
The combined packages do not set a return time: you choose your return rotation from those available that day. The combined ticket sometimes specifies a departure time for the outbound journey, but the return remains flexible.
Park-and-ride and free bus shuttle in summer in Hyères
Driving to La Tour Fondue in the middle of summer risks a long wait on the road to the Giens peninsula. Starting in 2024, the recommended solution involves the free park-and-ride lots in Hyères (Arromanches, Espace 3000) combined with the bus line 67 of the Mistral network.
In July and August, the bus ride is free for holders of a TLV-TVM e-ticket. In other words, booking your crossing online unlocks free transport to the boarding point. This system reduces parking stress and avoids the overcrowded paid parking lots at La Tour Fondue.
For cyclists bringing their own bike, the bus accepts folding bikes, but not standard bikes. A combined package with on-site rental eliminates this constraint.
What’s included in a boat + bike package: checklist of items to verify
Not all packages are created equal. Before booking, check these items:
- The type of bike included: adult mountain bike, child mountain bike, electric bike. Some packs only offer the standard mountain bike, with the electric bike available for an extra fee.
- The rental duration: by the day (return the bike before the last shuttle) or half-day, with a different rate.
- The equipment provided: helmet, lock, repair kit. The helmet is not always included for adults.
- The cancellation conditions: refund in case of bad weather or cancellation of the ferry crossing.
The Provence Méditerranée tourist offices sell three levels of packages based on duration and bike type. The pickup is done directly at the partner rental shop in the village of Porquerolles.
Cycling rules on the island of Porquerolles
Porquerolles is a protected area within the Port-Cros National Park. Motorized vehicles are almost absent, but cyclists must adhere to specific rules.
- Ride only on marked paths and trails. Off-trail riding is prohibited to protect the Mediterranean vegetation.
- Moderate speed in the village and near the beaches, where pedestrians and cyclists share the same space.
- No bikes on certain marked pedestrian paths (coastal path, in particular). Check the signage on-site.
Bike rental shops generally provide a map of cycling routes at the time of pickup. Three main loops cover the island, from the shortest (village – Argent beach) to the longest (tour via the lighthouse and Notre-Dame beach).
The bike must be returned to the same pickup point, at least thirty minutes before your return shuttle. This timeframe allows enough time to walk back to the port from the rental shop, which is just a few minutes from the boarding dock.