Inter Iles cruises in Charente-Maritime

Ars-En-Ré on the Ile de Ré in Charente Maritime, France

The Compagnie Maritime des “Croisières Inter-îles” offers boat trips to discover the Ile de Ré from the sea, as well as La Rochelle, Ile d’Aix and the famous Fort Boyard.

From April onwards, Inter-island cruises depart from the Port of Saint-Martin, offering a range of shuttle and/or cruise services.

Enjoy a day exploring the Île d’Aix, with a close-up view of Fort Boyard. Allow 1h30 to 2h30 for the crossing.
For a sea trip including an approach to Fort Boyard, allow 2h30 to 3h for the trip.
You can also choose the sea cruise with a visit to Fort Boyard and a stopover in La Rochelle, or the cruise including 2 stopovers (La Rochelle and Ile d’Aix) with, of course, a visit to Fort Boyard.

Since 2018, the company has also been offering boat shuttles between Île de Ré and La Rochelle with the “Amour des Îles” boat. Allow an hour for the ride and discovery. Upon reservation, it is also possible to travel with bicycles!

Stopover on the Ile d’Aix

An ideal excursion for a change of scenery, the island of Aix can only be reached by boat, unlike its neighbors the islands of Oléron and Ré.

From La Rochelle, Fouras, Rochefort, Boyardville or Saint-Martin-de-Ré, embark on a discovery of this island famous for having welcomed Napoleon for 3 nights before his abdication and departure for St. Helena.

The tour of the island is a beautiful hike of around 2 hours and just under 8 km: it allows you to discover Aix’s numerous fortifications, made up of forts and coastal batteries. Between coastal paths, forest tracks and marshes, the island of Aix offers a wide variety of landscapes.

Its coves will charm you with the transparency of their waters: from Anse de la Croix to Grande plage and Sables Jaunes, take time to swim or relax in this end-of-the-world setting, then don’t miss a visit to Fort Liédot, hidden in the woods, and the Napoleon Museum in the heart of the village.

Tour of Fort Boyard

Ars-en-Ré is also one of France’s most beautiful villages. It owes this status to its character and remarkable heritage (such as its many old buildings and residences).

The village of Ars en Ré is built around its church, topped by a black-and-white bell tower that still serves as a landmark for boats. Right next door, you can admire “La Maison du Sénéchal”, a superb Renaissance dwelling with turrets, formerly owned by the Governor of the Île de Ré.

Between the Isle of Aix and the royal arsenal at Rochefort, Fort Boyard occupies a strategic position at sea.

But did you know that in the end it never fulfilled its defensive mission? Yet the site is still steeped in history…. Communards were locked up here before being deported to the penal colony of New Caledonia. Today, its gaols are used by a whole team of imaginative people to put the nerves of famous candidates to the test!

Stopover in La Rochelle

Embark on a getaway to La Rochelle! Discover the charm of the old port and its towers, recognizable from afar. Not far from the quays, enter the old town via the Grosse Horloge tower and lose yourself in the narrow streets.

And under the shopping arcades: admire the rich facades of 18th-century shipowners’ mansions, Renaissance residences and medieval half-timbered houses, which together tell the story of the city’s long history. During your stopover in La Rochelle, you’ll have plenty of time to stroll through the old town or along the quays, have a drink in front of the sailboats, go shopping, or relax on the little beach of La Concurrence.

Or visit one of the town’s must-see sites: the maritime museum with its visitable afloat boats, the large aquarium, or the incredible bunker in the heart of town. Then simply take your shuttle back to the Ile de Ré from one of France’s most beautiful ports!