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Check out some of the Trip Reports on our Blog for first hand accounts of what to expect from the UCPA

All Inclusive

All prices include:-

- Accommodation in Multi Share rooms
- All Meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
- Equipment Rental
- Instruction
- Any extra costs (i.e lift passes, course fees)

In fact, the only extra costs are transport, travel insurance and a few social beers!


Sanary

Dates and Prices

Resort

Sanary Resort

Sanary-sur-Mer is situated 50 miles southwest of St.-Tropez, and about an hour from Marseille by train. The tiny fishing village has all the beauty of the Mediterranean coast with steep cliffs, sapphire seas and less of the pretentious vibe encountered in other Riviera towns. The main sports on offer in Sanary are scuba diving and wind surfing.

 

Town Centre

Local history

In the 16th century the Seigneur established a fishing village here, clustered around the medieval watchtower, under the protection of "Sanct Nazari" of Lérins Abbey. The port was constructed and the harbour deepened in the mid-16th century. The little fishing port of Saint Nazari was finally granted its independence from Ollioules in 1688, and in 1890 the town officially received its local name in Provençal, Sanary, which was formalized and distinguished as sur-Mer in 1923.

Must see

The 13th century tower in the centre of the houses that line the port was once part of an important defensive system for the town. The village was developed around the tower in the middle ages. 

The church within the town (Saint Nazaire) is of recent (19th century) construction and definitely worth a look. Moving on, follow the headland west to see the Chapel Notre Dame de Pitié, a 16th century chapel, and also to enjoy the views of the coast and the islands that lie offshore.

Visit the Dumas museum and dive into the under water world of the great scuba diving pioneers Jacques Cousteau and Phillippe Taillez

Little known facts

It was in the waters off Sanary-sur-Mer that Jacques Cousteau developed the diving equipment that is still crucial to deep-sea diving.

A plaque in the village commemorates the German authors who sought exile in Sanary-sur-Mer before the Second World War. Many were subsequently interned by the French as enemy aliens. The writers included Bertolt Brecht and Thomas Mann among many others.
 

 

Accommodation


Sanary


Introduction

Still preserved, the bay and Embiez reefs form an extraoridnary place to boat and scuba dive.Just steps from the picturesque Sanary centre, the village of UCPA bungalows is located in the heart of the pine forest overlooking the sea with private access to its waters. The song of the cicadas, the smells of the Mediterranean, the Port-Issol beach, the large Provencial market, narrow streets and a lively, warm welcome will help make the UCPA in Sanary a great place to stay.

Room Details

UCPA Twin & Multi-Share

Bungalows sleep 2-3 people.

Food description

The food is served buffet style each day. Breakfast is yogurts, cereals, fruit juice, coffee and bread - don't be surprised to see that the coffee, tea or hot chocolate is taken French style - a soup bowl!
Typically, lunch is a DIY picnic made up at breakfast time (great choice of breads, meats, cheeses, pasta, salad, fruit, sweets etc). The picnic lunch means maximum time on the beach without travelling back to UCPA. Note that during the cooler months e.g. September, you will often return to the centre for a hot lunch.
Dinner is a 4 course buffet - typically a salad bar style starter, choice of 3 or 4 main courses - most often including fish, cheese selection, fruit, dessert and ice-cream freezer.
Any special dietry requirements should be made known to reception staff at check-in. Generally, vegetarians will find a wide enough choice within the buffet.

Entertainment

The UCPA staff lay on an entertainment program each week. It's certainly not Butlins and there is no pressure to take part - all quite low key. Typical program would include stretching in the early evening, crepe making, quiz, sketch evening, karaoke and some evenings a live band.
Equally in the town there is a great selection of bars & nightclubs to suit all tastes.

History

UCPA is more than 40 years old, and was originally set-up by the French government to encourage young people to enjoy the outdoors. It is now a "not for profit" organisation with all profits being put back into refurbishing the centres.
The ethos of sport is still first on the agenda, but the instructors and centre staff don't forget that it is still your holiday.

Equipment Hire / Liftpasses

Equipment

The main sports on offer in Sanary are scuba diving, windsurfing and catamaran sailing. Naturally all the equipment you will require for these sports and the programme you are on will be provided - this includes safety equipment.

Note: Experienced divers on the scuba programme may wish to bring your their own water shoes, gloves and dive watch/computer. These are not provided by the UCPA.

 
 

Top Tips

Don't forget

Camera, sunscreen, two towels (one for the beach, one for the shower).

 

How to get there

Arriving by Airplane 

Sanary is easily reached from the airports of Toulon (14km away), Marseille (59km away) and Nice (133km away). Nice is the nearest International airport to Sanary. Conveniently, Ryanair offer a scheduled service from London Stansted to Toulon. For more information and prices, visit www.ryanair.com.

Arriving by car

From the north, Autoroute du Soleil, Aix en Provence, Toulon. From the South-West Highway A55, Nimes, Arles, Fos, Marseille, Tunnel du Vieux Port, Cannes. Exit the motorway at Bandol, Sanary direction, beach of Port-Issol. In Port-Issol Avenue, turn left at the pharmacy. It is not possible to park at the centre but there is parking nearby.

Arriving by train

If you are more than 2 people, a taxi from the train station Sanary / Ollioules will cost you approximately €10 to the UCPA centre. If you are solo, from the Toulon train station, there is a regular shuttle service provided by the company 'Littoral Car' (to take the bus, turn left out of the train station. The cost is about 4 Euros). Information and prices are available on 04 94 74 01 35. Buses depart about every hour. Once you arrive in Sanary, get off at "Cultural Center".

 

Maps

sanary