Arrive in Vannes and check in to your hotel. Depending on your time of arrival, you could take a walk along the harbour and soak in the atmosphere of the port with boats lined up reminiscent of the French Riviera; or wander the narrow cobbled alleys of the old centre, discovering fortified ramparts and half-timbered houses. History and modern living sit comfortably side by side in this medieval city full of lively character. Vannes is wonderful place in which to begin your holiday in the Morbihan Gulf - there is something to discover at every turn. This evening, you can enjoy a delicious meal at the hotel restaurant and delight in your first taste of Breton cuisine.

Setting off from your hotel on foot, you have a lovely walk in store today. Following the course of the GR34 long distance trail along the coastline, you will pass the small commune of Sene on your way to Mousterian beach, where you can drink in the sumptuous views across the Morbihan Gulf and its pretty islets. Continuing your leisurely stroll on the seaside path toward the tip of the peninsula, you pass sleepy fishing villages and sandy beaches to reach Port-Anna. From here it is a short boat journey to return to Vannes, on the 'petit passeur' ferry. During the months of July and August, it is possible to take a day trip to Houat Island, located out to sea around 10km from the Morbihan Gulf and the mainland. On this car-free island you can immerse yourself in unspoilt nature; perhaps you might like to circumnavigate the island following the coast path where you will discover idyllic sandy beaches and rocky coves. The boat crossing from Vannes is available seasonally and you should check the schedules in advance if you wish to undertake this optional visit as an alternative to the walk around the Sene Peninsula.

Today you will take a boat to the island of Arz, also known as the Captain's Island, owing to its many inhabitants that served at sea with the Navy. This charming island is one of the two largest in the Gulf of Morbihan, alongside Ile-aux-Moines (Monk's Island) which you will visit later in the week. Ile d'Arz is home to some beautiful houses once belonging to sea captains, now serving as a reminder of the maritime history of the island. You can learn more of the life of the island community at the Sailors and Captains Museum (Musee Marins et Capitaines). Exotic plants, brought back from the seafarers' travels, thrive in the sunny climate of the Morbihan Gulf and today palm trees, fig trees and mimosas lend an alluring twist to the patchwork gardens of hydrangeas and camellias. A gentle coastal path all the way around the island offers wonderful views of the Gulf, and many opportunities to enjoy relax on the beautiful sandy bays and paddle in the clear waters while drinking in the panorama. In the afternoon, take the return boat back to Vannes.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the start point of your walk at Kerat, from where you will make your way on foot to the town of Larmor Baden and your home for the next two nights. From Kerat you pick up the GR34 trail at Pointe d'Arradon, where Ile-aux-Moines seems just a stone's throw away. Following the coastline along the coves of Moustran and Kerdelan, accompanied throughout by splendid views over the Gulf, you will make your way leisurely past oyster farms and through Port Blanc before reaching the little village of Larmor Baden. Here, your hosts at your charming hotel are waiting with a warm welcome, ready to fill you up with a delicious dinner of local specialties, fresh from the coast.

This morning, you will take a boat ride across the gulf to the island of Gavrinis where you will discover one of the most unique prehistoric sites in France: the Cairn de Gavrinis. Erected over 6000 years ago (before Stonehenge or the Egyptian pyramids), this intriguing structure is a prehistoric cathedral and oft described as a ‘neolithic Sistine Chapel’. You will have time to explore the axe engraved chamber and learn more about the site on a guided tour before taking the boat back to Larmor Baden. Along the way, your captain will take you for a small detour to Er Lannic, a small inaccessible island with an intriguing tale your captain will share with you. Returning to Larmor Baden for a spot of lunch, this might be a good time to sample the famous oysters of the area. Feeling sated, this afternoon you can take a leisurely walk to the marshes of Pen en Toul. Keen and budding ornithologists alike can enjoy a quiet moment of birdwatching over the marsh, a popular stopover for migratory birds species. Look out for grey heron, avocet, lapwing, terns and waders, and keep a keen ear open for songs such as that of the melodious warbler. With Berder Island just a stone's throw from your hotel, if tide times allow you might like to cross the causeway and explore this little island. There is an easy path circumnavigating the island, taking you to discover the pretty chapel of Sainte-Anne tucked among the trees, and the boat graveyard where the remnants of old fishing boats lie. Depending on the times of the guided tours to Gavrinis and Er Lannic, you might transpose the order activities today, taking the walk in the morning then visiting Gavrinis and Er Lannic in the afternoon.

After a delicious breakfast perhaps of some gooey Brie de Meaux, you will take a boat this morning to Ile-aux-Moines, located close to the mainland and protected by the bay. The island owes its name to the monks of Redon Abbey, who received the island as a gift from the King of Brittany in the 9th century. Hopping off the boat, you will soon be walking between pretty fishermen's houses, through scented woodland trails and along small flower-filled alleys to discover the northernmost Pointe du Trec'h, the easternmost Pointe du Brouel, and the little hamlet of Kerscot at the centre of the cross-shaped island. In the afternoon, when you have finished soaking in the atmosphere and beauty of Ile-aux-Moines, take the return ferry across the shimmering turquoise waters back to Larmor Baden, where you will collect your luggage and be transferred back to Vannes where you can enjoy a final evening of feasting on seafood. In October and on Saturdays, the boat to Ile-aux-Moines departs from Port Blanc, around 5km away from your hotel. You can make use of the public bus from Larmor Baden to the jetty, fare payable locally. When you return from Ile-aux-Moines, the transfer will be waiting at the jetty to take you to Vannes.

Waking reposed after a week of basking in the slow pace of life, you can indulge in a relaxed breakfast and perhaps enjoy a final stroll through the streets of Vannes before your onward journey.