Gorges du Verdon Travel Guide: France’s Grand Canyon

The Verdon is a limestone canyon in Provence with a river at the bottom the colour of pool water. The turquoise is real — it comes from glacial minerals suspended in the flow — and it is at its most absurd in the morning before the wind picks up. You can drive the rim in a day, but the canyon is better from inside it: a kayak on the lake, a via ferrata bolted to the wall, or a trail that drops you to the riverbed. These guides cover both versions of the trip.

The Gorges du Verdon at a glance

• Where: on the border of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and the Var, inside the Verdon Regional Nature Park.
• Scale: roughly 25 km of canyon, with walls up to about 700 m high.
• Getting there: about two hours by car from Aix-en-Provence or Marseille, and around two and a half from Nice. Public transport is limited and seasonal, so a car is close to essential.
• Where to base yourself: Moustiers-Sainte-Marie at the western end near the lake, Castellane at the eastern end for rafting, or La Palud-sur-Verdon on the rim for hikers.
• Best time: May, June and September. July and August are hot and crowded, particularly around Lac de Sainte-Croix.

How the canyon fits together

Two roads trace the rim. On the north side, the Route des Crêtes loops out from La Palud-sur-Verdon past a string of belvederes, with Point Sublime nearby; on the south side, the Corniche Sublime runs past the Balcons de la Mescla and over the Pont de l’Artuby. Driving both in a day is possible, but the roads are narrow and slow, so most people pick one side and spend the rest of the time on the water or on foot.

At the western mouth of the gorge, Lac de Sainte-Croix is where you hire electric boats, kayaks and pedalos at the Pont du Galetas and paddle up into the canyon itself. For walkers, the Sentier Blanc-Martel follows the river along the canyon floor and passes through unlit tunnels, so bring a torch. River levels are controlled by upstream hydroelectric dams, so always check conditions locally before any activity on the river.

Start here

• A 2-Day Itinerary: Villages, Viewpoints and Water
• When to Go and How to Beat the Heat
• Europe’s Grand Canyon: Watching Sunrise Turn the Verdon Turquoise

Where to stay

• Where to Stay in the Gorges du Verdon: 6 Best Bases
• Moustiers-Sainte-Marie: The Prettiest Village on the Gorge
• Castellane: The Best Base for Exploring the Canyon
• Camping: Sites With the Best Canyon Views

On the water

• Kayaking the Gorges du Verdon
• Renting a Boat: Electric Boats, Kayaks and Pedalos
• Lac de Sainte-Croix: Turquoise Water at the Foot of the Gorge

Hiking, climbing and flying

• The Best Hiking Trails for Every Fitness Level
• From Blanc-Martel to the Sentier de l’Imbut
• Via Ferrata: Is It as Scary as It Looks?
• Paragliding: Booking Your First Flight
• Route des Crêtes: The Most Stunning Viewpoints

Getting there

• How to Get There from Nice, Aix or Marseille
• A Day Trip from Aix-en-Provence: Worth It?

Gorges du Verdon FAQs

How many days do you need for the Gorges du Verdon?

One day lets you drive one side of the rim and spend a few hours on Lac de Sainte-Croix. Two or three days gives you time for a canyon-floor hike, a kayak trip into the gorge and an early start for the viewpoints.

Can you drive all the way around the gorge?

Yes. The north and south rim roads link up via Moustiers-Sainte-Marie and Castellane to form a full loop, but the roads are narrow and winding, so allow a full day with stops.

Can you swim in the Gorges du Verdon?

The easiest and safest place to swim is Lac de Sainte-Croix, which has beaches along its shore. Swimming in the river itself is riskier because water levels can change quickly with dam releases.

Is the Gorges du Verdon worth a day trip from Aix or Nice?

From Aix or Marseille it works as a long day; from Nice it is a lot of driving for one day. Staying a night in Moustiers or Castellane makes the trip far more relaxed.