Hiking Gorges du Verdon: The Best Trails from Blanc-Martel to Sentier de l’Imbut

Part of our Gorges du Verdon travel guide

Hiking Gorges du Verdon is not one single experience. Some paths drop you right down beside the green river. Others keep you high on the rim, where the whole canyon opens up at once. A few are short climbs from a village square. The trick is matching the trail to the kind of day you want, and to how much walking your legs can honestly take.

I have put together ten routes here, from the long Blanc-Martel crossing to quick viewpoint walks near Aiguines and Moustiers. For each one, I have tried to say what it feels like, who it suits, and what to sort out before you go. If this is your first visit, the Gorges du Verdon overview gives you the lay of the land before you pick a path.

Key Takeaways

• Blanc-Martel and the Sentier de l’Imbut take you down into the gorge. The Bastidon stays high above it.
• Rancoumas, Grand Margès, and Mourre de Chanier are the best picks if you want wide views and open ground.
• Sentier des Pêcheurs and Couloir Samson get you close to the river without a full day’s commitment.
• The climb from Moustiers to Notre-Dame de Beauvoir is short, steep, and easy to fit into a village visit.
• Good shoes, enough water, a torch for the tunnels, and a check of trail conditions matter more than any single piece of gear.

Hike the Blanc-Martel trail from Chalet de la Maline to Point Sublime

If people know one trail here, it is this one. The Blanc-Martel runs roughly 15 km between the Chalet de la Maline and Point Sublime, and most walkers need six to seven hours. It is the classic way of hiking Gorges du Verdon on foot, and it earns that reputation.

What stays with me is how much the scenery shifts. One stretch feels closed in by rock. Then the path drops and you are walking beside the river with the walls rising on both sides. Later it climbs again and the view opens. Nothing about it is dull, but nothing about it is quick either.

Treat it as the whole day. Do not try to squeeze it in before lunch somewhere else.

Section	What to expect	Worth knowing
Chalet de la Maline	The usual start, high above the gorge	Begin early with plenty of water
The descent	Switchbacks down toward the canyon	Loose stones, so watch your footing
Riverside and tunnels	Enclosed, varied, sometimes dark	Bring a torch for the Baou tunnel
Point Sublime	Big view at the finish	Sort your return transport before you set off

That last row is the one people forget. It is a one-way route. In high season a shuttle bus links the two ends, but it does not run all year. Check the timetable before you commit, or you will be standing at Point Sublime wondering how to get back to your car.

Explore the Sentier de l’Imbut along the river

The Sentier de l’Imbut is for walkers who want to be in the gorge, not above it. It starts near the Auberge des Cavaliers on the south side and winds down to the Imbut itself, the point where the Verdon slips under a jumble of boulders and seems to vanish for a while.

This path has a rougher, more enclosed feel than anything on the rim. The river is bright turquoise. The limestone is pale and steep. You feel small, in a good way. It also asks more of you. Expect uneven ground, some scrambling, and a steep exit via the Vidal trail with cables fixed to the rock on the hardest sections.

I would only pick this one if you are comfortable with heights and exposed footing. Give it the full day, tell someone your plan, and turn back if the conditions feel beyond you. The route can feel remote even though the gorge itself is a busy destination.

Follow the Sentier du Bastidon above the gorge

The Bastidon is the opposite idea. It stays high, linking the La Palud-sur-Verdon side with the area around the Chalet de la Maline, and it gives you long open stretches where the whole canyon sits in view.

It is not a stroll, though. The path is exposed, the ground is rocky, and the distance adds up. I would save it for a day when you have energy to spare and a clear forecast. Narrow sections with a drop on one side are part of the route, so skip it if that sort of thing bothers you.

Before I leave for a walk like this, I run through a short checklist:

• Check the weather and the current trail status.
• Wear shoes with proper grip, not trainers.
• Carry more water than feels necessary.
• Download the route so it works without signal.

None of this makes a hard trail easy. It just means you can deal with whatever the day throws at you.

Take the Rancoumas trail for views of the canyon

Rancoumas is the trail I suggest when someone wants a proper canyon view without spending all day down by the water. You start from the Rougon side, cross the river at the old Pont de Tusset, and climb to the Belvédère de Rancoumas. From there the scale of the place finally makes sense: the far cliffs, the bends in the river, the open plateau behind.

Allow three to four hours for the round trip. It is not technical, but it is not flat either, and the ground can be slippery after rain. Set a turnaround time and stick to it.

If you have the afternoon free, pair this with a village stop or a drive along the Route des Crêtes rather than stacking another big hike on top. The light changes a lot through the day here, and early or late hours are far more comfortable than the midday heat.

Climb Grand Margès from Aiguines

From Aiguines, the climb to Grand Margès swaps the tight walls of the gorge for a wide mountain view. The summit sits at around 1,577 m. From the top, the canyon becomes just one line in a landscape of ridges, plateau, and the blue of Lac de Sainte-Croix below.

This is a planned outing, not a detour. The ascent is steady and exposed, so the wind and sun can be stronger up high than they felt at the start. Set a sensible pace, cover up, and carry water.

Aiguines deserves more than a quick stop at the trailhead. It is a pleasant village with a castle and a good view over the lake, and it works well as a base on the south side. If you are still deciding where to sleep, the guide to where to stay in the Gorges du Verdon compares the main villages.

Hike to the summit of Mourre de Chanier

Mourre de Chanier is the highest point in the Verdon regional park, at about 1,930 m. The walk up feels like a mountain day rather than a canyon walk. The trees thin out, the ground opens, and the views keep growing with every bit of height you gain.

Summit weather can be very different from what you saw in the car park. Cloud, wind, and heat all change the day. Take layers, a map, and enough water for the descent too. I would make this the main event rather than one item on a packed schedule.

A calm decision to turn around is part of a good mountain day. If the visibility drops or the footing changes, there is no shame in heading down early.

Walk the Sentier des Pêcheurs near the gorge floor

The Sentier des Pêcheurs takes you from the Point Sublime area down toward the gorge floor. The descent is steep and so is the climb back out, but the payoff is real. The river gets louder, the walls rise straight above you, and the busy viewpoints feel a long way off.

Do not start this one late in the day. You will need time and energy to retrace your steps, and a steep path that was fine on the way down feels much longer on the way up. Good footwear and plenty of water are not optional.

Check the trail status before you plan around it. Access to the lower paths can change with river levels and maintenance work.

Discover the Couloir Samson and its tunnel section

Couloir Samson is the shorter way to get a taste of the lower gorge. From Point Sublime you drop into a narrow passage where the cliffs close in on both sides, then pass through the Tunnel du Baou. It is dark in there, so bring a torch. A phone light works in a pinch, but a headtorch is easier.

I like this one when I want the feel of the canyon without committing to the full Blanc-Martel. It pairs well with a viewpoint stop, as long as you leave enough time for the walk itself. The tunnel is the thing everyone talks about, but the cliffs and the colour of the water are what you remember.

As with every path down here, check current access before you go. Routes that appear in older itineraries are sometimes closed for repairs.

Climb from Moustiers-Sainte-Marie to Notre-Dame de Beauvoir

Not every walk here needs to be a big one. From the centre of Moustiers, a stepped path climbs to the chapel of Notre-Dame de Beauvoir, perched on the cliff above the village. It is short and steep, with around 260 steps, and the view back over the rooftops and out toward the lake is lovely.

Go early or late if you want it quiet. The steps can be slick when damp, so wear something with grip. The whole thing fits neatly into a morning or evening spent in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, which is itself one of the nicest places to base yourself on this side of the gorge.

Hike the trails around Col d’Illoire for panoramic views

Col d’Illoire sits on the south side above Aiguines, at the start of the road known as the Corniche Sublime. The paths around the pass give you big views over the gorge and the ridges beyond without a long day on your feet.

Distances vary depending on which path you follow, so check the local signage and pick one route rather than trying to join up every viewpoint. Keep to the marked paths near the edges. Even a short walk here deserves attention when the ground is uneven and the drop is close.

I found this a good place to slow down. The landscape sets the pace if you let it.

Planning your Gorges du Verdon hiking trip

A few practical points apply to every trail on this list.

Timing matters. Summer brings heat and crowds, and the shuttle bus runs. Spring and autumn are cooler and quieter, but check that the paths you want are open. The guide to the best time to visit the Gorges du Verdon goes into this in more detail.

Getting there usually means a car. Public transport is thin in the park. The post on how to reach the gorge from Nice, Aix, or Marseille lays out the options.

Where you sleep shapes which trails are easy to reach. La Palud-sur-Verdon suits the north rim and Blanc-Martel. Aiguines and Moustiers suit the south side and the lake. Castellane works well for the eastern end near Point Sublime.

And if your legs need a rest day, the gorge looks just as good from a kayak on the river.

Conclusion

The best route for hiking Gorges du Verdon depends on what you want from the day. A long canyon crossing, an exposed ridge, a summit, or a short climb with a big view: all of them are here. My advice is to pick one main trail, check the latest conditions, and build the rest of your visit around it. That leaves time to enjoy both the paths and the villages, and that balance is what makes this corner of Provence worth the trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which hike is best for a first visit to the Gorges du Verdon?

Blanc-Martel is the classic choice if you have a full day and reasonable fitness. If your time is shorter, a viewpoint walk around Col d’Illoire or the climb to Notre-Dame de Beauvoir gives you a strong sense of the place in a couple of hours.

How difficult is the Blanc-Martel trail?

It is long, around 15 km, with steep descents, rocky ground, and dark tunnels. Most people take six to seven hours. It is not technical, but it is tiring, and you need to plan the one-way logistics.

Do I need a car to reach the hiking trails?

In practice, yes. Public transport within the park is limited. A car lets you reach trailheads and move between villages on your own schedule.

What should I bring on a hike in the gorge?

Sturdy shoes, more water than you think you need, food for longer walks, sun protection, and an offline map. A headtorch is essential for Blanc-Martel and Couloir Samson.

When is the best time to hike in the Gorges du Verdon?

Late spring and early autumn offer the most comfortable conditions. Summer works, but start early and expect crowds. Some paths and the shuttle bus are seasonal, so check before you go.

Are there short hikes with good views?

Yes. The walks around Col d’Illoire, the Belvédère de Rancoumas, and the steps up to Notre-Dame de Beauvoir all reward you with big views for a modest effort.

Where should I stay for hiking in the Gorges du Verdon?

La Palud-sur-Verdon for the north rim, Aiguines or Moustiers-Sainte-Marie for the south side and the lake, and Castellane for the eastern end. Pick based on which trails you want to reach first.