Nice: Gorges of Verdon and Fields of Lavender Tour
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The deep gorges of the Verdon river (Gorges du Verdon in French) split the earth for 25 kilometres, creating Europe’s most impressive canyon. With its sheer, emerald-green river walls, up to 1,500 metres high, it is an incredible panorama, surrounded by lush, luxuriant nature. A true paradise for lovers of hairpin circuits and for all those who enjoy extreme and water sports.
The roads that run along the gorges offer breathtaking landscapes, beautiful walking trails and wonderful perched villages that will enchant visitors.
This area is rich in outdoor activities that can be undertaken by those who intend to stay longer in the area.
The gorges can be admired by following them unhurriedly by bicycle, motorbike or car. There are two different routes that allow two different perspectives of this wonderful place.
Please remember to fill up with petrol before embarking on these routes, as petrol stations are scarce.
This is the road south of the crevasse, which provides wonderful views of the gorge. Here are the main vantage points from which to take beautiful photos:
This is an uninterrupted succession of belvederes that will give you unforgettable views, such as at the famous Point Sublime, which is perpetually jammed with cars in summer. The most beautiful viewpoints:
For those who love unspoilt nature, the Verdon lakes are a true piece of paradise: pure air, dense forests and bright green, crystal-clear waters, ideal for practising all kinds of water sports, swimming or simply sunbathing on the pebble beaches.
We propose an itinerary to be completed in 2-3 days, about 190 km long, to be done preferably in June/July.
These are the stages:
Starting from Moustiers-Sainte-Marie , you first reach the pretty village of Bauduen. Here, the Sainte-Croix lake is delightful because of the bright green colour given by the high concentration of myrhal substances that make up its waters and bed.
On the way to Quinson , you can visit the Musée de la Préhistoire. In July and August, the museum organises guided tours of the Grotte de la Baume Bonne, a prehistoric cave.
Continue on to Allemagne-en-Provence where you should not miss a fairytale castle, le Chateau d’Allemagne.
Departing from Allemagne-en-Provence in the direction of Sainte-Croix de Verdon, if you love truffles you can make a ‘food stop’ at Montagnac-Montpezat.
You will finish the day in Sainte-Croix de Verdon, a delicate village with stone walls and lots of flowers.
The next day you can set off straight away or stay longer in the area, perhaps hiring windsurf boards, kayaks or rowing boats to explore the lake.
Once you have set off again, it will take you about 1½ hours to go up the Verdon gorges and reach two lakes that are as beautiful as they are different: on the one hand, Lac de Chaudanne, with steep and hardly accessible shores, and on the other Lac de Castillon, with gentle beaches for swimming and boating.
The final stop in Sainte-André-les-Alpes is excellent as a base for hiking, paragliding or a boat trip on the lake. Also, don’t miss a visit to the Maison du Saucisson, a salami lover’s paradise: in addition to the canonical pork salami, they also have donkey, wild boar and ostrich salami!
For all trekking lovers, we recommend the GR4 trail, which descends from Point Sublime to the bottom of the gorges. To do it in its entirety, it takes two days but there are shorter sections that allow you to reach the bottom of the canyon more quickly.
Travel Tips
- Always carry a good pair of walking shoes, a supply of water, an anorak, a first-aid kit and a torch.
- If you are not an expert, take the more challenging trails with a local guide.
- Equip yourself with a detailed map to get to know the area you are going to explore well.
- Never leave the indicated paths or try to take shortcuts: precipices are just around the corner.
- Do not cross the Verdon: it is a mountain river and can hide dangerous pitfalls such as unexpected whirlpools or sudden rises in the water level due to unexpected storms.
- Always check the weather forecast before embarking on demanding, long-duration tours, as thunderstorms can be quite violent in this area.
- As in all natural environments, it is good practice to respect nature, avoiding picking flowers, lighting fires and leaving abandoned rubbish.
Sillans la Cascade is a Var village located just 9 km from Aups, at the gateway to the Verdon regional park. Its main attraction is its superb waterfall, 44 metres high, where the Bresque flows into a magnificent blue-green basin reminiscent of the Verdon.
From the car park at the waterfall, there is a 1 km walk, about 15 minutes, with easy access, partially shaded even in summer. Just before arriving, you can admire the waterfall and take a fabulous photo. From here the path becomes more complicated but remains largely passable even for small children.
When you reach the waterfall, you will be speechless: you will be amazed by the green colour of the crystal-clear water.
The Vallon des Carmes is located a stone’s throw from Barjols, in the Var département. It can be reached on foot from the village centre and the ascent to the valley is easy. However, it is also possible to get there by car.
The valley is a mix of bathing spots and belvederes: you will find two waterfalls where bathing is permitted all year round. Access is easy but not recommended for buggies and people with reduced mobility, due to several steps along the way.
Once there, on the right, you will reach the first waterfall: the Cascade des Carmes, which is easy to access, with a large shaded pool and the possibility of bathing children’s feet. On the left is the Gouffre aux Epines waterfall, with pretty pools to cool off in. The waterfall has a slightly larger pool, but with fewer opportunities to spread your towel, so it is less crowded.
For hiking enthusiasts, taking the path to the second waterfall, you will climb higher and have the opportunity to go to the Croix du Castellas viewpoint, from where you will discover a breathtaking view of Barjols and its valley.
The Vallon des Carmes is still little known but offers a wild and unspoilt environment.
Cotignac is a small village in the Var département, at the gateway to the Gorges du Verdon. The village benefits from the Village de Caractère label: it is also known for being a place of pilgrimage, with a majestic setting, with its Rocher watching over its population.
Le Rocher is a tufa cliff, 400 metres long and 80 metres high. The Cassole river originally flowed over it, before being diverted from its riverbed in the 14th century. Access to the Rocca is possible from the left of the Town Hall: the ascent is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The visit is not difficult except for people prone to vertigo. The ascent is safe and you can also admire the troglodytic caves, dug to protect the inhabitants, animals and food during the various invasions that the village experienced.
Thanks to the presence of the beautiful, green Verdon River, it is possible to practice a variety of water sports , which we recommend you book in advance during the busier months.
The most popular are:
Whether you are just passing through, to admire the panoramic viewpoints of the canyon, or whether you decide to practice one of the various sporting activities the area has to offer, we recommend that you stay near the Gorges du Verdon. A hotel in the Gorges du Verdon means sleeping in an exceptional natural environment, surrounded by mid-altitude mountains, majestic lakes and the Verdon river. A perfect mix for breathtaking landscapes.
Depending on the orientation of your itinerary and your budget, you can find a hotel in the villages of La Palud-sur-Verdon, Castellane, Moustier-Sainte-Marie or Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon.
If, on the other hand, you wish to stay closer to the Verdon lakes, then you will have to look for accommodation in the different villages along the water: Esparron-de-Verdon, Quinson, Rougon and Saint-Julien-du-Verdon.
The Gorges du Verdon are criss-crossed by easily passable roads offering panoramic viewpoints where you can easily park your car to admire a truly enchanting landscape.
To reach this area, the nearest airport is Nice Airport, which is only a 2-hour and 15-minute drive away, after having rented a car locally. Alternatively, you can land at Marseille Airport: with a rented car you will reach the gorges in 2 hours and 20 minutes, depending on traffic.
What's the weather at The Verdon Gorge? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at The Verdon Gorge for the next few days.
The Verdon area is located in Provence, on the border between the Var and Alpes de Haute Provence departments . In particular, the stretch of the gorges lies between the communes of Castellane and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie.
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