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The essential activities in the Gorges du Verdon

The landscapes of the Gorges du Verdon are spectacular. Our region is ideal for hiking, kayaking, climbing or paragliding. Sporty friends and nature lovers, here is a selection of activities to do in the Gorges du Verdon… there is something for everyone!



LAND ACTIVITIES:

Discover a whole range of activities in the Gorges du Verdon to do “On Earth”. Hiking, climbing, horseback riding, cycling, and many other activities!


  • Bike renting:

Electric hybrid bike rental: From this village perched in the mountains, you will have the opportunity to discover the Gorges du Verdon from a new angle, stroll along the paths of the Verdon savoring the grandiose landscapes and observe nature in absolute calm. From the Route des Crêtes to the tour of the lake, choose one of the many routes in the region, adapted to your level and your desires. Thanks to the electric assistance, take full advantage of the pleasures of cycling, whether you are sporty or simply a lover of landscapes.


Rental for half a day or a day.

Price: around €24 per person



  • Guided hikes:

The travertines of Maurin: not far from the Lac de Sainte-Croix, on the road to La Palud sur Verdon, is a space out of time, which you will be able to fully appreciate thanks to your guide. He will be happy to share with you all the mysteries of Saint-Maurin: the traces and vestiges of the first inhabitants of the Verdon, the fauna and flora.

Duration: 2.5 hours

Difficulty: very easy

Price: €20 per person



The lower Gorges du Verdon: Walk above the turquoise water of the Verdon, magnificent passages on a system of ledges and stairs... On the way with your guide to discover this magical place during an easy hike , four hours to discover the lower gorges: fun and amazing!

Duration: 4.5 hours

Difficulty: easy

Price: €30 per person




Sentier Blanc Martel: This 7-hour hike allows you to discover the famous Martel trail. It still requires practice in mountain walking with the famous ladder passages of the Imbert breach (which are rather very steep stairs). Edwin, a passionate mid-mountain guide from the Verdon, will accompany you and guide you along the trail.

The hike is done from the Maline refuge which dominates the Gorges near La Palud sur Verdon. It is strongly recommended to use the Lapalud shuttle to the Maline chalet and the return shuttle from Point Sublime!


Duration: 7 hours

Difficulty: moderate

Price: €30 per person


Discovery of vultures: the "Discovery of the Vultures of the Verdon" hike is waiting for you!

Leave from the "Couloir Samson", in the heart of the Grand Canyon du Verdon, towards the heights, by a little frequented and shaded path. Along the way, your guide will be happy to share his knowledge of the endemic flora and fauna of the Verdon with you.

Arrived at the top of the path, you will overlook the Verdon (a few hundred meters below) to have a magnificent view of the surrounding peaks. The Rancoumas belvedere is one of the few that is not bordered by the road, which makes it a peaceful place, conducive to observation.

Duration: 4.5 hours

Difficulty: moderate

Price: €20 per person


Imbut trail: This hike, one of the most famous in the Verdon, is aimed at an experienced and seasoned public. The course is magnificent and varied: forest, limestone and mineral passages. It is known to be one of the most beautiful hikes in the region. You will descend to the bed of the Verdon, where you will stop for a snack with your guide. He is at your side to ensure your safety but also to share his knowledge with you. The flora and fauna will have no more secrets after this walk on the Imbut trail. The return is via the Vidal trail which is steep and arduous but which offers a breathtaking panorama.

People prone to vertigo may not enjoy some vertical sections. The landscapes are extraordinary and will amaze you, but the technical aspect of this hike should not be neglected.

Duration: 6 hours

Difficulty: very difficult

Price: €30 per person




  • Horse ride:

Horseback riding around the Lac de Sainte-Croix: we offer a shaded ride starting at the small lake campsite next to the pretty village of Moustiers Sainte Marie. This horseback ride will allow you to discover the diversity of the fauna and flora, typical of the Verdon and its surroundings.

You will be accompanied by a state-certified guide who will teach you the basics of horseback riding and allow you to enjoy the landscape in complete safety.

Whether you're a beginner looking for a contemplative walk or you're a seasoned rider ready to gallop, there's something for everyone! The ride will remain the same but the pace will adapt to yours.

Duration: 1 hour

Price: €30 per person


  • Strong feeling:

Adventure course discovering the void in the Grand Canyon du Verdon: The adventure course of the 'Hole of the fox' allows you to know the thrill of the void by moving in the cliffs in complete safety, Zip line, Tarzan jump and abseiling are on the menu of this beautiful half-day in the middle of the breathtaking landscapes of the Grand Canyon du Verdon.

Duration: 3 hours

Price: €45 per person




Climbing in the Gorges du Verdon: Discover the world of cliffs! Learn the basic rules of safety, the handling of equipment and the world of multi-pitch routes with a state-certified guide.

Duration: 3 hours

Price: €50 per person







WATER ACTIVITIES:

Here is a selection of activities to do on the water in the Gorges du Verdon: canoeing, rafting, canyoning… You can enjoy magnificent lakes and visit marvelous canyons.


  • Canoe:

Canoeing Lac Sainte-Croix and Grand Canyon du Verdon: With family or friends, discover the magnificent landscapes of Lac de Sainte-Croix and the Grand Canyon du Verdon by navigating along the water.

Departing from Saint-Saturnin, go up the lake for 30 to 45 minutes to discover the entrance to the Gorges that awaits you. Between cliffs more than 60 meters high and the turquoise water of the canyon, take the time to observe the spectacular landscapes with the sound of water as a soundtrack. You can go up in the Grand Canyon for 3 km to the limit of the buoys. Then, return to the meeting point to drop off your boat. This activity is ideal for swimming in the Gorges.

In short, this experience is a real breath of fresh air and will offer you a unique panorama of the Grand Canyon du Verdon.

Duration: 3 hours

Difficulty: easy

Price: €55 per canoe


Roaming canoe in the three lakes sector: set off for a half-day of Hiking & Packrafting accompanied by a state-certified guide. The Gorges in the Three Lakes sector are smaller and wilder than the Grand Canyon but less beautiful! You will discover caves and waterfalls surrounded by walls of moss. Between cliffs more than 60 meters high and the turquoise water of the canyon, take the time to observe the spectacular landscapes. This experience is a real breath of fresh air and will offer you a unique and exclusive view of the Gorges!

Duration: 3 hours

Difficulty: moderate

Price: €55 per person


  • Rafting & Tubing:

Classic rafting on the Verdon: you have an appointment at the base of Castellane (eco-responsible place) Pauline will welcome you with a smile and good humor. The captain on board – your state-qualified guide, will teach you the basic technical gestures, give you safety instructions and assign you your mission of “rafter of the day”. Along the route, rapids alternate with calmer areas. The guide makes you paddle when he needs speed, the rest of the time he is there to inform you, educate you and entertain you! Are you athletic and adept at sensations? This course is for you. The Verdon is a wild space where a few minutes are enough for the landscape to express itself in you. Majestic cliffs, lush vegetation, turquoise waters… nature has brought everything together to ensure that this sporting moment is also a source of wonder and serenity.

Duration: 2 hours

Difficulty: easy

Price: €55 per person


Rafting Gorges du Verdon: you have an appointment at the base of Raft Session (eco-responsible place) Pauline will welcome you with a smile and good humor.

The course is mainly made up of rapids! As you progress, the view will become dizzying. The cliffs will impose themselves and will amaze you up to the entrance of the Grand Canyon.

Duration: 2.5 hours

Difficulty: demanding

Price: €65 per person


Tubing in the Haut du Verdon: it is aboard a fun boarding that you set off to criss-cross the Upper part of the Verdon, in an inflatable buoy and paddles. This activity is only practiced when the rivers are at their lowest. Equipped with a large buoy and a paddle, come and walk the river and refresh yourself on the river, with ease, lightness and guaranteed comfort!

Duration: 3 hours

Difficulty: easy

Price: €40 per person



  • Pedal & electric boat:

Discover Lake Esparron de Verdon in a 4-seater pedal boat with slide: the 4-seater pedal boats are equipped with a ladder to get back on the boat when swimming and a slide to slide into the water. In summer the water temperature is between 24 and 26 degrees.

Duration: half day or day

Difficulty: easy

Price: around €48 per pedal



Discover Lac d'Esparron de Verdon by SCOOP electric boat: Our license-free electric boats with optional table can accommodate 7 people. Its hull and the power of its engine allow a smooth and quiet navigation in all conditions. From our base you can sail in the Basses Gorges to Quinson 9 kms (about 4 hours round trip), or on the lake towards the dam towards Gréoux les Bains 5 kms. On one side or the other, the site is magnificent.

Duration: half day or day

Difficulty: easy

Price: approximately €72 per boat


  • Canyoning:

Canyon little discovery day Baudan Baou: in summer when the sun beats down, the Baou remains a haven of freshness, with jumps, slides, a few descents and abseils in the dry. This route is accessible to all via the Baudan ravine. Vertical and aquatic, this canyon is a good initiation affordable for all. Willy and his team supervise you to ensure your safety and make this moment unforgettable. In addition to the presentation of the history, geology and wonders of this natural environment, you will discover all the techniques of canyoning: jumps (always optional), slides, swimming in basins of clear and fresh water, small abseils... everything to learn in a fun way in an incredible setting!

Duration: 5 hours

Difficulty: moderate

Price: €60 per person



Canyon de la Ferné – day: by choosing the canyon of “Ferné”, you will experience the dizzying sensations that a “climber” can have during an abseiling in the Grand Canyon du Verdon. The day begins with a 30-minute walk on the bastidon path overlooking the gorges. The path leads to a cliff which will see you enter the heart of the matter. This will be the time to equip yourself for a succession of abseils and finally arrive at river level. After the effort and the first chills, you will take a picnic break at the edge of the square and your feet in the water. Once you've filled up on energy, you set off again to take on the Verdon by walking, jumping or swimming depending on the water level and the obstacles to be overcome.

Duration: day

Difficulty: demanding

Price: €80 per person




  • Aquatic hike:

Pont de Tusset "super easy" aquatic hike in the Gorges: the Pont de Tusset aquatic hike in a fun, refreshing activity accessible to all, ideal for discovering the Grand Canyon during a gentle roaming. In turquoise and translucent water, you evolve during a gentle, sunny roaming, you appreciate the refreshing immersion, embellished with a few optional jumps from 1 to 6 meters.

In the heart of the Gorges, you live an immersive experience among the fauna and flora of this preserved space. A water hike is a timeless moment with lasting memories, between fun, emotion and sensation.

Duration: 3 hours 30

Difficulty: very easy

Price: €50 per person





The most beautiful aquatic hike in the Verdon – day between Estellié and Imbut: an aquatic and sporting course in the heart of the Verdon. A descent on foot from the Auberge de la Maline takes us to the Estellié footbridge where we dive into the emerald green water of the Verdon. To descend over the water through labyrinths of giant blocks, face the styx to end up in the underground river of Imbut. The return will be via the vertiginous Maugué trail, equipped with a harness and lanyards for your safety, you will climb an ancestral path.

Duration: 8 hours

Difficulty: demanding

Price: €80 per person





AIR ACTIVITIES:

Here is a selection of activities to do in the sky of the Verdon: paragliding, first flight, bungee jumping... It is indeed the ideal terrain for thrill seekers.


ULM flight – Autogyro: you will take place in a device called gyrocopter or autogyro… a very light helicopter of the ULM class. The undeniable advantage of the aircraft: being able to fly all year round in much more flexible weather conditions than for other aerial disciplines. After a full briefing and a smooth takeoff, all you have to do is open your eyes wide to enjoy a 360 degree view. You will be in constant contact with the pilot, a native of the valley, who will guide you throughout this ride through the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Take off from Barrême, a small village nestled in the heart of a preserved valley, near Castellane.

Duration: 20 minutes

Price: €90 per person


The summits of the Verdon by paraglider: flying is man's oldest dream... we have the means to make this dream come true by offering you a paragliding baptism. Contrary to what one might think, a paragliding flight is very gentle. There is nothing extreme, just your emotions to manage. A first flight in a paraglider is an aerial ride with a 360 degree view of the surrounding landscapes.

Duration: 15 mins, 30 mins, 45 mins

Price: around €90 per person


Bungee jumping from the highest bridge in Europe: are you a fan of thrills? The Artuby bridge or more exactly, the Chaulière bridge which spans the Artuby is known to be the highest point in Europe where bungee jumping is practiced. A jump of 182 m is a story of free fall where every millisecond of sensation is good to take.

Duration: 3 hours

Price: €130 per person



We advise you to book your activities in advance of your stay due to the crowds in the summer period.

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