Gorges du Verdon
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Gorges du Verdon - by MissEJB from Pixabay
Description
The Verdon Gorge is France's most famous river canyon, it is 25km long and up to 700m deep. It was formed by the Verdon river that owes its name to its turquoise colour, cutting through a limestone plateau. It is located between Castellane and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie in the southwest of the country and the gorge ends into the artificial Lake of Sainte-Croix. The area is extremely popular with tourists who can not only drive around its rim but also kayak, raft, hike or bungee jump. It is also a rock-climbing heaven with over 1,500 routes.
Access & Transport
Castellane, at the eastern end of the canyon, is 50km south of Dignes Les Bains and 90km west of Nice. The LER 31 bus service links Castellane to Digne in 65mins and to Nice in 2h with a bus-to-train transfer in Cagnes sur Mer train station. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, at the western end of the gorge, is 45km south of Dignes Les Bains, 90km northeast of Aix-en-Provence and 85km northwest of Fréjus.
Instructions & Recommendations
We suggest combining a drive along the rim with a more physical activity such as hiking or rafting (note that rafting is only possible when the dam releases some water, which is usually on Tuesdays and Fridays). The village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is also worth a visit.
Environmental & Social
Eco-friendly activity. Socially neutral, or slightly positive if you are using an activity with local operators
Conclusion
The Gorges du Verdon are one of these special places you would want to teleport to every now and again. The views are genuinely spectacular and there is plenty of outdoor activities to keep one busy for a couple of days. Definitely worth a special trip from one of the larger cities in Provence but, of course, best to weave it into a regional itinerary.
Key positive
Exceptional scenery
Plenty of activities available
Key negative
Busy during summer holidays
Suitability
Suitable for all ages. We rate this activity as partially accessible because most visitors with reduced mobility will not be able to enjoy any water activity or hiking
About this Rating
TYPE
Desktop
RESEARCHED IN
June 2024
PROVIDER
Koreval
av. transport time:1h
est. visit time:3h
Sunrise / early morningOk
MorningOk
Lunch timeOk
AfternoonOk
Sunset / eveningOk
Night – bef. midnightNo
Night – aft. midnightNo