In the Southeast of France lies the deepest and most spectacular canyon in the country, where beautiful blue waters carve through dramatic limestone formations to create a dream travel destination.
Visitors to the Gorges du Verdon will find plenty of things to do, including whitewater rafting, kayaking, cliff jumping and hiking. Surrounding roads provide a popular route for road-trippers, too.
Birdwatching
It’s not only the beauty of the landscape that attracts people, but also the incredible wildlife on display around the canyon.
The area is a hotspot for vultures, with the birds reintroduced to the gorge in 1999. Griffin vultures and black vultures populate the area now, so make sure you pack your binoculars.
Road-tripping
Around the edge of the gorge is the perfect setting for a French road trip. Because of the scenic route, the road has become an extremely popular destination for road-trippers.
The recommended route starts at Moustiers Sainte-Marie and goes as far as Trigance. The entire circuit is just over 90km (56mi) and takes around two hours to complete.
Along the way are delightfully charming little French villages, tunnels sculpted through the walls of the canyon and views, in one direction, over the Lac de Sainte-Croix, and in the other, into the Gorges du Verdon.
Hiking
There are a host of walking trails in the area for hikers to indulge in, from easy strolls to challenging hikes.
Sentier de l’Imbut is the most popular route. It starts at the Hotel du Grand Canyon and follows the GR99 trail from the lip of the gorge, down to the bottom and back. The hike is mildly challenging but suitable for any age and takes around three hours.
Other impressive walks include the challenging trek along the rocky Sentier Vidal and easier routes such as the GR99 from Aiguines to the Sentier de L’Imbut and the GR49 that runs from Trigance to Rougon.
Kayaking
The gorge is also great for kayaking, with alluring blue waters and irresistible surrounding views.
For the best place to kayak, head down to the lower section of the gorge towards Lac de Sainte-Croix where there are boat-hire outlets near the bridge on the D957.
The Verdon Natural Regional Park
Alongside the Gorges du Verdon, there’s loads to explore in the area.
Lying at the mouth of the Alpes de Haute Provence is the Verdon Natural Regional Park with a whole host of spectacular landscapes, serene nature and quaint French villages.
One of the first stops in the park should be the blue lake of Sainte-Croix – ideal for a picnic, cycling or even some water sports.
Further along is the Plateau of Valensole, a sea of geometrically aligned lavender. Between June and early August, the breathtaking field illuminates into a deep purple wave.
Moustiers Sainte-Marie is the most picturesque village in the region. Referred to as the star of the gorge, this remarkable settlement sits at the base of a staggered limestone valley and lights up the entire area at night, providing the most stunning photo opportunities.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
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