I am delighted to be back with you this week to visit Gorges du Verdon! This is a region I have been eager to take you to… You already know how much I love Provence, where every discovery is a source of wonder.
I had already visited the region of Gordes, the beautiful villages of Vaucluse, the fields of lavender in bloom, and the surroundings of Mont Ventoux. So I had been dreaming for several years of exploring the Verdon Gorge too… We all know the images of the superb gorges and the turquoise Lake Sainte Croix by heart… I was expecting to fall in love… But it was true love at first sight when I discovered the Verdon Gorge!
So let me take you on a tour of the Verdon Regional Natural Park, and I hope it will inspire you to get away this summer! If you want to know the most beautiful places to visit in the Gorges du Verdon in two or three days, here are the must-see sites and some practical tips!
PRACTICAL TIPS TO VISIT GORGES DU VERDON
Gorges du Verdon – how to get there?
As you’ll see, the Gorges du Verdon are not easily accessible by public transportation!
By car: the Gorges du Verdon are located 1 hour north of Draguignan and 2 hours northeast of Toulon and Aix-en-Provence. Rent a car here if you need to.
By train: the nearest station is Les Arcs-Draguignan, 1-1.5 hours away depending on where you are in the Verdon. It is on the Marseille-Nice line. However, the most convenient station if you are coming from another region is Aix-en-Provence TGV (2 hours away). From Aix TGV, it takes 1 hour 30 minutes to Lyon and 3 hours 10 minutes to Paris. You can easily rent a car in Aix-en-Provence TGV to get to the Verdon.
By plane: Nice, Marseille, and Toulon airports are located 2 hours from the Gorges du Verdon.
Compare car rentals to find the best price!
Where to stay to visit Gorges du Verdon?
Here are several accommodation suggestions based on your budget and the area where you prefer to stay. In summer, availability is very limited!
Book your accommodation in the Gorges du Verdon!
3 recommended accommodations to visit Gorges du Verdon
AUBERGE DES SALLES
- By the lake
- Good value for money
- From €90
HOTEL & SPA GORGES DU VERDON
- With a pool and a spa
- Breathtaking view
- From €230
CAMPING LA FERME DE CASTELLANE
- Nice spot for families
- With a pool
- From €25
Best time to visit Gorges du Verdon
Summer is the best time to visit Gorges du Verdon if you want nice weather and temperatures but it is also crowded! If you want a quieter season, the best time to visit Gorges du Verdon is June and September.
You can visit Gorges du Verdon in two days if you don’t have much time, but it’s better to allow three days to really enjoy it. For example, you could plan one day to explore the scenic roads, one day around Lake Sainte-Croix and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, and one day for the Martel trail.
And don’t worry, if you have a week in the Gorges du Verdon, you’ll have plenty to keep you busy!
Be sure to allow for travel time, which can be quite long between one place and another! For example, it takes 45 minutes to drive along the scenic route without stops, so allow at least two hours per route with breaks!
And you should also allow at least two hours for Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, climbing up to the chapel.
Practical tips to visit Gorges du Verdon
– Unsurprisingly, the Verdon is a very popular destination in summer, so I can only advise you to explore it during the off-season to enjoy it to the fullest!
– Please note that almost no one accepts credit cards in the Gorges du Verdon, so make sure you always have cash with you! Also, remember to book activities and restaurants in advance during the summer!
– You can easily visit Gorges du Verdon by car, but it will be very difficult to get around without one… Please note that driving in the Gorges du Verdon can sometimes be daunting, as the roads are very narrow and winding, and there are many motorhomes.
– Apart from the Martel trail shuttle, there are no buses in the Gorges du Verdon.
What to bring back from Gorges du Verdon ?
Lavender is obviously a real institution in the region! Soaps, honey, perfume, bouquets… You’ll find it in a multitude of forms in the pretty shops of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. The same goes for olive oil and faience, a specialty of the town. Many faience artists have their shops in Moustiers, and you can even visit the museum dedicated to faience!
VISIT GORGES DU VERDON VIA THE PANORAMIC ROAD
I recommend starting your visit to the Gorges du Verdon by road, to discover all the beauty and uniqueness of this vertiginous canyon. Two roads run along the Gorges du Verdon, one on the north side (right bank) and the other on the south side (left bank).
The panoramic road on the right bank
On the north side, the D952 connects Castellane to Lake Sainte Croix. It is the busiest but also the most beautiful, as it offers access to many panoramic views. The first is the Point Sublime, which lives up to its name!
But the road itself is also worth the detour, as its curves and rock arches give it a very special character… The road ends at Lake Sainte Croix, which gradually reveals itself as you emerge from the canyon. Awestruck wonder guaranteed!
Route des crêtes, one of the top spots to visit Gorges du Verdon
On the D952, a detour is essential at La Palud sur Verdon to follow the loop of the Route des Crêtes (D23). If you only have time for one road, this is the one! Be careful though, it can only be done in one direction, starting east and returning west. It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful roads in France, thanks to its many scenic viewpoints.
The view of the canyon, which is sometimes very narrow, gives you an idea of the immensity of the gorges and the verticality of the cliffs. In some places, there is a drop of almost 700 meters to the bottom! You will also probably be lucky enough to see many vultures flying overhead.
Some of the viewpoints are very close to each other, but I recommend stopping everywhere, as they all offer different and majestic views of the Gorges du Verdon. These green cliffs are sure to leave you with lasting memories!
The panoramic road on the left bank
On the south side, I also recommend taking the D71, which connects Trigance to Aiguines. It runs along the southern edge of the Verdon Gorge and is much less busy than the D952. The views here are also very beautiful, whether at the Balcons de la Mescla overlooking the Martel trail or at the Col d’Illoire.
Practical information: Scenic routes: North side: D952 from Castellane to Lake Sainte Croix and the D23 – loop from La Palud-sur-Verdon. South side: D71 from Trigance to Aiguines
STRAY IN MOUSTIERS-SAINTE-MARIE, A MUST-SEE VILLAGE TO VISIT GORGES DU VERDON
Another must-see in the Gorges du Verdon is Moustiers-Sainte-Marie! By now you know I love pretty villages… Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is no exception to the rule, quite the contrary! I was captivated by the beauty and charm of this village, nestled in the heart of the Verdon park and listed as one of the “most beautiful villages in France.”
The pretty streets of Moustiers
The first thing that strikes you when you arrive in Moustiers is the setting. Clinging to a majestic cliff, Moustiers is overlooked by a shining star hanging 200 meters above. It has been watching over the village for a long time!
Take the time to stroll through the pedestrian streets of Moustiers! The small village smells of Provence: the scent of lavender fills the streets and the sunny facades are enhanced by the old tiles that cover the roofs.
The maze of narrow streets offers the opportunity to discover beautiful fountains, shops selling faience (a local specialty), and a bird’s-eye view of the waterfall that runs through the village.
The Notre Dame de Beauvoir Chapel
Another unique feature of Moustiers is its charming chapel overlooking the village. Notre Dame de Beauvoir is wedged between the cliffs and can be reached on foot via high stone steps that are as smooth as they are ancient. Many people end up barefoot because they don’t have suitable shoes! But the breathtaking view throughout the climb rewards those brave enough to venture there.
On the way down, you can also stop at the Grotte Sainte Madeleine.
SWIM IN THE LAKE OF SAINTE-CROIX
You can’t visit Gorges du Verdon without admiring Lake Sainte Croix! Filled with water in the 1970s, it is an artificial lake famous for its turquoise water. I was truly amazed by its shades of color, which seem almost unreal.
I highly recommend driving around the lake. Take the time to stop at each viewpoint, as the panoramic views are incredible! Beautiful villages nestled on the lake shore reveal themselves as you drive along the road… The view of Bauduen is sublime, as is the village of Aiguines.
It’s easy to swim in the lake in summer: the temperature is just right and there are lots of beaches, although some are tiny. And despite the crowds, you can always find a spot to be alone!
Be sure to check out the small roads that lead down to the lake on a map, and finish the journey on foot if necessary. It’s worth it, if only for a peaceful picnic!
The other must-do activity on the lake is canoeing, which allows you to venture into the gorge from the Galetas bridge. However, I didn’t try it as the place was completely overrun last summer. I think everyone had decided to meet up around the bridge! It must be said that the view of the gorge’s exit is magnificent…
VISIT GORGES DU VERDON ON FOOT BY HIKING THE MARTEL TRAIL
I also recommend visiting the Gorges du Verdon on foot via the Blanc-Martel trail! This hike is quite challenging and subject to many conditions (see the “practical advice” section), but it’s well worth the effort! It allows you to discover the Gorges du Verdon from the inside, after admiring them from above.
Starting from the Maline chalet, you quickly descend to the bottom of the Gorges du Verdon. Then the trail continues to climb and descend back to the bed of the Verdon. This is why the hike is physically demanding: you are constantly going up and down.
At the edge of the river, the turquoise, crystal-clear water is mesmerizing. And in summer, the Verdon is often very calm, offering hikers a rare feeling of tranquility and communion with nature…
When you gain height, the landscape is just as magnificent, and you feel very small in the face of the immensity of these gorges! There are even a few dizzying passages, which offer a real visual shock (and thrills)!
I also loved this hike because it allows you to admire the cliffs up close. The whiteness of the stone is enhanced by the abundant vegetation that invades the entire canyon, creating a world that is as magical as it is hostile.
The hike ends with a rather unusual series of tunnels! In the middle of the tunnels, you can reach a small viewpoint carved into the cliff to admire the view of the canyon!
Practical information: Martel Trail: 15km, 600m elevation gain one way, from the Chalet de la Maline on the D23 to the Point Sublime car park in Rougon. Approximately 6.5 hours not including breaks for snacks/swimming/photography. Be sure to bring plenty of water (there are no places to buy supplies along the way and it gets very hot in summer), hiking boots (very slippery areas), a torch (there is no light in the long tunnel) and be in good physical condition.
Hiking route: https://www.altituderando.com/Grand-Canyon-du-Verdon-Sentier
Warning: even for experienced hikers, the Martel trail is very physically demanding and tough on the legs. Without wanting to scare anyone, just keep in mind that the only way out is to reach the end or be airlifted out—there is no other escape route! 😉
Therefore, it should be avoided by children (the trail is prohibited to children under 10), unless they are very experienced hikers, and also by those who are prone to vertigo, as the stairs halfway through are very impressive.
Shuttle: a shuttle leaves from La Palud sur Verdon and takes hikers to the Maline chalet and then back from the sublime viewpoint. However, in summer, they are very crowded and it is difficult to get on one (remember to queue well before the first one leaves). Find all the practical information about the shuttle here.
Another option is to talk to people in the queue and offer to park one car at the arrival point and another at the departure point (the D23 is two-way from La Palud to the Maline chalet, but it is difficult to park around the chalet), then do the hike together. This is what we did and it worked very well.
It gets very crowded in summer, but as everyone is at a different level, the crowd spreads out quite well as you progress along the trail.
OTHER IDEAS TO VISIT GORGES DU VERDON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA
– Basses Gorges du Verdon (20 minutes away): downstream from Lac de Sainte-Croix, the lower gorges are just as stunning as the ones everyone knows, but much less crowded. Don’t hesitate to explore them from Quinson if you come to visit Gorges du Verdon!
– Sillans Waterfall (30 minutes south of the lake): a magnificent waterfall on the edge of the Verdon Regional Natural Park, it is the same color as the water in Lake Sainte-Croix. Not to be missed in the region!
– Valensole (30 minutes away): if you visit Gorges du Verdon in summer, take a detour to the beautiful lavender fields of Valensole! Known throughout the world, they are the perfect way to extend your stay in Provence…
For more information or other ideas for things to do in the Gorges du Verdon, visit the Verdon Tourisme website.
You can also extend your stay to the east in the region of Grasse, the perfume capital, or to the west towards the Luberon, to discover the region of Sault and Gordes, the ochres of Provence and the villages of Vaucluse…
Find all my articles on the region to extend your stay in Provence!
Coming soon on La Marinière en Voyage…
A getaway in Haute-Garonne, discover the Beaujolais des Pierres Dorées, the most beautiful villages of the Puy-de-Dôme and many other places! So you don’t miss a thing, subscribe to the newsletter!
And if you also use Pinterest, follow me on this network: La Marinière en Voyage – and don’t forget to pin this article so you can find it easily!
