Visiting Gorges du Verdon

Gorges du Verdon, often referred to as Europe’s Grand Canyon, is one of the most incredible natural sites in France. The dramatic limestone cliffs, the emerald green Verdon River, and Lake of Sainte-Croix form a picturesque landscape that you will not want to miss. The Gorge is only 10 minutes drive from the lovely Moustiers Sainte Marie village.

As a fun fact, Gorges du Verdon is one of the largest canyons in Europe. The Verdon River flows through the Gorge for about 16 miles and then enters into the man-made yet still gorgeous lake, Lake Sainte-Croix. The area was once under the water 250 millions years ago but as plates shifted and the Alps were created, so was the beautiful Gorges du Verdon.

If I would describe Grand Canyon as Hulk Hogan, then the Gorges du Verson is like a Coco Chanel. Elegant, slender and classy. Traveling here gives you a chance to explore the diverse landscape of Provence, France. There are so many activities to do in the Gorges du Verdon. If you are around the Provence region, such as Aix-en-Provence and Valensole, or can at least spare a day making a trip from Nice, surely come here to visit!

Top Things To Do In Gorges du Verdon

View Point – Pont du Galetas

Pont du Galetas is a bridge that is famous for its breathtaking overlooking view of Gorges du Verdon and the nearby tranquil Lake Sainte-Croix.

After a morning of renting car fiasco in Nice, Ken and I finally made it to the Gorges du Verdon in the afternoon. We bookmarked “Pont du Galetas” and that took us directly to the bridge right on top with views of emerald green color of Lake Sainte Croix and the Gorges du Verdon. As soon as I saw the beautiful scenery, I was so thrilled and ready to jump right into the water if not for my husband to hold me back into sanity.

*Note – DO NOT use google map destination of “Verdon Gorge”, I repeat, DO NOT use “Verdon Gorge” as a destination point on google map as it will take you to somewhere else.

No matter what activities you plan to do in the Gorges du Verdon, you should definitely stop by the bridge to admire the stunning view. There are a few car parks (parking spots) right on the bridge and most people do a quick stop so it is very easy and safe to get out of your car and snap some instagram-ready photos.

Kayaking/Paddling on the Verdon River

On both sides of the riverbank, there are boat rental places and they have several rental options: kayak, canoe, paddle boat or electric boat. This is the best way to capture a nice view of the Gorges du Verdon from below. As you are gliding through the turquoise water and seeing the gorges from below, you will find a great sense of serenity.

This is definitely not a touristic trap. I saw a lot of the local people coming here with only their swimming suit. Although there were many people, everyone was so polite, we did not feel congested.

Once we parked our car, we went for the closest rental place on one of the riverbanks call Base de l’Etoile. At first, we wanted to do the electric boat since we had a long drive from Nice, but they ran out of the electric boat and directed us to go to the other side of the riverbank if we wanted to hire an electric boat. We did not want to drive back up and down to the other side and rented the pedal boat which is the best decision we made.

The pedal boat was so easy to maneuver and spacious for the two of us. It was €20 for 1 hour and €40 for 2 hours. We did the 2 hours which was more than enough time to enjoy the Verdon River and the Gorge itself. As we paddled leisurely through the Gorge, we were able to take a good glance of the formation of caves, waterfalls and small beaches along the water path of the Gorge. From time to time, we docked our boat along the riverbank taking shade under the cliff rocks and took a nap while listening to the sounds of the birds echoing within the Gorge which are like music to the ear.

If you are renting the canoe or kayak, there is floating bucket with close lid that you can use to put your belongs to keep them dry. Pretty neat.

Pricing for Rental:

Canoes : 2-3 people: €20 for 1 hour / €40 for 2 hours
Kayaks Solo : €10 for 1 hour / €20 for 2 hours
Kayaks Double : €20 for 1 hour / €40 for 2 hours

Enjoying the Beach and Swim at Gorges du Verdon

It was a love at first sight for me and the Gorges. As soon as it met my eyes, I fell in love. I mean what is not to love about the turquoise water glittering in the sun. On a hot summer day, a good swim in Gorge is to die for. However, just be aware that the water temperature of the 50 miles long Gorge changes dramatically, and some of the areas are not allowed for swimming for protection reason. The closest beach is Plage du Galeta near the bridge, which makes it very accessible, or you can have a dip in the water while paddling/kayaking!

Walking and Hiking Adventures

For those who are adventurous at heart, the Gorges du Verdon has many hiking trails for different levels, so not only can people see the gorges from the water below but also the land above. Two popular trails are: (1) Lower Gorges du Verdon trail, moderate level and takes about 3.5 hours, and (2) Sentier Blanc-Martel trail, hard level and takes about 6 hours. Occasionally, you will also see adrenaline seekers rock jumping from the limestone cliffs.

HOW TO GET TO GORGES DU VERDON

By Car

There is no public transportation to get to this gorgeous Gorge, the only mode of transportation is by car. The Gorge is only 10 minutes drive from Moustiers Sainte Marie, making it a perfect combo to experience a taste of the Provence countryside.

Distance from Gorges du Verdon
137 km (85.1 mi) to Nice – 2 hour 4 min drive (via A8)
107 km (66.5 mi) to Aix-en-Provence – 1 hour 30 min drive (via A51)
138 km (85.7 mi) to Marseille – 1 hour 50 min drive (via A51)

By Group Tour

For those without a car, Gorges du Verdon is still accessible if you sign up one of these tours and you can get a nice view of the Gorge.

Summary

To be honest, I like the Gorges du Verdon much better compared to Grand Canyon even though it is smaller in size and grandness. No matter which angle I look, it is picture perfect. I feel like I can spend the whole day doing nothing inside the Gorge. So this wraps up my “Hidden Gems Inside the Mountain” series. If you have not already yet, please do check out part I of my post on the nearby Moustiers Sainte Marie as well.