3 days in the Gorges du Verdon

Let's get straight to the heart of the matter: if the Gorges du Verdon are reputed to be one of the most beautiful natural sites in France, it's above all for its grand canyon, which is quite simply impressive. That's why we're devoting this first day in the Verdon region entirely to it. Set down your bags in La Palud-sur-Verdon, a village that comes alive in summer and is reputed to be the 'capital' of the gorges. Here you'll find a host of sporting activities taking place in the Verdon canyon: canyoning, rafting, climbing...

But it's another activity that we'll be choosing to immerse ourselves in the world of the Gorges du Verdon: hiking. From La Palud, the Navette Blanc Martel drops us off at the Chalet de la Maline, on the famous Route des Crêtes: the scenery is already breathtaking! This is the start of the most beautiful hiking route in the Gorges du Verdon: the Blanc Martel trail. Start early in the morning to take advantage of the cooler temperatures. For the next six hours, you'll be walking through the spectacular scenery of the grand canyon: remember to take good walking shoes as well as a camera!

The well-marked trail ends with an exclamation point at the Point Sublime, a superb viewpoint over the Gorges du Verdon and the Samson couloir: this is where you realise just how far you've come, and the incredible setting in which the hike takes place! The shuttle bus will take you back to La Palud. If you're feeling motivated, a short trip to Rougon, a tiny Provençal village just 20 minutes away, is well worth the diversions to round off the day with a flight of griffon vultures...

Where to stay nearby?

⭐ Hotel Le Panoramic

This morning, a splendid road route awaits us after breakfast. Rather than taking the shortest route, we take the D952 towards Rougon and then Castellane, before turning off at Pont de Soleils and crossing the course of the Verdon.

Now on the left bank, reputed to be wilder, the aim will be to follow the Corniche Sublime, the other beautiful road route through the Gorges du Verdon. On the way, take the time to stop off at some of the must-see sites along the way: the village of Trigance, the Artuby bridge, the Mescla balconies, and many other viewpoints overlooking the grand canyon... As you reach Aiguines, the scenery changes: you'll appreciate the unobstructed view of Lake Sainte-Croix, a large artificial reservoir with azure-blue waters, the centrepiece of the afternoon's programme.

Once you have crossed the Galetas bridge, behind which rise the Hautes Gorges du Verdon, you can head down to the banks of the lake in search of a beach for a refreshing dip in the water. A number of water sports centres offer kayaks, pedalos and small electric boats for hire, so you can cruise on the Lac de Sainte-Croix and cross the 'gateway' to the grand canyon (downstream of the lake). It's another way of approaching the Gorges du Verdon, and just as spectacular!

At the end of the day, there's not much road left for our next stop: Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. This typically Provençal village, one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France, has lived up to its reputation! A charming setting for our second night in the Verdon region.

Where to stay nearby?

⭐ Hotel Les Restanques De Moustiers

From Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, the next step is obvious: at the foot of the village lies the Valensole plateau, famous for its exceptional lavender-growing landscapes. From mid-June to August, the lavender fields are in full bloom!

Along the way, be sure to stop off at a traditional lavender distillery: lavender essential oil, Marseille soap, lavender honey - there's always a fragrant souvenir to take home. A number of unspoilt villages mark the route to the Valensole plateau: Riez and its ancient heritage, Allemagne-en-Provence and its castle, or the peaceful Saint-Martin-de-Brômes... It's here that we branch off to reach our goal for the second part of the day: Esparron-de-Verdon.

Esparron-de-Verdon is a hilltop village with a long history, as evidenced by its 12th-century castle. But in high season, it also takes on the air of a seaside resort: the Lac d'Esparron, which borders the village, is the pretext for a host of activities linked to the water, which here is soft and transparent.

Also an artificial reservoir on the course of the Verdon, the Lac d'Esparron is dotted with pleasant little beaches and several water sports centres: you'll be delighted to take to the quieter waters of the Basses Gorges du Verdon, which you can climb as far as Quinson. This is a superb unspoilt natural setting, in a corner of the Verdon that is still wild and less frequented than the Grand Canyon... Spend the evening in Esparron-de-Verdon, a lively town in summer, and start thinking about the programme for your next stay in the Gorges du Verdon.

Where to stay nearby?

⭐ Château d'Esparron