A hidden gem of a gorge on the Verdon river
Half-day
Far from overcrowded places, your hiking guide will lead you to a spot that you could not find by yourself : come and enjoy the peace and quiet of a trail that is not on the walking routes apps. The opening of this trail in the 1980’s by potholers allowed them to get access to caves near the Verdon river.
Walking time : 2.5 hours (out and back)
Rating : leisurely
Season calendar : year-round (summer : 9am – 12am only)
If you have a fear of heights, you had better choose another hike.
Pretty Basses Gorges du Verdon
Half-day
Hiking in Gorges du Verdon doesn’t necessarily mean that you walk in the Grand Canyon. Located 15 miles downstream, Basses Gorges du Verdon, though a little bit less dramatic than the latter, offers no less wild and beautiful landscapes. And its access is easier : only a good hour drive from Aix-en-Provence.
All along the trail, under the leadership of your local guide, you can enjoy a lot of superb views over the emerald waters of the river : this splendid route, running alongside the river thanks to footbridges and passages carved in the rock, leads to the Chapelle Sainte-Maxime. This chapel stands up on a rocky spur overlooking the gorge.
A really lovely walk in the heart of Haute Provence.
Walking time : 3 hours
Rating : leisurely
Season calendar : year-round (summer : 9am – 12am only)
The Imbut trail: what a scenic hike
in the Verdon Gorge!
Half-day or Full day
Equidistant from Marseille and Nice, in the midst of Provence hinterland, South of France, Gorges du Verdon is the most grandiose canyon in Europe, offering several beautiful day hikes. Following the river as close as possible, the Imbut trail offers spectacular views of the Verdon river’s colored waters, either turquoise blue or emerald green. During the first section of the walk, your local expert guide takes you down to the bottom of the gorge. The next hour, alongside the river, definitely brings you real joy. Some stretches of the trail may be challenging for inexperienced hikers : a three-foot-wide platform has been cut up in the rock over the canyon waters and cables or supportive railings attached to the rock face to cling to. But, as our route is a return trip, we can decide the moment when we start retracing our steps.
TRAIL TEMPORARILY CLOSED
Walking time : from 3 to 4.5 hours (out-and-back)
Rating : from moderate to challenging (steep slopes and impressive sections)
Season calendar : 1/1 – 6/30 & 9/1 – 12/31
If you have a fear of heights, you had better choose another hike.
The Blanc-Martel trail in the Verdon Gorge
Full Day
Sentier Blanc-Martel is the most prestigious trail among all those running through the Grand Canyon of Verdon and one of France’s most popular ones. That’s probably because it descends from the rim of the canyon 300 meters (1,000 feet) down the deepest gorge. Hikers are offered the chance to explore the bed of the river for more than 5 hours.
Sticking to the bottom of the canyon during most of the walk, the trail follows the Verdon river very closely. It provides beautiful views of the emerald-green waters then, contrasting with the grey rocks, especially in the narrows. Throughout this fabulous hike, you discover an amazing biodiversity, from the most common to the rarest species of wildflowers. Your local guide will be glad to tell you about them. You also get opportunities to observe several of the 400 large griffon vultures nesting in Gorges du Verdon. This raptor species has been back for 20 years now, thanks to the reintroduction of several dozens of individuals between 1999 and 2005.
The Blanc-Martel trail is a must for someone walking in Provence !
Walking time : 6 hours (point-to-point)
Rating : challenging
Season calendar : 1/1 – 6/30 & 9/1 – 12/31