The Verdon Gorge
A limestone canyon with a lake at its mouth, 2 hours 54 from Paris to Aix by TGV and then 1 hour 45 by car.
The short version
- The fastest TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon reaches Aix-en-Provence TGV in 2 hours 54 minutes. From there, rent a car: Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is about 1 hour 45 minutes by road, and most of the buses into the Verdon run only in season.
- The Route des Crêtes, the rim road out of La Palud-sur-Verdon, is open from late March to late November. Its one-way section closes in winter because of frost.
- The Sentier Blanc-Martel runs along the floor of the gorge, 15 to 16 kilometers and about six hours, with two tunnels and 250 steps. A section near the Point Sublime is closed after a rockfall, and walkers detour by the road and the GR 49 path in about the same time.
- Boats go into the gorge from the Pont du Galetas only as far as the yellow buoys, and not at all when the wind is over 28 km/h. Canoes, pedal boats and paddle boards are rented on the lake beaches in season without booking.
- The Valensole plateau sits just west of the lake, and its lavender blooms from mid-June to mid-July. Our lavender page has the dates.
What to see
Start in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, a village set into a cleft in the cliffs and one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France. A star hangs on a 135-meter chain across the cleft, and 262 steps climb to the chapel of Notre-Dame de Beauvoir in the rock above. The faience museum costs €5, free under 16, and closes on Tuesday from April to October.
Go down to the Lac de Sainte-Croix. From the Pont du Galetas, paddle into the lower gorge as far as the yellow buoys, with life jackets compulsory. The dam turbines can start without warning and create currents. In July and August, swimming is supervised at Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon, Bauduen, Les Salles-sur-Verdon and the Galetas beach.
Drive the Route des Crêtes from La Palud-sur-Verdon, 24 kilometers with about fifteen viewpoints over the canyon. Go clockwise, starting 800 meters outside La Palud toward Castellane; the middle section is one-way, narrow and steep. Stop at the Point Sublime on the road toward Castellane.
Walk the Sentier Blanc-Martel from the Chalet de la Maline to the Point Sublime. One of its tunnels is 670 meters long, so bring a light, and carry three liters of water each. The trail is not for children under 8 or for dogs.
Getting there and around
Aix-en-Provence TGV is the closest station by road; Marseille Saint-Charles is 3 hours 3 minutes from Paris. By car, Moustiers is about 1 hour 45 from Aix, 2 hours from Marseille and 2 hours 15 from Nice.
Regional buses run in season: line 450 from Riez through Moustiers to Castellane, and line 51 from Nice to Digne through Castellane. In Moustiers, use the lower car parks in high season and pay with the Flowbird app.
The Blanc-Martel trail runs one way. A shuttle, booked online, takes walkers from La Palud to the Chalet de la Maline in the morning and back from the Point Sublime in the afternoon, and it stops after November 1. Otherwise you need a car at each end or a taxi booked ahead.
From Avignon, the Verdon is more than two hours by road. Our Best of Provence in Three Days drives through the Luberon, under an hour from Avignon, for Gordes and Roussillon, and our Provence Biking Trip spends two nights in Gordes.
When to go
For the Blanc-Martel trail, go April to June or September to October; the tourist office advises against July and August. July averages a high of about 29°C at Castellane.
Summer is the season for the lake, with boats to rent and lifeguards on the main beaches. Lavender blooms on the Valensole plateau from mid-June to mid-July, and our Provence Lavender Tour runs from Avignon July 6 to 25.
October and November are the wettest months, and winter nights fall to about −5°C. The Route des Crêtes closes in late November and the trail can be icy. Moustiers holds its Diane festival from August 31 to September 8, and in Aups the Thursday black-truffle market runs from November 26, 2026 to March 25, 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get from Paris to the Verdon Gorge?
Take the TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to Aix-en-Provence TGV, 2 hours 54 at the fastest, and rent a car. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is about 1 hour 45 from Aix.
Can you rent a boat in the Verdon Gorge?
Yes, in season, on the beaches of the Lac de Sainte-Croix near the Pont du Galetas, without booking. You can paddle into the gorge as far as the yellow buoys, but not when the wind is over 28 km/h.
Is the Sentier Blanc-Martel open?
Mostly. A section near the Point Sublime is closed after a rockfall, and walkers detour by the road and the GR 49 path without adding time. The shuttle between the two ends stops after November 1.
Can I combine the Verdon with the lavender?
Yes. The Valensole plateau sits just west of the Lac de Sainte-Croix, and Moustiers is about 35 minutes from Valensole. The lavender there blooms from mid-June to mid-July, and the cut usually starts around mid-July, earlier in a hot year.
Is there a tour I can add?
Yes, around Avignon. Our Best of Provence in Three Days, $1,925, covers Gordes, Roussillon, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, Saint-Rémy, the Pont du Gard and Les Baux in one day, plus the Châteauneuf cellars. In July, our Provence Lavender Tour, $160, goes to Sault, Gordes and the lavender at Sénanque Abbey, eight guests at most.
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