THE GORGES OF VERDON self-guided

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6 days 6 days
Self-guided Self-guided
With baggage transport With baggage transport
Accommodation Comfort (room)
Level *** Level ***
From 530 € From 530 €

In the heart of the most beautiful canyon of France!

It is a territory cut between Alps and Provence, articulated around the Verdon river; it is also a subtle mixture of scrubland and forests, summits and desert plateaus. Located in the Verdon Regional Natural Park and in the Geological Reserve of Haute Provence, the hike crosses a wild country animated by its gorges and its small villages perched on the edge of cliffs or lost in the hollow of wild valleys: Castellane, Blieux, Rougon, la Palud... The landscapes are sculpted by geological fractures and the fury of the waters.
By panoramic ridge paths or by the bottom of the gorges along the river, the itinerary explores this natural park and the gorges that make its reputation.
Along the Martel trail, balconies, caves, belvederes, tunnels follow one another in a fairy-tale place dominated by immense walls with grey-orange tones. In the past, only a few courageous men knew how to go and look for the Buis and honey in these 700 meters deep meanders.

You will like

  • The spectacular and unique great canyon of Verdon, the deeper in Europe, and its river with green reflections
  • Awesome viewpoints and crossing of the famous Sentier Martel, in the memory of the first explorer of the canyon.

THE GORGES OF VERDON self-guided

From 530 €

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Hike details

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Dates & prices

DEPARTURES AND PRICES

Departures from May to October 2022, 6-day comfort tour (5 nights in half-board, in **hotel or gîte, in rooms of 2/3 people).

Without luggage transport: 530€ per person

With luggage transport:
For 2/3 people: 740€ per person
For 4/5 people: 640€ per person
For 6 persons and more: 595€ per person

In option: the taxi transfer days 2, 3 and 4 and the transfer the last day from La Pallud to Moustiers Sainte Marie:
- 170€ for the group, 1 to 4 people
- 230€ for the group, 5 to 8 people

In option, possibility to sleep in the ***hotel of Gorges de Verdon  in La Palud with spa, in the medieval castle of Trigance and in a hotel with pool in Castellane. Contact us.

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THE PRICE

Includes : 

  • Half-board from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the last day;
  • Accommodation in refuges and hotels, in rooms for 2/3 people;
  • The road book: description and IGN maps (1 complete road book for 1 to 4 people, additional file from 5 people. Additional file: supplement of 10 to 25€);
  • Daily transport of luggage between the accommodations, if you have chosen this option;
  • Taxi transfers of days 2, 3, 4 and the last day, if you have chosen this option;
  • Organisational costs and tourist taxes.

Does not include :

  • Picnics at lunchtime;
  • Personal expenses (drinks, visits...);
  • The journey from your home to the reception area and back;
  • Cancellation assistance insurance 4.2% of the price of the stay.

The rate is all inclusive from the meeting point to the point of dispersion.

L’itinéraire jour après jour...

Day 1

MOUSTIERS SAINTE MARIE – LA PALLUD
Departure from the protected village of Moustiers. The path goes up to the ridge until the Col de Plein Voir. First viewpoint on the south of the park and lac de Sainte Croix. The path continues in the ridge before the descent on the beautiful village of La Palud. Night in a lodge.
6h walk / Elevation: +950m - 700m 15 km

Day 2

SENTIER BLANC MARTEL
Little transfer to La Maline, departure of the hike and then descent to the river. The itinerary crosses well-named places: the couloir (corridor) Samson, the Escales cliff, the Défilé des Baumes, the sublim point... Viewpoints, stairs and tunnels succed along the day. Little ascent at the end of the stage to the Auberge Sublime. Night in the lodge.
5h30 walk / Elevation: +700m - 800m 12 km

Day 3

TRIGANCE - CASTELLANE
Return along the Verdon, that we leave quickly. A little orientation time allows to discover the belvedere of Rancoumas, for a point of view on the gorges. Crossing over the village of Trigance, dominated by a beautiful castle. Descent to the Carajuan bridge, above the Jabron gorges. Possible detour to the small bridge of Sautet for the view on the limestone meanders of the Jabron. At the Carajuan bridge, transfer by a local bus to Castellane (16km), a pleasant little southern town.
5h30 walk / Elevation: +700m - 950m 15km

Day 4

CADIERES DE BRANDIS
Taxi transfer to the Col de Lèques above Castellane (10km) (optional). Arrival on the rocky ridge after the ascent in a forest of oaks and scots pines, at Cadières de Brandis, a remarkable ruinous site that deserves a short stop. The ascent continues on a wild ridge, up to the summit (1741m) revealing a wide panorama of gorges and valleys. Descent to Colle Basse, then in the valley towards the small village of Blieux, lost in a beautiful valley. Possibility to hike from Castellane to Colle Basse by the Roman way without transfer. Night in a gite.
6h00 walk / Elevation: +800m - 950m 11 km

Day 5

BLIEUX - ROUGON
Ascent to the passage de la Prau, between the Mourre de Chanier (1930m) and the Traversières ridge. Ascent (optional) on the beautiful crest of the Mourre, from with the wild landscape before to join the Prau then the doline of Suech. Descent to the Village of Rougon, for a night in a gîte, under the flight of the vultures which return to the fold!
4h30 walk / Elevation: +750m - 700m 12 km
2h00 walk / Elevation: +450m - 450m 3 km for the summit of Mourre

Day 6

ROUGON - LA PALLUD
Departure by the champetre path and stop at the Bergerie de Faucon for a little visit of the animals reserve before to reach La Palud at the end of the morning.
3h walk / Elevation: +280m - 220m 6 km

End of the trip around 12h in La Pallud. Transfer to Moustiers with a local bus (17km).

The trip

LEVEL ***

Height difference : +/- 550m to 900m
Walking time : 4h to 6h30 per day
Type of walk : mountain route with no particular technical difficulty. Some passages with requiring a sure footing with cables and scales the day 2. One passage on a ridge unmarked.

ROAD BOOK

Before departure, we will give you a travel pack containing

  • 2 IGN TOP 25 maps with the route
  • 1 road-book with all the necessary information for the hike
  • 1 map holder
  • The list of accommodation

LUGGAGE TRANSPORT

Two options:
Without luggage transport: all your luggage is carried by you.
With luggage transport: your luggage is transported to your accommodation each day by a logistics vehicle.

ACCOMMODATION

COMFORT :
2 nights in a hotel or gîte in a room for 2/3 people,

All accommodation is equipped with hot showers.

THE MEALS

Breakfasts and dinners are provided in each accommodation.
Picnics are not included and can be ordered the day before in each accommodation. 

Practical information

ACCESS TO THE STARTING POINT

Start of the hike in Moustiers St Marie.

BY TRAIN
From the SNCF train stations of Geneva, Grenoble, Nice and Marseille and then bus to Moustiers. https://www.moustiers.fr/fr/acces.
All train timetables should be checked with Sncf.

CLIMATE
Southern Alps, dry and hot in summer, sweet in automn and spring, but maybe with a violent wind: the Mistral.

CONTACT US

If you are late, contact the agency: +33 (0)4 50 79 09 16 or +33 (0)6 42 49 76 07

Equipment & baggage

EQUIPMENT

Clothing

  • Hiking trousers
  • Shorts (1 swimming costume just in case)
  • Breathable" or merino wool T-shirts
  • Breathable" or merino wool long johns
  • Fleece or jumper
  • Windbreaker or Goretex jacket
  • Rain cape + gaiters or Goretex trousers + a bag cape
  • A pair of gloves and a light hat
  • Hat or cap
  • Hiking socks (double layer, with loops...1 pair per day)
  • Hiking shoes already broken in and with well-spiked soles
  • 1 change of clothes for the evening
  • A change of shoes for the evening

Miscellaneous equipment

  • Toilet bag
  • Towel (quick-drying, available in specialist shops)
  • Sunglasses and sun cream
  • Water bottle or thermos (1.5 litre minimum)
  • Knife and cutlery
  • An airtight plastic box as a plate for your picnics
  • Coffee cup
  • Small personal first aid kit (painkillers, bandages, etc.)
  • Survival blanket
  • Headlamp or torch
  • A sheet and a pillowcase (the gîtes provide blankets)
  • Two telescopic poles (highly recommended)
  • Valid identity card or passport

BACKPACK

A comfortable 30-40 litre rucksack for your day's belongings (warm clothing, rain cape, water bottle, picnic box and cutlery, sun protection and identity papers) and some space for a picnic and snacks.

LUGGAGE TRANSPORT

Your luggage is transported by a logistics vehicle from stage to stage. Your change of clothes should be grouped in one soft bag not exceeding 10kg! We particularly insist on the size and weight of your luggage: during your tour, it is handled by a driver several times a day (please think about their backs!) to be transported to refuges whose access is not always easy. 

Use one piece of luggage per person, as grouping the belongings of two people in a single container generally results in excessive weight. It is better to have two 10kg bags than one 20kg bag!

Beware, luggage that is too heavy or too large will not be taken in charge by the drivers!

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