Gorges du Verdon: Everything You Need to Know About Exploring This Part of France with Kids

Gorges du Verdon is a beautiful gem in France that every family should visit. If you’re planning a trip to southern France, add it to your adventure list. 

Gorges du Verdon is the largest canyon in Europe and was formed by the Verdon River, which is named for its turquoise green colour that is so beautiful, it doesn’t even look real. 

When I booked our flights to Paris, I already knew I wanted to explore more of France. I was really interested in seeing more of France’s smaller villages and natural landscape.

So my family of six, which includes four kids, decided to roadtrip from Paris to Rome. 

I had a lot of stops on my list but the canyon was high at the top because of all of the beautiful photos I’ve seen of it. 

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Where is Gorges du Verdon located?

It’s located in southeastern France in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. 

It is inside of the Parc Naturel Regional du Verdon (Verdon Natural Regional Park). The park was established in 1997 and contains 46 communes in the Alpes de Haute Provence and Var departments. It is visited by over a million people per year.

Here’s a map of where it is located in France and Europe.

How do you get to Gorges du Verdon?

The best and fastest way to get there is by renting a car. Keep in mind you will need money for tolls. I remember using the card for most tolls. It’s not a bad idea to have some euro on you as well just in case. 

The closest airport is the Nice Côte d’Azur Airport. 

There is not way to get there strictly by bus or train without taking an additional taxi the rest of the way. 

We flew into Paris from Virginia, and road tripped  to the canyon from Paris, which is a nine hour drive. 

But it took us 18 hours because of all of the stops we wanted to make along the way.

In Paris, we rented a van from Enterprise at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. We stayed in Paris for 4 days exploring the city, learning to make macaroons and doing a photoshoot by Eiffel Tower, then we headed to our next stop.

We stopped in Riquewihr and Annecy in France and even explored Lucerne, Switzerland before making our way to Gorges du Verdon. Here’s what those stops look like on a map. So you can see we didn’t take a straight drive.

What towns are close to Gorges du Verdon?

Gorges du Verdon is about 2.5 hours from Nice, about 2 hours from Marseilles, and about an hour from Provence.

There are also smaller villages nearby, including:

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is 40 minutes away (27 km/17 miles). This medieval village is known for its earthenware and architecture, including the Notre-Dame du Roc chapel, the Roc bridge, and the Sacred Heart church.

Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon is an hour away (43 km/27 miles). This village has ancient streets, a view of the lake, beaches, and water sports.

Bauduen is about an hour away (55 km/34 miles). This charming village is on the shores of Lac de Sainte-Croix with gorgeous views and Provençal lake. 

Aiguines is 50 minutes away (38 km/24 miles). This village has a medieval castle, traditional wood crafts, and beautiful views of Lac de Sainte-Croix.

Sillans-la-Cascade is 90 minutes away (63.6 km/40 miles) has a waterfall that’s 42 m/137 ft tall. It has been called one of the most beautiful waterfalls in France.

If you’re going to be in the area for a while, check out some of these other charming destinations.

What activities are available at Gorges du Verdon?

There are so many things you can do once you reach the park and the canyon. 

Here are some of the activities:

• rafting 
• canyoning
• canoeing
• boating via paddle boat or electric boat
• hiking
• swimming
• rock climbing
• paragliding
• mountain biking

I really wanted to rent an electric boat to explore the canyon better and enjoy the views.

There are electic and paddle boats available for a fee.

What are popular hikes in Gorges du Verdon?

Hiking in the canyon is a beautiful experience. 

Here are some of the most well-loved and popular hikes near the canyon:

• Blanc-Martel Trail, 5 miles
• Sentier de l’Imbut, 5.5 miles
• Sentier du Bastidon, 6.1 miles
• Rancoumas Lookout, 4.5 miles

Why is the water so turquoise at Gorges du Verdon?

The Verdon River flows through the canyon with such a beautiful color. That’s why I believe riding through the canyon on a boat in the water is one of the best experiences. 

The river comes from the French Alps where glacial activity grates the limestone rock into tiny particles. These particles, called rock flour, are suspended in the water. When sunlight hits the river, the rock flour scatters it, which creates the gorgeous turquoise color.

What’s the best time of year to visit?

This is a summer destination. That’s the optimal time to do all of the activities available. This is also high season so it may be crowded. 

We visited in September and loved it. However, it was too cool for swimming. But the boat ride was perfect. So if you don’t mind cooler weather try visiting April-May or September-October.

What was your experience in Gordon du Verdon?

We arrived at about 11 am and immediately went to rent a motor boat for our family of 6. Unfortunately, it started to get cloudy, and all of the companies do not operate in the rain. So two of the companies would not rent us a boat.

We were so nervous. It’s tough driving 18 hours for an experience only to arrive and be told it’s not going to happen. 

We tried one more place, and he said he didn’t expect the rain for a few hours so he rented us his last 6 seater for two hours. The cost was about $140.

The boat was not difficult to drive at all. My husband did most of the work. But we all got a turn to drive the boat. My 13 year old even tried and did amazing. Th hardest part is being careful not to run in to other boats. Luckily, most people did a great job giving other boats plenty of space.

There’s also plenty of free parking and restrooms for €1 (one euro).

The best views looking down into the canyon are from the bridge right above the parking lot. Standing along the Verdon River provides some nice views too.

But the most beautiful views of Gorges du Verdon is even when you’re floating through the canyon. There are rock formations and cliffs on both sides of the canyon and majestic mountain views.

We went in the morning as it can get crowded. There were plenty of other boats in the water but it wasn’t too crowded.

As much as we love Paris, I was so happy to explore other areas in France, and fall in love with the whole country including Gorges du Verdon. 

Would visit Gorges du Verdon?