About the Hiking in the Verdon gorges, Europe's grand canyon - Moderate trip

• You arrive on your own to the little village of Moustiers, start of your trip.
  Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is one of the most charming villages of Provence, famous for its pottery. The Roman road of Moustiers remained the only means of communication between Castellane and Moustiers until the 19th century. Don't miss the Pottery Museum, and its numerous workshops in the streets of the village.
• Night in Moustiers
  
  
• We recommend : 
  . Have an extra pre-tour night in Aix en Provence,  a beautiful city of art & culture

• Walk 1 - Moustiers > Chapelle Notre Dame de Beauvoir >Moustiers
  1h out and back
  When you arrive in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, you  can't help but be captivated by its chapel, visible between the two cliffs overlooking the village. Built between the 12th and 16th centuries, it was listed as a historic monument in 1921. It is partly Romanesque and partly Gothic. The chapel is well known for its "suscitations". In the 17th century, stillborn babies were baptized in the chapel and raised to heaven.
• Walk 2 - Moustiers > Belvedere du Treguier> Moustiers ( out and back )  
  2 hours / 2h30  -  5 km - Ascent: +130 m / Descent: -130 m
  You start your trip with an easy panoramic hike above Moustiers.
  The trail starts in front of the Sainte-Anne chapel, dating from the 12th century. You walk along the limestone cliffs of the surrounding area of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie before entering the forest. This hike offers a beautiful view of the restanques (from the Provençal word "restanco"): dry stone terraces planted with olive trees. You walk in landscapes of brooms and oaks. On the way, you follow the botanical path of Tréguier and discover the different plant species of the area.
  The gorges of the Verdon are a paradise for birdwatching enthusiasts: griffon vultures, golden eagles, peregrine falcons...
  At the belvedere, on a rocky peak, you have a 360°C panorama: a breathatking view of the Sainte-Croix lake, the valley and the surrounding cliffs ! You walk your way back to Moustiers.
• Night in Moustiers
• MEALS included: Breakfast

• Spend the afternoon by the lake sainte croix !
  You can also add an extra night in Moustiers
  
  
• Walk & swim by the lovely village of  Sainte Croix du Verdon by the lake  
  . You can rent an Ebike ( 14 km one way, +230m/320m) and have a beautiful ride through lavender fields all the way to the village of Sainte croix du verdon.
  OR have a transfer to Sainte Croix
  . You enjoy the lovely village, the beach and you can complete an extra easy walk 
  . Walk - Saintes Croix du Verdon > walk on the "mule track" > Saintes Croix du Verdon
  2 hours  -  5km - Ascent: +170m / Descent: -170m
  An easy hike along the lake of Sainte Croix, via the famous "mule track" through fields of wheat and lavandin.
• Rent a kayak or a pedal boats for 2 hours at the entrance of the Gorges, and enter the Verdon gorges
  . 1 kayak for 2 pers - Pedal boats for 5 pers
  . Transfer to the kayak base return + kayak / Pedal boat renting - From 70 €uros /  person 

• Morning transfer to La Palud. Today you have 2 optional walks to combine before/after the walk La Palaud >Point sublime :
  . 1 optional loop walk from La palud
  . 1  optional loop walk from Point Sublime 
• Walk option 1 - La Palud > Tour du Barbin > La Palud
  3h30 - 11 km -  Ascent: +580m / Descent: - 580m
• Walk - La Palud > Point Sublime
  2h20 - 7 km - Ascent: +260m / Descent: - 432m
  After a rather steep climb, you can discover hundred-year-old oaks and beech trees as well as other plant species before admiring the gorges seen from above and the village of La Palud sur Verdon. You continue on the "Baou path" between cliffs and ravines to Rougon, a village dominating the Gorges, the ideal location for bird watching, especially vultures.
• Walk option 2 - Point Sublime >  Samson Corridor > Point Sublime
  . 2h30 - 5km - Ascent: +600m / Descent: -600m
  . Don't forget your flashlight and a small jacket: it's cool in the tunnels!
  You walk down to the entrance to the Verdon Gorge. First you pass the Point Sublime, one of the most impressive sites in the gorges. You then take a beautiful descent to the Samson corridor : as you go down, you can hear the Verdon River more and more, until you see its beautiful turquoise river. Finally, you discover the entrance to the Gorges du Verdon canyon that leads through the tunnels of the entrance of the famous "sentier Martel": you go towards the Samson corridor  carved out of the rock, and enter inside! You explore the tunnels and its 2 windows  carved into the rock  with magnificent views of the Verdon canyon and its breathtaking cliffs. You then walk back to Point sublime by a different trail
• Dinner included and night in Point Sublime.
• MEALS included: Breakfast & Dinner
  
  
• Market on Sunday morning in La Palud

• Ride - La Palud > Route des Cretes > La Palud
  24km = 2h30 ride - Ascent : +650m / Descent -650m
• Have an extra night and ride with an Ebike the the unmissable "route des crêtes" ( Crest road). The loop ride is a 24km panoramic road starting in La Palud sur Verdon. It takes you through a circuit covering the crests of the Grand Canyon on heights up to 700 meters !
  During your bike ride you will discover 14 Belvederes which will reveal the mythical cliffs of the Verdon and offer unforgettable viewpoints on the Grand Canyon.
  Look out for local fauna (vultures, chamois, foxes...), or meet some climbers who ascend these splendid, vertiginous cliffs.
• See the supplement for the bike rental in the "extension section" - Extra night upon request

• Walk - Point Sublime > Trigance
  . 5h- Ascent: +650m / Descent: -900m
  . If you suffer from severe fear of heights, please contact us to get more information about the tour. There is no real danger, however the "belvedere of Rancoumas" is not safety equipped. A small natural parapet allows you to appreciate the view on the gorges (the sheer drop is immediate without barriers): people sensitive to vertigo should not go.
• Picnic included
• Today’s hike takes you over the Verdon’s riverbed via an ancient Roman bridge.  Once you pass the left bank, you head up to the hamlet of Entreverges. When you arrive at the spectacular Rancoumas lookout, nestled at an altitude of 981 metres, you will discover a natural ramp overlooking the Verdon allowing you to fully enjoy a plunging view of the Verdon River which flows several hundred metres below. You follow the cliff to Trigance, a typical Provencal village dominated by a beautiful feudal building with four towers dating back to the 11th century. It houses historical treasures and can be visited.  You can also take a tour of the botanical trail that allows you to discover the flora of the Var highlands.
• Night in Trigance
• MEALS included: Breakfast & Picnic 

• After breakfast, transfer to Point sublime. End of the trip 

Please note :

. If you suffer from severe fear of heights, please contact us to get more information about the tour. 
There is no real danger, however the "belvedere of Rancoumas" is not safety equipped. A small natural parapet allows you to appreciate the view on the gorges (the sheer drop is immediate without barriers): people sensitive to vertigo should not go.
. You have to be comfortable with walking on a mountainous terrain.
. You need good walking boots throughout the trip.
. The hikes are on good paths for the most part, although they are sometimes steep and rocky in nature with some loose limestone. 

• Return 
  To Aix en Provence 
  . Bus Point sublime /  Riez 
  . From Riez : public bus to Aix en Provence OR private transfer
  To Nice
  . Bus to castellane and then bus Castellane /  Nice
  . From Castelanne, transfer to St André and train to Nice  (panoramic small historic train - Train des Pignes ) 

• Access to Moustiers
  From Aix en provence 
  . Bus from Aix centre to Riez.
  . Then From Riez : Bus to Moustiers ( Bus LER27 + B21) OR we can arrange an extra transfer to Moustiers (20mn)
  . We can also arrange a direct transfer from Aix to Moustiers ( 1h30 )
  From Nice
  . Bus line from Nice to Castellane ( Bus LER 31) + Bus castellane / Moustiers OR we can arrange an extra transfer
  . Train from Nice to Saint Andre des Alpes (panoramic small historic train - Train des Pignes ) and then extra transfer to Moustiers
  
  
• Return from Point Sublime
  To Aix en Provence 
  . Bus Point sublime /  Riez 
  . From Riez : public bus to Aix en Provence OR private transfer
  To Nice
  . Bus to castellane and then bus Castellane /  Nice
  . From Castelanne, transfer to St André and train to Nice  (panoramic small historic train - Train des Pignes )