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

• Arrival on your own in the small village of La palud sur Verdon. A base camp for climbing enthusiasts, La Palud-sur-Verdon is a pretty, unspoilt village in the heart of the canyon. Village life revolves around its two atmospheric bars. Stroll through the charming village streets. The Castle of La Palud is home to the Maison des Gorges du Verdon, an eco-museum dedicated to the gorges and their natural riches.
• Night in La Palud
  
  
• We recommend : 
  . Have an extra pre-tour night in Aix en Provence,  a beautiful city of art & culture

• Walk - La Maline > la Palud 
  . 6h 30 - Ascent: +950 m / Descent: -950 m
  . Important : a 400m ascent with altitude difference that requires training.
• After breakfast, short transfer to the start of your hike from La Maline.  Today you see the huge contrast between the gorges, the garrigue and the Barbin forest. You follow the Bastidon path, high above the Verdon Grand Canyon overlooking the gorges some  700m below. From the Belvedere de Mayreste, the second part of the trail is more sporty and goes up the Brusc ravine to reach the Barbin plateau before heading down to the small village of La Palud.
• Night in La Palud
• MEALS included: Breakfast 
  
  

• 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

• Morning transfer to La Palud. Today you can choose betwwen 2  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

• Walk - La Maline > Point Sublime
  7 hours - Ascent: +900 m / Descent: -800 m
• Picnic included
• Transfer to La maline. Today you are embarking on a must-see hike through the cliffs of the "Verdon Grand Canyon".  Named after Edouard Alfred Martel, who was the first to explore the Grand Canyon in 1905, the Blanc-Martel trail is probably the most famous hiking route in the Verdon. You descend into the Gorges and follow the course of the river to the Point Sublime.
  Along the way you encounter the Brèche Imbert, six metal ladders with a total of 252 steps that facilitate the steep descent of this difficult part of the trail (difficult for hikers prone to vertigo). You go through the tunnels of Trescaire and Baou (torch or headlamp and warm jacket required), through walkways and on stairs. It is a long but superb and unforgettable experience! 
• Night in Point Sublime.
• MEALS included: Breakfast & Picnic & Dinner
  
  
• Important :
  1.    This hike, although very well equipped and secure, is to be avoided if you are afraid of heights. Not recommended either for children under 8 years old. It is a rocky and steep terrain, with technical installations (metal stairs, handrails, tunnels - head lamps and sweaters required). Plan a minimum of 3 litres of  water/person
  2.    Swimming in the Verdon is prohibited for 2 reasons :  the river is dangerous and because of the EDF (electricity firm) releasing high pressure water. During the season, EDF have fixed days (usually Tuesdays and Fridays) where they can release the water - but this can change depending on electricity needs and/or weather conditions. The gorges are also used for water sports such as rafting. For safe swimming, you can enjoy the lakes in Sainte Croix and Castillon, with beaches and nautical bases. 

• Walk - Point Sublime > Trigance
  5 hours - Ascent: +650 m / Descent: -900 m
• 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 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 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 contains 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
  
  
• Important:
  . If you are accompanied by children or people prone to dizziness, you will need to be extremely careful as this is a natural lookout without a safety barrier and a sheer drop. 
  . People who are sensitive to vertigo will also need to take precautions and hang back.

• Transfer to La Palud after breakfast. End of the trip 
• MEALS included: Breakfast 
  
  

. A very good level of fitness is required, expect to walk 5-7 hours per day not including lunch stops and with an elevation gain of +/-950m.
. You have to be comfortable with walking on steep mountainous terrain.
. You have to be sure-footed on mountain paths and have a good head for heights.
. You need good walking boots throughout the trip.
. The hikes take place on good paths for the most part, although they are sometimes steep and rocky in nature with some loose limestone. In addition, on the sections in the gorge you will encounter steps, tunnels, metal ladders and bridges.
. There are steep ascents/descents, sometimes in hot weather.
. We have chosen to grade the walking holiday difficult with a challenging notion largely due to the nature of the trail itself rather than the elevation gain or distance each day.
. It is NOT suitable for those suffering from vertigo.

• Access to / from La palud
  From Aix en provence 
  . Bus from Aix centre to Riez.
  . Then From Riez : Bus to La Palud ( Bus LER27 + B21) OR we can arrange an extra transfer to La Palud  ( 45 mn)
  . We can also arrange a direct transfer from Aix to La Palaud ( 1h45 )
  From Nice
  . Bus line from Nice to Castellane ( Bus LER 31) + Bus castellane / La Palaud 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 La Palud