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.

Meals included : none
Night : Moustiers

Short Walk 1 - 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 )  
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.

Walk :
. Walk 1 - Moustiers > Chapelle NDde Beauvoir >Moustiers - 1h out and back
. Walk 2 - Moustiers > Belvedere du Treguier> Moustiers ( out and back )  - 2h30 | 7 km - 4 miles | +130m / -130m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Moustiers

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 and enjoy the lovely village, the beach and you can complete an extra easy walk 

. Walk option - An easy hike along the lake of Sainte Croix, via the famous "mule track" through fields of wheat and lavandin.
Walk : Saintes Croix  > the "mule track" > Saintes Croix  - 1h out and back

. You can also 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 ( can not be booked in advance ) 
Transfer to the kayak base return + kayak / Pedal boat renting - From 70 €uros /  person 

Today you have a walk from La Palud to Point Sublime, and then you have a second loop walk from Point Sublime. Morning transfer to La Palud. 
. Walk : Starting from la Palud, 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. 
Once arrived in Point Sublime, you can go onwards your second  walk.  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

Walk :
. Walk 1 - La Palud > Point Sublime - 2h30 | 7 km - 5 miles | Elevation : + 260m / -430m
. Walk 2 - Point Sublime >  Samson Corridor > Point Sublime | 2h30 | 5 km - 3 miles | Elevation : +600m / -600m
Meals included : breakfast & dinner
Night : Point Sublime

Have an extra night in La Palud and ride with an Ebike along the unmissable "route des crêtes" ( Crest road). The loop ride is a 24km panoramic road starting in La Palud sur Verdon. It takes you on 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 spot some climbers who ascend these splendid, vertiginous cliffs.
See the supplement for the bike rental in the "extension section" - Extra night upon request

Ride : La Palud > Route des Cretes > La Palud - 2h30 | 24km - 15 miles | Elevation : +650m / -650m

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.
. 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.

Walk : Point Sublime > Trigance | 5h | 12 km - 7 miles | Elevation : +850m / -850m
Meals included : breakfast & picnic
Night : Trigance

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. 

Access 
. 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 
. 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 )