Gorges du Verdon day trip from Aix-en-Provence or Nice or Cannes
A day trip to the Gorges du Verdon from Aix-en-Provence, Nice or Cannes: the faience village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie and the climb to its chapel under the star, a paddle into the gorge from the Pont du Galetas on the Lac de Sainte-Croix, then the viewpoints of the Route des Crêtes and Point Sublime above the canyon. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Gorges du Verdon in 1 day
Day 1
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
Village built against a cleft in the cliffs, known for its faience pottery workshops, with a stream running through its lanes.
Chapel of Notre-Dame de Beauvoir
Chapel high above Moustiers reached by a stepped path of about 20 minutes, under the gilded star hung on a chain between the cliffs.
Lac de Sainte-Croix and the Pont du Galetas
Turquoise reservoir at the mouth of the gorge; at the Galetas bridge hire a pedal boat or kayak and paddle between the cliffs.
Route des Crêtes (Belvédère de la Dent d'Aïre)
Loop road of about 23 km from La Palud-sur-Verdon along the north rim, with a string of viewpoints straight down into the canyon.
Point Sublime
Viewpoint a short walk from the road near Rougon, looking down into the gorge where the Verdon enters its deepest stretch.
Getting there
A car is needed. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is about 1 hour 30 from Aix-en-Provence, and around 2 hours or more from Nice or Cannes, by winding mountain roads in places. Organised tours from Aix and Nice also visit the gorge.
Staying in Aix-en-Provence or Nice or Cannes? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Gorges du Verdon
May, June and September are the best months, warm enough for the lake and calmer on the roads. July and August are hot and very busy, and the Valensole lavender is in flower from about mid-June to mid-July. In winter the boat hire stops and part of the Route des Crêtes closes.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Gorges du Verdon on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Gorges du Verdon on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Gorges du Verdon on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for France from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Gorges du Verdon
- Start early: the drive is long and the roads along the gorge are narrow and slow, with summer traffic.
- Boats and kayaks are hired at the Pont du Galetas from about April to October; arrive early in summer, as queues form by midday.
- Part of the Route des Crêtes is one-way and it closes in winter; check before you set off.
- Bring water, sun protection and shoes for the stepped path up to the chapel above Moustiers.
- Coming from Aix, the road crosses the Valensole plateau, where the lavender is in flower from about mid-June to mid-July.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Chapel of Notre-Dame de Beauvoir: Totodu74, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lac de Sainte-Croix and the Pont du Galetas: Olivier Cleynen, CC BY 4.0
- Moustiers-Sainte-Marie: User:Nepomuk (also on fr:Utilisateur:Nepomuk), Public domain
- Point Sublime: Serge Golovanow, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
