8 days in Verdon as a family (tested and approved itinerary)!

Verdon Gorges, a geological marvel in the heart of Provence, offer an exceptional playground for nature and hiking enthusiasts. Between vertiginous cliffs, turquoise waters and characterful villages, the region is perfect for a family adventure. Camille, our assistant product manager specializing in guided stays in France, shares with you her personal travel journal. Through her account, she offers you a practical and inspiring guide, enriched with Grand Angle expertise, your outdoor experience catalyst since 1983. Discover how to transform a simple week of vacation into a memorable exploration of Europe’s largest canyon.

Family vacation in Castellane and in the #Verdon gorges

Our destination for this family vacation: Castellane and Verdon Gorges. This village, dominated by its famous Rock, was a central point for the activities and hikes we wanted to do. To prepare this stay, we scoured the websites and created a map on My Maps, which allowed us at a glance to find the ideal place to settle and plan each day. Here is the link to this map: Verdon Map.

To reach this village, we drove from the Vercors plateau. To shorten the journey for the children, I recommend stopping in Sisteron to visit its citadel. The girls loved it, and you’ll have only an hour and a half of driving left out of four total.

We stayed at Camping Terra Verdon, a 5 star campsite located just outside the village. The water slides and pools will delight your children. We went in April, and the small number of people was very pleasant.

Day 1: Setting up in Castellane and first discovery

For this first day, the drive took up a good part of the day. The stop at the citadel was really a bonus that the children appreciated. We settled at the campsite, did some shopping at the Auchan located 5 minutes by car away, took a first tour of the village and had our first dip in the pool.

Day 2: Visit to Saint-Julien-du-Verdon and Lake Castillon

The weather didn’t favor us for this second day: grey skies and showers were on the agenda. So we decided to do something near the campsite so we could return quickly if it rained. The visit to Saint-Julien-du-Verdon, located 15 km, was ideal. We parked next to the Le Pidanoux hotel-restaurant, then we wandered through the streets of this little village which offers a superb view of Lake Castillon. At the end of the Coueste path, a small trail of less than 2 km runs along the lake, ideal for enjoying the scenery.

The only downside is that at the end you have to walk along the main road to get back to the car, or turn back. The park near the car park allows children to have a little more fun before heading back.

Day 3: Hike in Couloir Samson and panorama on Route des Crêtes

An essential destination in the region was on the agenda for this third day: the Couloir Samson. It’s a section of the Blanc-Martel trail, which takes you as close as possible to the Verdon and immerses you in the magic of the gorges. In April, we managed to park at the Couloir Samson Viewpoint car park, but there are very few spaces, so it’s best to plan to park higher up in summer and extend the hike slightly. From the car park itself, the view over the gorges is splendid.

Steps lead down to the water,

then a few metres further on, you’ll discover the specialty of this walk: the tunnels. Two tunnels await you, including the Baou tunnel (670 m). Bring a torch, a jacket and good shoes: with recent rainfall, the tunnels were filled with puddles. The view at the exit is just as beautiful, you gain a little height over the Verdon.

The hike is a round trip. The Blanc-Martel trail, meanwhile, continues for several kilometres to the Chalet de la Maline. The Couloir Samson is approximately 5 km and 100 m of elevation gain. A little anecdote: we had prepared a pasta salad for lunch, which we forgot in the fridge when we left! But this mistake allowed us to discover a great place to eat. In Rougon, the village located above Sublime Point, there is a small open-air restaurant called Chez Steph. It’s a terrace with a few tables and armchairs, where the owner cooks delicious bruschettas in his little cabin, like a permanent food truck. The setting, the manager, the dishes and the value for money are excellent. The rain returned after lunch, so we took advantage of the car to drive the Crêtes Road, a scenic road of 24 km dotted with 14 viewpoints offering breathtaking views.

Day 4: Climbing the Roc, the must-see panorama of Castellane

It’s impossible to stay in Castellane without going up to the highest point of the village: the Roc. This rock over 200 m high is home to a chapel built in the 17th century. We decided to climb to the chapel by going through the gardens of the pentagonal tower, which allows you to quickly get above the village with a nice view of the roofs of Castellane.

The climb is gradual over 1,5 km. I recommend doing the small loop passing through Petra Castellana, the old medieval city. Then you continue for another kilometre to reach the chapel and enjoy the panorama of the village and the Verdon valley.

In spring, this walk is even more pleasant as the trail is in bloom.

Day 5: Hiking in the Daluis Gorges, the “Nice Colorado”

A bit more driving and a bit more walking today, but this is certainly the most striking hike we have done: the Daluis Gorges. Allow about an hour’s drive to reach the starting point of the loop. For my part, I cycled there and my partner joined me with the girls. There is approximately 47 km and 700 m of positive elevation gain, but it’s really worth it. The landscapes are magnificent, the roads pleasant and not very busy if you start early. I even got a sea of clouds above Castellane after the first climb. I recommend you park at the Berthéou Bridge car park, the closest to the start of the trail.

The hike starts with a climb through the red rocks typical of the gorges on 1,5 km. The trail then flattens out and gives you the sensation of being in another country, or even another planet. After 2 km, a round trip to Sublime Point (1 km additional) offers a spectacular view, probably the best of the hike.

The rest of the route is hilly but overall flat. After 4,5 km, a climb on the road of 2 km awaits you, before finding a steeper trail on 500 m. The road is not busy and shaded. Just one more descent and you will find your car.

Warning: the descent is quite steep and slippery, so good shoes are essential. Along your way, the landscapes are always equally beautiful:

Day 6: A well-deserved day of rest for the family

Rest, swimming, games: a day entirely for the children.

Day 7: Visit to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie and a ride on Lake Sainte-Croix

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, ranked among France’s most beautiful villages, was our destination for the day. Known for its picturesque streets, cliffs and its golden star suspended above, this Provençal village is a true gem.

Several car parks are located near the historic centre, but they fill up quickly, it’s better to arrive early. To visit Moustiers, nothing better than to get lost in its streets, stroll through the shops and enjoy its peaceful atmosphere. One of the iconic places in the village is the Notre-Dame de Beauvoir chapel, perched above the cliffs. You need to climb a few steps to reach it. The children were tired, so we didn’t climb up, but apparently the view there is magnificent. At lunch time, we happened upon the Les Comtes restaurant, whose menu appealed to us right away. We highly recommend it: attentive service, charming setting, fresh ingredients and delicious dishes.

After this stop, heading to Lake Sainte-Croix. Inflatable paddle board, rented kayak, and off we go for a ride on the turquoise waters of the Verdon gorges! Cliffs, greenery, waterfalls… a magical moment that the children particularly enjoyed.

We wanted to stay until sunset, but we preferred to leave a little earlier. In the end, it was a good decision: on the road, several viewpoints offer superb views of the lake. We thus enjoyed a magnificent sunset from the heights.

Day 8: From Lake Allos to Valplane Waterfall, a taste of the Mercantour

The only small disappointment of the week! We had planned to walk around Lake Allos, perched at 2 200 m altitude. A car park is located nearby, which normally allows for an easy walk around the lake. But at this time of year, we underestimated the risk of remaining snow. The road was closed at the first car park, which would have made too long a hike for the girls. We therefore switched to the Valplane waterfall. You can access it via the trails or by following the road to the second car park; I recommend the road as the trails are often muddy or snow-covered. Once at the second car park, the waterfall is well signposted.

Although we were a bit disappointed at not reaching the lake, it gave us a wonderful taste of Mercantour, and we told ourselves that we would return to hike in this national park. For our last evening, we strolled through the streets of Castellane, a final peaceful moment.

Explore Verdon Gorges with Grand Angle

This family travel diary perfectly illustrates the wealth of experiences offered by Verdon Gorges. If you wish to experience a similar adventure, in complete peace of mind and guided by local experts, discover our hiking in Verdon stays. At Grand Angle, we take care of all the organization so you only have to enjoy the magic of the landscapes.