TOP 5 Must-See Places & Things to Do in Les Gorges du Verdon 🇫🇷

Ready to be utterly mesmerized by Europe’s very own Grand Canyon? Welcome to Les Gorges du Verdon 🇫🇷! This isn’t just any canyon; it’s a breathtaking natural wonder in Provence, France, where towering limestone cliffs plunge into an impossibly turquoise river. Join us on this adventure as we reveal the Top 5 Must-See Places & Things to Do in this incredible region!

0:00 Intro – Les Gorges du Verdon, France
Our journey begins deep within the heart of the Verdon Gorges, setting the scene for an unforgettable French adventure. Discover why this iconic natural landmark in the French Alps is a dream destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.

0:24 – La Route des Crêtes des Gorges du Verdon
First up, buckle in for the legendary La Route des Crêtes des Gorges du Verdon! This scenic drive offers jaw-dropping panoramic views at every turn. We’ll navigate winding roads perched high above the canyon, stopping at incredible viewpoints to soak in the sheer scale of the limestone cliffs and the emerald-green river below. It’s the ultimate way to appreciate the immense beauty of this famous gorge.

Belvédère de la Dent d’Aire – https://g.co/kgs/ZKTcqWU

Belvedere de Trescaïre haut – https://g.co/kgs/8rcXMWr

1:49 – Lac de Sainte Croix, Verdon & Valensole
Next, prepare to be captivated by the stunning Lac de Sainte Croix, the vibrant jewel of the Verdon region. Its dazzling turquoise waters are perfect for kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, or simply relaxing on its beautiful beaches. This vast artificial lake, fed by the Verdon river, is the gateway to the famous Valensole lavender fields region, offering a serene contrast to the rugged gorges. It’s an unmissable part of your Verdon adventure.

Here is where you can rent paddle boats, kayaks and motor boats to go get the best view of Les Gorges du Verdon. Easily one of the best spots in Le Verdon

3:01 – Hiking Les Gorges du Verdon
Lace up your hiking boots because no visit to Les Gorges du Verdon is complete without hitting its incredible trails! We’ll take you deep into the canyon on some of the most spectacular hikes in France. From challenging treks along the famous Sentier Martel to more accessible paths, you’ll experience the raw, untouched wilderness up close. Discover hidden waterfalls, unique flora, and breathtaking vistas only accessible on foot. This is true outdoor adventure in the heart of Provence.

4:24 Moustiers Sainte Marie, France – One of the Most beautiful Villages in France
Step back in time as we visit Moustiers Sainte Marie, officially recognized as one of “The Most Beautiful Villages in France.” Nestled at the entrance of the gorges, this charming ceramic village is famous for its unique star suspended between two cliffs. Explore its quaint streets, artisan shops, and soak in the tranquil atmosphere of this historic gem in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. It’s a perfect blend of culture and natural beauty.

5:23 – Best Place to see wild Vultures in France
Get ready for an extraordinary wildlife encounter! The Gorges du Verdon is widely considered the best place to see wild vultures in Europe, and arguably the best place to see Griffon Vultures in France. These majestic raptors soar effortlessly on thermal currents above the canyon, offering an unparalleled spectacle for bird watching enthusiasts and wildlife photographers. Witness these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat, a truly unique experience found right here in the Verdon!

7:06 – Camping in Les Gorges du Verdon
Finally, for the ultimate immersive experience, we look at camping in Les Gorges du Verdon. Whether you prefer basic campsites under a blanket of stars or more equipped sites, camping allows you to truly connect with the stunning nature of the Verdon region. It’s the perfect way to extend your adventure, embrace the tranquility, and wake up surrounded by the unparalleled beauty of the French Alps foothills.

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while it doesn’t rival the Grand Canyon in size it’s like I’ve been saying for over 37 years size doesn’t matter leos Don is a southern France all-star that has something awesome around every corner we boil it down to the five must do things when you come to explore France’s most impressive canyon so without further ado let’s get right into it this is one of the most iconic roads in Provence with easily the most unique features in southern France you can see in these shots here this is not child’s play in French it is known as La Belvader or in simple English the root of ridiculous viewpoints the road follows the canyon’s most epic vertical drops where you can get as close as you want up here is a photographers’s dream as there are so many viewpoints to choose from each with their own vantage point of the bottom of the canyon vut is ranked in the top five in France for motorcycle road trips and it’s perfect for any mode of transportation from hikers and cyclists doing the 23 km loop to millionaire supercar clubs Larret gets all kinds of attention although it might test you if you have a fear of heights rock climbers flock here as there is enough cliffs here to keep a rock climber busy for their entire life from its epic tunnels to its amazing viewpoints you just simply don’t come to the Dome and miss this epic loop remember the weather can change quickly so come prepared and pay attention to what you were doing there are memorial plaques everywhere in the Veil Dome because one slip in concentration can be fatal on to the newest addition in the region and that’s the Lac Sangqua created in only 1973 this relatively new lake holds 760 million cubic meters of water with a maximum depth of 93 m it borders arguably the most iconic highlight in Province the Plateau de Valonsol where the bulk of French lavender production takes place but what truly highlights this lake surrounded by parks beaches and campgrounds is its position at the entrance of Le Gome this is the most popular place to get that iconic shot of your holidays you can either catch a glimpse from up on the bridge if you’re burdened by needing a paved parking lot to park your Ferrari or from inside a rental boat where you can visit the lower portion of the Veil Dong River you can rent paddle boats kayaks and even permitless power boats to cruise down and enjoy this iconic section of Le Galdon if there’s anywhere in South France that merits renting one of these boats this is definitely the place le Galdon is a true hiker’s paradise and if you know anything about us here at Planet Lands you know that this is a driving factor for why we love it here especially when it comes to iconic trails like the Santier Blom Martell and the Santier de Lamboo from the highest points with panoramic views down to the depths of the canyons with its gnarly difficult sections there is a high variety of terrain with trails that fit every level of experience there is an old saying that what goes up must come down well here on the most popular hikes in the bottom of the canyon that is the opposite on these hikes you’re going down before you come up and that’s usually not much of an issue if you plan your day properly around your level of fitness but every year there are those who bite off more than they can chew or simply start the hike too late in the day we all come here to make memories but a helicopter rescue is not one that most people are looking to make but regardless of your experience this is one of those places where you need to get your butt into nature there is much more to explore here than just epic viewpoints one of the most popular villages in Province Mier Seari is definitely the village to visit in Lon this town has been built into the hillside with waterfalls trickling through the heart of town this epic natural boulevard is lined with restaurants shops and hotels that all face in the direction of sunset there are many beautiful villages in France and I know the words can’t miss get thrown around more on YouTube than a beach ball in a hurricane but this village actually deserves the description of can’t miss it is however bordering on becoming primarily a tourist town but for now there is still a great local vibe and if you time your visit for Friday morning you will get to see the market in full action you can check out where it ranks on our sister channel Explore Cities and Villages in our video on the top 10 villages in Province unlike Paris where the only vultures you’re going to see are playing ball and cup games underneath the Eiffel Tower the vultures in LDON are less likely to rip you off 200 griffin vultures live here as the uncontested apex predator of these canyons they can have wingspans measuring up to 2.8 m and weigh close to 10 kilos reintroduced in 1999 this thriving species offers a rare opportunity to get up close and personal to these incredible creatures the two best spots to see these animals are at the Belvader de la Dondere and the Belvader de Tresero which you can find links to in the description below if you’re patient enough there is a very high chance that you will get to see them fly by at eye level less than 10 m away at these distances you can even get great photos with just your phone the best time to see them is from 10:00 a.m to 11:00 a.m just after they finished drying their wings off and in the evenings at sunset as they come back to these cliffs to nest for the night and if this isn’t close enough on Tuesdays and Fridays in the village of Rugon that overlooks the poem farmers come down and feed the birds with livestock from their farms at the end of the day there are very few places remaining in Europe where you can get up close and personal with apex predators so when you have a chance like this it is very unwise to pass it up we spend an extra 2 days parked up here because places like this really are that special which brings me into my bonus point if you have a camping car or have rented one you need to spend at least one night up on these viewpoints for now as long as people behave themselves we can still spend the night up here for free even if you typically go to paid campsites do yourself a favor and spend a night or two here as no paid campsite in the region can come even close to offering views like these you can check out the Park fornight app for all the details we hope you guys enjoyed this video we had looked forward to coming here for years and are super happy to be able to share a bit of our experience with you the VO really is a special place that shouldn’t be overlooked when coming down and visiting Province and it’s a perfect spot to exercise the fact that adventures don’t happen at home