The short version
- TGVs from Paris Gare de Lyon reach Aix-en-Provence TGV station in 2 hours 54 minutes at the fastest, with 24 trains a day and fares from €16.
- Rent a car. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is about 1 hour 45 minutes by road from Aix, and most of the regional buses into the Verdon run only in season.
- The Route des Crêtes is open from late March to late November. Its one-way section closes in winter because of frost.
- Part of the Sentier Blanc-Martel, from the Couloir Samson to the Point Sublime, is closed after a rockfall. Walkers detour by the road and the GR 49 path, and the walk takes the same time.
- The Blanc-Martel shuttle runs Thursday to Monday until November 1, 2026, and is booked online only.
- Boats can go into the gorges from the Pont du Galetas only as far as the yellow buoys, and not at all when the wind is over 28 km/h.
What to see
Start in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, a village set into the cliffs and one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France. Climb to the chapel of Notre-Dame de Beauvoir, perched in the rock above. The faience museum is €5 and free under 16; it closes on Tuesday from April to October, opens only November 1 to 11 in November, and closes for January.
Go down to Lac de Sainte-Croix. In season, you rent canoes, pedal boats, paddle boards and small electric boats on the beaches without booking, and paddle from the Pont du Galetas into the lower gorges as far as the yellow buoys. Life jackets are compulsory, and the dam turbines can start at any moment and create currents. In July and August, swimming is supervised at Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon, Bauduen, Les Salles-sur-Verdon and the Galetas beach.
Drive the Route des Crêtes from La Palud-sur-Verdon, 24 kilometers with about fifteen viewpoints. Go clockwise, starting 800 meters outside La Palud toward Castellane; the middle section is one-way, narrow and steep.
Walk the Sentier Blanc-Martel along the floor of the gorge, 15 to 16 kilometers and about six hours, from the Chalet de la Maline to the Point Sublime. It passes through two tunnels, one of them 670 meters long, so bring a light, and 250 steps at the Brèche Imbert. Carry 3 liters of water each. It is not for children under 8 or for dogs.
At the eastern end, in Castellane, walk about 30 minutes up to the chapel of Notre-Dame du Roc on its rock spike. On the road between Castellane and La Palud, stop at the Point Sublime viewpoint.
Getting there and around
Aix-en-Provence TGV is the closer station by road; Marseille Saint-Charles is 3 hours 3 minutes from Paris. By road, Moustiers is about 1 hour 45 from Aix, 2 hours from Marseille and 2 hours 15 from Nice.
To fly, use Marseille Provence or Nice and rent a car there.
Regional buses run in season: line 450 from Riez through Moustiers to Castellane, and line 51 from Nice to Digne through Castellane. No long-distance coaches serve the Verdon.
In Moustiers, use the lower car parks in high season; you pay with the Flowbird app.
The Blanc-Martel trail is one-way. The shuttle takes you from La Palud to the Chalet de la Maline in the morning and back from the Point Sublime in the afternoon; otherwise you need a car at each end. Book taxis ahead in summer.
When to go
For the Blanc-Martel trail, go April to June or September to October; the tourist office advises against July and August. July averages a high of about 29°C at Castellane.
Summer is the season for the lake, with boats to rent and supervised beaches.
October and November are the wettest months, and winter nights fall to about −5°C. The shuttle stops after November 1, the Route des Crêtes closes in late November, and the trail can be icy.
Moustiers holds its Diane festival from August 31 to September 8, with a procession to the chapel before dawn on September 8. In Aups, the black-truffle market runs from November 26, 2026 to March 25, 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get from Paris to the Gorges du Verdon?
Take the TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to Aix-en-Provence TGV, 2 hours 54 minutes at the fastest, and rent a car. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is about 1 hour 45 minutes from Aix.
Can you rent a boat in the Gorges du Verdon?
Yes, in season, on the beaches of Lac de Sainte-Croix near the Pont du Galetas, without booking. You can paddle into the gorges as far as the yellow buoys, but not when the wind is over 28 km/h.
Is the Sentier Blanc-Martel open?
Mostly. A section near the Point Sublime is closed after a rockfall, and walkers detour by the road and the GR 49 path without adding time. The shuttle runs Thursday to Monday until November 1, 2026.
What should I eat in the Verdon?
Order Sisteron lamb, roasted with herbs, and a daube, beef or lamb stewed in red wine. Buy Banon, the goat cheese wrapped in chestnut leaves, and lavender honey from the Valensole plateau next to the lake. In winter, look for black truffles at the Aups market.
Is there a tour I can add?
Yes, in lavender season. Our Provence lavender tour meets at the Avignon tourist office for a Provençal market, Sault, Gordes and the lavender fields of Sénanque Abbey, eight guests at most, from July 6 to 25.
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