Detailed Trip File

One Foot Abroad Second Floor, 16/17 Suffolk Street SELF-GUIDED DeDublin 2,tIrealandiled trip file

DEEPEST CANYON IN EUROPE (700 M) UK: +44 (0)20 3411 0701 FAMOUS HIKE IN THE CANYON Ireland: +353 (0)1 687 2141 TURQUOISE GREEN WATER USA: +1 916 287 8651 REGIONAL NATURAL PARK France: +33 (0)1 82 88 31 76 [email protected]

O Summary

A Magnificent and wild landscape characterised by its preserved nature and turquoise waters. Les Gorges du Verdon, also called "Le Grand Canyon du Verdon" or Verdon Canyon, define the border between the département Var and Alpes de Haute Provence. The Verdon River carved a deep canyon into the limestone cliffs here for about 21 km. It is much smaller than the Grand Canyon but it's Europe's deepest. This is a nature conservation area, the Parc Naturel Regional du Verdon. The Parc Naturel Régional du Verdon was inaugurated in 1997 finally recognising and officially protecting the special nature of the region.

Les Gorges du Verdon is not only an exceptional natural site, we find a lot of beautiful typical villages through the Verdon River. Villages and towns of character such as Riez-la-Romaine, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Castellane, Entrevaux or Annot ( the villages ranked as "villages et cités de caractère") unfold on the hills covered with oaks, vineyards and orchards. La Palud sur Verdon is heaven on heart for climbers from all over the world, Castellane is an exceptional site, overlooked by Notre- Dame-du-Roc or Entrevaux, a medival town, has kept its ramparts and its citadel built by Vaudan.

The pre alpine treasures of Haute Provence are found in the local delicacies that you can discover in the village shops: truffes, oil, tapenade, lavender honey, seasonal vegetables, biscuits, goat's cheese or “charcuteries” (salted mealts).

The day dawns on the fantastic chasm of the Gorges du Verdon, and the emerald-green river winding along the bottom, as vultures glide by in the sky. The walking holidays we designed for you aim to bring you through the heart of this incredible area and to enjoy the wide variety of landscapes, authentic, peaceful, natural and rustic in a wonderful atmosphere.

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5 days itinerary

Day 1: Castellane Day 2: Castellane to Point Sublime 18km/5h00 Day 3: Point Sublime to La Palud sur Verdon 20km/6h00 Day 4: La Palud sur Verdon to Moustiers Sainte Marie 12km/4h00 Day 5: Moustiers Sainte Marie

Day 1: Arrival in Castellane

Castellane is located in a privileged site, right at the doorway to the Verdon canyons. Tourists are drawn here both for the commercial activity and the large choice of excursions and sports offered by the old city. The whole of the town should be admired from the terrace of Notre Dame du Roc. One reaches this chapel after walking alorng what remains of the 14th century walls of the city. There is also a beautiful view of the ramparts, the Napoleon Bridge and the Verdon canyons.

Day 2: Castellane to Point Sublime 18km/5h00

Hanging on to a rocky peak rising out of stony ground and lavender bushes, the village of Rougon overlooks the entrance to the grand canyon of the Verdon gorges. Rougon offers a peaceful setting far from the smoke and noise of the big cities. It is a typical little Provençal village complete with narrow streets and houses built in traditional materials. From the ruins of the castle, there is a wonderful view of the Point Sublime which truly deserves its name.

Day 3: Point Sublime to La Palud sur Verdon 20km/6h00

La Palud is one of the most important places in the region for visiting the Verdon canyon. There is plenty of hiking and mountain biking around the village and in the summer, swimming in Lake Ste. Croix. La Palud was once a potters' village, and the tradition for local products has continued. Here you will find trout and crayfish, baby lamb with Provençal herbs, lavender honey, truffles, ham, and country bread.

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Situated at the entrance to the Gorges of Verdon canyons, Moustiers Sainte Marie is a first rate place for earthenware tiles. The site is exceptional and quite amazing. Moustiers is set in a semi-circle of rocky cliff at 630m altitude. Two peaks at either end of this cliff are linked together by an iron chain (227m. long) on which is hooked the star of one of the knights of the Crusades. At each season Moustiers offers wonderful walks either in the heart af the village (the architecture is surprising) or in the outskirts (waterfall of Rion, Notre Dame de Beauvoir, the grotto of St. Madeleine).

Day 5: Moustiers Sainte Marie

Moustiers sainte Marie is the end of the adventure. We can arrange extra nights anywhere on the itinerary after your last walking day. We can also arrange station/airport transfer. Please get in touch: [email protected] for more info.

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Way in: to Castellane

Best airport are Nice and Marseille. Other possible airports are Paris Orly and Paris Charles De Gaulle or Toulon. For more information, click on our flights to France tool. Check train transfer bellows to choose the most convenient airport.

Nice airport, 106 km of Castellane. Marseille airport, 160 km of Castellane.

Daily direct flights: Nice - London (2 hrs) – British Airways / Easyjet Nice - Dublin (3 hrs) – Aer Lingus / Ryanair Nice - Bristol (2 hrs) - Easyjet Nice - Liverpool (2 hrs) - Easyjet Marseille - London (2 hrs) – Ryanair / British Airways / Easyjet Marseille - Dublin (3 hrs) – Aer Lingus / Ryanair Marseille - Edinburgh (3hrs) - Ryanair Marseille - Bristol (2hrs) - Easyjet Marseille - Bristol (2hrs) - Easyjet

Daily TGV from/to: Paris - Marseille) Paris - Aix en Provence

TER regional train (for Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur region): Marseille - Valonne (gare de Chateau Arnoux Saint Auban) Marseille - Digne les Bains Aix en Provence - Digne les Bains Aix en Provence - Valonne (gare de Chateau Arnoux Saint Auban)

Details on prices and time on the sncf websites: For TGV trains For TER trains (Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur region)

Bus: Marseille / Castellane Digne les Bains / Saint Andre les Alpes

Motorway: Marseille / Peyruis (A51) Nice / Saint Andre les Alpes (D4202 and N202)

View itineraries: Via Michelin

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Way back: From Riez

Manosque / Marseille Manosque /Aix en Provence Manosque / Nice

Details on prices and time on the sncf website.

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See below what it is included in this trip. You have many options to make up your trip personal.

Included Optional Not included

- 4 nights in 2* hotels - Upgrade hotels 3* or 4 - Flights/trains (See How to get there tab) - 4 breakfasts - Transfer from/to airport - Insurance - Roadbook (Guide book) - Post-stay days - Drinks

- Emergency phone number - Dinner day 3 if upgrade 3*

- Customer service - Dinner day 2 -Luggage transfer Day 2,3,4

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 Keeping in touch

Thank you for choosing “One Foot Abroad”. We are committed to provide you with the highest quality of service. For this reason, we would be really grateful if you send us your feedback by completing a simple and quick questionnaire at the internet link:

We use your answers to continuously improve the quality and accuracy of the walking notes and, more generally, of our services. We look forward to hearing from you again, so please contact us for information about your walking holiday:

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One Foot Abroad Second Floor, 16/17 Suffolk Street Dublin 2, Ireland

 Loyalty discount for returning customers

10% off all bookings for returning customers.

Discounts apply exclusively to basic package.