Things to do in the Gorges du Verdon

The Gorges du Verdon sit around 2h30 to 3h from Nice by car, one way, so this is a full day out rather than a quick detour, and a same-day round trip is a long, tiring drive. Despite the reputation, this is not Europe's deepest canyon, but it is one of its largest, with the rock walls dropping close to 700 metres in places.

Lac de Sainte-Croix, at the canyon's mouth, is the easiest spot for kayaking and pedalo hire, while the hilltop village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is known for its painted faience pottery.

Castellane anchors the eastern end, and the Valensole plateau's lavender fields bloom roughly from mid-June to mid-July, though the exact window shifts each year.