{"id":27351,"date":"2026-02-05T19:58:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T18:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/?p=27351"},"modified":"2026-06-02T22:17:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T20:17:15","slug":"kayak-gorges-verdon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/en\/kayak-gorges-verdon\/","title":{"rendered":"Complete guide to kayaking in the Gorges du Verdon"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Crystal-clear turquoise waters, limestone cliffs that plunge sheer for hundreds of metres, absolute silence disturbed only by the sound of water on rock: the <strong>Gorges du Verdon<\/strong> are among the most spectacular natural sites in Europe. And there's no better way to explore them than by kayak. This comprehensive guide gives you all the keys you need to prepare your outing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why the Gorges du Verdon are a must for kayakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A breathtaking Grand Site de France<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Nicknamed the \u00abEuropean Grand Canyon\u00bb, the Gorges du Verdon are 25 kilometres long and 700 metres deep. To plan your excursion from the estate, visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/en\/oenotourisme-agenda\/decouvrir-les-alentours\/gorges-du-verdon\/\">Gorges du Verdon<\/a> contains all the practical information you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The best season for paddling (June - September)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The ideal season is from <strong>June to September<\/strong>. Since our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/en\/hotel-et-villa\/chambres-suites\/\">rooms and suites<\/a>, You're just 45 minutes from Lac de Sainte-Croix. For families, our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/en\/hotel-et-villa\/les-villas\/\">private villas<\/a> with private swimming pool are the ideal option for a holiday base around the Verdon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Les-gorges-du-verdon.jpg\" alt=\"Les gorges du verdon\" class=\"wp-image-27377\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Les-gorges-du-verdon.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Les-gorges-du-verdon-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Les-gorges-du-verdon-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Les-gorges-du-verdon-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kayak routes to suit your level<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Beginners' route: Lake Sainte-Croix<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For a <strong>initiation in complete safety<\/strong>, Lake Sainte-Croix is the ideal playground. Its calm waters and accessible banks make it perfect for families. Consult our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/en\/activites\/nature-outdoor\/\">nature and outdoor activities<\/a> to discover all the outdoor options available from the domain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Intermediate route: the high gorges<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Between Castellane and Lac de Sainte-Croix, there are more currents. Passing under the Pont de Galetas, with its plunging view of the cliffs, remains one of the most impressive moments you can experience on the water in France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Expert route: the technical sections of the canyon<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The most technical sections are reserved for experienced kayakers accompanied by a guide. These sections require technical mastery and good physical condition, but offer total immersion in the wild heart of the gorges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Practical tips for preparing your kayak trip<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Equipment, safety and rules<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Always wear your lifejacket, even if you're a good swimmer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bring at least 2 litres of water per person: the heat in the gorges can be intense.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Water-resistant sun cream and sunglasses are essential.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Respect local regulations: some areas are protected.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don't leave any rubbish in the gorge: it's a listed site.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Our picnic baskets for the day<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you set off in your kayak, remember to order one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/en\/gastronomie\/les-paniers-pique-nique\/\">picnic baskets<\/a> prepared by the Ch\u00e2teau teams. Home-made charcuterie, Var cheeses, tarts and seasonal fruit: the ideal lunch for a day out in the countryside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ch\u00e2teau de Berne: your ideal base 45 minutes from the Gorges du Verdon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/en\/hotel-et-villa\/le-chateau\/\">Ch\u00e2teau de Berne<\/a>, The Gorges du Verdon can be reached in 45 minutes. After a day's kayaking, there's nothing like returning to a 5-star hotel to relax in the sun. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/en\/spa\/\">Spa Cinq Mondes &amp; Vin\u00e9sime<\/a> and dinner at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/en\/gastronomie\/restaurant-etoile\/\">Michelin-starred gastronomic restaurant<\/a>. Our concierge team will help you organise your excursions.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Eaux turquoise d&rsquo;une clart\u00e9 cristalline, falaises calcaires qui plongent \u00e0 pic sur des centaines de m\u00e8tres, silence absolu troubl\u00e9 seulement par le bruit de l&rsquo;eau sur la roche : les Gorges du Verdon figurent parmi les sites naturels les plus spectaculaires d&rsquo;Europe. Et pour les explorer dans leur pleine dimension, rien ne vaut le kayak. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":27378,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27351","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27351","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27351"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27351\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27379,"href":"https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27351\/revisions\/27379"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27378"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27351"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27351"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chateauberne.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27351"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}