The Verdon is one of Europe’s great whitewater playgrounds: rafting and canyoning in the gorge from Castellane,
canoeing on the emerald waters of Lake Sainte-Croix, kayaking and paddleboarding on the lakes. Here’s what to do, where, when — and the operators.
In brief
Rafting
Yes, with a guide: descent in an inflatable raft from Castellane, towards Chasteuil then Point Sublime (Middle Verdon).
When
April to September depending on the water level; high water mostly April to June.
What decides it
EDF water releases (Chaudanne dam): the flow can rise very fast and without visible warning.
Level
Beginners and families (often from age 6 on the discovery section) up to sporty.
Canyon aqua-hiking
Only with the dam closed (low water): incompatible with an EDF release.
Operators
Listed by commune below; confirm details and prices directly with them before booking.
Verified on · water conditions change, check on the day itself.
Frequently asked questions
Can you go rafting in the Gorges du Verdon?
Yes. Rafting is Castellane’s flagship activity: a descent in an inflatable raft, with several paddlers, led by a guide. The discovery section, starting from Castellane, is easy (ideal for a first time and for families, often from age 6); downstream, towards Chasteuil, then Point Sublime and the entrance of the Grand Canyon, the rapids become more sustained (class II to III).
When is the rafting season in the Verdon?
April to September depending on the water level, which depends on the EDF releases; high water is mostly April to June. Water and safety conditions change: check on the day itself.
Why do the EDF water releases matter so much?
The Verdon is fitted with hydroelectric dams: the flow can rise very fast and without visible warning. Rafting and hydrospeed need enough flow, whereas the canyon aqua-hiking is done with the dam closed (low water) and is incompatible with a release. Never enter the riverbed without knowing the day’s release schedule and, ideally, without professional guidance.
Do you need to be able to swim to go rafting?
Generally, yes: being able to swim is usually required (50 m at several operators). Confirm the conditions directly with the operator before booking.
The activities
Canoe / kayak
Canoe and kayak hire at the Pont du Galetas, the gateway to the Grand Canyon: you paddle up the first stretch of the gorge (cliffs, emerald water) from Lake Sainte-Croix. A family outing of about 1 h 30 min to 2 h there and back, up to the boundary of the Nature Park. Life jacket compulsory.
Where: Lake Sainte-Croix / Pont du Galetas (Aiguines–Moustiers)
Season: April–October
Level: family
Combustion engines prohibited (except rescue craft); only oars/paddles, sail, pedalos and electric motors are allowed. Swimming is prohibited in the marked boating zones, and vice versa.
Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP)
Paddleboarding on your own on the calm waters of Lake Sainte-Croix, from the beaches (Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon, Bauduen, Les Salles-sur-Verdon, Galetas). Ideal for following the coves and the entrance of the gorge in calm weather.
Where: Lake Sainte-Croix
Season: May–September
Level: family
Buoyancy aid and leash recommended; a buoyancy aid is compulsory for children. Watch out for the wind that picks up in the afternoon. Boating is prohibited in the supervised swimming zones.
Pedalo
Pedalos (often with a slide) for hire by the hour on the beaches of Lake Sainte-Croix and the lower gorges (Esparron, Quinson). A family outing with no licence and no constraints.
Where: Lake Sainte-Croix / Lake Esparron / Lake Quinson
Season: May–September
Level: family
A gentle activity allowed everywhere; stay out of the marked swimming zones.
Licence-free electric boat
Electric boat hire (4 to 7 seats, no licence needed, about 8 km/h) to explore Lake Sainte-Croix, pass under the Pont du Galetas and head in between the cliffs at the entrance of the gorge. Allow about 2 to 3 hours there and back, depending on the base.
Where: Lake Sainte-Croix
Season: April–October
Level: family
On Sainte-Croix: electric motor limited to 25 hp (CV) / 20 km/h. On Esparron: electric motors allowed only in the western part of the lake (sail and combustion engines prohibited in the lower gorges).
Electric boat — lower gorges
From Esparron, Quinson or Montmeyan, a trip up the lower gorges of the Verdon in a licence-free electric boat: about 9 km of narrow, wild canyon between Lake Quinson and the entrance of Lake Esparron, in a protected Natura 2000 area.
Where: Lower gorges — Lakes Esparron and Quinson
Season: April–October
Level: family
Speed limited to 9 km/h (5 knots) in the lower gorges; sailing prohibited; landing and going ashore prohibited on the banks of the lower gorges. Access to the Esparron cave is prohibited (protected bats).
Canoe — lower gorges (Quinson → Esparron)
Paddling down or up the lower gorges of the Verdon, a route of about 9 km between Quinson and Lake Esparron (allow about 2 h 30 min each way). Limestone canyon scenery, turquoise water, a preserved Natura 2000 environment.
Where: Lower gorges — Quinson / Esparron
Season: April–October
Level: family to sporty (distance)
Life jacket compulsory; combustion engines prohibited; respect the ban on landing on the banks of the lower gorges.
Sailing / windsurfing
Light-boat sailing (dinghy, catamaran), windsurfing and sometimes wing foiling on the open stretches of water. Sainte-Croix and Castillon are known for their steady thermal wind in the afternoon. Schools and clubs offer courses, and hire for members.
Where: Lake Sainte-Croix / Lake Castillon
Season: May–September
Level: beginner to experienced
Sailing boats have priority over motor craft. Sailing is PROHIBITED in the lower gorges (Esparron/Quinson).
Water-skiing / towed inflatables / wakeboarding
Water-skiing, wakeboarding, kneeboarding and towed inflatables are practised only on Lake Castillon, in the dedicated powerboating zone — the only Verdon lake where fast combustion engines are still allowed.
Where: Lake Castillon (Saint-André-les-Alpes / Saint-Julien-du-Verdon)
Allowed only in the powerboating zone, in clear weather, between 7am and 1pm and after 6pm. Engines over 6 hp (CV) require a licence; power capped (about 115 hp) and 60 km/h maximum in the zone. PROHIBITED on Sainte-Croix, Esparron and Quinson (no water-skiing, no towed craft).
Swimming
Swimming in turquoise water at around 25°C in summer on Sainte-Croix. Supervised beaches in July and August at several sites. On Castillon, three supervised beaches (Plan, Touron, Cheiron).
Where: Lake Sainte-Croix / Lake Castillon
Season: June–September (lifeguards July–August)
Level: family
Swimming is prohibited in the boating zones and in the marked military/dam zones. Beware of cold-water shock on Lake Quinson (deep water at about 8°C even in summer). Lake Chaudanne is a steep-sided hydroelectric reservoir, with no developed beach and no supervised swimming: it is not a swimming lake. Diving and snorkelling prohibited (turbidity).
Inflatable water park (Aquaventure Park)
A floating course of more than 1,000 m² of inflatable structures — trampolines, roller, climbing wall, catapult — set up every summer on Lake Castillon, at the Plage du Plan.
Where: Lake Castillon — Plage du Plan, Saint-André-les-Alpes (Route de Nice)
Season: early July to late August (last known season, 2026: 4 July to 23 August, Tuesday to Sunday, 1pm–6:30pm; may close in wind or storms)
Level: from age 6, life jacket compulsory; not accessible to wheelchair users
2026 prices: €13 for a single admission, €12.50 per person for 2, €12 per person for 3, €11 per person for groups of 8 or more, book of 10 admissions €110. Booking recommended: 06 14 22 12 01 / [email protected]. Official site: aquaventurepark.wixsite.com/aquaventurepark.
Rafting
Castellane’s flagship activity: a descent in an inflatable raft with several paddlers, led by a guide. The discovery section starting from Castellane is easy (ideal for a first time and for families); downstream, towards Chasteuil, then Point Sublime and the entrance of the Grand Canyon, the rapids become more sustained (class II to III). Discovery trip about 8 km (about 1 h 30 min), intermediate routes 6 to 13 km, full descent (“Intégrale”) about 21 to 25 km over the day.
Where: Middle Verdon — Castellane -> Chasteuil -> Point Sublime; departures also from the Upper Verdon / Lake Castillon (Saint-André-les-Alpes)
Season: April–September depending on the water level (depends on the EDF releases; high water mostly April to June)
Level: beginner / family (often from age 6 on the discovery section) to sporty
EDF water releases (Chaudanne dam): the flow can rise very fast — never set out without checking the release times and without guides who receive EDF’s flow information. Being able to swim is generally required (50 m at several operators).
Canyoning (aqua-hiking)
Making your way along the riverbed and through the gorge in a neoprene wetsuit, buoyancy aid and helmet: swimming, jumps (often optional), natural slides, abseils and down-climbs depending on the route. In the Verdon, the aqua-hike of the Couloir Samson, at the entrance of the Grand Canyon, is the standard beginner route (about 2 km, 400 m walls, a few jumps of 3–4 m, return via the Blanc-Martel trail and its tunnels). Guides also offer more technical canyons on the tributaries and in the hinterland (Haut Jabron, Riolan, Saint-Auban…), some of them outside the Verdon basin proper.
Where: Grand Canyon (Couloir Samson, Estellier, Styx, l’Imbut); tributaries and narrow gorges (clues), guided from Castellane / La Palud-sur-Verdon
Season: April/May to September depending on the flow; the canyon aqua-hike is done with the dam closed (low water) and is incompatible with a release
Level: beginner / family on the beginner routes (often from age 6–8, must be able to swim) to very sporty on the technical canyons
Only possible at minimum flow: rising water (an EDF release or a storm over the upstream basin) makes the canyon dangerous. State-qualified guides are essential; never enter the riverbed without knowing what the dam is doing.
Kayak / cano-raft (canoe-raft)
Craft that are lighter and more manoeuvrable than a raft: a single kayak or an inflatable cano-raft (2 to 3 people), paddled fairly independently under a guide’s lead. A way to run the river and, for experienced paddlers in small craft, to take on the full descent of the Grand Canyon (Point Sublime -> Pont du Galetas, 5 to 8 hours, a committing trip with portages).
Where: Middle Verdon around Castellane; full descent of the Grand Canyon (Point Sublime -> Galetas) for experienced paddlers
Season: April–September depending on the water level
Level: guided introduction to expert (the full canyon descent is for experienced paddlers only)
Same vigilance about EDF releases as for rafting. The full crossing of the canyon is committing (few escape routes, portage sections) — guides and good physical fitness required.
Hydrospeed (whitewater swimming)
Running the rapids lying face down, holding on to a shaped float (hydrospeed/riverboard), with fins, a thick wetsuit, buoyancy aid and helmet. Strong sensations right at water level. A full briefing and some practice time in calm water come before the descent; some trips end at the foot of the cliffs of the Couloir Samson.
Where: Middle Verdon (fast sections around Castellane); “Haute Rivière” trips for the sportiest
Season: spring–summer depending on the releases (needs enough flow, like rafting)
Level: sporty — you must be very comfortable in the water; minimum age higher than for rafting, depending on the operator
A physical whitewater activity: it depends on the EDF releases (enough flow, but controlled) and on professional guiding. Not to be confused with floating (see below), which is gentler.
Floating
Going down by letting the current carry you, lying on your back with fins on your feet, through the fast passages — a technique used alongside swimming on the Verdon aqua-hikes (e.g. the Tusset, Samson and Imbut sectors). A more playful and accessible version than hydrospeed, often part of an aqua-hike rather than sold on its own.
Where: Grand Canyon and Middle Verdon (as part of the aqua-hikes)
Season: May to September, at low water (dam closed)
Level: beginner to intermediate, must be able to swim; done with a guide
Like aqua-hiking, it is done with the dam closed: incompatible with an EDF release. Wetsuit, buoyancy aid and helmet are provided by the guides.
Aqua-hiking
A hike that is part walking, part swimming, following the course of the Verdon in the Grand Canyon when the flow is at its minimum: alternating between walking on the pebbles, swimming in the deep pools and floating through the rapids. Emblematic route: from l’Estellier to the Styx and l’Imbut sector. Before 15 June, the flow in the canyon is about twice that of summer, which makes it a markedly more committing outing.
Where: Grand Canyon du Verdon (La Palud-sur-Verdon / Aiguines); beginner route in the Couloir Samson on the Rougon / Point Sublime side
Season: May to September depending on weather and flow; strictly with the dam closed
Level: family to sporty depending on the section (Couloir Samson accessible from age 6–8; Estellier -> Imbut more committing)
Possible ONLY with the dam closed (minimum flow) — rising water traps the hiker in a canyon with vertical walls. A guide who knows the EDF releases is imperative; never go in alone without monitoring the flow.
The operators, commune by commune
Operators identified and sourced. Confirm details and prices directly with them before booking.
Ride the Verdon — rafting, canoe-kayak, aqua-hiking · website →
La Maison du Canyoning et de l'Escalade — canyoning, climbing · website →
Le Bureau des Guides de Canyon (ProCanyon) — canyoning, via ferrata, climbing, abseiling · website →
Colmars-les-Alpes (1)
Karst Rider — canyoning, via ferrata, souterrata
Esparron-de-Verdon (1)
La Perle du Verdon — electric boat, pedalo, canoe, kayak · website →
La Palud-sur-Verdon (7)
Maison des Guides du Verdon — canyoning, aqua-hiking, climbing, guided hiking · website →
Les Canyons du Verdon (Mathieu Faneau) — canyoning, via cordata · website →
Aventures et Nature Verdon — canyoning, aqua-hiking, via cordata, climbing · website →
Des Guides pour l'Aventure — canyoning, aqua-hiking, rafting, climbing · website →
Blue Secret — whitewater, canyoning
Rocksiders — canyoning, climbing, via cordata
Explore Aventure Verdon — canyoning, aqua-hiking, via ferrata · Canyoning (canyons of the Verdon and the Artuby, from discovery to sporty) €50–90 per person depending on the canyon and the level; canyons also in the Alpes-Maritimes (Riolan, Saint-Auban) €85. Aqua-hiking (Pont de Tusset, Couloir Samson) €50–90. Via ferrata du Bauroux, in Séranon (Alpes-Maritimes): €65 per person, a half-day of about 4 hours, from age 14 or 40 kg. Open from May to September, 7 days a week. Activities led by state-certified climbing and canyoning instructors, according to the operator’s website. Prices taken from its website in 2026; an update is announced for the 2027 season. · website →
Les Salles-sur-Verdon (3)
Surf Center — electric boat, pedalo, canoe, paddleboard · website →
Federation holding the state delegation for canoe-kayak and paddle sports: river classification, skill levels and the framework for professional instruction.
