Horse riding
Discover the Verdon on horseback: ride alongside Europe’s Grand Canyon, follow the turquoise lakes, cross the lavender plateaus. From a first led pony ride at age 3 to a multi-day trek, the centres on both banks open up a Verdon that few visitors ever see.
The area doesn’t have just one face: on horseback, you move from the dizzying heights of the gorge to the emerald shores of the lakes, then to the vastness of the lavender plateaus. That’s what makes riding in the Verdon so rich — three radically different settings, less than an hour apart, with centres on both banks, in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence as well as the Var.
Ride just minutes from Point Sublime and the Route des Crêtes, below the great cliffs. From La Palud, base camp for canyon adventurers, the ride faces Europe’s Grand Canyon — an impressive panorama, seen from the saddle.
Follow the emerald water of Lake Sainte-Croix from Les Salles-sur-Verdon or Bauduen, among oaks and lavender. Verdon Équitation offers rides “between beach and lake” there; if you would like to swim with the horse, ask the centre before booking.
Above Moustiers-Sainte-Marie and towards Riez, the landscape opens onto the plateaus of Provence. In June and July, ride among fields of flowering lavender, or at sunset when the heat eases.
Five centres, from the gorge to the plateaus, run by professionals. We don’t publish their contact details until they’ve been checked one by one: book via their website, or find them, as they’re verified, in our provider directory.
In the heart of the gorge: one- to two-hour rides and pony rides for children, led by a qualified instructor, in an exceptional setting.
A long-established riding centre beside Lake Sainte-Croix, geared to treks and outings: rides, full-day outings and multi-day treks.
Discovery and “sunset” rides lasting one to three hours, all year round; led pony from age 3, horse from age 8. Summer ranch above Moustiers.
Le Grignolet trekking centre and its herd of 71 horses: rides for every level, horse + canoe packages, accommodation, and spring and autumn transhumance.
A riding club on the Var shore of Lake Sainte-Croix, another gateway to discovering the Verdon at a horse’s pace.
You don’t need to be a rider: centres such as EquiVerdon offer led ponies from age 3 and accompanied first horse rides from around age 8, with qualified instructors. It’s a lovely way to introduce children to the Verdon — peacefully, away from the crowds.
Beyond the one-hour ride, the Verdon lends itself to longer equestrian adventures:
Travel in stages from village to village, from the lake to the plateaus, and sleep near the horses: several centres organise multi-day treks for experienced riders.
A local formula: one part on horseback, one part by canoe on the Verdon or through the lower gorge. Le Grignolet has made it its signature.
Help move the herd across the Verdon with the seasons — a rare immersion far from mass tourism (dates announced each year by the centres).
The finest seasons are spring, early summer (lavender flowers on the plateaus in June and July) and autumn. In midsummer, it’s best to set off early in the morning or at sunset. Combine your ride with a swim in Lake Sainte-Croix, a stop in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie or La Palud-sur-Verdon, and plan your visit with When to visit.
There are riding centres on both banks. In the heart of the gorge, Cheval et Soleil Verdon at La Palud-sur-Verdon; beside Lake Sainte-Croix, Verdon Équitation (Les Salles-sur-Verdon) and Ranch de la Blache (Bauduen); on the plateaus and lavender side, EquiVerdon (Riez and above Moustiers-Sainte-Marie); in the lower gorge, Les Chevaux du Verdon at Artignosc-sur-Verdon. Find them in our provider directory.
Yes. Centres such as EquiVerdon offer led pony rides from age 3 and accompanied horse rides from age 8; the minimum age varies from one centre to another, so ask when booking. It is one of the most accessible activities in the Verdon for discovering the landscape as a family.
Prices vary from one centre to another, and not all of them publish theirs. As an example, on 9 October 2026 EquiVerdon’s website listed €15 for half an hour on a pony, €30 for a one-hour horse ride, €55 for two hours and €75 for three hours. For a full day or a trek, ask the centre for its price when booking.
Yes. Several centres, especially Les Chevaux du Verdon at Artignosc, organise multi-day travelling treks, combined horse + canoe packages, and even spring and autumn transhumance, where you help move the herd across the area.
Spring, early summer (with lavender flowering in June and July) and autumn offer the most pleasant conditions. In midsummer, it’s best to ride early in the morning or late in the day (“sunset” rides) to avoid the heat. Book ahead in high season.
The external sources this page relies on, one click away. We would rather you be able to contradict us than ask you to take our word for it.
Database of the area’s hiking circuits and routes kept by the intercommunal tourist office, with route sheets and tracks.
Official tourist information for the area (Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Riez, Valensole and neighbouring communes), including lists of activity providers.
Tourist office covering 16 villages of the left bank and the lakes, including Aiguines, Bauduen and Trigance: outdoor activities, beaches and providers in the area.
Official information from the western gateway commune: Lake Sainte-Croix, water sports, the Trail Area, hiking.
All 4 links responded during our last automated check, on 11 October 2026. A broken link is removed, never left in place.
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