Caving
Beneath the limestone of the Verdon lies a little-known network of caves and sinkholes. From introductory abseiling from age 8 to committed outings down to 100 metres deep, four operators based around the Verdon guide the discovery of this underground world, notably at Aups and, for some caves, further away in Provence.
The limestone plateau that carries the Gorges du Verdon is also riddled with cavities: river caves, fossil sinkholes, concreted chambers. Unlike canyoning or hiking, caving here is almost always practised guided by a professional operator, with helmet and technical gear provided.
A cave carved by the underground river of the Huveaune, with galleries and a 25 m shaft, plus a petrified waterfall. Guided outing with Les Guides du Verdon, meeting at the car park of the Hostellerie de la Sainte-Baume: from age 14, around 5 h, €80 (group/family rates on request).
A fossil cave with no river, linked to the underground experiments of Michel Siffre: a 10 m shaft followed by a 25 m one, large heavily-concreted chambers, down to about 100 m deep. Guided by Les Guides du Verdon, meeting at the Audibergue car park: from age 14, around 6 h, €90.
Also called the “Aven de Plérimond” by operators: a small entrance (0.70 m in diameter) leading to a large concreted chamber of about 35 x 15 m, accessible only by abseiling. Also a known archaeological site (an Iron Age ossuary). Several operators run introductory outings here, from age 8 at Rocksiders.
Since 2009, a prefectural biotope protection order has barred access to the flooded cave at Esparron, in the lower Gorges du Verdon: it hosts more than 2,000 bat births each year (Capaccini’s bat, lesser mouse-eared bat, greater mouse-eared bat, Schreiber’s bent-winged bat). It is a breeding site: Capaccini’s bat breeds there from April to the end of July, and the cave hosts a little under 30% of its known breeding population in France; hibernation takes place in the neighbouring tunnels of the former Verdon canal. A protective grille has barred access since 1996.
Caving isn’t something to improvise: technical gear, knowledge of the network and managing a group underground call for professional guidance. Four operators cover the area, from introductory to sporty level.
A broad catalogue of outings: Castelette, Aven de l’Olivier, and other cavities (St Eucher, Les Rampins, Plérimond, Ragaïe de Néoules), graded across three levels (discovery, beginner, sporty).
Caving outings in the Verdon, some open to beginners, others more demanding. The operator confirmed to us by e-mail, on 11 October 2026, that it runs outings to the Plérimond cave (Aups) from the age of 10. Outing to the Plérimond cave: €50, 3 hours (price published on its website, checked on 14 October 2026).
Introduction at the Grotte de Plérimond (Aups), from age 8, half-day, €55.
Nine outings graded by level (green to black), from age 8, from 3 h in all (€50, including 2 h of caving) to a full day of 7 h in all for the most committed outing, from age 16 (€90). Cave names not detailed by the operator.
The operators are based around the Verdon, but some caves are further away, in Provence. Les Guides du Verdon, an operator based in Les Salles-sur-Verdon (Var), guides the two best-documented outings, which take place outside the Verdon: the Castelette cave (carved by the underground river of the Huveaune, beginner level, from age 14, meeting at the car park of the Hostellerie de la Sainte-Baume) and the Aven de l’Olivier (a fossil cave down to about 100 m deep, sporty level, from age 14, meeting at the Audibergue car park). For a more accessible introduction, the Grotte de Plérimond at Aups can be done from age 8 with Rocksiders. The Haut-Verdon has its own operator, Karst Rider, based in Colmars-les-Alpes.
No: local operators grade their outings by level. Introductory outings (Grotte de Plérimond at Rocksiders, or Karst Rider’s “discovery” trips) suit beginners from age 8. “Beginner” outings (Castelette) require a minimum level of fitness from age 14. “Sporty” outings (Aven de l’Olivier) are more demanding: successive shafts, several hours underground.
With Les Guides du Verdon, expect €80 for the Castelette cave (around 5 h) and €90 for the Aven de l’Olivier (around 6 h), with group/family rates on request. At Rocksiders, the introductory half-day at the Grotte de Plérimond is €55. At Karst Rider, prices range from €50 (2 hours of caving, 3 hours in all) to €90 (a full day, 7 hours in all, from age 16, reserved for experienced participants).
No. The flooded cave at Esparron, in the lower Gorges du Verdon, has been closed to access since 2009 by a prefectural biotope protection order: it hosts more than 2,000 bat births each year (Capaccini’s bat, lesser mouse-eared bat, greater mouse-eared bat, Schreiber’s bent-winged bat). It is a breeding site: Capaccini’s bat breeds there from April to the end of July, and the cave hosts a little under 30% of its known breeding population in France; hibernation takes place in the neighbouring tunnels of the former Verdon canal. A protective grille has barred access since 1996. Beyond this documented case, always respect the marked routes and the instructions of operators.
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.
The operator itself: catalogue of guided caving outings (Castelette, Aven de l’Olivier, Plérimond, etc.), based in Les Salles-sur-Verdon.
Official outing page: level, minimum age, duration and price for the Castelette cave (Les Salles-sur-Verdon).
Official outing page: depth, level, minimum age, duration and price for the Aven de l’Olivier.
The operator itself (La Palud-sur-Verdon): progressive caving outings on offer.
The operator itself (Riez / La Palud-sur-Verdon): level, minimum age, duration and price of the outing to the Plérimond cave (Aups).
The operator itself (Colmars-les-Alpes): outings graded by level, minimum ages, durations and prices.
The area’s managing authority: access to the Esparron cave banned since 2009 (biotope protection order, bat colonies).
All 7 links responded during our last automated check, on 11 October 2026. A broken link is removed, never left in place.
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