To the beaches of Lake Sainte-Croix
9 kmFrom Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, a gentle descent to Galetas beach and the shore of the turquoise lake. Flat and short: ideal for a cycling-and-swimming outing.
Cycling · Routes & loops
The great cycling routes of the Verdon
Our cycling & mountain biking page sets the scene; here are the precise routes to ride: 10 Verdon Park routes, from an easy 9 km family ride to the Sainte-Croix beaches to the Tour du Verdon (258 km) — with distances, levels and official GPX tracks.
A first family ride
Short, flat and beside the water: perfect with children or for getting back in the saddle. An e-bike makes it even more relaxed.
Beautiful day loops
From a half-day to a big ride: the Verdon’s great landscapes — lavender, lakes, villages and secret gorges — on marked loops with GPX tracks.
Lower Gorges Loop
28 kmThe “secret Verdon” around Quinson and Esparron: peaceful gorges and emerald water, far from the Grand Canyon crowds.
La Romaine
44–47 kmA heritage loop across the plateau and its villages, through the Roman Provence countryside around Riez.
Valensole Plateau Loop
53 kmA sea of lavender: in June and July, ride among purple fields and hilltop villages on the Valensole plateau.
Verdon Viewpoints
57 kmThis route links canyon viewpoints over 57 km and 1,180 to 1,290 m of elevation gain depending on the source: the 2025/2026 Vélo Loisir Provence guide rates it at “confirmé” (experienced) level, whereas the online portal shows it as “blue, easy” — judge by the elevation gain, and consider an e-bike.
Verdon Lakes Loop
71–74 kmThe grand tour of the turquoise lakes, from Sainte-Croix to Castillon: swimming possible at every stage.
For climbers
Elevation, vertiginous balcony roads and cols: these routes demand effort, and reward it with sweeping panoramas over the Verdon.
Route des Crêtes
≈ 23-24 kmShort but steep: the legendary La Palud loop and its 14 viewpoints over the canyon. We cover it in full detail on our cycling & mountain-biking page.
Upper Valleys
72 kmThe Alpine Upper Verdon, its larch forests and climbs: fresh air far from the gorges, for well-trained legs.
Gorges du Verdon Cycling Loop
95–99 kmThe grand tour of the canyon via both banks and their balcony roads. Rated “black”: very difficult, reserved for seasoned cyclists.
Touring: the Tour du Verdon
The cycling journey of a lifetime in the Verdon, spread over several days.
The Tour du Verdon by bike
258 kmThe great crossing, from the Verdon’s springs to the lower gorges: a long-distance itinerary linking the whole area, to spread over several days.
GPX tracks, levels and detailed route sheets
All these routes are listed by the Parc naturel régional du Verdon on the Vélo Loisir Provence portal, with a GPX track to download and an official level (from easy blue to very difficult black). It’s the reference for planning your ride. View the routes on Vélo Loisir Provence ↗
Frequently asked questions
Which easy cycling route should you do in the Verdon?
The most accessible is the 9 km link to the beaches of Lake Sainte-Croix from Moustiers-Sainte-Marie: flat and short, ideal for families. Around the lakes, you can also ride just one section of a longer loop to suit children. An e-bike remains a beginner’s best ally.
What is the finest cycling loop in the Verdon?
It depends on the mood you’re after: the Valensole Plateau Loop (53 km) for lavender, the Lakes Loop (71–74 km) for turquoise water, Verdon Viewpoints (57 km, 1,180 to 1,290 m of elevation gain depending on the source) for views over the canyon, or the Route des Crêtes (≈ 23-24 km, but steep) for the vertigo. All of them have a GPX track to download from the Vélo Loisir Provence portal of the Verdon Park.
Can you cycle all the way around Lake Sainte-Croix?
Yes. The lake is part of the Verdon Lakes Loop (71–74 km), and you can ride just a section of it — for example the shore between Les Salles-sur-Verdon and Bauduen, pleasant and rolling. The 9 km link to Galetas beach also makes it easy to reach the water.
Where can you find the GPX tracks for the Verdon’s cycling routes?
On the Vélo Loisir Provence portal, which lists the official routes of the Parc naturel régional du Verdon with their GPX tracks, distances and levels (from easy blue to very difficult black). It’s the reference for planning your ride.
Is there a big cycling itinerary across the whole Verdon?
Yes, the Tour du Verdon by bike: about 258 km linking the Verdon’s springs to the lower gorges, to be ridden over several days. A complete journey through cols, lakes, gorges and Provençal villages.
Check for yourself
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.
- Vélo Loisir Provence — the Tour du Verdon by bikeveloloisirprovence.com
Reference page for the “Tour du Verdon by bike” route: track, stages and profile, published by the association that designs and waymarks the area’s routes.
- Département du Var — Tour du Verdon by bikevar.fr
Institutional presentation of the Tour du Verdon by bike from the Département du Var, co-promoter of the route.
- FFC — “Des sources aux Gorges du Verdon” mountain-biking sitesitesvtt.ffc.fr
Mountain-biking site labelled by the Fédération française de cyclisme: “51 waymarked routes” and “650 km” (7 green, 12 blue, 24 red, 8 black), including the TransVerdon, about 260 km from north to south. Figures taken from the page.
- Parc naturel régional du Verdonparcduverdon.fr
The area’s managing authority: regulations by environment, navigation and safety on the lakes and in the gorges, advice from the Park rangers.
Quotations from French-language sources are translated by us; the original wording is on the page behind each link.
All 4 links responded during our last automated check, on 11 October 2026. A broken link is removed, never left in place.