Where to stay
The right place to stay is, first of all, the right area. Whether you are coming for hiking, white water, swimming or peace and quiet, the ideal base changes. Here is how to choose — then find every place to stay in our directory.
See the 426 places to stayThe base for canyon lovers: the starting point of the Route des Crêtes and the Blanc-Martel trail, a stone’s throw from Point Sublime. Ideal for hikers and anyone who wants the plunging view on waking. A more limited choice of accommodation — book early.
The gateway town to the gorge and the capital of white water: this is where you find the most shops, restaurants and places to stay, and where rafting and canyoning trips set off. The most practical base for a first trip.
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon, Les Salles-sur-Verdon, Bauduen: on the shore of Lake Sainte-Croix, this is the base camp for a swimming and family holiday, with the Pont du Galetas a paddle away.
The perched village facing the lake, on the south bank: the base for those who want the Corniche Sublime, the Balcons de la Mescla and a quieter Verdon, away from the crowds of the right bank.
Further from the gorge but peaceful, the spa town of Gréoux and the villages of the Valensole plateau suit a gentle stay, mixing wellness, lavender and day trips into the canyon.
Three main bases cover the essentials: La Palud-sur-Verdon in the heart of the canyon (right bank, for hikers), Castellane to the east (services, shops and white water), and the lakes area to the west (Moustiers, Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon, Les Salles, for swimming and families). Aiguines is a good base on the left bank, and Gréoux-les-Bains for a quiet, spa-focused stay.
Castellane for services, restaurants, white water and a wide choice of accommodation — the most comfortable base, at the eastern entrance to the gorge. La Palud-sur-Verdon to be closest to the belvederes and the great hikes (Route des Crêtes, Blanc-Martel), with a smaller choice to be booked early.
Around the lake: Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon, Les Salles-sur-Verdon and Bauduen right by the water, and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie just above. This is the ideal area for swimming, canoeing at the Pont du Galetas and a family holiday.
Not necessarily: one or two bases are enough for three days. As the two banks of the canyon only meet at either end, some prefer one night on the right bank (the canyon) and one night by the lakes to cut down on driving — but staying in Castellane or by the lake works very well.
The lakes area (Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon, Les Salles-sur-Verdon, Bauduen) is the best suited: supervised swimming, gently sloping beaches and villages on a human scale. Castellane also works well, with more services close at hand.
No: there is no accommodation at the bottom of the canyon itself. You stay in the villages around it (La Palud, Castellane, Aiguines) or, to sleep “right by the water”, on the shore of Lake Sainte-Croix (Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon, Les Salles-sur-Verdon, Bauduen).
For July–August, allow several months: the choice is especially limited at La Palud-sur-Verdon, in the heart of the canyon. Castellane and the lakes area, better supplied, leave a little more room, but summer demand stays strong across the whole area.
Yes, a handful in our directory: a dome and a “Nordic pod” in Castellane, a cabin in the middle of nature and a monastery (the Monastère de Ségries) in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. Still a limited offering, to be booked well in advance.
Castellane concentrates a good share of the area’s campsites, from classic family campsites to more upmarket estates (mobile homes, pool) — see our accommodation directory for the full list, filterable by municipality.
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is a perched village a few minutes from the lake, not right by the water: you come here for the charm of the village and its faience, with a short drive for swimming. Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon, Les Salles-sur-Verdon and Bauduen, by contrast, sit directly on the lakeshore.
The external sources this guide relies on, one click away.We would rather you be able to contradict us than ask you to take our word for it.
Informations touristiques officielles du territoire (Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Riez, Valensole et communes voisines) : sites, activités et conseils de préparation de séjour.
Office de tourisme couvrant 16 villages de la rive gauche et des lacs, dont Aiguines, Bauduen et Trigance ; plages de Bauduen, du Galetas (Aiguines) et Margaridon (Les Salles-sur-Verdon).
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