The Verdon Gorge
Days 1-7 · 6 nightsHotel in the Saint-Michel area of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, on the road to La Palud. A base for alternating the village in the morning and the Lac de Sainte-Croix in the afternoon, without driving the gorge road again.
€130 a nightSee on Booking →Inn at Rougon, on the RD952, at the Point Sublime, one of the stop's free viewpoints. For setting off early on the Blanc-Martel trail and coming back for dinner without getting back in the car.
The Point Sublime viewpoint is a few minutes' walk away, and the Blanc-Martel trail starts at the Couloir Samson, below.
€110 a nightSee on Booking →3-star hotel on Rue Hilarion Bourret, in Riez, 17 km from the heart of the gorges. Handy for the Valensole plateau and the Lac de Sainte-Croix, further from the Route des Crêtes viewpoints.
The lavender on the Valensole plateau usually flowers from late June to mid-July: book early for those weeks.
€110 a nightSee on Booking →Campsite in the Saint-Michel area of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, the faience village that is one of the stop's free sights. For pitching a tent or parking a van and exploring towards the Lac de Sainte-Croix.
€25 a nightSee on Booking →Inn on the Route des Crêtes, in La Palud-sur-Verdon, 5 km from the town centre. For starting the viewpoint loop straight away and setting off early for the Blanc-Martel trail.
The Route des Crêtes is narrow and busy in summer: drive the loop in the morning, before the camper vans.
€85 a nightSee on Booking →2-star hotel on Boulevard de la République, in the centre of Castellane, upstream of the gorges. A good-value base for driving to the Point Sublime and walking to the town's restaurants.
€85 a nightSee on Booking →Hotel on Place de l'Église, in the centre of Castellane, with a pool, 18 km from the heart of the gorges. For cooling off after the Route des Crêtes and walking to dinner in the village.
July and August are busy in Castellane: book early and expect traffic on the road to the Point Sublime.
€95 a nightSee on Booking →Country house hotel away from the town of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, on the Saint-Michel side, on the road to Quinson. For a relaxed stay between the village and the lake, dining on site rather than going out again.
The house has belonged to Alain Ducasse since 1995: the restaurant cooks from the estate's kitchen garden, so book before you arrive.
€330 a nightSee on Booking →Hotel in La Palud-sur-Verdon, the village where the Route des Crêtes begins, less than five kilometres from the town centre. For linking viewpoints and trails without long drives, and returning to the spa in the evening.
€260 a nightSee on Booking →Château hotel in Trigance, a village away from the gorges, a dozen kilometres from the town centre. For those who want to sleep within stone walls and drive to the viewpoints, with peace and quiet thrown in.
A restored 11th-century fortified castle perched above the village: you walk up via a staircase cut into the rock.
€220 a nightSee on Booking →3-star boutique hotel on Chemin de Melen, in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, outside the town. For a quiet night near the faience village and driving to the Lac de Sainte-Croix.
€170 a nightSee on Booking →B&B rooms in a 19th-century country house on the Castellane road, in Trigance, 15 km from the heart of the gorges. For a quiet stay, with the Balcons de la Mescla and the Route des Crêtes by car.
€140 a nightSee on Booking →