Moustiers-Sainte-MarieStory N° 118
Verdon Gorge Open Road
Carve the cliff-top corniches of France's Grand Canyon, from turquoise Lac de Sainte-Croix to lavender-streaked Provence.
The itinerary.
3 days · 8 stops
Friday
Day One
Arrive in the perched village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie and ease onto Provencal time before the gorge driving begins.
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Notre-Dame-de-Beauvoir Chapel
Climb the steep switchback path above Moustiers to the cliffside chapel beneath the village's famous suspended gold star.
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Maison Bondil Faience
Browse the hand-painted earthenware that has made Moustiers famous since the 17th century.
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La Treille Muscate
Terrace dining on Provencal lamb and local rose at the edge of the old village square.
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Hotel
La Bastide de Moustiers booking.com
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Getting around
- Arrive by car from Marseille or Nice airport (about 2 hours); the open road is the whole point of this trip
Saturday
Day Two
The signature drive: the cliff-hugging Route des Cretes loop above the Verdon, with raw drop-offs and vulture's-eye viewpoints.
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Route des Cretes (D23)
A 23 km one-way clifftop loop from La Palud-sur-Verdon with fourteen belvederes hanging over the deepest river canyon in Europe.
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Belvedere de l'Escales
The most vertiginous overlook on the loop, where griffon vultures ride thermals straight up from the gorge floor.
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Point Sublime
Trailhead for a short walk to the dramatic confluence viewpoint where the Verdon plunges into its narrowest passage.
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Hotel
La Bastide de Moustiers booking.com
→
Getting around
- Drive the Route des Cretes loop counter-clockwise from La Palud-sur-Verdon (the upper section is one-way)
Sunday
Day Three
Trade the heights for the water: paddle the turquoise lake where the gorge opens, then chase lavender fields on the road home.
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Lac de Sainte-Croix
Rent a kayak or electric boat at the Galetas bridge and paddle up into the mouth of the gorge over impossibly turquoise water.
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Plateau de Valensole
Detour through the endless lavender plateau (in full bloom late June to mid-July) on the drive back toward the autoroute.
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Hotel
La Bastide de Moustiers booking.com
→
Getting around
- Drive to Lac de Sainte-Croix (15 minutes), then loop back via the Valensole plateau toward your departure airport
Location.
Frequently asked
How many days do you need for Verdon Gorge Open Road?
3 days. The itinerary runs from Friday to Sunday and covers 8 curated stops across 3 days.
How much does Verdon Gorge Open Road cost?
Premium — €300–600 per day per person, premium lodging included.
Where do you stay during Verdon Gorge Open Road?
La Bastide de Moustiers is the recommended base for the trip; the full hotel list per day is in the itinerary section.
What's included in the Verdon Gorge Open Road itinerary?
Day-by-day stops at 8 restaurants, museums, viewpoints and landmarks; transportation hints between each leg; and a hotel base in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie.
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