Verdon
Operated from the Southern French Alps and Provence
On its path from the mountains of Haute Provence to the sea, the Verdon cuts through a number of limestone gorges. The most spectacular and beautiful of these is the Gorge du Verdon. This is the famous ‘Grand Canyon’ of Europe. The descent of this class 2-4+(5) canyon is like a mini expedition. Because of its length (34 kilometres), difficulty and nature (portages and scouting) It is a paddling experience on a scale that is found nowhere else in Europe.
Some paddlers on their first descent have taken over 8 hours or more to finish it, others have even had to leave their boats and come back the next day. However, Canoe Control guides with intimate knowledge of the gorge can make the journey an adventure and not an ordeal, increasing your safety and decreasing the time needed to complete it. The gorge has been very well documented in many guidebooks; please refer to White Water South Alps by Peter Knowles for a detailed description.
This trip can be taken as a complete package as part of the structure of our Alpine courses in the summer, or when we are in Provence in April and early May. It also can be taken as a completely separate trip. Although this is a guided trip each paddler will need a sound skill level (solid class 3+ 4 with a good roll). A good fitness level and a degree of mettle are necessary. The trip will consist of one guide and safety boater per four clients.
Releases from the dam at Castellan are usually every Tuesday and Thursday during the spring and summer. Timetabled Verdon Gorge trips will normally be offered on the Thursday, with a preparation paddle the day before. However group bookings for Tuesday are possible. We do not offer this trip as a one-day package. The prep-day is of great importance for training and skill review. Clients already on a Canoe Control week can join this trip, however there will be a supplementary fee.