Haute Provence Outdoor · Castellane
In a full wetsuit and helmet you walk, float and swim down the Verdon to the Tusset bridge, through small rapids and green pools, behind a guide from Haute Provence Outdoor. Pick it because it's the only trip on this site that puts you in the river itself, and children can come from age 6.
Haute Provence Outdoor is a Castellane outfitter running rafting, kayaking, paddleboarding and aqua trekking on the Verdon. For this half day you meet at their base by the Huttopia campsite on the gorge road, pull on a full neoprene wetsuit, helmet and life jacket, and ride to the start. A walk of about 15 minutes brings you down to the water. Then you follow the guide downstream: wading the shallows, floating through gentle rapids, swimming across pools and jumping off low rocks if you want, past small caves, to the bridge at Tusset.
This is the gorge from the inside, not from a lay-by. Every minibus day from Nice or Aix looks down at the river; this one puts you in it, on the upper stretch toward the entrance of the Grand Canyon section. It's also short and cheap: $74 for about 3.5 hours, against a whole day in a van. Guests rate it 4.9 from 108 reviews and single out the guides' English.
The practical bits. You need your own way to the base: Zou! line 51 reaches Castellane town from Nice in season, but the campsite is out on the gorge road, so a car is far easier. Everyone has to swim and be at ease in water, and the listing asks for moderate fitness. The river runs colder than the lake, which is why the wetsuit is full-length. And this is a guided course on a known stretch: on your own, stay out of the river, because EDF can release water from the dams upstream at any time.
At Camping Huttopia Gorges du Verdon, 9196 Route des Gorges du Verdon, 04120 Castellane. Park in their lot about 100 m from the campsite.
Wetsuit, helmet and life jacket on, a safety briefing, then the ride to the start.
A short walk down to the water's edge.
Walk, float and swim through rapids and pools, with small jumps for anyone who wants them.
Out of the water by the Tusset bridge, about 3.5 hours after the start.
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Not on your own in the river: EDF releases water from the dams upstream and the level can rise within minutes, and swimming is banned along the Blanc-Martel trail. Swim at the lake beaches, or in the river with a guided outfit like this one, on a set course with full kit.
Six and up, with moderate fitness. Everyone has to be able to swim.
At Haute Provence Outdoor's base by Camping Huttopia Gorges du Verdon, 9196 Route des Gorges du Verdon, 04120 Castellane. Park in their lot about 100 m from the campsite. There's no pickup from Nice or Aix.
Colder than the lake. The river is fed from the dams upstream, so you get a full-length neoprene wetsuit, and once you're moving most people stop noticing.
Ready to book
Wade, float and swim the Verdon near Castellane with a guide, wetsuit and helmet included. From age 6.
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