A private boat picnic on the Verdon

Happy Day In Provence drives up to six of you from Aix to lavender fields away from the coach stops, then hands you the wheel of a private electric boat for two hours, with a Provençal picnic and local wines on board. Pick it because it's the one day trip here that puts you on the water, with time to jump in.

Lavender, Canyon Boat Picnic & Villages from Aix

About this experience

This is a private day, priced per group. Happy Day In Provence collects you at the Paul Cézanne statue in Aix and drives you to lavender fields off the usual coach route, then to the water. There you take the wheel of a private electric boat yourself (easy to handle, reviewers say) and spend two hours on the Verdon with a picnic of Provençal food and local wines. The afternoon brings the perched village of Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon above the lake, free time on the shore, and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. Seven hours in all.

The headline price looks steep at $1,430, but it buys the van, the guide and the boat for up to six. Split six ways that's about $238 each; for two, about $715 each. Lunch, wine and the boat are in it. For a couple it's a splurge. For a family of five or six it lands close to the shared Aix day at $182 a head, which has no boat and no lunch.

Reviewers keep naming the guide, Tom, and the rating sits at 4.9 from 35 reviews. Two things to settle when you book. Lavender: the listing promises it from 15 June to 30 July, and outside those dates you get more time at the lake. And the launch point: the listing puts the boat in the canyon but doesn't name the base, while Tom's similar tour sold on another site starts from the port of Esparron, on the lower gorges. That's a different stretch from the Galetas canyon by Moustiers, so ask which one you'll get.

Private: just your group, up to six
Two hours steering your own electric boat
A Provençal picnic with local wines on board
Lavender off the coach routes, 15 June to 30 July
Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

How the day runs

MorningPaul Cézanne statue, Aix
Meet your guide at the statue for the drive north.
Mid-morningLavender off the beaten path
Quiet fields away from the busiest Valensole stops, from 15 June to 30 July. Outside those dates the time goes to the lake.
MiddayTwo hours on the boat
Take the wheel, open the picnic, pour the wine. Jump in if it's warm.
AfternoonSainte-Croix-du-Verdon
The hilltop village above the lake, with free time on the shore.
Late afternoonMoustiers-Sainte-Marie
The faience village under its star, then the drive back to Aix, about seven hours after the start.

Boats on turquoise water under the road bridge at the mouth of the Verdon canyon

Lavender rows in bloom beside a field of ripe wheat on the Valensole plateau

The gold star of Moustiers hanging on its chain between two cliffs

What's included

Included

Pickup and drop-off at the Paul Cézanne statue in Aix
Provençal picnic lunch with local wines
Two-hour private electric boat ride
Air-conditioned vehicle

Not included

Hotel pickup: you meet at the statue
Swimwear and towels (bring your own)

Who it suits

Book it if

You're a family or group of four to six and want a day to yourselves
You want to be on the water, not just look at it
Lunch on a boat with a glass of local wine sounds right
You're visiting between mid-June and late July for lavender

Skip it if

You're travelling solo or as a couple on a budget: the shared Aix day costs a fraction
You want the rim roads and their viewpoints: this day stays low, on the water
You must see the Galetas canyon and the operator can't confirm the launch point

Tips before you book

Ask at booking where the boat launches, and what happens to the boat time if wind closes the water. Strong wind does shut navigation on the lake in summer.
For lavender, book between 15 June and mid-July. The listing runs to 30 July, but the Valensole harvest starts in late June.
Bring swimwear and a towel if you plan to jump in.
Whoever steers the boat should leave the wine to the passengers.

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Frequently asked questions

How much is the Verdon boat picnic per person?

It's priced per group: from $1,430 for up to six. That's about $238 each for six, or about $715 each for two. The picnic, the wine and the boat are included.

Do you drive the boat yourself?

Yes. It's a private electric boat that you steer, and reviewers say it's easy to handle.

Where does the private boat go?

The listing says the canyon but doesn't name the base. A similar tour by the same guide, sold elsewhere, launches from the port of Esparron on the lower gorges, not from Pont du Galetas. Ask before you book if the Galetas canyon matters to you.

Is the Verdon boat tour good for children?

Yes. Infant seats are available and the listing says most travellers can take part. Ask for life jackets in your children's sizes when you book.

Ready to book

Book Private boat picnic from Aix

A private day from Aix for up to six: lavender, a self-driven electric boat in the canyon and a picnic.

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