Gorges du Verdon tour: Pedal boat on Lac de Sainte Croix

A pedal boat floats you across the clearest water below Europe's largest canyon.

A full-day tour from Aix en Provence that visits Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, the Gorges du Verdon and Valensole Plateau, with hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide and a pedal boat ride on Lac de Sainte Croix. The lavender fields are at their peak in June. The route is flexible and can be customized on request. Allow seven to eight hours for the whole circuit.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Valensole Plateau1h · entry included
2. Verdon Gorge1h · entry included

Explore Provence's highlights in one day

• Depart from Aix en Provence hotel
• Visit lavender fields on Valensole Plateau (June only)
• See Gorges du Verdon and Galetas bridge viewpoint
• Take pedal boat ride on Lac de Sainte Croix
• Free time to visit Moustiers-Sainte-Marie village
• Lunch at café terraces in Moustiers
• Return to Aix en Provence hotel

The experience

How do you see the Gorges du Verdon and actually get out on the water without renting a car? This tour picks you up from your Aix en Provence hotel and handles the driving so you can watch the landscape change from rolling farmland to the dramatic canyon walls that took the Verdon River millennia to carve. The guide is fluent in English and travels with you the whole day, pointing out the rural scenery and stopping at the Galetas bridge, where the view opens onto both the gorge and the lake below.

The pedal boat on Lac de Sainte Croix is the moment most people remember. You drift across water so clear it reflects the cliffs, and the canyon rises around you in a way no viewpoint from above can match. Before that, if you're traveling in June, the Valensole Plateau spreads out in purple lavender fields, the kind that fill postcards, and you have time to walk and photograph. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, a village tucked under a rocky cliff, gives you free time to wander the ceramic shops and grab lunch at one of the terrace cafés.

The van is air-conditioned, and bottled water is provided throughout. The route itself is flexible: if there's a particular stop or a different pace that suits you better, the operator can customize the circuit on request. The whole day runs seven to eight hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Aix en Provence.
• air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking guide.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30 and 09:00

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by Eden Trip

Is this one for you?The day runs seven to eight hours with moderate walking at each stop (the Valensole fields, the Gorges viewpoint and Moustiers village), so you need a comfortable pace and reasonable fitness. The pedal boat is gentle and requires no swimming or special skill, but if you prefer to skip it, let the operator know when you book.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French and Arabic.

Can I do this tour if I'm visiting in July or August instead of June?

Yes. The lavender fields of the Valensole Plateau are only at their peak in June through mid-July, so if you're traveling later, that stop may not be as visually striking. The Gorges du Verdon, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie and the pedal boat on Lac de Sainte Croix run year-round.

What exactly happens on the pedal boat at Lac de Sainte Croix?

You board a pedal boat on the lake at the base of the Gorges du Verdon and paddle across the water, which is exceptionally clear and reflects the canyon walls. It's a short ride, not a long excursion, and it costs 20 euros per person in addition to the tour price.

Is lunch included, or do I need to bring food?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. You have free time in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie to eat at one of the cafés with terraces, or you can bring your own food. Bottled water is provided on the vehicle.

Does the guide stay with us the whole time, or just drive?

The guide drives and accompanies you throughout the visits, so you have someone who knows the sites and can answer questions as you go. The guide speaks English, French and Arabic.

What if I want to skip the lavender fields or spend more time at one stop?

The proposed route is flexible and can be customized according to your wishes. If you want to adjust the itinerary, you can request a custom circuit when you book.