We take advantage of the summer days where the water releases are at a minimum level to explore some of the most isolated part of the Verdon. Floating, swimming and walking are the ways to do it. Water rambling is definitely one of the most appropriate and fun ways of discovering the natural beauties hidden at the bottom of the Gorges.
Meet at 9:00 am at Adventure Forest (see access map). The ABOARD Rafting guide will handle your equipement and then we will drive with our mini bus to the Auberge des Cavaliers.
We will access the Verdon on a steep trail (45 mn. walk) which leads to a small beach at the foot of the Estellier rapid. There will be a break to take a rest and get changed into the wetsuits.
Equipped with a wetsuit, a helmet and a life jacket, we use the current to carry us along the river. A “water ramble” not only implies floating, but also jumping and swimming in clear water, or walking around rapids, fallen trees or any obstacles which might be encountered (congested rapids, undercuts). We will discover extraordinary sites such as the “Styx” (with reference to the Greek mythological river), the “Maugue” (bad causeway in Provencal language), and we will reach the “Imbut” (funnel in Provencal), where the Verdon disappears underneath big fallen boulders).
We will stop for pic-nic during the day at a sunny bank of the Verdon.
It is possible to do a few optional jumps along the way, some of which are quite exciting, especially at the Imbut site.
We will exit the canyon on the Vidal trail, a steep trail which implies about an hours’ hike. Then, we will reach our mini bus to get back to Castellane.
