2014 07 18 Paddling the Verdon with Ecole de kayak du Verdon and the Vagabonds FULL version
Note: this is the ultra-long slow-tv version in 1080p. Nice for people intending to paddle the canyon, maybe boring for others. For a shorter version see Vimeo
and (720p)
In the summer of 2014 I unexpectedly ended up in Castellane after having left the Guillestre region because of bad weather. After having paddled the pre-canyon (Castellane – Point Sublime) a few times, I decided to go look for a guide, to paddle the Grand Canyon again. That turned out not to be that easy. There is a lot of rafting, hot dogging etc on the stretch of river leading into the Canyon, but no commercial rafting or kayaking through the canyon. This makes sense because of the risk involved.
At last I got in contact with the Verdon kayak school (Ecole de Kayak du Verdon). It turned out they have a website and are on facebook.
So on the 18th of July I joined a trip with the Verdon kayak school and some other French paddlers from a kayak school from the Guillestre region “Les Vagues à Bonds”
I have now paddled the Grand Canyon twice. The first time without a guide, the second time with. After both these experiences, I would like to advice all paddlers who are not familiar with this river to get a guide.
It is not a very difficult river (class IV at the summer water level), but the amount of undercuts, sifons make that the “normal lines” will sometimes bring you very close to danger. Because of the huge boulders you cannot see what’s coming and a siphon blocking the whole river might be around a corner.
It is a long paddle, in a deep canyon with no help nearby. Do not expect other kayak groups to be there, because there are not that many people paddling this canyon. If you do venture out without a guide, make sure, that the Inbut is free, before you paddle into it. (There is a portage, but it takes about an hour).
This is not to scare you: it is the most beautiful river I know and if you are a paddler able to do a class IV you should definitely try to paddle it (with a guide). If you are a class III paddler try paddling the pre-Canyon. You can paddle up to Point Sublime. You can enjoy the beauty of the canyon without having to face the danger. Okay, you have to carry your boat up some stairs at the end (takes 10 minutes or so), but its definitely worth it.
The water levels are controlled by a dam, so in spring a lot of times there is no water. In July and Agustus there used to be water on Tuesday and Friday, but last summer there was water only twice. Because it was a dry winter, but also policy of the EDF seems to have changed. Most years there are damn release in the first or second week of september, but it is all very unpredictable and hard to get good info.
2018 09 05 Paddling the Verdon with Ecole de Kayak du Verdon
Note: this is Slow TV. For a short movie of the Verdon Gand Cayon check out
The Verdon Grand Canyon is not a very difficult (class IV at the summer water level), but the amount of undercuts and siphons make that the “normal lines” will sometimes bring you very close to danger. Because of the huge boulders you cannot see what’s coming and a siphon blocking the whole river might be around a corner.
It is a long paddle, in a deep canyon with no help nearby. Do not expect other kayak groups to be there, because there are not that many people paddling this canyon. If you do venture out without a guide, make sure, that the Imbut is free, before you paddle into it. (There is a portage, but it takes about an hour).
This is not to scare you: it is the most beautiful river I know and if you are a paddler able to do a class IV you should definitely try to paddle it (with a guide). If you are a class III paddler try paddling the pre-Canyon. You can paddle up to Point Sublime. You can enjoy the beauty of the canyon without having to face the danger. Okay, you have to carry your boat up some stairs at the end (takes 10 minutes or so), but its definitely worth it.
The water levels are controlled by a dam, so in spring a lot of times there is no water. In July and Agustus there normally is water on Tuesday and Friday, Most years there are damn release in the first or second week of september, but it is all very unpredictable and hard to get good info. This year there was water continously from the first to the 10th op September.
To get in contact with the Ecole de Kayak du Verdon go to or contact them over facebook.
Verdon en SUP: Castellane - Point Sublime
/! Pas de leash en eaux-vives /! No leash on white water /!
Descente du Verdon en SUP (Stand-up-paddle) d'eaux-vives.
De 1km en amont de Castellane jusqu'au Point Sublime
Le 18 juillet 2017, sur lâcher EDF
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Alpes-de-Haute-Provence : Kayak et Paddle dans les Gorges de Baudinard
Vlog 5 – Poursuite de la série 100% OUTDOOR dans les Alpes de Haute-Provence. Cette fois-ci Grégory découvre le Verdon en canoë et s'initie au paddle ????
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stand up paddle verdon ( barre st jean )
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paddle verdon
Jean charles,Romain et Brian petite session stand up paddle au verdon
Paddle Gorges du verdon 2015
Ballade en paddle dans les basses Gorges du Verdon, Naish paddle, Septembre 2015.
Francie
Rafting Ubaye, Guil, Durance, Geronde, goldriver.cz
GORGES DU VERDON 2016 CANOE KAYAK PEDALO LAC SAINTE CROIX CAMPING ||GoPro® HERO4 BLACK||
Kayaking the Gorges du Verdon
A mini kayak expedition of two days in the Gorge du Verdon with the dam releasing 40 cbm/s. Check out the HQ version (with sound) on Vimeo:
20100822105527 (5).m2ts
ballade dans les gorges du Verdon
Kayak Trip in France, 530km : Canal du midi & Garonne
Il me semble que c'est au détour d'une conversation, lors d'un trajet en stop, que l'idée m'est venue de faire le canal du midi en kayak.
Je me rappelle le conducteur me dire : j'étais en péniche sur le canal et j'ai croisé un kayakiste : il avait des bras aussi gros que ma tête!.
Pour ma part je n'avais jamais fait plus de deux jours consécutifs en kayak, comme les traditionnelles descentes de rivière que l'on peut faire dans le sud de la France.
Fin avril j'ai 15 jours de libre, et le beau temps arrive! Bien à l'arrachée, une semaine avant le départ, je trouve un kayak d'occasion, avec la place pour un bidon étanche de 50 litres : l'embarcation idéale pour mes besoins.
Niveau itinéraire, je sais que je ne peux pas me perdre, il suffit de suivre le canal. Je glane quand même ci et là des informations, sur le net notamment. J'appelle aussi Ludovic Mabire, un kayakiste qui avait déjà emprunté le même parcours il y a quelques années. Il m'apprend que la Garonne est navigable partout (sauf aux environs de la centrale nucléaire de Golfech), ce qui m'évite de prendre le canal latéral. Je pourrai donc gagner du temps, grâce au courant.
Niveau équipement, je prends une tente, un matelas gonflable et un duvet. Un réchaud, une popote et de la nourriture. Des livres, mon équipement vidéo, un baladeur MP3. Et bien sûr, des vêtements : short, collant, tee-shirt, polaire, pantalon et veste imperméable.
Dimanche 25 avril, dans une voiture spacieuse, des amis m'emmènent à l'étang de Thau, moi et mon kayak. C'est le départ, et je ne sais vraiment pas à quoi m'attendre, ni même si je vais pouvoir tenir le coup, j'ai prévu de faire au moins 35km par jour...
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It's while hitchhiking that the idea of kayaking on the midi canal came up to my mind. I remember the driver saying to me I was on a barge, taking my holidays on the Midi Canal, and a kayaker passed by: his arms where as big as my head!
So far, my kayak experiences didn't exceed two days, like a typical river descent you can do in south of France.
End of april is soon coming, and I have 15 days off, perfect time for adventure! One week before departure, I buy a second hand kayak, with room for a waterproof container: it's exactly what I need.
I am gathering maps to work out my route, but I know I can't get lost: I will just need to follow the canal. On the internet, I contact Ludovic Mabire, who did the same trip a few years earlier. He gives me some advice, and tells me that the Garonne river is navigable, except near Golfech nuclear station. Good for me, I'll save some time, with the help of the current.
My equipment is quite basic: a tent, mattress and sleeping bag; some food, a stove and a pan, to cook my meals; books, video cameras, MP3 player. And for sure, clothes: shorts, tight-fitting pants, tee-shirt, fleece jacket, waterproof pants and jacket.
On Sunday the 25th of April, here we go! Friends drive me with my kayak on the roof of the car to the Thau lake. It's time for leaving, I don't know what to expect, and if I'll make it: I plan to paddle at least 35km a day...
Les Gorges de Baudinard - Verdon 30 Juillet 2017
First time kayaking in the Gorges du Verdon - GoPro + Mavic Pro
We went for a short escape to the Gorges du Verdon while we were on holidays in Nice.
Sofia experienced kayaking in the Lac de Saint Croix for the first time and actually enjoyed it!
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Gorges du Verdon en canoë-kayak
Descente des Gorges du Verdon en Canoë-Kayak.
Réalisé par
Juillet 2010
Un dimanche sur le Verdon
Balade en Paddle au départ du lac de Quinson jusqu'au lac d'Esparron-de-verdon
Gorge du Verdon, France - Brandsport 198x
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Esparron de Verdon prépare la saison touriste 2010
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400 habitants en hiver et autonome, 4000 en juillet et août, Esparron attend et se prépare à la saison estivale..Pour parler de tout cela, Sébastien Galaup reçoit aujourd'hui Gérard Burle, maire d'Esparron de Verdon, et Guy Veys, maire adjoint. (DROITS RESERVES . Pour toute exploitation sur TV, web, mobile, aller sur )
ardeche en canoé part 2
canoe part2