Description Canoë-Kayak : Canoeing and kayak Half-day-trip

A technical and sporty descent in the Verdon Gorge

Guided by an expert instructor, you will learn how to read the river, choose your line, and clear the rapids with precision. This trip is perfect for individuals who have already experienced rafting and are looking for a more intense, immersive, and active white water adventure.

1. Duration: Around 2.5 hours of active navigation (sporty rhythm).
2. The Experience: You will tackle a series of exciting and continuous rapids. Rest assured, the calmer sections of the river will allow you to relax and look up at the stunning, vertical landscapes that surround us.
3. Prerequisites: This active trip requires you to be a confident swimmer and ideally have some previous paddling experience.

Trip itinerary & Logistics

1. Meeting Point: Welcome at our private base in Castellane. Meet your guide and gear up with professional equipment (neoprene suit, lifejacket, helmet, paddle).
2. Shuttle: A short 3-minute minibus ride to the launch site located right in the village of Castellane.
3. Briefing: Comprehensive safety briefing from your guide and final gear adjustments.
4. On the River (2.5 to 3 hours): We start with an alternation of calm waters and small rapids to master your boat's steering. Then comes the highlight: the famous "Barre Saint-Jean" rapid—a thrilling technical section that some might end up clearing while swimming! The adventure continues with the adrenaline-pumping "Chasteuil" threshold.
5. Arrival: We land on the beautiful, scenic beach of Pont de Soleil, where our driver is waiting for us.
6. Return: A 20-minute minibus ride back to our base in Castellane.

Important info: EDF Dam water releases

1. To navigate in a Canoe-Raft or Kayak-Raft departing from Castellane, the EDF dam water releases must be open.
2. July & August: Dams are generally open on Tuesdays and Fridays.
3. Spring & Autumn (May, June, September): There are no fixed rules; openings depend on winter snowpack and spring rainfall.

Our backup plan: If the dam is closed, we take advantage of the lower water level to enter the Grand Canyon on foot—this is our famous Water Trekking (Rando Aqua)! Alternatively, we can redirect you to spring runs on the Haut Verdon or the Daluis Gorge, Canyoning, or Packrafting. A great trip is always guaranteed if the sun is out!

Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for real-time updates on water releases.

Rates & Booking

Early Season (Until July 12th): €55 / person

High Season (July 13th to August 23rd): €60 / person

What our Adventurers say about this trip:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Magical moment!!!" "A magical time in a canoe, made even better by Kevin's kindness and humor, which made the adventure so enjoyable! Thanks also to Sandrine for her warm and smiling welcome. A fantastic experience at Buena Vista Rafting, we recommend them with eyes closed!" > — Carla (Google Review)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Top notch experience!!" "Kayak-rafting with Kevin: great atmosphere, serious organization, and a super friendly team!" > — Maxime (Google Review)

Looking for the next step?

If you loved navigating autonomously and want to progress your skills, join us in the spring for our dedicated Packrafting Clinics (Discovery or Advanced levels) on various technical rivers!

Localisation Canoë-Kayak : Canoeing and kayak Half-day-trip

You can use this map to locate and calculate your route by clicking on the marker. The estimated time by Google is to increase by 20%, which corresponds to our small mountain roads.