Hydrospeed on the Verdon: The Most Intense White Water Experience

Equipped with swim fins and a high-density foam float, challenge the rapids of the Verdon on a mythical river run leading straight to the gateway of the Grand Canyon!

Hydrospeed (also known as riverboarding) is hands down the most active and sporty white water discipline. It offers a total, face-to-face immersion into the river's currents. You will swim through rapids, surf cresting waves, and play directly in the eddies.

However, you do not need to be a seasoned professional to join; you simply need to love being in the water, and soon enough, you will body-surf as one with the river. Having prior experience using swim fins is definitely a +!

Vidéo Hydrospeed : Hydrospeed

Description Hydrospeed : Hydrospeed

Trip Itinerary & Logistics

Meeting Point : Depending on the season, we will meet either at our main base in Castellane or directly at the activity site on the dedicated "eau-vive" parking lot in Carajuan. This is where you will meet Kevin, your expert hydrospeed guide.
The Gear-up : Getting dressed takes a little time because there is a lot of thick protective gear to slip into: reinforced neoprene pants, a 5 mm wetsuit jacket, neoprene booties, swim fins, and of course, your certified helmet and life jacket.
What you need to bring : You only need to bring a swimsuit. Please make sure to communicate your height, weight, and shoe size beforehand so we can prepare your custom gear package.

Learning the Lines and Taming the River

And off we go! We spend the first ten minutes in a calm section of the river learning the basics of navigation with your hydrospeed board.

First, you will master propulsion using your fins, followed by turning techniques. You will quickly learn to use small currents to control the board's glide. The golden rule of hydrospeed is to never fight the river; instead, you must anticipate your trajectories and flow with it.
For safety, you will also learn the specific hand signals your guide will use to communicate throughout the descent.

By diving straight into the current, you get an immediate, physical understanding of river dynamics. After 2 hours of active descent, you will know how to play with white water movements, whirlpools, wave trains, and counter-currents.

The Sensation Finale : Near the end of the run, the limestone gorge narrows significantly as we arrive right underneath the towering Point Sublime lookout. The Verdon accelerates and steepens. This is where the adrenaline reaches its peak: you will body-surf the final Class 4 rapids under the watchful, expert eye of Kevin.
The Landing : Our journey ends at the dramatic entrance of the Couloir Samson. The surrounding landscape is monumental. It is a perfect time to stop, as the physical effort is intense and leg cramps might start knocking at the door! A short 10-minute walk up the historic Martel Trail brings us back to the parking lot where our minibus is waiting.

Important Info: EDF Dam Water Releases

To practice hydrospeed departing from Castellane, the EDF dam water releases must be open. If the dams are closed and the water flow drops, we seamlessly shift to an active exploration of the inner canyon on foot—our famous Aqua Trekking (Rando Aqua) experience!

Dam Schedule : During July and August, dams are generally open on Tuesdays and Fridays. Outside of these two high-season months, there is no fixed schedule; openings depend on winter snowpack and spring rainfall. This is why we always recommend keeping several options in mind.
Our Adventure Guarantee : If the sun is out, a great day in nature is always guaranteed! If river flows change, we can easily redirect your group to spring runs on the Haut Verdon, the Daluis Gorge, Canyoning, or a Packrafting trip.

Feel free to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for real-time updates on water releases, or contact our team to discuss all available options.

Rates & Booking

Early Season (Until July 12th) : 55 euros / person
High Season (July 13th to August 23rd) : 60 euros / person

What our Adventurers say about this trip:

"Incredible experience!!!"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
We tested the Hydrospeed tour and it was an INCREDIBLE experience! A huge thank you to Kevin, our instructor, who guided us with top professionalism and kindness, while reassuring us at the perfect moments. Thanks to him, we were able to fully enjoy this high-sensation activity in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. I must admit I had a few apprehensions at the start, but they quickly flew away thanks to Kevin's attentive listening and clear explanations. If you are looking for an activity that is sporty, refreshing, and packed with adrenaline, go for it without hesitation. Thanks again for this great moment! We leave with heads full of memories."
Marie and Louis (Google Review)

"Amazing sensations!!!"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I absolutely loved it and had a great time. Amazing sensations doing hydrospeed on Class 3 and 4 rapids!"
Anonymous (Google Review)

Localisation Hydrospeed : Hydrospeed

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.

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