Description Rafting : Rafting Discovery

Trip Itinerary & Logistics

1. Meeting Point : Rendezvous at our private base in Castellane to meet the crew and get your equipment.

Address: 241 route de la zone artisanale, 04120 Castellane

Open directions to the Buena Vista Base

1. Shuttle : A quick 3-minute minibus ride to reach the launch site located right in the village.
2. Briefing : After a safety briefing, your guide will equip you with a premium neoprene wetsuit, a life jacket, and a helmet. Time to board the raft!
3. You will learn how to efficiently use a paddle. Rafting is a full-body workout, and your movements need to be quick and powerful. Your core and upper body do most of the work, and you will transmit all that power to the raft by locking your feet firmly into the onboard footstraps.
4. The trip begins with a stunning view of the village and the iconic Rock of Castellane, before entering an easy, gentle section of the river. This is the perfect time to learn all the subtleties of rafting navigation and river safety rules—with a few fun surprises from your guides, of course!
5. Gradually, the limestone gorge narrows as we approach the "Barre Saint-Jean", one of the most impressive and famous rapids on the Verdon River. It is a true geological wonder. We cross this majestic cliff gateway at full speed for maximum emotion and excitement!
6. After a few more minutes of paddling, we arrive at the scenic Chasteuil beach, where the river gently calms down.

Note: This specific river route is fully accessible to people with reduced mobility (PMR).
 

Important Info: EDF Dam Water Releases

1. To navigate a raft departing from Castellane, the EDF dam water releases must be open. If the dam is closed, we take advantage of the lower water level to explore the inside of the Grand Canyon on foot—this is our famous Aqua Trekking (Rando Aqua) experience!
2. July & August : Dams are generally open on Tuesdays and Fridays.
3. Spring & Autumn : There are no fixed rules; openings depend on winter snowpack and spring rainfall.
4. Backup Plan : If the dam is closed on your booked day, an outdoor adventure is always guaranteed if the sun is out! We can redirect the trip to spring runs on the Haut Verdon, the Daluis Gorge, Canyoning, or Packrafting.
5. 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

1. Early Season (Until July 12th) : 47 euros / person
2. High Season (July 13th to August 23rd) : 50 euros / person
3. Looking for more thrills and want to step inside the deepest part of the Grand Canyon? Discover our Couloir Samson Aqua Trekking (Rando Aqua) tour!
    

 What our Adventurers say about this trip:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"Super Rafting Trip!"
"A great discovery trip with our awesome guide Jojo, who is passionate and fascinating. We were a family group of 8 and everything was perfect from arrival to departure. Thanks to the whole team. I highly recommend Buena Vista for your activities around Castellane."
David (Google Review)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"Fantastic!!!"
"We spent a fantastic afternoon doing the rafting discovery trip on the Verdon with our excellent guide Jean-Philippe. We did it with two kids aged 8 and 10. It felt very safe, and we learned a lot about the river and the area. We highly recommend it."
Ben and Bea (Google Review)