Canyon Day Trip

Just a stone’s throw from the French Riviera coastline is a canyon thought to be Europe’s most beautiful. If you love spectacular panoramas, breathtaking natural beauty and generally getting off the beaten track, this may well be the day trip for you.

Although we usually recommend itineraries with minimum driving time when preparing outings for our clients, this is one of the exceptions to that rule.

This day trip involves a lot of driving along windy mountain roads, however, the surrounding natural beauty makes it well worth the drive.

THE ITINERARY :

1st STOP – Castellane

From your French Riviera accommodation, your Friend in France guide will drive you up through the hinterland of Cannes and Grasse westwards to Castellane. A sleepy little town with one foot in Provence and the other in the Alpes. A great place for a coffee break before hitting the canyon road.

2nd STOP – Route des Cretes (the canyon road)

The next leg of the road trip will take you along the canyon road from Castellane to the beautiful village of Moustiers Saint Marie.

Although the villages are only about 50kms apart, along the way there will be plenty of photo stops, canyon gazing and bird watching to slow things down to a very leisurely pace.

Half way between Castellane and Moustiers Saint Marie you’ll take a little detour through the Route des Cretes which runs right along the very top of the canyon with sheer 700m drops in certain places and 14 fantastic panoramic stops to choose from.

From there, you’ll continue on your journey towards Moustiers Sainte Marie passing the beautiful turquoise waters of Saint Croix lake, which stands out like a jewel.

Your lunch stop can either be a picnic on the banks of Lake Saint Croix or a little restaurant in the village of Moustiers Saint Marie. The choice is completely yours to make and both are equally charming.

3rd STOP – Moustiers Saint Marie

Moustiers is a picture perfect Provencal village that has charmed every visitor we’ve ever taken there, to the point that most simply don’t want to leave.

The village has a dramatic mountainous backdrop and it overlooks romantic Provencal countryside. Its pretty streets will lead you along a river to a waterfall and up to an ancient chapel or into traditional arts & craft boutiques. Every turn you take offers a new and interesting perspective.

On the way back to Nice, you’ll hop onto the motorway to cruise back to your Riviera accommodation.