Guided Adventure in the Verdon Gorge

Verdon, the magic word

Its legendary!
Synonymous with flawless stone, disorientating exposure, spaced protection and big committement. Its on our doorstep, and unlike the Alps has perfect weather for most of the year.

I am a professionally qualified rock climbing guide, living and specialising in bespoke guiding and instruction for individuals and private groups in the magical Verdon Gorge of southern France. If you're looking to improve your multi pitch climbing, leader confidence and ropework at the same time as ticking an awesome 400m wall, or you want to make the break from plastic to real rock its hard to imagine a more inspiring place to do that.


Photo: The Verdon gorge


A little more about the Verdon Gorge


The Verdon gorge has some of the best limestone rock climbing anywhere in the world and a unique, grandiose atmosphere. The spectacular gorges are a sort of Provençal Yosemite – Europe's Grand Canyon. Shields of blue-grey limestone sweep down, broken only by ancient twisted junipers, to the turquoise river below. More than anywhere else the rock here is an incredible element, and the climbing an exploration of vertical balance.

Photo: Spring storms over medieval village of Rougon

Climbing a long route here is a real voyage. First walk into the gorge through the dark, troll-infested tunnels, or feel the sky as you abseil through space to a wooded terrace halfway up the 400metre cliff, a land that time forgot. Cast off into the vertical ocean. Vultures with a ten-foot wingspan fly past like pterodactyls, turning their heads to look sideways at you. When you arrive at the rim of the gorge you will have indelible memories.



Sunny Days, Cool Beers


Yet this is also a user-friendly area for sunny cragging. The Verdon area has everything from small sport crags to big walls. Nowhere in the world can compare with the breathtaking gorges, fantastic climbing, perfect rock, and ease of access. Breakfast on coffee and pains aux chocolat, climb a long rock route which finishes at the car, and return to the bar for a well-deserved cold beer before dinner on the terrace. Or bivouac by a juniper-wood fire in a huge cave at the foot of the cliff before a dawn start on your Big Wall...
If you don't want to climb every day, or perhaps for the rest of your family if they don't climb, there are water sports on the lake, walks through the gorge itself, mountain-bike rides, and beautiful villages to explore. I am also a qualified canyon guide; for an active rest day in summer we can descend a cool shady canyon into the green waters of the Verdon...