Hi everyone,

We are two adults traveling from Nice to Moustiers‑Sainte‑Marie (in June) and will be renting a car. I am trying to decide between two very different routes and would love some input from people who know the area well.

Option 1: Through Verdon Natural Regional Park

• This is the classic scenic route through/around the Gorges du Verdon. We are from the USA and have been to the Grand Canyon and several other U.S. national parks. We will also be coming directly from Iceland, so we will have seen a lot of dramatic nature right before this.
  
• For those who’ve seen Verdon and places like the Grand Canyon or Iceland: How does Verdon compare in terms of uniqueness or “wow” factor? Does it offer something distinct enough that it’s worth the detour, even after Iceland?
  

Option 2: Fastest Route from the South (via Aups & Villecroze)

• The second option is to take the quicker southern route, with short stops in Aups and Villecroze.
  
• For anyone familiar with these towns: How different are Aups and Villecroze compared to Moustiers‑Sainte‑Marie itself? Are there any other worthwhile small towns or scenic stops along this southern route?
  

These are two very different experiences, and I am unable to decide. I originally planned to drive through Verdon, but now I am wondering if it will feel underwhelming after Iceland.

Would you recommend still doing the Verdon drive? Or is the southern route with charming village stops the better choice?

Thanks in advance for any insights!

Bargème is a plus beau village de France

https://flic.kr/p/cNhtM7

From what I read, it is the road on the north side of the canyon which is heart pounding. I drove the road on the south side.

https://flic.kr/p/cNhoWY

The Gorge won't compare to the scale of the Grand Canyon, it is much smaller but the landscape is much different. It will be a contrast to Iceland. I'm not certain of your route -- there is a route that goes through the backcountry of nice by some very nice villages (two routes -- one from Cannes/Mougins the other from Vence/St. Paul). On the other route, Tourtour is just off the way from Villecroze. I assume you are taking the faster route, which goes along the rather uninteresting autoroute. It is possible to take the same autoroute way and then bypass to the north/east side of the canyon (via Castellene, and by Bargeme). .

Rafting in the Gorges du Verdon is an option if you have the time, Castellane would be the starting point.

https://flic.kr/p/cNhpwW

There are gorges in France that have that wow factor you are thinking of. The Gorge de Galamus, for example, which is deep and tight with dramatic drop-offs. But it is a bridge too far to start comparing anything to the Grand Canyon. Gorge du Verdon is not on that level or close although its size and depth is impressive with some dramatic vistas. For me it's a bit of an afterthought since purely natural landscapes are not the reason I go to France. I am far more interested in village France and how it fits into the natural world. So places like Entrevaux and Tourette sur Loup, both in between Nice and Moustier Ste Marie, are more interesting to me.

You can decide for yourself by viewing the Gorge's Route des Crêtes on Google Maps.

I did your Option 1 proposal from Nice to MSM via St Paul de Vence. I've also been to the Grand Canyon, but not Iceland so I can't speak to that.
Once you get to the Gorges, I thought the drive was quite impressive. Up until that point I didn't find anything outstanding about it. It's different from the Grand Canyon so I wouldn't compare the two. Also, I was driving so my views were more limited because I wanted to stay on the road. . The narrowness of the road and the many switchbacks reminded me more of the road from Naples to Positano. I'm really glad we did the drive but probably wouldn't do it again. I like Michael's idea of rafting. I didn't have the time to do so because we were too busy photographing.


LOVE LOVE LOVE Provence and MSM. Have a wonderful trip!

Verdon is worth it for the sheer color of the water, which is unlike anything in Iceland. However, if you want to avoid "scenery fatigue," the southern route is a great alternative. Villecroze has a unique park with troglodyte caves that feels very different from Moustiers. Both are great, just depends if you want "epic" or "quaint."