It is not easy to get to this area if you don`t have a car, but it is possible. There are very few buses. From Marseilleor Aix en Provence bus station, take bus #27 to Moustiers Sainte Marie and from there along the north side of the gorges (the route des Gorges) via La Paludand Rougon to Castellane. Note: This is a very restricted service, even in the summer.

From Nice, take bus # 31A to Castellane. Visit the following site for itineraries and timetables of buses to Castellane from Marseille, Aix and Nice: www.castellane-verdontourisme.com/uk/practical-information/come-to-castellane/by-bus

There is also a daily LER us from Marseille to Riez (about €17), Moustiers (about €19), and Castellane (€26). The single fare from Moustiers to Castellane is around €7.00.

Navette Gorges du Verdon shuttle bus links Castellane with Point Sublime, La Palud and La Maline. Services run twice a day in July and August and weekends April to June and in September. The cost is around €2 - €6.

It is not easy to get to the Verdon by train but it can be done. To come by train from Nice, take the Train de Pignes to Saint Andre les Alpes. Saint Andre is 15.5 miles from Castellas. For itineraries and timetables visit: www.castellane-verdontourisme.com/uk/practical-information/come-to-castellane/by-train

Train des Pignes is one of Provence`s most picturesque train rides. The 93 mile track runs between Nice and Digne-les-Bains and rises above 3,000 ft. The train offers the most breath taking views as it passes through Haute-Provence.

The easiest and best way to get to this area and around is by car. If you opt to drive from Marseille, take A51 northeast to exit 20, then N85 and D4085 southeast to Castellane. If you're driving from Nice, take E80 southwest to Le Cannet, then D6185 northwest to Grasse, followed by D6085 and D4085 north to Castellane. From Cannes, follow the A8 west towards Fréjus. Take exit 36 for Le Muy, and continue on D54 and then D955 for Montferrat. From there, continueon D955 past Comps-sur-Artuby north to Castellane. Or take D71: Heading west to take you directly to the canyon.

Accessing the canyon from the west, Moustiers Ste Marie or Lac de St Crois, gives you the option of driving along the North Rim (D952 or the South Rim D71, via Aiguines).

Take a drive along the north rim of the gorge (D958) and admire the various vantage points in the gorges along the way. A full loop around the canyon is just over 62 miles and will take you a full day (at least), depending on your stops.

Something to beware of is that gas stations are few and far between; make sure to fill up well before approaching the gorge and buy gas whenever it`s available. Also, the roads in the area are very windy, both going through the gorge and to reach it, they are not for the faint hearted. In the summer months of late June, July and August are extremely congested with crowds of vehicles. During this time it is advised to drive very early in the morning.

Getting Around By Car

Taxi Castellane: 06 11 26 97 31

Taxi Vaccarezza: 04 92 89 03 28

Taxi Vincent: 06 83 68 46 82 or 04 92 83 75 87

Taxi Delaye: 06 15 16 01 21 or 04 92 83 75 87

Taxi Verdon: 06 68 18 13 13

Be aware, the river rises suddenly when hydro electric dams upstream are opened, making it impossible to cross. Make sure to always stay on marked trails. Check water levels and weather before your explorations. Roads close due to rock falls and/or snow. Be aware that rocks fall year-round.

Also make sure to be aware when leaning over guard rails to take photographs. The terrain is steep and the loose rocks can be dangerous if you are not careful.

Stay hydrated, especially in the summer months, this can be a serious problem in the gorge.

When driving the windy twisty gorge roads do not exceed your comfort speed. Minor collisions seem to happen often here. Beware, no matter what the car behind you thinks, do not exceed your comfort speed and honk at blind corners. Also, make sure to never to leave valuables in your car. Tourist are a target for crooks, especially in high season (summer months).

The currency of France and the Verdon and North Var area is the Euro, US dollars are not accepted.

Under the euro system, there are seven notes: 5, 10, 20, 50,100, 200, and 500 euros. Notes are the same for all countries. There are eight coins: 1 and 2 euros, plus 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents.

ATMs are common in major cities and larger towns and this is one of the easiest ways to get cash. Credit cards are accepted in most establishments. It is a good idea to inform your credit-card company before you travel, otherwise, the credit card might be put on hold due to unusual activity. We recommend you record all your credit card numbers, as well as the phone numbers to call if your cards are lost or stolen.

Banks: Most banks are open Monday through Friday from 9:30am - 4:30pm. Many, particularly in small towns in Provence, take a long lunch between 12 - 2pm. Hours are typically posted on the door.

French is the official language spoken in this region. Most of the Verdon and North Vararea makes its living through tourism, thus people are generally willing to communicate in English, particularly in the more touristy areas. However, service tends to be a little better if you try to use French. We suggest you get a good English-French guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.

Provence is famed for the quality of its food - the region is blessed with a climate and countryscape that produces the finest in fruits, vegetables, herbs, not to mention fish and lamb. Not surprisingly many fine chefs are drawn to this area. You will enjoy their skills when you dine out where you`ll find the food to be almost invariably excellent. There are many types of dining experiences to choose from in the region. Restaurants are formal in France, serving full dinner menus and at a slower pace that what you are used to in North America. It is important to note that it is considered impolite to request that a dish be prepared in a different way than it is stated on the menu.

Cafes, bars and restaurants are available to meet almost all price-points. A vast majority of eateries serve food local to the area. A bistro is more causal and has more individual items. And a café is even more casual, serving press coffee, drinks, sandwiches or pizzas.

Most villages in this region have a market day. You can buy local foods from the farms of each region (breads, cheeses, sausage, olives and preserves), great for enjoying a picnic on the beach or in a park.

Don`t leave without purchasing some olive oil, this area produces some of the best in the world and regarded by connoisseurs as some of Europe`s best! The wines in this region are spectacular, if you enjoy the local wine, find the grower and stock up. You will also enjoy the soft soaps, perfumes and cosmetics produced in this region, and lavender anything, being the lavender capital of the world you`ll find everything from lavender sachets to lavender-infused honey. Fine pottery, high-colored fabrics and art and antiques are all popular items to look out for as well.

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie has been famous for centuries for its brightly colored glazed pottery. On sale everywhere, but much is reputed to be tourist-trap fakes. It`s worth hunting for a genuine potter but don`t expect a bargain.

Note: Value-added tax (VAT) rate is currently 20% in France for standard goods. A reduced rate of 10% applies to restaurants, transport, and certain medical drugs. And a 5.5% tax applies to food, water and non-alcoholic beverages, books, some entertainment events and some domestic personal services.

Any emergency services call: 112

Police: 117

Local Hospital De Castellane, Blvd Saint Michel, 04120, Castellane (tel. +33 9 60 37 92 33).