Chasing Waterfalls, Canyons, and Sunsets: Natural Wonders in the South of France

Today was all about the early rise! But it wasn’t too hard to get out of bed when the first thing I saw was the sunrise—right from my bed.

After a quick start to the morning, our adventure began with Isa picking us up in a cozy little van. We made our way around Nice, picking up fellow adventurers before it was time to hit the road. And when I say hit the road, I mean DRIVE—we were headed far!

First Stop: Cascades du Saut du Loup 🏞️

This was our first peek at the natural beauty in store for us. The gorge was dramatic, with a cluster of cascades tumbling into a vibrant blue-green pool surrounded by lush vegetation. It cost just 1 euro per person to check it out, and while it was a bit underwhelming compared to what we’d see later, it was still a gorgeous start to the day.

Next Up:

Castellane 🌄

This historic commune is nestled in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region of Southeastern France, right at the northern end of the Gorges du Verdon. We got a taste of history here, and more importantly, a gateway to some unique swimming spots in the gorges. The scenery was unreal—like stepping back in time and into a picture-perfect postcard.

Onward to: La Palud-sur-Verdon

This spot offered us breathtaking views from the top of the canyon, overlooking the Foret Communale de la Palud-sur-Verdon and Mourre de Chanier. The wildlife was out and about, adding to the natural beauty. But it was the turquoise-blue water and the towering mountains that really took my breath away. It was like stepping into a scene from Moana—pure, untouched beauty that I’ve never seen before. Seriously, this view was everything.

Before we got too close, we stopped for a delightful lunch in a small village (shoutout to Ashley for joining us and becoming our bff for the day) and then headed over to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie to check out what was left of this year’s lavender fields.

Sadly, there wasn’t much lavender left, but I can only imagine how stunning it would be in full bloom.

Finally: The Base of the Canyon 🌊

We crossed the Pont du Galetas and were greeted with yet another jaw-dropping view of the canyons and the Lake of Sainte-Croix. I honestly don’t understand how water can be this blue—can we import this to Chicago, please?

After soaking it all in, it was time to head back to Nice. We had a few hours on the road before we were back and ready for our next adventure:

A boat tour with Nissa Croisieres

We hopped on a bowrider boat and zoomed off into the Mediterranean to catch the sunset near Villefranche-sur-Mer—the heart of the French Riviera, according to our guides. This resort town boasts some of the most expensive homes in the area, and the views? Absolutely worth every penny.

We watched the sunset over the mountains, snacked on some Pissaladière, and just soaked in the peaceful beauty as the sun dipped below the horizon. It was the perfect way to spend our final night in Nice.

After the tour, hunger struck again, so we grabbed dinner at a local Italian spot, treated ourselves to some gelato, and then called it a night. See you tomorrow, any guesses on what’s next?