CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 😍
The Sentier Blanc-Martel may be one of the longest hikes we’ve ever done, with nearly 14 km of walking 😂. The trail is in the Var department. This hike is a section of the GR4, built in 1928 by the Touring Club de France. We’re lucky in France to have incredible landscapes that are very different from one region to another, and even from one department to another. You’ve surely seen this hike on social media 📱, with views each more beautiful than the last. This hike can be done as a family without any problem; just bring enough water, especially if you do the Blanc-Martel trail in summer 🥵. It’s a mix of tunnels, stunning scenery and airy ladders!
We love taking weekend trips and discovering new places like this one 😋. We had booked an unusual, very original place to stay in Tourtour: a fairy-tale cabin! It’s a quirky accommodation with lots of amenities that let you fully enjoy nature. You can also do another hike, the Sentier de l’Imbut, which is just as incredible as this one.
DURATION
7 hours
DISTANCE
14 km
DIFFICULTY
Moderate
DEPARTMENT
Var
OUR HIKING DAY ON THE SENTIER BLANC-MARTEL 🥾
DESCENT FROM THE CHALET DE LA MALINE
This is the starting point of the Sentier Blanc-Martel. From here, allow 6 to 8 hours to reach the end, depending on your pace ⌚. There’s a beautiful view from the Chalet de la Maline over the Verdon gorges; this is where the descent begins. We did the hike in great weather, which made us enjoy this hike in the Verdon gorges even more. We started the hike at 10 a.m. under beautiful sunshine ☀️, eager to venture into these cliffs. Lots of downhill for 1 hour; you’ll see that at an intersection (fork), you can turn left to reach a footbridge that leads to the Sentier de l’Imbut (it’s just as incredible a hike). Of course, you’ll do the opposite 😂.
THE PRÉ D’ISSANE
From here, you’ll stay on flat ground for 30 minutes, which is nice for your legs, even though so far it’s only been downhill. Many caves will be on your left, and you can get down to the river. That’s where we had our picnic 🥪. An ideal setting to eat and enjoy these precious moments 😇. After this rest stop, a fairly steep climb begins: time to put some effort into those legs.
LA MESCLA
During the climb, you’ll reach La Mescla (where the waters of the Verdon and the Artuby meet), with a beautiful view of the Artuby and Verdon gorges.
THE LADDERS OF THE BRÈCHE IMBERT
After your big climb, you’ll have to go back down via the stairs/ladders. The climb before reaching the Brèche Imbert is tough, hard and zigzagging 😉. You get to a magnificent viewpoint showing the splendor of the Verdon. During our hike there was very little water, but it was still very beautiful to see 🥰!
After that, it’s time to take your courage in both hands and start down the metal stairs set into the rock crevice. If you want to keep some memories, now’s the time to take your photos and videos! Building this staircase for the Sentier Blanc-Martel must have been very complicated 😨. Once you’ve gone down all the steps, you’ll head toward the Escalès cliffs, where there are many spots for rock climbing 🧗.
THE BAOU TUNNEL
Before reaching the tunnel, you still have at least 2 hours of walking. There are two tunnels; we didn’t pay attention to the first one, which isn’t mandatory, unlike the Baou 🙃 tunnel. This tunnel, 1 kilometer long, is in complete darkness. You’ll need your phone or a flashlight 🔦 to get through and see. Halfway through the tunnel, you’ll get an incredible view of the Baume aux Pigeons. What a relief for Adeline to finally get out of this tunnel after a few minutes of walking.
THE POINT SUBLIME
At this point, the finish is only 45 minutes away. You’ll still have to climb to reach the Point Sublime. Unlucky for us, rain joined us during this climb and cooled us down nicely 🌧️. All that’s left is to get on the shuttle, happy to have done 14 kilometers. The Sentier Blanc-Martel in the Verdon gorges is a must-do in the region 💪.
HOW TO GET TO THE SENTIER BLANC-MARTEL? 🚌
First of all, you can do the Sentier Blanc-Martel in either direction. The preferred route is the one we did, from the Chalet de la Maline to the Point Sublime ✔️. It’s tricky to park at the Chalet de la Maline or at the Point Sublime, especially since you’d have to do the round trip, which means almost 28 kilometers 😨
To solve this problem, there’s a shuttle that runs every day in summer, with 2 departures (8:30/9:30 a.m.). The shuttle leaves from La Palud-sur-Verdon and drops you off at the Chalet de la Maline. When you reach the Point Sublime, it takes you back; there are also 2 return trips (3:30/4:30 p.m.).
- NB: In 2022 there were 3 departures and 3 returns, which was very handy if you just missed your 4:30 p.m. shuttle, so you could be sure to get back to your car.
▶️ Shuttle prices are as follows (new 2023 prices):
- €8.50 round trip for an adult (€8 in 2022)
- €5.50 one way (adult or child – €5 in 2022)
- €5.50 for children under 12 (round trip – €5 in 2022)
It’s entirely possible, and even recommended, to book ahead on the website to be sure of getting seats on the day of your Sentier Blanc-Martel hike. Outside the summer season, the shuttle only runs on weekends ⚠️. Hence the importance of choosing the right day for this incredible hike!
THINGS TO KNOW 🥰
As in all our articles, here are a few tips and tricks for the Sentier Blanc-Martel:
- Bring at least 2 liters of water per person, that’s the minimum (especially when it’s hot).
- Wear good hiking shoes 🥾!
- Bring sunscreen and a cap or hat to avoid sunstroke 🥵.
- There’s nowhere to buy food, so bring your picnic.
- Book online to be sure of a seat on the shuttle.
- It’s strongly recommended not to smoke 🚭: there’s a lot of vegetation around!
- No showers or restrooms
- Swimming is prohibited throughout the canyon (dangerous river with many siphons)
- No dogs 🐕 or mountain bikes 🚵♂️.
- If the Chaudanne dam releases more than 80 m³/s, the trail won’t be accessible (this happens very rarely)
- A phone to light your way in the Baou tunnel.
FAQ – QUESTIONS / ANSWERS ABOUT THE SENTIER BLANC-MARTEL ❓
These are questions people often ask when they want to hike this trail in the Verdon gorges. There are many questions about this trail, which can seem mysterious. This FAQ answers your questions.
Feel free to leave other questions in the comments so I can expand this FAQ and answer them 
.
There’s no exact starting point or finish point 😅. The Sentier Blanc-Martel in the Gorges du Verdon can be done in either direction 🔁. However, the shuttle 🚌 drops you off at the Chalet de la Maline and picks you up in the evening at the Point Sublime. Most hikers do the trail in the Chalet de la Maline > Point Sublime direction.
You can still do it in the other direction without taking the shuttle. However, you’ll need a plan B to get back to your car, since the Sentier Blanc-Martel isn’t a loop 😎. If you want to get back to the start, you’ll have to redo the hike in the other direction 😑. You can call a taxi, or hitchhike if you’re brave 💪.
No, this hike in the Gorges du Verdon isn’t a loop. Hence the importance of booking the shuttle to be sure of getting back to your car in La Palud-sur-Verdon 🚗.
The Gorges du Verdon are a very touristy place where thousands of people come to discover this corner of paradise in the Var 🇫🇷. Breathtaking landscapes and, above all, lots of hikes open to everyone. The two best-known hikes are “the Sentier Blanc-Martel” and “the Sentier de l’Imbut”. Choosing can be hard depending on how long your vacation 😬 is. Either way, both hikes are incredible 😍!
This is just my personal opinion, but yes, it’s doable with kids. The Sentier Blanc-Martel hike is 14 km (about 7 hours of hiking). For me, the minimum age for this hike is 7, but it also depends on your kids’ fitness. The day we did the Sentier Blanc-Martel hike, there were still a few children and teenagers ready to take on the Gorges du Verdon 💪.
No, dogs aren’t allowed, which is a real shame 🐕. For the record, we still saw quite a few dogs along the Sentier Blanc-Martel; it’s up to you whether you take the risk 😏.
There are two hotels close to the start of the Sentier Blanc-Martel. The Chalet de la Maline, where you can stay overnight and even have lunch or dinner. The Auberge du Point Sublime, where you can also sleep and eat. These are the only two places to stay near the Sentier Blanc-Martel.
Along the Sentier Blanc-Martel, there’s nowhere to eat, so be sure to bring your picnic 🥪. There’s the restaurant at the Auberge du Point Sublime, but you’ll have to hike the 14 km first to get there 😂. In my opinion, don’t count on eating at a restaurant if you’re doing the Sentier Blanc-Martel in the Gorges du Verdon.
It’s strongly discouraged to go through the Baou tunnel without a light ⚠️. The tunnel is fairly long and dark, and it can be hard to find your way without proper lighting. On top of that, the ground can be uneven, slippery and wet in places, making it even riskier in the dark.
It’s highly recommended to use a flashlight or your phone’s light; that’s what we did to get through the tunnel safely 🔦. It lets you see where you’re stepping, spot any obstacles and avoid accidents.
The Sentier Blanc-Martel is a very popular hike among tourists, and taxis are usually available to take you back to your starting point 🚕. However, keep in mind that a taxi can be extremely expensive 💰. So it’s strongly recommended not to miss the last shuttle.
You’re unlikely to miss the last shuttle, as the Sentier Blanc-Martel is generally well marked and used by thousands of tourists every day in summer 🌞. This means shuttle services are often organized to handle the flow of hikers.
OUR REVIEW OF THIS WONDERFUL HIKE 💭
It’s all in the title of this section: the Sentier Blanc-Martel is a legendary hike to do if you’re in the Var 👌. Of course, you’ll need a minimum of fitness and good gear. The shuttle is a real plus, picking you up right at the end of the hike so you can rest a little.
Very beautiful scenery, even though during this hike in August 2022 there wasn’t much water… It still left us with incredible memories 😍! Only one thing left to do: take the plunge and go discover the Sentier Blanc-Martel in the Verdon gorges.
👉 What about you? What do you think of the Sentier Blanc-Martel?
MY ESSENTIAL HIKING ACCESSORIES 🥾
A 14 km hike takes a minimum of planning and a minimum of gear 🔦. You can’t go in flip-flops 🙄. On top of that, this area is very hard for firefighters to reach, so it would take them a while to come and get you. That’s why it’s important to be well equipped to make the most of the day and stay safe from start to finish.
Of course, as for clothes, it all depends on the weather. You don’t wear the same clothes in summer as in winter 😅. These are the accessories we used on the Sentier Blanc-Martel and that we use very often on all our hikes 👇.
THANKS FOR YOUR FEEDBACK 
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