The Verdon pulses to the rhythm of its competitions: open-water swimming on Lake
Sainte-Croix, swimrun along its shores, triathlon in its uplands
and a mystery multisport raid starting from Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. Four verified
events — dates, distances, locations and registration — to complement our
dedicated guide to the Verdon’s two trail races.
4 eventsexcluding trailswimrun, multisport raid, open-water swimming and triathlon — see also our trail guide
60.1 kmthe SwimRunMan Ultraswimming (9.9 km) and running (50.2 km) combined
5 daysthe Raid des Étoilesa mystery raid, 100% women-only, in teams of 2 or 3, in support of the Petits Princes association
92 kmthe Natureman L bike leg1,450 m D+ in the heights of the Verdon, after 2 km of swimming in Lake Sainte-Croix
Beyond trail running
The Verdon is not just hiking country: every year it is also the stage for several major
sporting competitions — open-water swimming in the turquoise waters of Lake Sainte-Croix,
swimrun along its shores, triathlon in its uplands, a mystery multisport raid starting from
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. Four events which, together with the two trail races already covered
in our dedicated guide, make up the Verdon’s endurance-sports calendar.
The 4 events
SwimRunMan Gorges du Verdon
Les Salles-sur-Verdon · May
The spring swimrun event in the Verdon: swimming and running in succession, in a wetsuit, on a course crossing five communes (Les Salles-sur-Verdon, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, La Palud-sur-Verdon, Aiguines and Bauduen). Four adult formats, from the Sprint Verdon, open to solo entrants, pairs or relay teams (13.8 km), to the Ultra (60.1 km), by way of the Classic (25.4 km, which ventures into the gorges themselves) and the Half (42.8 km) — plus three children’s races. The organiser announces it for May 2027 (official website, read on 9 October 2026).
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie · 100% women-only · late June
A mystery raid open only to teams of 2 or 3 women: the programme is never revealed in advance, and the tests — swimming, run & bike, trail running, mountain biking, canoeing, paddleboarding, obstacle course, treasure hunt… — can start by day or by night, at the sound of a foghorn. Five days in total, in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie: the organiser announces it from 21 to 25 June 2027 (official website, read on 9 October 2026). Part of the registration fee goes to the Petits Princes association.
Three days of open-water swimming beneath the cliffs of Lake Sainte-Croix, at Moustiers-Sainte-Marie: races from 500 m to 6 km, plus a Cross Swim Experience format combining 5 km of trail running with 1 km of swimming. In 2026, an inter-prefectural order of 5 June banned navigation and swimming on the Verdon upstream of the Pont du Galetas at certain times on the three race days. The organiser announces it for 11, 12 and 13 June 2027 (official website, read on 9 October 2026).
Les Salles-sur-Verdon · Lake Sainte-Croix · late September
The Verdon’s big triathlon, on the shores of Lake Sainte-Croix: the L format (2 km of swimming, 92 km of cycling with 1,450 m D+ in the heights of the Verdon, 19.5 km of running) on Saturday, a shorter M format (1.2 km / 52 km / 10 km) on Sunday, plus a children’s event (Natur’Kids). Listed on the calendar of the French Triathlon Federation.
Dates and formats change from one edition to the next: always confirm them on each event’s
official website before registering or booking accommodation (registrations often open several
months in advance).
And also: the Verdon’s two trail races
The Verdon is not only a place for swimming, cycling and raiding: it is also trail country,
with two benchmark races — the Var Verdon Trail Canyon (Aiguines, June) and the Roc’n Trail
Verdon (Castellane, September). Distances, elevation gain, ITRA/UTMB Index status: it is all
in our dedicated guide.
Register early: these events fill up, and some formats close several months in advance.
Dates change from one edition to the next — always confirm them on the official website before booking accommodation.
Expect restrictions on traffic or navigation, and full car parks, on race days in the start villages.
The lake water can be cool on the event dates (around 10 to 15 °C in April-May and about 20 °C in June at the surface, according to unofficial monitoring): a wetsuit is compulsory or strongly recommended for the swimming and swimrun events.
Which sporting competitions take place in the Verdon, apart from trail running?
Four major events punctuate the good season: the SwimRunMan Gorges du Verdon (swimming and running combined, in May, Les Salles-sur-Verdon), the Raid des Étoiles du Verdon (a 100% women-only mystery raid, late June, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie), the Verdon Swim Experience (open-water swimming, June, Lake Sainte-Croix) and the Triathlon Natureman Var (late September, Les Salles-sur-Verdon). Three organisers already give their dates: the SwimRunMan in May 2027, the Verdon Swim Experience from 11 to 13 June 2027 and the Raid des Étoiles from 21 to 25 June 2027 (official websites, read on 9 October 2026). The Verdon also hosts two trail races — see our dedicated guide.
What are the formats and distances of the SwimRunMan Gorges du Verdon?
Four adult formats: Sprint Verdon (13.8 km, solo/pairs/relay), Classic (25.4 km, which enters the gorges themselves), Half (42.8 km) and Ultra (60.1 km), plus three children’s races. The race takes place in May at Les Salles-sur-Verdon (May 2027 according to the organiser’s website), on a course crossing five communes of the Verdon.
What is the Raid des Étoiles du Verdon, and who can take part?
It is a 100% women-only multisport raid, open only to teams of 2 or 3 women, run on the mystery-raid principle: the programme is never communicated in advance, and the tests can start at any hour, day or night. It takes place in late June at Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, over five days: from 21 to 25 June 2027 according to the organiser’s website. Part of the registrations goes to the Petits Princes association.
What is the Verdon Swim Experience?
An open-water swimming competition on Lake Sainte-Croix, at Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, beneath the cliffs of the lake. It takes place in June, over three days, with races from 500 m to 6 km and a Cross Swim Experience format (5 km of trail running, 1 km of swimming). Dates read on the organiser’s website: 11, 12 and 13 June 2027.
When is the Triathlon Natureman Var, and what distances does it offer?
It takes place in late September at Les Salles-sur-Verdon, on the shores of Lake Sainte-Croix. The L format (Saturday) combines 2 km of swimming, 92 km of cycling (1,450 m D+) and 19.5 km of running; the shorter M format (Sunday) offers 1.2 km / 52 km / 10 km. The event is listed on the calendar of the French Triathlon Federation.
Do these events cause traffic or navigation restrictions?
Yes, occasionally. For the 2026 Verdon Swim Experience, for example, an inter-prefectural order of 5 June 2026 banned navigation and swimming on the Verdon upstream of the Pont du Galetas at certain specific times during the three days of racing. If you visit the area during one of these events, also expect crowded car parks and slower traffic in the start villages — it is better to check the official programme before you travel.
Check for yourself
The external sources this page relies on, one click away. We would rather you be able to contradict us than ask you to take our word for it.
Official event site: course across five Verdon communes (Les Salles-sur-Verdon, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, La Palud-sur-Verdon, Aiguines and Bauduen), four adult formats (Sprint Verdon 13.8 km, Classic 25.4 km, Half 42.8 km, Ultra 60.1 km) and three children’s races, dates of the current edition.
Official raid site: format (teams of 2 or 3 women, a mystery raid with a 72-hour core within a 5-day stay), disciplines and dates of the current edition, in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie.
Official event site: programme of the eight open-water swimming races (500 m to 6 km) and of the Cross Swim Experience format (5 km of trail running + 1 km of swimming), on Lake Sainte-Croix at Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, dates of the current edition.
Official portal of the Fédération française de natation (Open Water): registration page for the Verdon Swim Experience at Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, with race dates and formats.
Inter-prefectural order, published by Moustiers-Sainte-Marie town hall: navigation and swimming restrictions on the Verdon upstream of the Pont du Galetas during the Verdon Swim Experience races.