Bes de Courmes Canyoning
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Bès de Courmes
Located at the foot of the village of Courmes, facing the "Sentier du Paradis" (Paradise Path) carved into a cliff over 100m high, this is a beautiful sporting canyon in the Gorges du Loup. The first section features more than 8 waterfalls.
- Price
- Level
- Minimum Age
- Duration
- Parking & Shuttle
- Private Guide
- €90/person*
- Sporty
- 14 years old
- 4h00
- Free
- €680
*If the group consists of 8 or more people, each member benefits from a €5 discount.
What Makes Canyoning in Bes de Courmes Canyon So Special?
Bordering the Préalpes d’Azur Regional Natural Park, the Gorges du Loup is a well-known destination for tourists, canyoners, and sports enthusiasts frequenting the Grasse and Cannes hinterland.
This canyon rises on the foothills of the picturesque village of Courmes, nestled at the foot of the Pic des Courmettes. It flows gently over the Courmes plateau, then links together various small waterfalls before plunging into a magnificent pool via a final 65-metre drop, featuring a huge tufa formation partially covered in moss. It’s a magnificent spectacle, often made refreshing by the spray felt at the foot of this waterfall.
The tufa formations, the thundering spray beneath the cascade, and the enclosing gorge walls create an experience unlike anything you’ll find closer to the coast. Easily accessible from the Côte d’Azur, the Bès de Courmes canyon sits approximately 45 minutes from Cannes, 30 minutes from Grasse, and 1 hour from Nice. It’s a full-day adventure for adults, families, and groups looking for a genuine physical challenge in the Alpes-Maritimes.
The Course at a Glance
The Bès de Courmes is a right-bank tributary of the River Loup. The descent begins with a series of shorter rappels, 3m, 5m, 7m, that build technique before the canyon commits you to longer drops. The first section counts more than 8 waterfalls. The canyon is rated V4A2II, with a total vertical drop of around 200m across its full length.
For the most seasoned adventurers, we will finish this progression through the canyon with a magnificent 30m abseil to reach a beautiful natural pool fed by the Cascade de Courmes, a waterfall of 65m, one of the most impressive single drops in the Alpes-Maritimes.
From there, you can continue with the descent of the Gorges du Loup, which begins with two small abseils followed by numerous jumps and slides. Speak to our team about combining both canyons into a full-day experience; it’s the most complete day of canyoning available in the Alpes-Maritimes.
What's Included in Your Bes de Courmes Canyoning Experience?
Is Canyoning in Bes de Courmes Canyon Right for You?
This canyon is rated "Sporty" and requires a minimum age of 14. No prior canyoning experience is necessary. Our guides introduce the abseil technique progressively, starting with the first descent. Participants should be comfortable in water and in reasonable physical shape.
Who Gets the Most from This Canyon
Adventurous families with teenagers, groups of friends seeking a real challenge, and anyone who wants to learn abseiling in a genuinely dramatic setting will find the Bès de Courmes exceptional. Nervous beginners are welcome; the graduated difficulty means you build confidence before the big descents arrive.
Group Rates
Please contact us (available on request).
Groups, Stag Dos, and Team Away Days
The Bès de Courmes works exceptionally well for stag and hen parties (EVG/EVJF). The combination of shared physical challenge, natural pools, and a landscape of this quality makes for an unforgettable group day.
We also run corporate team-building sessions, the canyon demands communication, trust, and encouragement, all in a setting far removed from the office. Enquire about our private guide option (€500 for up to 8 people) for an exclusive experience.
Your Step-by-Step Descent with Adrenaline 06
Accompanied by a state-certified canyon guide with professional mountain rescue qualifications, you'll experience the Bès de Courmes in complete safety, with all the thrills fully intact.
The Approach
Initially, you will walk along a small footpath allowing you to ascend between the walls of the Gorges du Loup. In a few minutes, below the village of Courmes, you will reach the first waterfalls of the Bès de Courmes canyon, a tributary of the Gorges du Loup.
The Descent
This canyon is adapted to gradually introduce you to the technique of abseiling. First from small heights, then gradually increasing, if you wish, until you descend a cascade of 30m in a magical setting, cooling off in a beautiful pool at the foot of a waterfall of approximately 65m, the Cascade de Courmes.
You can continue with the descent of the Gorges du Loup in a different style of progression: more dynamic, punctuated by swimming, jumps, and natural toboggans. For a full account of the Gorges du Loup section, visit our dedicated Gorges du Loup canyon page.
Your guide will provide you with technical elements as the descent progresses so that you can gradually become autonomous in abseiling.
We can, of course, take a snack break during this beautiful day in a setting of utter natural beauty.
A genuinely wild, sporty day that will disconnect you completely from the demands of daily life.
When to Go Canyoning in Bes de Courmes Canyon
The canyon runs from approximately April through October. Late spring and early summer offer the best water conditions. Flows are strong but manageable, and the canyon environment is at its most spectacular. Mid-summer descents are cooler and more refreshing, particularly welcome when temperatures on the Côte d'Azur are at their peak.
Weather and Safety
We monitor conditions closely and will contact you in advance if a session needs to be rescheduled due to weather. Safety is never compromised. If you have questions about specific dates or conditions, contact us before booking.
Your Guides — Experience You Can Trust
Adrenaline 06 was founded by Philippe Auvaro, who also founded the École Nationale de Secours en Canyon, the national canyon rescue training school. Our lead guide Jean-François has over 35 years of experience in the Alpes-Maritimes and co-authored canyon guidebooks specifically covering this region.
Professional Qualifications
Every guide holds a Diplôme d'État (French state canyoning certification) and professional liability insurance (RCP). Several team members have backgrounds in professional firefighting and mountain rescue. You are in experienced hands from the moment you arrive.
Geology, Fauna and Flora
Limestone Geology and Tufa Formations
The Bès de Courmes cuts through limestone formed during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, producing the dramatic cliff faces and overhanging walls characteristic of the Gorges du Loup. The tufa formations at the base of the Cascade de Courmes, calcium carbonate deposits built up over millennia, are what give the canyon its distinctive moss-covered, sculptural appearance.
Wildlife and the NATURA 2000 Designation
During the descent, it’s common to observe birds of prey circling above the gorge walls, and red and roe deer are present in the surrounding woodland.
The riparian vegetation, holm oak, holly oak, and moisture-loving ferns, thrives in the canyon microclimate. The entire area holds NATURA 2000 designation (Directive Habitats, Faune, Flore, site FR9301564), protecting a range of rare plant communities and bat species that roost in the limestone cliffs above the canyon.
How to Get to the Bès de Courmes Canyon
From the A8 motorway, take exit 48 (Cagnes-sur-Mer) and follow the D6 up through the Vallée du Loup towards Pont-du-Loup. Continue through the Gorges du Loup towards Courmes. Free parking is available below the village. Our team will send you precise meeting point details and a GPS location on booking.
Travel Times from the Côte d’Azur
Departure | Approx. Drive Time |
Cannes | 45 minutes |
Antibes | 45 minutes |
Grasse | 30 minutes |
Nice | 1 hour |
Monaco | 1 hour 15 minutes |
Is canyoning in Bes de Courmes Canyon suitable for beginners?
Canyoning in the Bès de Courmes is rated Sporty and is designed to introduce abseiling progressively. No prior canyoning experience is required. Participants should be comfortable in water and aged 14 or over. Our guides adapt the session to the group’s confidence level throughout the descent.
What equipment is provided?
We provide a full neoprene wetsuit, certified helmet, harness, and abseil device. You don’t need to bring specialist gear. We recommend wearing a swimming costume underneath and bringing a change of clothes and shoes for after the descent.
Can children participate in the Bès de Courmes canyon?
The minimum age for the Bès de Courmes is 14 years. For younger children or families with mixed ages, we recommend our Gorges du Loup canyon, which is accessible from age 8 and provides an excellent introduction to the sport in a less demanding environment.Is the canyon open year-round?
The Bès de Courmes runs from approximately April through October, subject to water conditions. We monitor levels closely and will advise if conditions affect your booking. Summer is our busiest period. We recommend booking in advance for July and August dates.
Can we combine the Bès de Courmes with the Gorges du Loup in one day?
Yes. The most complete day of canyoning in the Alpes-Maritimes combines both canyons: the vertical, rappel-intensive Bès de Courmes in the morning, followed by the more aquatic, jump-and-slide Gorges du Loup in the afternoon. This is a full-day commitment of around 5 hours of activity. Enquire when booking.
What is the cancellation policy if the weather is bad?
Safety always comes first. If we need to cancel due to unsafe water levels or weather, we’ll contact you in advance and arrange a free reschedule or full refund. We never run sessions when conditions put participants at risk. Contact us for the full cancellation policy before booking.
Book Your Descent of the Bès de Courmes
Book your guided Bès de Courmes canyoning session directly with Adrenaline 06, your local canyoning experts in the Alpes-Maritimes.