Canoeing down the Ardèche gorges: 8, 24 and 32 km routes

The descent of the Ardèche gorges starts from Vallon-Pont-d'Arc or Chames and ends at Sauze, in Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche. More than 100,000 people do it every year. Hire companies offer three formats: a 7 or 8 km mini-trip that passes under the Pont d'Arc, the 24 km descent through the nature reserve, and the full 32 km from Vallon, in one day (6 to 6.5 hours of paddling) or in two days with a night at the Gaud or Gournier bivouac. Prices checked: from €28 for the mini-trip, from €35 for the 32 km. When the river floods, the descent is banned by prefectural order.

The routes

Sources: GetYourGuide (checked on 9 November 2026), Ardèche Guide (listing of a Saint-Martin company, 2027 season), Wikipedia.

The big descent

The 32 km combine about 8 km from Vallon, with the Charlemagne rapids and the passage under the Pont d’Arc, then the 24 km of gorges through the nature reserve, between cliffs up to 300 m high. The Saint-Martin company quoted here runs its shuttle at 8.30 am and allows 6 to 6.5 hours of paddling. It also lets you park near the Saint-Martin landing stage and collect your car on arrival.

Over two days

To split the descent, the only option is one of the reserve’s two bivouacs, Gaud or Gournier, which must be booked. Camping is banned everywhere else in the gorges. Rules and booking: the bivouacs.

Rules on the water

The nature reserve regulates the activity: no dogs in canoes, alcohol regulated on the river and at the bivouacs, take your rubbish home, no noise. According to Wikipedia, the descent is banned by prefectural order during floods: the Ardèche can rise within hours from a few cubic metres to more than 7,000 m³ per second, especially during the autumn Cévennes rains.

When to go

Spring and summer, when the river is low and calm. In July and August the river is very busy. See when to go.