Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche is the village at the far south-eastern tip of the Ardèche, at the end of the gorges, opposite Aiguèze on the Gard side. Its hamlet of Sauze marks the finish of the canoe descent from Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, and Ranc Pointu, upstream, is the last viewpoint on the gorges road. According to Wikipedia, the opening of the scenic road and the arrival of plastic canoes turned the village into a holiday resort whose population increases tenfold in summer. Some hire companies are based here and run their shuttles to Vallon in the morning.
Key facts
- Hamlet of Sauze: finish of the canoe descent of the gorges.
- Ranc Pointu: last viewpoint on the gorges road, view over Aiguèze and the Rhône plain.
- 35 km and 39 minutes from Vallon via the gorges road (OSRM).
- Population increases tenfold in summer, according to Wikipedia.
Key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | far south-east of the Ardèche, opposite Aiguèze (Gard) |
| Area | 533 ha |
| Hamlet | Sauze, finish of the descent |
| Viewpoint | Ranc Pointu, upstream in the gorges |
| From Vallon | 35.4 km, 39 min (OSRM) |
Sources: Wikipedia, OSRM.
The end of the descent
Sauze is where canoes stop after the 24 or 32 km of gorges. The Saint-Martin hire company quoted in this guide offers the full 32 km from Vallon, with a morning shuttle and your car parked at the finish. See the canoe trip.
The gorges road
Saint-Martin is the other end of the gorges road: Ranc Pointu opens onto Aiguèze, the Rhône plain and Mont Ventoux.
Book a trip
The descent to Sauze
Mini-descent of the Ardèche with a passage under the Pont d'Arc in your free time!2 hours★ 4.9 (21 reviews)from €28Check availability
Vallon-Pont-d'Arc: Canoeing/kayaking down the Ardèche : 7 km route★ 4.6 (16 reviews)from €38Check availability
Vallon-Pont-d'Arc: Canoe/kayak descent of the Ardèche★ 4.5 (7 reviews)from €45Check availability
"From" prices checked on 9 November 2026 and may have changed.
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Frequently asked questions
Where does the Ardèche descent end?
At Sauze, a hamlet of Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche, at the end of the gorges.
Can you start the descent from Saint-Martin?
Yes, some hire companies are based in Saint-Martin: the one quoted in this guide runs its shuttle to Vallon at 8.30 am and lets you park near the finishing landing stage.
Sources
Information checked against the sources below. Prices and opening times change: confirm before you go.
- Wikipedia, Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche (in French), accessed 9 November 2026
- Wikipedia, Ardèche gorges: Sauze, Ranc Pointu (in French), accessed 9 November 2026
- Ardèche Guide (department), Vallon to Sauze 32 km, accessed 9 November 2026
- OSRM on OpenStreetMap, driving times, accessed 9 November 2026
