Kayaking the Ardèche Gorge in France

River sports are increasingly popular all over France and more so on the Ardèche River which winds its way through limestone gorges with plenty of fun to be had along the way.  Kayaking the Ardèche gorge in France on a warm summers day is the perfect way to spend some time when you’re in the region.

On a recent trip to the south western region of France and staying in nearby Le Mas de Roussa in Saint Ambroix, the Ardèche river is just a 40 minute drive away and therefore makes the perfect day trip.

We hired kayaks at L’Arche de Noé in Vallon-Pont-d’Arc and after a safety briefing, life jacket fitting we were taken by bus to the starting point in Sampzon to begin the 10km kayaking adventure along the river.

The route we chose comprises of 4 slides and some rapids starting at Sampzon and ending just beyond Le Pont d’Arc.  The route is expected to take 2hrs 45 mins but you have the kayaks for 4 to 5 hours so take a picnic to enjoy along the way.

The first stretch of the river seemed to take a a long time, but once we reached the first slide, it became a bit more interesting!  Along the route you’ll find many opportunities to do some river jumping, swimming and places to stop and take a break.

The river can get very busy however in peak times so don’t expect to have the river to yourself.  For the most part this wasn’t an issue, only when you reached the slides and rapids where people start to back up and queue to wait for a safe passage and of course the area around Le Pont d’Arc was very busy.

Once you’ve reached your end point, you’re picked up and taken back to your car and free refreshments.

Currently the rental price to hire a kayak is 34€ for an adult and can be booked online here.

Overall kayaking the Ardèche gorge in France was a great day out!