21 places to go canoeing in the Ardèche

February 04, 2023

Book your kayak trip in Ardèche  

Nature walks in the south of France: where to go kayaking in Ardèche? Here is our selection!

Located in the south of the Auvergne-Rhônes-Alpes region, the Ardèche is a department characterized by a wide variety of natural environments and landscapes, between the Rhône valley and the mountains and the small size of its urban agglomerations. Aubenas, its capital does not indeed exceed 60,000 inhabitants. The Ardèche is home to many tourist sites on its territory, a small paradise for those who love nature and areas far from large urban areas: the Ardèche gorges, the Ardèche mountain with Mont Gerbier de Jonc and the Cévennes, the medieval town of Largentière, the villages of Vogüé, Balazuc, Ruoms, the spa town of Vals-les-Bains, etc.

For kayaking in the Ardèche, the rivers offer excellent sites, in particular Vallon Pont d’Arc, from where there are many canoe-kayak rental companies to allow you to descend the Ardèche. Here is a selection of around twenty sites where you can go kayaking in the Ardèche (or rent canoes).

The Ardèche gorges

Dug between Vallon Pont d’Arc and Saint-Martin-d’Ardèche, the Ardèche gorges are a canyon dug in the limestone rocks over some thirty kilometers, from which thousands of visitors flock each year in search of escape, and outdoor activities, including canoeing. On a massif between 80 and 45 meters above sea level, you descend in the middle of a Mediterranean scrubland, in one day between Vallon-Pont-d’Arc or Chames and Sauze in Saint-Martin-d’Ardèche. About fifteen rapids (the Charlemagne, Champs, Dent Noire and Esclapayre rapids) will delight young and old alike, in which it is not uncommon to capsize.

Many more or less long routes are available for kayaking on the Ardèche, up to 32 kilometers. The Ardèche gorges, the “Pont d’Arc” and the neighboring massif of the “Dent de Rez” are classified as a nature reserve covering an area of ​​1,575 hectares. Here are the places to rent boats for canoeing in the Ardèche:

  • Oceanide Canoeroute des gorges, 07150 Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, 04 75 37 18 16,

  • Les Truffieres CampsiteSaint-Marcel-d’Ardèche, 04.75.04.68.35,

  • Beaver-CanoeRoute des Gorges, 07150 Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, 04 75 37 14 88,

  • Passion itinerary, route des gorges, 07150 Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, 06 81 99 63 93,

  • Viking Boats, route des gorges, 07150 Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, 04 75 88 08 87,

  • Loulou Boatsroute des gorges, 07150 Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, 04 75 88 01 32,

  • Canoes ServicePassage of the First Army, 07150 Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, 04 75 88 07 34,

  • Canoeing 07Route des Gorges, 07150 Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, 04 75 88 03 06,

  • South face : Evening Canoe hike, 21 boulevard Peschaire Alizon, 07150 Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, 04 75 87 27 23.

Ardèche, Pont d'arc, Canoe-Kayak

The Assians

This village, an hour’s drive from Alès (30) and not far from Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, offers canoeing and kayaking on the Ardèche, but away from the tumult of the Ardèche gorges. If you find that the latter are too crowded, kayaking in Les Assions can be an interesting alternative. Here are the companies where to rent canoes-kayaks:

Balazuc

Where else can you go canoeing in Ardèche other than Vallon-Pont-d’Arc? In Balazuc, on the Ardèche! Nautical bases allow you to descend the Ardèche from Balazuc. Here are the companies:

  • Cliff CampsiteLes Salles 07120 Balazuc, 04 75 37 74 27,

  • Balazux LeisureLes Salles, 07120 Balazuc, 04 75 37 73 32,

  • Balazuc Loisirs Céline, Les Salles, 04 75 37 73 32,

  • Fazao Canoe, Balazuc Nautical Base, 07120 Balazuc, 04 75 37 00 44.

Not far away, the village of Chauzon south of Balazuc has its “spot” for kayaking in the Ardèche: the company Isla Cool Douce (a nice little pun as a bonus), at 1360 Route des Blaches, 07120 Chauzon, 06 89 10 08 71.

Ruoms

The Ardèche gorges don’t just start at Vallon-Pont-d’Arc. To go kayaking in the Ardèche, you can also get wet from Ruoms, this small medieval village founded at the end of the 10th century, very close to the Gard. Here is where to rent a canoe or kayak: Arcabal CanoesBase 2, La Chapoulière, 07120 Ruoms, 0679771593.

Ucel

In the urban area of ​​Aubenas, the Ardèche also offers places to go kayaking or canoeing: in Ucel with Canoë-kayak avec Yves Moquet, 12 A chemin du Sartre, 07200 Ucel, 06 45 60 05 40.

Lanas

Near the village of Vogüé in the south of the department, you can go canoeing in the Ardèche while being far from the very touristy town of Vallon-Pont-d’Arc. Here are two addresses:

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