21 sites where to make canoe-kayak in Ardèche

Nature walks in the south of France: where to kayak in Ardèche? Here's our selection!

Located south of the Auvergne-Rhônes-Alpes region, the Ardèche is a department characterized by a wide variety of natural environments and landscapes, between the Rhone Valley and the mountains and the small size of its urban areas. In fact, Aubenas, its capital city does not exceed 60,000 inhabitants. The Ardèche is home to numerous tourist sites on its territory, a small paradise for those who love nature and the remote areas of the major urban areas: the gorges of the Ardèche, the Ardeche mountain with the Gerbier de Jonc and the Cévennes, the medieval city of Largentière, the villages of Vogüé, Balazucles, Ruoms, the spa of Vals,

For kayaking in Ardèche, the rivers offer excellent sites, including Vallon Pont d’Arc, where canoe-kayak loueurs are numerous to make the descent of the Ardèche. Here is a selection of about 20 sites where to kayak in Ardèche (or rent canoes).

The gorges of the Ardèche

Driven between Vallon Pont d’Arc and Saint-Martin-d’Ardèche, the Gorges de l’Ardèche are a canyon dug into the limestone rocks over thirty kilometers, from which thousands of visitors flock every year in search of escape, and activities of full nature, including canoe-kayak. On a mountain range between 80 and 45 meters above sea level, you descend in the middle of a Mediterranean scrubland, in a day between Vallon-Pont-d’Arc or Chames and Sauze in Saint-Martin-d’Ardèche. Fifteen rapids (the rapid of Charlemagne, the Champs, the Dent Noire, or the Esclapayre) will delight the big and small, in which it is not uncommon to capsize.

Many more or less long courses are available for kayaking on the Ardèche, up to 32 kilometers. The Gorges de l’Ardèche, the “Arc Bridge” and the “Dent de Rez” massif are classified as a natural reserve that covers an area of 1,575 hectares. Here are the places where to rent boats to make canoe in Ardèche:

• Océanide Canoë, route des gorges, 07150 Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, 04 75 37 18 16,
• Camping Les Truffières, Saint-Marcel-d’Ardèche, 04.75.04.68.35,
• Castor-Canoë, Route des Gorges, 07150 Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, 04 75 37 14 88,
• Itinerary Passion, Route des Gorges, 07150 Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, 06 81 99 63 93,
• Viking Boats, gorge road, 07150 Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, 04 75 88 08 87,
• Loulou boats, route des gorges, 07150 Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, 04 75 88 01 32,
• Canoes Service, Passage of the First Army, 07150 Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, 04 75 88 07 34,
• Canoe-kayak 07, Route des Gorges, 07150 Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, 04 75 88 03 06,
• South face : Soirée rando Canoë, 21 boulevard Peschaire Alizon, 07150 Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, 04 75 87 27 23.

The Assions

This village at an hour’s drive from Alès (30) and not far from Vallon-Pont-d’Arc allows to make canoe-kayak on the Ardèche, but being far from the tumult of the gorges of the Ardèche. If you find them too crowded, kayaking at the Assions can be an interesting alternative. Here are the companies where to rent canoes-kayaks:

• Canoe rental Cie Canoë Cha assezac, La Molette, 07140 Les Assions, 04 75 37 33 60,
• Bamboo Adventure Canoe, Chassagne Road, 07140 The Vans, 04 75 88 90 00,
• Canoë-Kayak – Céven’Aventure, route de Chassagnes, Le Pontier, 07140 Les Assions, 04 75 94 98 68.

Balazuc

Where to make canoe in Ardèche elsewhere than in Vallon-Pont-d’Arc? In Balazuc, on the Ardèche! Water bases allow the Ardèche to descend from Balazuc. Here are the companies:

• Camping de la Falaise, Les Salles 07120 Balazuc, 04 75 37 74 27,
• Balazux Leisure, Les Salles, 07120 Balazuc, 04 75 37 73 32,
• Balazuc Leisure Celine, Les Salles, 04 75 37 73 32,
• Fazao Canoe, Balazuc Nautical Base, 07120 Balazuc, 04 75 37 00 44.

Not far, the village of Chauzon south of Balazuc has its "spot" for kayaking in Ardèche: the Isla Cool Douce company (a nice little note game in premium), at 1360 Route des Blaches, 07120 Chauzon, 06 89 10 08 71.

Ruoms

The gorges of the Ardèche do not start until Vallon-Pont-d’Arc. To kayak in Ardèche, we can also get wet from Ruoms, this small medieval village founded at the end of the 10th century, close to the Gard. Here is where to rent a canoe or kayak: Canoes Arcabal , Base 2, La Chapoulière, 07120 Ruoms, 0679771593.

Ucel

In the urban area of Aubenas, the Ardèche also offers places to kayak or canoe: in Ucel near Canoë-kayak with 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, canoe can be made in Ardèche, being far from the very tourist town of Vallon-Pont-d’Arc. Here are two addresses:

• River and Beauty, Place du Village, 07200 Lanas, 06 19 65 12 24,
• Camping Les Acacias, route du Camping Les Croix, 07200 Saint-Étienne-de-Fontbellon, 04 75 93 67 87.