Descente with bivouac
nature trip
32 km in 2 days with one night camping
Easy
3 to 4 hours per day
a night
of disconnection
In brief:
Start by crossing the pont d'Arc
Spend a night camping in the nature reserve
2 days of unforgettable adventure
Rates
Online booking discounts:
-
1 to 9 adults
70,00 €65,00 € -
10 to 19 Adults
68,00 €63,00 € -
+20 Adults
66,00 €61,00 € -
Child(ren) (aged 7 to 15)
46,00 €44,00 € -
Child(ren) in third place* 30,00 €
*Reserved for children weighing less than 35kg, middle seat without paddle, requires two other people in the canoe.
Not recommended for this route.
Please note that overnight camping is not included in the booking and
must be booked in advance HERE.
More information:
📖 Presentation of the course
The Ardèche Descent 32km in two days -
Nature Trip,
What is it?
Reminder:
– This descent is self-guided (without an instructor).
– It is open to anyone aged 7 and above who can swim.
– ⛺ The night in a bivouac is not included and must be booked separately (see HERE). ⛺
“This is THE package for adventure lovers and those seeking to disconnect!”
This package allows you to paddle down the Ardèche River (32km) over two days and spend a night in the Ardèche Gorges Nature Reserve!
Experience an unforgettable adventure in the heart of nature by spending a night at one of the two designated bivouac sites: the GAUD bivouac or the GOURNIER bivouac.
Loulou Bateaux highly recommends this bivouac option in the Ardèche Gorges, as it’s a unique experience that immerses you in this spectacular natural site.
For this self-supported trip, you will need to bring your own food for both days as well as sleeping equipment for the night (also available for rent at the bivouac sites – limited stock) which you will spend in the nature reserve.
This is THE perfect option if you dream of spending a night camping in the heart of the Ardèche Gorges!
–
Booking is done in 2 simple steps:
Book your canoe trip on this page (BOOK HERE)
Book your overnight camping trip (ACCESS HERE)
🔍 Activity schedule
More details on the 32km descent of the Ardèche river over 2 days - nature Trip :
Departure :
Meeting point for this route:
After checking in at our Loulou Bateaux dock, located on Passage François Lecler in Vallon Pont d’Arc on the day of your activity (departures are available non-stop between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm for this activity), you will be greeted by our team who will provide you with a 56L waterproof container per person, as well as a life jacket per person.
You can then take your time to prepare before attending the briefing and the paddling technique introduction provided by our team of professionals.
Then… off you go! After strapping the equipment onto your canoe(s), you’ll embark on your first day of paddling.
First day of descent:
No stress! You can take your time paddling; in fact, that’s the main highlight of this two-day Ardèche River descent 🌿.
You’ll start with 8 km ⏳ during which you’ll gently see the terrain rise with each paddle stroke, until you reach the magnificent Pont d’Arc, gateway to the Ardèche Gorges Nature Reserve!
Then, enjoy the swimming spots and breathtaking panoramas of the Ardèche Gorges.
👉 It will take approximately 2.5 hours of paddling to reach the GAUD campsite, and about 3.5 hours ⏳ to paddle to the GOURNIER campsite.
⚠️ Just keep in mind that you must reach your campsite before 7:00 PM.
Arrival and overnight stay at the bivouac:
Booking your overnight bivouac is mandatory and can be done on our dedicated page.
HERE
Why?
You will be spending the night in the Ardèche Gorges Nature Reserve. Wild camping is prohibited. Two bivouac areas have been created and are managed by the SGGA (Ardèche Gorges Management Syndicate). Booking a spot at one of these two bivouac sites is therefore mandatory for all two-day descents of the Ardèche River within the nature reserve.
Once you arrive at your campsite (indicated by a clearly visible sign on the left bank), you will beach your canoes properly before checking in with the nature reserve staff who will welcome you and guide you to the designated area.
The two-day descent of the Ardèche Gorges is a self-supported activity: you will find no shops or snack bars within the nature reserve. Therefore, be sure to pack enough food for both days in your dry bags (note that they are large but not enormous, so pack only the essentials).
Also, bring 1.5 liters of water per person, as you will be able to refill your bottles at the campsites.
Regarding sleeping gear, you will need a tent and possibly a sleeping bag and an inflatable mattress. If these items don’t fit in the dry bag, you can strap them to the canoe (it’s always useful to bring a pair of straps and a large garbage bag to prevent spills).
Since 2020, an option has been available: you can rent a tent that will be waiting for you on-site (reservation required, limited availability). You can also reserve a spot in one of the 20-person Marabout-style tents (reservation required).
👉 As a nature reserve, the bivouac areas are minimally equipped to preserve the natural environment, but don’t worry!
You will find:
- 🚻 Toilets & Restrooms
- 🚿 Showers
- 💧 Drinking Water Taps
- 🔥 Barbecues (charcoal provided free of charge)
⚠️ REMINDER: Alcohol is prohibited in the Ardèche Gorges Nature Reserve.
In the morning, the staff opens a small bar where you can enjoy a hot coffee (bring some coins).
After your night’s rest, you will find your canoes on the beach and can continue paddling for the second day of your adventure.
Second day of sailing, arrival and return:
Let’s go for your second day of rafting in the heart of the Ardèche Gorges!
Rapids, sunshine, swimming, and a change of scenery will punctuate your descent to the Sauze landing stage, where our team will be waiting for you between 4:00 and 5:00 PM (between 2:00 and 3:00 PM on Sundays during peak season) to take you back to Vallon-Pont-d’Arc in an air-conditioned bus.
Once back, you can take some time to empty your dry bags before returning your equipment to us.
🚿 You will also have access to restrooms and showers in our facilities.
🗺️ Route map
⭐ Customer reviews
FAQ
From what age can you go down the Ardèche river by canoe or kayak?
Canoeing and kayaking are permitted on the Ardèche river for children aged 7 and above. Children under this age must be accompanied by a professional instructor (see OUR SUPERVISED DESCENTS OF THE ARDECHE).
Do you need to know how to swim to go canoeing down the Ardèche?
Yes, although life jackets must be worn during the activity, it is essential to be able to swim at least 25 metres and to be able to submerge yourself if necessary.
Can we take a dog on the Ardèche river descents?
Yes, dogs are welcome to share your adventure with Loulou Boats. (Under your responsibility) Just make sure your four-legged friend is comfortable in the water. We also recommend that your dog wear a life jacket (available for an additional €15.00 at the pier).
Does the current water level allow for safe navigation down the Ardèche?
Yes! The Ardèche is a river that always maintains a decent flow, even during periods of drought, thanks to its many natural tributaries and several dams that ensure a steady flow.
In the event of heavy rainfall causing the flow to become too high for navigation, a warning banner is displayed on the pages for the affected routes. (This is extremely rare.)
I am canoeing down the Ardèche river and camping overnight. What should I do with my rubbish?
NATURE OPTION: Whether you are camping at Gaud or Gournier, you will only find compost bins for your organic waste. All other waste must be taken with you when you leave the nature reserve (you will find bins available on arrival).
COMFORT OPTION: Rubbish bins are available at Camping Adrénaline, where you will spend the night, and at the end of the trail.
Can we change the date of the descent if the weather is bad/if it rains?
Yes! If the weather is bad, you can change the date/time of your activity 🙂
Can we pay with ANCV holiday vouchers?
Yes! Simply make your booking as normal and select ‘full payment’, then choose ‘cheque/ANCV’ as your payment method.
Please ignore the message asking you to send payment by post; you will pay directly on site on the day of your stay.
Can we choose whether we want canoes or kayaks?
Yes! All our boats are sit-on-top style. You can choose the configuration of your boats: 1 seat, 2 seats, or even 3 seats (the middle seat is reserved for children under 12 years old).
