Canoe kayak rental in Ardèche

Les Truffières three star campsite.

Offers you the ideal setting for an exceptional experience during your stay near Vallon-Pont d'Arc. For your family vacations in the Ardèche, in a mobile home or on a pitch on our estate in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, you'll have the opportunity to discover the Ardèche gorges in the heart of nature, with all the necessary equipment.
Canoe and kayak hire can be booked directly at reception, so that everything happens on site, making it easier for you to organise your family day out in the heart of this natural water park. Our bar/restaurant will be at your disposal for your evening. Returns are between 4.30 and 5.30 p.m. You decide when you're finished.
Have you reached the end of the river?
Our free bus is already waiting for you on the beach! No long waits!!!

Riverbanks.

The Ardeche river alternates between periods of very low water level, the low water level, and periods of high water level, the floods. The plants have had to adapt to floods, strong currents and drought. The riparian forest, a real border between the terrestrial and aquatic environment, is essentially composed of trees and shrubs such as willows and poplars.
Most of the water of the Ardèche comes from tributaries upstream of the Pont d'Arc. The water infiltrated from the plateaus comes out at the level of the resurgences, very visible all along the gorges. Some springs are petrifying and form tuff, an amalgam of limestone and mosses that develop in this very humid environment.
The fauna and flora have adapted to this changing environment. The plants can withstand flooding, strong currents and dryness during low water, whether it is the vegetation of the pebble banks or the riparian forest. This forest of the banks, real border between the terrestrial and aquatic environment, is mainly composed of trees and shrubs like willows, poplars. Each animal has its preferred habitat, pebbles of rapids (riffles) for those who need a lot of oxygen, depths up to 7 or 8 meters, flats (wets) for those who like calm, vegetation of the banks or dunes for others: all need the river to live.

Gorges de l'Ardèche.

The ensemble formed by the Pont d'Arc and the Ardèche gorges constitutes one of the most remarkable natural sites in France, combining monumental landscapes of cliffs covered with scrubland and holm oak forest, geological and archaeological heritage. Since 1980, the Gorges de l'Ardèche (1575 ha) are classified as a nature reserve protecting more than a thousand plant and animal species: Bonelli's Eagle, Percnopter Vulture, Peregrine Falcon..

Who can make the descent?

These courses do not present any major difficulty, they are authorized from 7 years old.

When can I go down the gorges in a canoe?

Generally from February to November depending on the weather and water level.

What to bring?

In the summer, shorts or a bathing suit are more than enough, with well-fitting shoes. Bring a picnic and a drink. For the two days, a sleeping bag with the small tent. In cooler weather, bring jeans, sneakers and a windbreaker.

Where to bivouac when you do the descent of the gorge in 2 days?

As unauthorized camping is prohibited, two bivouac sites have been set up: GAUD & GOURNIER. Barbecues are ready for use at these sites, and tickets are required for overnight stays. Please book well in advance at the saint martin d'ardèche tourist office.

What are the types of boats?

Tandem canoe: this is the recommended boat, ideal for this typical practice in our region.
Single & tandem canoe for the initiated when the environment allows it.
An option for a third person from 7 to 12 years old is possible (specify when booking).
The boats are recent, of light structure.
In the micro-AVENTURE category: the Mini Raid for a day in Vallon Pont d'Arc.
The red thread of this micro-adventure will of course be the canoe which will be used as transport to get to the different activities.
In total, we will go down 7 km on the Ardèche to be able to cross the majestic arch of the Pont d'Arc.
Along the river, our journey will be interspersed with stops in order to complete all the tests: a climbing passage above the water, a via ferrata, a Tyrolean traverse, an abseiling descent and a marvelous cave with its exceptional underground lake.
We will also take advantage of the generous setting of the river for games, swimming and rock jumping... As well as for the traditional picnic under the Arch. That's how the Adventure in the heart of the Ardeche can be summed up!

https://www.kayacorde-ardeche.com/mini-raid-aventure/

Reserved for the customers of the camp-site

Rates Season 2023

On sale at the reception of your campsite

Descent 1 day
24-32KM
Price per person / Transport included

Adult

3rd (7/10)

35€

20€

Descent 2 Days
32Km ***
Price per person / Transport included

Adult

*Child ( 7/13)

** 3rd (7/10)

55€

45€

option

* child: in a canoe, provide an adult to accompany you

** 3rd place: toddlers in a canoe with 2 participants 45€

Kayak : 2€ more

*** EXCLUDING THE PRICE OF THE BIVOUAC. Reservation for bivouac on : http://www.gorgesdelardeche.fr/