Good to know before setting off on a canoe kayak trip in Ardèche
Departing from Vallon Pont d'Arc, you'll embark on a UNIQUE canoeing experience on the Ardèche River, in the heart of the GORGES DE L'ARDECHE Nature Reserve
To be eligible for a CANOEING-KAYAK trip with Alpha Bateaux, ALL participants must:
- Be over 7 years old
- Be able to swim at least 25 meters
- Be able to submerge yourself
- Wear closed-toe shoes
- Be in good physical condition
Our Alpha Bateaux team does everything it can to ensure you have a wonderful experience as a couple, family, or friends...
On site at our reception in Vallon Pont d'Arc, you will find :
- A multilingual welcome
- Free private parking reserved for Alpha Bateuax customers
- Private restrooms
- Picnic tables
- A shop (selling water shoes, eyeglass cords, sarongs, caps, drinks, ice cream, etc.) for your last-minute purchases before your canoe trip
- Rental of neoprene wetsuits, windbreakers, tents, and bivouac packs
- Selective waste sorting
You will enjoy an exceptional and preserved natural site in the heart of the Ardèche Gorges Nature Reserve
During your canoe trip on the Ardèche, respect our environment and the Ardèche River:
- Wear UV-protective clothing instead of sunscreen
- Bring all your rubbish back with you after your trip Take a walk and choose food without packaging (water bottles, etc.)
- Respect other users of the Ardèche River
- Avoid fishermen
- Respect the flora and fauna
Canoe and Kayak Descents of the Ardèche
Requirements: Be over 7 years old, be able to swim at least 25 meters, and be able to submerge.
To canoe down the Ardèche River, you must be in good health and wear a buoyancy aid, as well as wear and keep closed shoes on during the canoeing and kayaking trip.
To take for the descent
To bring:
- Sportswear during the activity (swimsuit, t-shirt)
- Closed shoes (mandatory) < br>- A picnic and a water bottle
- Sun protection (T-shirt, sunglasses hats)
- A change of clothes
In case of cool weather:
- A sweatshirt, a windbreaker
For the descents of the Ardèche in several days:
- Provide all the camping necessities (duvet, tent, food, drink, flashlight , spare etc.).
L’application
1st Lessor on the Ardèche River to offer you a free "Canoe France" application. Our application allows you to:
- Discover the proposed routes,
- Find your location on the river,
- Discover the accessible services (restaurants, campsites, shops, etc.)
- Find out more about the river through the remarkable points during your descent of the Ardèche (monuments, natural curiosities, etc.).
Application available at Apple and Android
The bivouac areas
The bivouac areas are large natural spaces in the heart of the Ardèche Gorges Nature Reserve on the edge of the river.
You will find toilets, showers and a caretaker for urgent problems.
Some useful information before your departure:
Alcohol prohibited in the bivouac areas.
Barbecue and camping gas prohibited until September 30, 2022
Navigation prohibited after 8 p.m.
Reservation of the bivouac by you .
For all the descents of the Ardèche in several days:
RBOOK YOUR BIVOUAC TICKET HERE < /a>
BOOK YOUR CANOE HERE
SPECIAL DESCENT PACKAGE IN 30 KM 2 DAYS
BIVOUAC AND CANOE HERE
Equipment
The boat park includes 1, 2 or 3-seater, unsinkable, self-draining kayaks (Tarka, Balawika, Optimo, Taiki and Trek) and Canadian canoes (Canadia, Old Town). In small equipment, we provide you with: CE buoyancy aid vests, single and double paddles, containers for personal effects and helmet (optional).
Our buoyancy aid vests and cans are disinfected after each use.
As an option, you can rent neoprene suits, comfort backrests for Optimo and a bivouac pack (tent, foam mattress, stove, meals, trash bag).
The accesses
North access: from Lyon A7 exit Montélimar sud, N7 to Pierrelatte, D13 to Bourg-Saint-Andéol, then D4 to Vallon Pont d'Arc.
South access: from Marseille A7 exit Bollène, D994 to Pont-Saint-Esprit, N86 towards Vallon Pont d'Arc and take the road to the Ardèche gorges D290.
South access: from Montpellier A9 exit Nîmes Ouest, N106 towards Alès, D16 then D979 towards Barjac, D579 to Vallon Pont d'Arc.
The cans provided
To make your canoe trip in the heart of the Ardèche, we provide you with cans to store your personal effects. But be careful, the watertightness of the cans is not guaranteed, this being subject to closure by the users.
We do not recommend that you take water-fearful items such as cameras or phones on board. We advise you to take small plastic bags like freezer bags.
Link titleSchedules
In April, May, June and September, we are open 7 days a week, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. In July and August, we are open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. We advise you to book in advance, subject to navigation and weather conditions.
Link titleThe domestic animals
The Gorges de l'Ardèche Nature Reserve prohibits dogs in canoes. The 24, 30, 36 and 60 km routes are therefore affected by this ban. For the 6, 8, 12 and 14 km routes, we do not recommend it, but your dog can occupy the middle seat in a canoe as long as it is not tied up. Your dog is under your sole responsibility and must not disturb anyone during the descent and return by bus.
Link titleIn case of bad weather
In the Ardèche and its tributaries, there is a water level measurement system to anticipate floods and regulate descents. Different levels of dangerousness are then put in place: green, open to all, orange, open to experienced with a monitor, red, prohibited. If the weather is bad (persistent rain, temperature below 20 ° C, wind over 60 km / h), reservations are canceled or postponed. All sums paid will be returned to you.
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