How to book your bivouac pass in the Ardèche Gorges

The bivouac in the Gorges de l'Ardèche is one of the most memorable experiences you can have by canoe: sleeping at the bottom of the canyon, no car, no signal, under a perfectly dark, starry sky. But there's one thing to know before even setting the date of your trip: the bivouac pass is not booked through us. It is booked separately with the Ardèche Gorges Tourist Office, and pitches go fast in July-August. This guide explains how to proceed, how much it costs and how to choose the right site.

Why a bivouac pass is mandatory

The Gorges de l'Ardèche have been classified as a National Nature Reserve since 1980, extended in 2018. Within the perimeter, overnight bivouacs are only allowed on two designated sites: Gaud and Gournier. Outside those two spots, camping is strictly forbidden, and the Reserve's rangers patrol regularly to check.

The pass is not just a formality: it is how the Reserve controls visitor numbers (pitches are limited to a few hundred per night, all sites combined), maintains dry toilets and solar showers, keeps the shared barbecues running and provides a warden on site in peak season.

The step-by-step procedure on the Tourist Office website

Booking is fully online through the Ardèche Gorges Tourist Office, the official and informative channel. For more background on how the sites are managed, you can also consult the pages of the SGGA. Allow 5 to 10 minutes to finalise the booking. Here are the steps in the order you'll meet them.

1. Go to the Tourist Office website Click the "Ardèche Gorges Tourist Office" link above to land directly on the bivouac booking page. It's the only official channel: beware of third-party sites claiming to resell passes — they don't exist.
2. Choose your site: Gaud or Gournier The two sites don't have the same opening dates or the same features. We detail the differences below; for now, just note that Gournier opens earlier in the season (April) and Gaud is only open on weekends in June, then continuously in July-August.
3. Select the date of the night Watch out: you're booking the night, not the day. If you leave on a Saturday trip to arrive on Sunday, your night is Saturday to Sunday, so you tick Saturday in the calendar. The calendar shows remaining pitches in real time.
4. Indicate the number of people Every participant, adult or child, counts as one pitch. On site, density is deliberately limited to preserve the atmosphere. For groups over 10 people, let the Tourist Office know it's a group: some booking options change.
5. Fill in your details and pay online First name, surname, contact email, phone number. Payment by card. You immediately receive an email with your e-ticket: that's the document to show the warden on site on the evening of your arrival.
6. Keep the pass accessible during the trip Print it or keep it on your phone in a waterproof pouch. The warden checks every evening: without a valid pass in your name, you'll be asked to leave at first light, even if there are free pitches.

Prices and available pitches

The rate hovers around €8 per person per night, with adjustments depending on site and season. Reduced rate for kids; free for toddlers. Exact prices are updated every year on the Ardèche Gorges Tourist Office website, so check at the moment of booking rather than relying on a figure seen elsewhere.

What the pass includes

Your pitch on site, access to dry toilets, solar showers, shared barbecues (with charcoal bags sold on site, useful if you don't want to carry yours), drinking water (depending on site and period), and the reassuring presence of a warden in season. Open fires are forbidden: only the built-in barbecues are allowed.

What the pass does not include

Your sleeping gear (lightweight tent, sleeping bag, mat), your food (no shop on site: come self-sufficient), and of course your canoe. Canoe rental is with us at Viking Bateaux, along with the shuttle back to the starting point from Saint-Martin.

Gaud or Gournier, which site to choose?

The two sites are about twelve kilometres apart on the river. The choice depends on three things: the date of your trip, the route you're taking, and the atmosphere you're after.

In practice: if you're paddling the Nature Bivouac 30 km in midsummer, both sites are possible. If you're going in May or September, it'll probably be Gournier. If you want to be sure of the site before locking your date, start by checking the calendar on the Tourist Office website, it's kept up to date.

The opening dates of the sites

This is the point that locks everything in. The bivouac season is not continuous and does not follow the canoe rental season. Here's the typical calendar; always verify on the Tourist Office website before booking, as it can be adjusted for weather or spring floods.

1. April to end of May: Only Gournier is open. Low attendance, wild atmosphere, but cold water and cool nights. A well-insulated tent is recommended.
2. June, weekends only: Gaud opens on Saturdays and Sundays, Gournier stays open continuously. It's the "bonus" window for those who can plan their bivouac on a Saturday-Sunday outside the summer holidays.
3. July-August: Both sites run at full capacity, seven days a week. It's also when pitches go the fastest: for a weekend night in August, ideally book 2 to 4 weeks ahead.
4. September: Transition. Gournier usually stays open, Gaud closes mid-month. A very good time to bivouac: autumn colours starting, fewer people, calmer river.
5. October to March: Both sites are closed. Bivouacs are forbidden in the Reserve during this period, to let flora and fauna recover. No exceptions, no waivers.

Our tips so you don't miss out on a pass

We see many customers book their Viking Bateaux trip assuming the bivouac is automatic, then discover the day before that the site is full. Here are the five points that make the difference between a smooth booking and disappointment.

1. Book the pass before the trip. In July-August, aim for 3 to 6 weeks ahead. For a weekend around 15 August, it's better to book in early July. Off-season, a week ahead is plenty.
2. Check the date of the night three times. It's the classic mistake: booking Sunday instead of Saturday because you're thinking of the arrival date at Sauze. You're booking the night, so the date you enter the site.
3. Build the trip around availability, not the other way round. If you absolutely want Gaud for its location and only Tuesday is left, go on Tuesday rather than insisting on a full weekend.
4. Print the e-ticket AND keep it on your phone. In a canoe, batteries die and phones get dropped. The paper version in a waterproof pouch is your peace-of-mind insurance with the warden.
5. Warn the kids and teens in the group. A bivouac in the Gorges means no signal (zero bars), dark nights, dry toilets, cold showers. Explained ahead, it's an adventure; discovered the evening itself, it can go sideways. Our family page details the routes suited to different ages.

Frequently asked questions