Six kilometres with a passage under the Pont d'Arc, a full day inside the Nature Reserve or two days in the heart of the Gorges with a night at Gaud or Gournier: choosing your Ardèche descent is not just about a distance.
The right route depends above all on the time you have, on the level of the least confident person in your group and on what you really want to discover.
At Viking Bateaux, we offer 7 routes from 6 to 36 km from our base in Vallon-Pont-d'Arc. Half-day, full day or bivouac: here is how to choose the route that genuinely fits your group.
The right route at a glance
Torn between several descents? Start from what you expect from your outing rather than from the number of kilometres.
| Your priority | Route we recommend |
|---|---|
| First time, with the family | Mini Trip 6 km |
| The chutes, in a half-day | Midi Trip 12 km |
| The wild Reserve, without the Pont d'Arc | The Reserve 24 km |
| The Pont d'Arc and the Gorges in one day | The Sporty 30 km |
| See it all in a single day | The Full Run 36 km |
| A first night at the bivouac | Nature Bivouac 30 km |
| See it all with a night in the canyon | Adventure Bivouac 36 km |
You can also compare distances, durations, rapids and main sights on our page of 7 Ardèche descents, or see their course on our interactive route map.
Whichever you choose, check-in, equipment and the briefing all take place at our Viking Bateaux base in Vallon-Pont-d'Arc. Depending on the descent, you then set off straight from the base, or an included transfer takes you to the launch point.
The durations given are average paddling times. Swimming, the picnic, stops on the beaches, the river flow and the pace of your group can naturally make the day longer.
Three questions to ask before choosing
Comparing 6, 12, 24, 30 or 36 km is useful, but it is not necessarily the best place to start.
Before booking your Ardèche canoe descent, three questions usually rule out the routes that do not fit your group.
How long do you really want to spend on the river?
To discover canoeing and enjoy the Pont d'Arc, a half-day can be plenty.
From 24 km up, on the other hand, you are in for a proper day in the Ardèche Gorges, with an early start and several hours of paddling.
The bivouac, meanwhile, spreads the effort over two days and adds a night in the heart of the Nature Reserve.
Also think about the time needed for check-in, equipment, the briefing and the shuttles. Three hours of paddling does not mean the activity will take exactly three hours out of your schedule.
The route you choose also sets your departure time. The Mini Trip 6 km runs continuously between 10 am and 5 pm. At the other end, The Sporty 30 km requires a departure between 8 am and 9 am, and The Full Run 36 km between 7.30 am and 8.30 am.
What is the level of the least confident person?
This is probably the most important criterion.
A group rarely moves at the pace of its fittest member. A 7-year-old, someone unused to exercise or a person who is nervous about rapids should weigh more in the decision than the one who absolutely wants to "do the 36 km".
To paddle the Ardèche with Viking Bateaux, every participant must be at least 7 years old, able to swim 25 metres and willing to accept being underwater.
That does not mean the 7 routes make the same demands.
With a child of 7 or 8, we generally point you towards the Mini Trip 6 km, better suited to enjoying the experience fully without turning the outing into an endurance test.
What do you absolutely want to see?
Not all routes cross exactly the same sections.
If the passage under the Pont d'Arc is one of the highlights of your stay, do not choose the 24 km: it starts at Châmes, downstream of the arch.
If you want to run the four chutes, choose the 12 km or one of the 36 km routes.
Finally, to discover the Cathédrale and the wildest part of the Nature Reserve, go for a descent of 24 km or more.
6 or 12 km: which descent for a half-day?
The 6 and 12 km routes are the two most natural options for discovering canoeing in Ardèche without giving up a whole day.
Both pass under the Pont d'Arc. The difference lies mainly in the duration, the number of rapids and the presence of the chutes.
Mini Trip 6 km: ideal for a first time
The Mini Trip 6 km links Vallon-Pont-d'Arc to Châmes.
About 1 hr 30 of paddling is enough to run the Blachas, Branches and Charlemagne rapids, pass under the Pont d'Arc and enjoy the pebble beaches along the way.
At Viking Bateaux, this is the route we recommend most readily to people discovering the activity, to families with young children, or to anyone who wants to combine canoeing with another visit in the day.
Departures run continuously between 10 am and 5 pm, which leaves a great deal of freedom to plan around.
The 6 km does not, however, include the concrete chutes located upstream of Vallon-Pont-d'Arc.
Midi Trip 12 km: the chutes on top
The Midi Trip 12 km starts at Les Mazes, upstream of Vallon-Pont-d'Arc.
It opens with the four purpose-built chutes, then links five rapids before passing under the Pont d'Arc and reaching Châmes.
Allow about 3 hours of paddling, with departures spread between 9 am and midday.
It still fits a half-day, but demands more energy and attention than the Mini Trip.
For a family with teenagers, a group of friends or people who have already tried a paddling activity, it is often the best compromise between duration and thrills.
24, 30 or 36 km: which descent for a full day?
From 24 km up, you are no longer out for a few hours of canoeing: you cross the Ardèche Gorges over a full day.
Bring enough water, a picnic, sun protection and time to enjoy the beaches without constantly watching the clock.
Each of the three routes has its own appeal.
The Reserve 24 km: putting the Gorges first
The Reserve 24 km starts at Châmes, after the Pont d'Arc.
Between 8.30 am and 9.30 am, you head straight into the Nature Reserve to reach Sauze after about 5 hours of paddling.
The route counts 8 rapids and crosses the great landscapes of the Gorges, notably the Cathédrale.
It is the most accessible of the three long day trips.
It particularly suits those whose priority is to discover the canyon and its wild section, without necessarily passing under the Pont d'Arc or running the chutes.
The Sporty 30 km: the Pont d'Arc and the Gorges in one day
The Sporty 30 km starts at Vallon-Pont-d'Arc.
You pass under the Pont d'Arc before crossing the whole Reserve down to Sauze.
Allow about 6 hours of paddling, 10 rapids and a departure between 8 am and 9 am.
It does not run the four chutes located further upstream.
Compared with The Full Run 36 km, you save 6 kilometres and about an hour of paddling, which leaves more freedom for lunch, a swim or time on the beaches.
For groups in good physical condition who want to discover both the Pont d'Arc and the Ardèche Gorges in a single day, it is often the most balanced choice.
The Full Run 36 km: see it all in one day
With The Full Run 36 km, you start at Les Mazes and link the four chutes, the Pont d'Arc, 12 rapids and then the whole of the Gorges down to Sauze.
It is the most complete route Viking Bateaux offers over a single day.
It is also the most demanding.
Allow about 7 hours of paddling, with a departure between 7.30 am and 8.30 am.
We keep this route for people in good physical condition and ready to paddle steadily throughout the day. We do not recommend it for children under 12.
Stopping for lunch or a swim is of course still possible, but it has to be managed with the arrival at Sauze before nightfall in mind.
30 or 36 km over two days: discovering the Gorges with a bivouac
A descent with a bivouac is a very different experience.
The distance is no longer just an effort to get through: it becomes the thread running through two days in the heart of the canyon, with a night at Gaud or Gournier.
It is another way of discovering the Ardèche Gorges, with far more time to enjoy the river and the Reserve.
Nature Bivouac 30 km: a first night in the Gorges
The Nature Bivouac 30 km takes The Sporty route and spreads it over two days.
You cover about 15 kilometres on the first day, then 15 kilometres the next, with a night at Gaud or Gournier.
The route passes under the Pont d'Arc and crosses the Reserve, without running the chutes located upstream.
Departure is between 9 am and 10 am on the first morning.
It is an option we readily recommend for a first bivouac experience: couples, families with reasonably hardy children, or simply anyone who wants to take more time in the Gorges.
Adventure Bivouac 36 km: the full run spread over two days
The Adventure Bivouac 36 km starts at Les Mazes.
You therefore get the four chutes before reaching the Pont d'Arc and crossing the whole of the Gorges.
The distance is spread over two days of about 18 kilometres.
This is the option to choose if you want to discover every major sequence of the Ardèche descent without packing the 7 hours of paddling of The Full Run into a single day.
See the Adventure Bivouac 36 km
The pass for the Gaud and Gournier bivouacs is not included in the Viking Bateaux rental.
In 2026, the official ticketing shows a night from €16.50 on both sites. The final amount depends on the package and on availability.
Before fixing your date, read our guide to booking your bivouac pass.
Which route should you choose for your group?
If you are still hesitating between two descents, the profile of the group is often enough to settle it quickly.
First descent, or a child aged 7 to 9
The Mini Trip 6 km. An accessible distance, a relaxed pace and the passage under the Pont d'Arc, while keeping time for the rest of the day. To prepare an outing with children, see also our guide to family canoeing in Ardèche.
Family with teenagers
The Midi Trip 12 km to enjoy the chutes without devoting the whole day to the activity. If everyone has the stamina, The Reserve 24 km steps up to a proper day in the Gorges.
A couple who want to discover the Gorges without rushing
The Reserve 24 km for a day trip, or the Nature Bivouac 30 km to take more time and spend a night at the bottom of the canyon.
Group of friends
The Midi Trip 12 km for a lively half-day with the chutes, or The Sporty 30 km for a real day on the water between the Pont d'Arc and the Gorges.
Sporty paddlers
The Full Run 36 km. Departure between 7.30 am and 8.30 am, 12 rapids and about 7 hours of paddling down to Sauze.
Wanting to see it all with a night in the canyon
The Adventure Bivouac 36 km. Chutes, the Pont d'Arc and the complete crossing of the Gorges, spread over two days.
For a group of 10 people or more, we recommend contacting Viking Bateaux before booking. When levels differ widely, a few details about the ages of the group and their sporting habits usually let us point you towards a distance and a departure time that fit better.
What budget should you plan for each route?
The 2026 online prices start at €25 per person for the Mini Trip 6 km and reach €63 for the Adventure Bivouac 36 km.
Every rental includes:
- the boat;
- the life jacket;
- the paddle;
- a 30 L waterproof barrel;
- the briefing before departure;
- the return shuttle.
Parking at our Viking Bateaux base in Vallon-Pont-d'Arc is free.
Child, group and third-seat prices are detailed on our Ardèche canoe prices page.
For a two-day descent, also budget for the bivouac pass and your own overnight kit.
Still unsure between two descents?
The best route is not necessarily the longest or the most demanding: it is the one that matches the pace and the expectations of your group.
At Viking Bateaux, our 7 descents let you choose between a first look at the Pont d'Arc, a half-day with the chutes, a crossing of the Gorges or a two-day adventure with a bivouac.
To compare the itineraries, see our interactive map of the Ardèche descents. You will find the launch points, the rapids, the Pont d'Arc, the main sights of the Gorges and the Gaud and Gournier bivouacs.
If two routes still look right, call us with the ages of the group, their level and the time you have. Those are usually the three things our team needs to help you make the right choice.
Frequently asked questions
1 Can you change route on the day of departure?
Sometimes, if the timings, the availability and the navigation conditions allow it. Call us before you travel rather than counting on a change at the desk.
2 Two-seater canoe or single kayak: which one?
The two-seater canoe suits most couples, families and beginners. The single kayak gives you more independence, but demands more control and more effort: it is offered from age 14 with parental consent, subject to the route and to availability. Our guide canoe or kayak in Ardèche sets out the choice in detail.
3 Which route should you pick if rapids worry you?
The 6 km is the shortest and has three fun rapids. You still have to be able to swim 25 metres and accept being underwater. If fear of water runs deep, call us before booking so we can check the activity suits you.
4 Do all seven routes pass under the Pont d'Arc?
No. Six routes out of seven pass under the arch. The Reserve 24 km starts at Châmes, downstream of the Pont d'Arc.
5 Do you need to book well in advance?
In July and August, for large groups and for bivouacs, it is better to plan ahead. Out of season, options are usually more flexible. A booking remains the only way to secure your route and your departure time.