Six kilometres under the Pont d'Arc, a day inside the Reserve or two days with a night at Gaud or Gournier: the best route is not necessarily the longest. It depends above all on the time you have, the age of your group and what you want to see.
The right route at a glance
Rather than comparing seven lines of specifications, start from what matters to you. This table works that way round: your priority first, the route second.
| 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 Reserve, without the Pont d'Arc | The Reserve 24 km |
| Pont d'Arc and 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 |
The detail of each descent (distance, duration, rapids, points of interest) is on the seven routes page and on the interactive map. The times given are for average paddling: swimming stops, the picnic, the river flow and the pace of your group all make the day longer.
Three questions to rule out the wrong choices
It is tempting to start with the kilometres. That is rarely the best method. Ask yourself these three questions first.
How long do you really want to spend on the river?
A half-day lets you enjoy the Pont d'Arc without building the whole day around the canoe. The 24 to 36 km routes demand an early start and several hours sitting in the boat. The bivouac adds logistics, but spreads the effort over two days.
Also count the time for check-in, kitting up, the briefing and the shuttle. A trip advertised as three hours of paddling takes up more than a three-hour slot in your diary.
What is the level of the least confident person?
A group moves at its own pace, not at the pace of its fittest member. An adult unused to exercise, a 7-year-old or someone who is nervous about rapids should weigh more in the decision than the friend who wants to "do the full run while we are here".
The minimum age is 7 and every participant must be able to swim. That does not make the seven routes equivalent. For a child of 7 or 8, the 6 km is generally the most enjoyable choice.
Which passage do you absolutely not want to miss?
If the Pont d'Arc is essential, rule out the 24 km: it starts at Châmes, downstream of the arch. If you want the chutes, choose the 12 km or one of the 36 km options. For the Cathédrale and the wildest part of the Reserve, go for 24 km or more.
6 or 12 km: choosing your half-day
Both routes pass under the Pont d'Arc and suit a first experience. The difference lies in the duration and in the chutes.
Mini Trip 6 km: simple, short and already a change of scene
The 6 km leaves Vallon-Pont-d'Arc and reaches Châmes. About 1 hr 30 of paddling is enough to run the Blachas, Branches and Charlemagne rapids, pass under the Pont d'Arc and stop on a pebble beach.
We recommend it when a group is discovering canoeing, travelling with young children or wanting to keep time for something else. It does not include the concrete chutes you often see in photos of the upstream routes.
Midi Trip 12 km: the four chutes on top
The 12 km starts at Les Mazes, upstream of Vallon. It runs the four purpose-built chutes, five rapids, then the passage under the Pont d'Arc before finishing at Châmes.
At around three hours of paddling, it still fits a half-day but demands more attention and energy. It is often the right compromise for teenagers, a group of friends or a family that has already tried a paddling activity.
24, 30 or 36 km: a full day in the Gorges
From 24 km up, the outing becomes a proper day on the river. Plan for water, a picnic, sun protection and enough margin for breaks. The return time is not the moment to discover that several rapids are still ahead.
The Reserve 24 km: the canyon without the upstream section
You start at Châmes, after the Pont d'Arc. You enter the Nature Reserve straight away and paddle down to Sauze. The route has eight rapids and passes the great landscapes of the Gorges, including the Cathédrale.
Its 24 km make it the most accessible of the three full days. It suits those who prioritise the wild section and accept missing both the Pont d'Arc and the chutes.
The Sporty 30 km: Pont d'Arc and Reserve on the same day
The 30 km adds the start from Vallon and the passage under the Pont d'Arc to the crossing of the Gorges. Allow about six hours of paddling and ten rapids before arriving at Sauze.
It does not include the four chutes further upstream. In exchange you save a few kilometres compared with the Full Run, which leaves more time for lunch or a stop on a beach.
The Full Run 36 km: everything in one day
Starting at Les Mazes lets you link the chutes, the Pont d'Arc, twelve rapids and the whole of the Gorges down to Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche. It is the most complete route, and also the one that forgives a late start or a leisurely pace the least.
We keep it for people in good physical condition, ready to paddle steadily. Breaks are still possible, but they have to be managed with the last shuttle time in mind.
30 or 36 km over two days: the bivouac option
The bivouac changes the tempo. You are no longer just trying to reach the finish: you settle in for a night at the bottom of the canyon, then take up the river again the next morning.
Nature Bivouac 30 km: a well-judged first adventure
This option takes the 30 km route and splits it with a night at Gaud or Gournier. It passes under the Pont d'Arc and crosses the Reserve, without the upstream chutes.
It suits couples, families with reasonably hardy children and anyone who wants to discover the bivouac without adding six kilometres to the load.
Adventure Bivouac 36 km: the full run, with time to spare
Starting at Les Mazes adds the four chutes before the Pont d'Arc. You then get the whole crossing of the Gorges, spread over two days.
This is the option to choose if you want to see every major sequence of the route but would rather avoid the seven hours of paddling of the Full Run in a single day.
See the Adventure Bivouac 36 km
The pass for Gaud or Gournier is not included in the rental. In 2026, the official ticketing shows the night from €16.50 on both sites. The final amount depends on the package and on availability. Read our bivouac booking guide before you fix the date.
What we would recommend for your group
First time, or a child aged 7 to 9
The Mini Trip 6 km. A relaxed pace, the Pont d'Arc as a bonus, and time left for something else in the day. See also our family canoeing page.
Family with teenagers
The Midi Trip 12 km for the chutes, or The Reserve 24 km if everyone has the stamina.
A couple who want the Gorges without rushing
The Reserve 24 km as a day trip, or the Nature Bivouac 30 km to sleep at the bottom of the canyon.
A group of friends
The 12 km for a lively half-day, The Sporty 30 km for a full day.
Sporty paddlers
The Full Run 36 km in one day, with an early start and the last shuttle time in mind.
Wanting to see it all, with a night in the canyon
The Adventure Bivouac 36 km: every major sequence of the route, spread over two days.
For a group of ten people or more, call us before booking. Differences in level are easier to handle when we adjust the distance and the departure time together.
Does the budget change much from one route to another?
The 2026 online prices run from €25 per person for the Mini Trip 6 km to €63 for the Adventure Bivouac 36 km. The equipment included in your package, the briefing and the return shuttle are all covered.
Child, group and third-seat prices are detailed on the prices page. For a two-day descent, add the bivouac pass and your own overnight kit.
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 subject to availability and age conditions. 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 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.
Still unsure? The interactive map lets you see the departure points, the rapids, the Pont d'Arc and the two bivouacs. If two options still look equivalent, call us with the ages of your group and the time you have: that is usually enough to make the right choice.