Gorges de l'Ardeche

The Ardeche runs about thirty kilometres through a canyon up to three hundred metres deep, and it begins at the Pont d'Arc, a natural arch some fifty-four metres wide and thirty-four high that the river cut by breaking through the neck of a meander. A rim road with about a dozen belvederes follows the canyon from Vallon to Saint-Martin, but the classic approach is by canoe: the standard run is two days with a night at one of two authorised bivouac areas inside the reserve, and there is no exit in between. The canyon is a national nature reserve with Bonelli's eagles and beavers.

What you actually see

• The Pont d'Arc - a natural arch the river cut through a meander neck.
• The rim belvederes - about a dozen viewpoints along the road.
• The two-day paddle - the canoe descent with an overnight bivouac.
• The reserve wildlife - eagles, beavers and vultures in the canyon.

When to go

May, June and September for water levels and space; July and August are extremely crowded on the water and hot on the rim. Levels can be too low in late summer and too high after storms.

Honest expectations

Once committed to the canoe descent there is no way out until the end, and rescue is difficult. Summer crowds on the river are severe. Wild camping outside the two bivouacs is prohibited and enforced.

Nearby

Chauvet 2 lies close to Vallon; the Aven d'Orgnac is south.