Descent from Vallon Pont d'Arc to Sauze, two days in mode "comfort"
"Descent in Ardeche Canyon without overnight in a campsite"
If you don't want to spend a night in a tent but, at the same time, you would like to take your time travelling in Ardeche Canyon, choose this descent. It lets you to get back to your hotel or camping in the evening and to continue your adventure the next day.
Practical information
Distance : 30 Km
Time to paddle : about 7h (5h30 the first day, 1h30 the second day).
Difficulty : 7 rapids classe III et about 25 rapids classe II.
Start Day 1 : Chames. Finish Day 1: Sauze.
Start Day 2 : Vallon Pont d'Arc. Finish Day 1: Chames.
Departure time, 1st day: 8h30 am, 9 am, 9h30 am, 10 am (meeting in Vallon Pont d'Arc half hour before). In the evening: return in Vallon Pont d'Arc by bus.
Departure time, 2nd day: between 9 am and 4 pm (on your choice), in Vallon Pont d'Arc.
Points of interest
Two days are a perfect choice if you want to enjoy the Ardeche Canyon.
You return to your hotel or camping for an overnight.
The regulatory imperatives
Each participant must know how to swim; each participant must wear a lifejackets at all times.
Children ( under 18 y.o.) can not participate alone, they must be accompanied by an responsible adult.
Prohibition of rental with childen under 7 y.o. Interdiction de la location avec des enfants de moins de sept ans.
Alcool is prohibbiten in the Natural Reserve.
You must book your place in the campsite (bivouac) in advance by SGGA (see below).
Warning : Canoe Kayak rent is prohibited if the water level is too high.
In case of prohibition of rent due to a water lever too iportant, you will be (accroding to your choice) either refunded or postponed to a date that suits you.
Don't forget
Take shoes that are good for you feet and protect them, such as sneakers or water shoes (no flip-flops).
Wear an adequate and adapted to the weather clothers: cap, windbreaker, T-short, long shorts that effectiverly protects the thighs from sunburn.
Provide sufficient quantity of drinking water and food (there is no shop in the canyon).
Discription
The first day you arrive to a kayak landing in Vallon Pont d'Arc. Here you are going to get your equipment and, after a briefing, our shuttle will bring you to a start point (in Chames, juste before the entrance to the Natural Reserve). In the evening we pick you up in Sauze and bring you back to Vallon Pont d'Arc.
The second day you are going to make another part of this descent. You start in Vallon Pont d'Arc directly and you arrive to Chames. This part is much shorter. You can start at any time between 9 am and 4 pm. The last shuttle from Chames to Vallon is at 7 pm. You need at least one and half hour for this ride but we recommend you to take you time; your way pass through our beautiful Pont d'Arc and there are many small but nice beaches everywhere.
To enjoy your descent
Keep a regular speed. Try to be in the middle of your way (near the campsite Gournier) about noon in order to have enough of time to finish the descent in the afternoon without running.
When you see the Cathedral Rock (see the picture), you are in 2h30 of paddling from the finish point.
Each boat should be autonome and to have enough of water and food. It happens very often that the group is separated during the descend. If it happens, you are going to meet your friends again in Sauze only.