Below are details of some of our most popular activities. See our activity holiday packages to see if they are in your package or create a trip to tailor make your Ardèche adventures. You can also just book into our hotel to meet other adventurers and pick your activities while you are here.
Canoeing
There is no better way to witness the spectacluar Ardèche River than from the water itself. Choose from 7km, 24km or 32km trips or opt to camp overnight in the National Park and have two 16km days on the water (see ‘Bivouac’ below). Canoe trips are usually unaccompanied but guides are available. All groups are given a full induction and safety equipment before departure.
Minimum age 7 years. All participants should be confident swimmers.
Included in Family, Group, Singles and Canoe Short break packages. Optional for all other trips.
Walking
The Ardèche is home to hundreds of miles of well signposted trails. Choose to head out on your own to explore or join us on some favourite routes to well-kept secret spots like viewpoints, beaches, caves and enchanting forests. Good shoes, a hat, suncream and plenty of water are advisable!
Accompanied walks are included in Family, Group, and Singles packages. Optional for all other trips.
Treetop Ropes Course
With a huge range of treetop activities, challenges and games, the Treetop Ropes Course takes you from low, confidence building circuits to get used to your equipment, right up to the treetops with zipwires, cargo nets and fun challenges. The course does not require a great deal of physical ability, just a bit of attitude!
Minimum height 1.35m for some of the circuits.
Included in Family, Group and Singles packages. Optional for all other trips.
Horse Riding
Our favoured horse riding trails take us through rivers, forests and vineyards out in the warm Ardèche countryside. Smaller children can still enjoy the fun by taking a pony ride. A qualified guide is always present on our horse riding trips and the tempo of the ride is tailored to the experience level of those in the group.
No experience necessary. Children under 12 are advised to take pony tours.
Included in Family, Group and Singles packages. Optional for all other trips.
Caves Tour
Beneath the Ardèche, unnoticed by most travellers are huge networks of caves, tens of miles long and punctuated by huge caverns. These caves were once home to some of our oldest ancestors. We take a guided tour of some of the most impressive with lit walkways and staircases. Tougher caving (boiler suits, helmets etc) is available on the More Activities page.
Take a jumper – it’s 11-12 degrees down there all year!
Included in Family, Group, and Singles packages. Optional for all other trips.
Cycling and Biking
With hundreds of miles of trails and impressive scenic roads, it is just a question of how to see it all! Our bikes are suitable for road or off road conditions and we have plenty of ideas about which routes might suit your group. Dedicated supported road cycling and mountain biking weeks are also available.
Cyclists must be competent and wear helmets at all times.
Optional on all trips.
Cities and Local Sights
The surrounding cities and countryside have huge historical and cultural significance to the region. Among our favourites are the Roman Amphitheatre at Nimes, the Aqueduct at Pont du Gard, the medieval city of Avignon and the Prehistoric museum at Orgnac. Natural sights include the Ardèche Gorge, waterfalls, a naturally formed rock maze, deep caves and incredible viewpoints.
Sightseeing and City Visits are included in Family, Group, and Singles packages. Optional for all other trips.
Bivouac
Enjoy a night under the stars by the Ardèche River by stopping at one of only two campsites at the bottom of the gorge, deep in the National Park. We will give you waterproof barrels for your supplies as you head off for two days of canoeing a gentle 16km per day.
Camping equipment can be hired from us by prior arrangement.
The bivouac is an option on most trips.
Via Ferrata
Meaning ‘way of iron’, Via Ferrata is climbing on tough terrain made easy by ropes, metal cables and bars secured to the rock face. Participants will be issued with safety equipment, a full briefing and instruction as they pass around a series of ladders, walkways, rock faces, abseils and zip wires high above the Ardèche.
Good shoes and a head for heights are among the essential requirements!
Optional on most trips.
Canyoning
The tributaries of the Ardèche River flow in steep sided valleys, over waterfalls and down chutes, plunging and splashing their way to join the main river. You basically do the same thing! Clad in a wetsuit and using special equipment you can choose from a variety of canyons to make your way down, all under the supervision of qualified instructors.
Optional on most trips.
Wine Tasting
The Ardèche region has an increasingly good reputation for good wines, as do its more established neighbours in the Rhone Valley. We organise trips to traditional, independent, family run vineyards to try one of France’s most precious exports. Sometimes we couple this with other activites, e.g cycling or walking to the vineyard for a tasting (then getting picked up afterwards!!). Min age 16yrs.
Optional on most trips.
Climbing
There are great climbing spots for all in the Ardèche, from easy novice crags to highly technical multi pitch challenges. We can provide instruction for amateurs or simply a base and transport for climbing groups and clubs to strike out from.
Optional on most trips.
Caving
If the gentle caves tour on the activities page leaves you wanting something more challengeing then we’ll take you deep underground under the supervision of qualified instructors. With all equipment provided, all you will need are some good shoes and a sense of adventure! Tight squeezes and plenty of mud are both on the menu…
Optional on most trips.
