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Evasion Travel works with local companies to allow guest to enjoy the best of the Ardèche, and one of the most exciting ways to do this is to go ‘canyoning’ with our local partners at Face Sud in Vallon Pont d’Arc.

Canyoning is basically sliding, abseiling, jumping and swimming down a stream or river in a canyon. If it sounds a bit bonkers that’s because it is.

Evasion Travel’s Jen and Em were very lucky this week to join their clients on the trip. A drive up the mountains to around 1100 meters above sea level took the group to the stunning Chassezac Gorge, high above the Ardèche plain and near to some ancient, isolated medieval villages.

The day starts off with a squeeze into a two piece wetsuit and booties which make you look more like you are going deep sea diving. A sweaty walk down to the gorge brings you to the river, where you are recommended to allow some water into the suit so that it warms up and keeps you warm for the rest of the day however…the water is very cold!


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The river sets all sorts of challenges for you with natural water slides, jumps and abseils through waterfalls. There is also shows you some fantastic scenery to be enjoyed. The area is like being on the Pirates of the Caribbean film set! We were with a great mixed group of English and French so it was a fantastic opportunity for us to practice and have a few laughs with some nationals.


Half way down the river the group stops for a packed lunch, however emma and Jen whipped out a tupperware box of chicken curry and rice left over from the night before’s dinner, they realised that when the group were giving them strange looks that the sensible thing to take was sandwiches! Their job is often to advise clients on what not to take and there they were looking like they had just picked up their doggy bag from last night’s Indian!

After another hour of fun in the water and abseiling down waterfalls the group came to the end of the line, only to realise that what they had just come down…the van is at the top! A steady walk up the top of the canyon takes you back to the stunning views of the gorge and the end of another brilliant day.

Jen and Em recommend that this is definitely an activity to do when you visit!!