Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche: the finishing village of the great descents

After 24, 31 or 36 km of paddling through the Ardèche gorges, this is where your canoe reaches land. Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche is the southern gateway to the gorges and the natural finishing point of the descent: beaches, riverside guinguettes and the evening market await just a few metres from where you step ashore.

The end of the Ardèche gorges, seen from the river

The last kilometres of the nature reserve slip by, the cliffs draw apart, and a silhouette appears in the distance: the suspension bridge of Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche. For every canoeist coming down the gorges, this bridge means the same thing. You've arrived.

Saint-Martin is the southern gateway to the Ardèche gorges and the natural finishing point of the canoe descent of the Ardèche gorges. The village is built on the left bank, the terraces look out over the water, and you step ashore just metres from the first tables. Few villages in France offer this luxury: to set down your paddle and order a drink within five minutes.

What is there to do in Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche after the descent?

You usually land between 3 and 5 pm, arms a little heavy and mind at ease. Good news: everything is within walking distance, and the village has exactly what it takes to turn the end of a trip into a great end to the day.

Take a swim: the village beaches

It's the first thing you want when you get out of the canoe, and Saint-Martin does it better than any other village in the gorges. The village beach holds the Blue Flag label, the water is supervised in summer, and you swim in a calm setting, far from the current of the gorges.

Wander: lanes, Max Ernst and the suspension bridge

Once dry, take twenty minutes to walk up the lanes. Saint-Martin is a typical southern village, shaded plane-tree square included. A detail few visitors know: the surrealist painter Max Ernst settled here in 1938, and his decorated house still stands.

Then cross the suspension bridge on foot. Opposite, on the Gard bank, the medieval village of Aiguèze is ranked among the most beautiful villages of France. The view over the exit of the gorges from the bridge is worth the detour on its own. Aiguèze is also part of our pick of the most beautiful villages of the Ardèche.

Summer evenings: night market and guinguettes

On summer Sunday mornings, the market sets up on the Quai des Pescadous. Every Tuesday evening in July and August, a night market takes over, with local producers and craftspeople. Add the riverside guinguettes and you'll understand why many canoeists happily miss their return shuttle. For the days and times of every market in the area, here is our guide to the markets of Vallon-Pont-d'Arc and around.

Where to eat and drink by the water

The criterion that really matters after a descent: being able to sit down still wet, in flip-flops, without anyone raising an eyebrow. In Saint-Martin, that's the norm.

• The riverside guinguettes: a relaxed atmosphere, grills and ice creams, non-stop service in the afternoon. Perfect straight out of the canoe.
• The quayside restaurants: southern cuisine and terraces facing the water, for those staying for dinner.
• The village cellars: you're in Côtes du Vivarais country, and several winegrowers offer tastings a stone's throw from the quay.

Staying over: the ideal stopover village

If you want to finish the descent and stretch the evening out without getting back on the road, Saint-Martin is the best base in the gorges on the southern side.

The village, awarded the Station Verte label, has several riverside campsites, some with direct water access, as well as hotels and guesthouses in the centre. In high season, book early: the village's capacity is limited — which is also part of its charm.

If you set off on a 2-day descent with a bivouac, the night in the gorges is included in the route. Saint-Martin then becomes your reward on the second evening.

The great day descent

• 24 km, the gorges in a day
• Accessible as soon as you can swim
• Arrival in Saint-Martin in the late afternoon
• Return by shuttle the same evening

See the full-day trip

The 2-day descent with a bivouac

• 31 km, the full length of the gorges
• One night on a bivouac area in the reserve
• A freer pace, more swimming breaks
• Saint-Martin as the climax of the second evening

See the 2-day trip

Arriving by canoe: what you need to know

The first question everyone asks: which way do you do the Ardèche gorges? The answer is simple — you always go with the current, from upstream to downstream. The great descents therefore start from the Vallon-Pont-d'Arc area and arrive in Saint-Martin.

The details of the routes are on our canoe trips. For the timing, see which month to choose for your descent.

On the logistics side, everything is arranged so the end of the descent is as simple as the rest. Here's how your arrival unfolds:

An insider's tip: don't aim for the last shuttle. Keeping an hour's margin means treating yourself to one more swim or a final drink at the Quai des Pescadous without watching the clock.

The arrival barrel: the checklist

Your questions about Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche

Your arrival in Saint-Martin begins here

One last stroke of the paddle, the hull sliding over the pebbles, and the village takes over. In Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche, the descent doesn't really end: it carries on on a terrace, on the beach or at the evening market. There's only one decision left to make — the date.

All the great Aventure Canoës descents arrive in Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche. Return shuttle included, equipment provided, departures all day from our base in Salavas.