FR
Paddle the Ardèche in 3 days: the 31 &36 km bivouac trip
The full adventure, take-your-time edition!
Why choose the 3-day trip?
The 3-day trip uses the same setting as our 2-day option, but spreads it out. You cover the same river with two short days of paddling instead of one big, sustained leg. The result: more time on the beaches, two nights instead of one, and zero pressure on the clock.
It's the format designed for those who want to experience the gorges by taking their time, rather than performing. You paddle for a few hours, you stop for a swim, you set off again when you feel like it.
- A laid-back pace: two short days of paddling over three days.
- Two nights, two atmospheres: the comfort of a campsite, then the quiet of a wild bivouac.
- More swimming breaks and more time on the natural beaches.
- Sunrise and sunset in the gorges, far from the bustle.
Two options to choose from: 31 km or 36 km
You have two possible starting points, for the same spirit: three days, one night at a campsite and one night at a bivouac. The difference comes down to the distance and the put-in location.
Super Adventure 3 days, 31 km
- Departure: Salavas, our watersports base
- Ideal for: families, first multi-day trips
- Level: accessible, comfortable in the water
- The plus: a very gentle first day
Maxi Adventure 3 days, 36 km
- Departure: Sampzon, 5 km upstream
- Ideal for: groups, lovers of wide-open spaces
- Level: intermediate, starts with 4 water slides
- The plus: the complete descent of the gorges
The 3-day trip, day by day
The structure is the same for both options: one day to reach the gateway to the gorges, then two days inside the reserve, separated by your night at the bivouac. Here's how the three days are organised.
Day 1: from the start to the Camp des Gorges
- Set off from Salavas (31 km) or Sampzon (36 km), with a relaxed paddle to the Camp des Gorges, at the gateway to the reserve.
- Paddling time of around 1.5 hours for the 31 km, 3 hours for the 36 km.
- The rest of the day is yours: beach, swimming, settling in. Night at the campsite.
Day 2: the Pont d'Arc and entering the reserve
- Passing under the legendary arch of the Pont d'Arc, then entering the nature reserve as far as your bivouac.
- Allow around 2.5 hours of paddling to reach Gaud, 3.5 hours for Gournier.
- A wild night by the water.
Day 3: the heart of the gorges to Sauze
- The Toupine de Gournier, the Cathédrale rock and the Cirque de la Madeleine roll past before you reach Sauze beach.
- Around 3 hours of paddling from Gournier, 4 hours from Gaud, then the shuttle back.
- Times vary depending on the water level.
Two nights, two atmospheres: campsite then bivouac
What makes this option unique is its two-night stay. You get a taste of two ways of sleeping by the river: the comfort of an equipped campsite on the first evening, the raw quiet of a bivouac on the second.
The 1st night at the Camp des Gorges
- The Camp des Gorges is a campsite set on the riverbank, at the gateway to the reserve. There you'll find toilets, showers, a beach and somewhere to eat. No need to carry a heavy tent or all your gear: the logistics stay simple, which makes this first night accessible even if you've never bivouacked before.
- This night is to be booked yourself, directly with the campsite. It's the only accommodation booking that doesn't go through us.
The 2nd night at a bivouac, Gaud or Gournier
- On the second evening, you sleep in the heart of the nature reserve, at one of the two official bivouacs.
- Water, toilets and showers are on site, and waking up facing the river is worth the trip.
- As wild camping is prohibited, booking is compulsory.
Good news for the planning: you book your bivouac yourself, but a direct link is available on our website to book Gaud or Gournier without having to search. The canoe, for its part, is booked with us.
Gaud or Gournier: which to choose for the 2nd night?
The choice of bivouac changes the balance between your two days in the reserve. Gaud is upstream, Gournier halfway along. It's up to you whether you prefer two even days or a final day with more of the big moments packed in.
| Bivouac | Position | Paddling Day 2 | Paddling Day 3 | For you if... |
| Gournier | Halfway along | ≈ 3.5 hrs | ≈ 3hrs | You want two balanced days, the steadiest pace |
| Gaud | Upstream | ≈ 2.5 hrs | ≈ 4hrs | You'd rather save the Cathédrale and the Madeleine for a packed final day |
Approximate paddling times, varying depending on the water level. Both bivouacs can be booked via the link available on our website.
2 days or 3 days: which option to choose?
Our 2-day option goes down the same river, but with a single night, at a bivouac, and more sustained days of paddling.
The 3-day version adds a night at a campsite and eases off the pace. Here's what you need to compare.
| Option | Distance | Nights | Type of night | Pace | For who |
| 2 days | 31 to 36 km | 1 night | Wild bivouac | Sustained | Confident adventurers, a sporty weekend |
| 3 days | 31 or 36 km | 2 nights | Campsite then bivouac | Relaxed | Those who want to take their time |
Who is this trip for?
This option is for those who want to experience the gorges in slow mode:
- Groups of friends extending the weekend
- Families with children who are comfortable in the water
- Couples in search of disconnection
- Nature lovers who don't like to be rushed.
The level remains accessible: being able to swim is compulsory, and you need to be comfortable in the water. As the days of paddling are short, the effort is well spread across the three days. Our team briefs you before departure and points you towards the option best suited to your group.
Preparing well for your 3-day trip
Three days on the river call for a minimum of organisation, without going on a full-blown expedition. The night at the campsite simplifies everything: you only carry the essentials for the second evening's bivouac. Here's how to forget nothing.
My checklist before departure
- Be able to swim (compulsory)
- A dry bag to protect your belongings
- A sleeping bag and a light mat for the bivouac
- A change of clothes
- Closed shoes that can go in the water
- Sun protection: hat and cream
- Water and meals, especially for the evening at the bivouac
- Canoe booking with Aventure Canoës
- Bivouac booking (Gaud or Gournier)
- Booking the night at the Camp des Gorges
When to go? Times, water level and weather
Three-day trips are organised at your own pace:
- On day 1, you set off whenever you like between 9 am and 4 pm, as the paddle to the Camp des Gorges is short.
- You spend the first night there at the campsite, at the gateway to the reserve, then the second night at a bivouac (Gaud or Gournier) in the heart of the gorges.
- On day 3, you arrive at Sauze beach around 4:30-5 pm, where the shuttle brings you back to your vehicle.
- The exact times, the bivouac instructions and the authorised areas are confirmed when you book and run through again at the departure briefing, depending on the season, the water level and the weather.
3-day trip rates
The rates are per person and include canoe hire over the three days as well as the return shuttle from Sauze.
| Option | Adult | Student | Child |
| 31 km, 3 days (from Salavas) | €79 | €71 | €55 |
| 36 km, 3 days (from Sampzon) | €89 | €80 | €62 |
Why choose Aventure Canoës?
Vincent, Manon and their team live on the banks of the Ardèche and know the river by heart. Our base in Salavas, peaceful and set in the forest, is designed for unwinding before and after the trip: a free shaded car park, direct access to the water and a private beach.
- Return shuttle included from Sauze, at no extra cost.
- Canoes designed and made in the Ardèche, French life jackets and paddles.
- A business on a human scale, with a simple, attentive welcome.
- More than 30 years of experience and a full briefing before departure.
Ready to paddle the Ardèche at your own pace?
For more than 30 years, we've been with you every step of the way, with equipment made in the Ardèche, shuttles included and a local team that knows every bend in the river. Get in touch or book your 3-day trip online.
