Open Canoe Guided Expedition - 5 nights
For beginners and intermediate paddlers
Overview
As specialists for the Ardèche river, Experience Ardeche has teamed up with LTAdventure and created a 4 day/5 night expedition training itinerary in open canoes that is perfect for people wanting to develop their canoe paddling and expeditioning skills. This 4 day expedition will run at the start and end of each season when there are fewer people around, when water levels are higher, and when the rapids are bigger - a truly unforgettable wilderness experience.
The aim of this course is to provide participants with a guided expedition in 
open canoes that enables you to become an efficient and self-contained tandem (or solo) canoeist on both flat and white-water (grade 2).
With 2 of the most experienced guides in the region, boasting over 45 years of running canoe trips on the Ardeche between them, this 60km 4 day trip will help to develop your flat and moving water paddling skills and will include 2, 3 and 4* skills; rescue techniques; poling; lining; and the chance to swim in rapids. You will also develop your ability to read and navigate white-water and gain advice and tips on outfitting your canoe.
You have the choice on whether to bring your own canoe and equipment or
use our Prospector 15's during the course. Additionally, you can either bring your own camping equipment or hire this from us for the course duration.
Previous paddling experience is required and some white-water experience is preferred but not essential. Min age 16 yrs.
Itinerary
Our canoe expedition will be run over 5 nights with 4
days paddling. As wild camping is not allowed, (apart from within the gorges),
we will spend 3 nights at campsites located on the banks of the river, and we will have 1 night wild 
camping within the National Park. The final night will be spent in a hotel situated at the bottom of the river with the evening meal included. On arrival, there will be
group introductions, an expedition briefing and equipment check, before settling
down for a good night's sleep in readiness for our first day on the river the
following morning.
The trip will start at Balazuc and the first two days
will be spent developing basic skills whilst navigating the river above the
Gorges de l'Ardèche on a section known as "les Defiles de l'Ardèche".
This is a slightly friendlier and easier section of river than the Gorge
section further downstream but is still 
a beautiful paddle with a number of
grade 1-2 rapids along the way.
By the end of the second day, we will be in Vallon Pont d'Arc and will be ready to start the final two days which includes the famous Pont d'Arc and the spectacular Gorges de l'Ardèche. Surrounded by 1000ft limestone cliffs with an abundance of wildlife all around you (including beaver, otters, eagles, vultures, wild boar, scorpions, snakes to name but a few!) this is the perfect setting to put all your new skills to the test as we navigate the 30 or so rapids (grade 2-3) within the Nature Reserve.
Our expedition will finish in the town of "St Martin de l'Ardèche", where we will spend our last night together at the hotel and we then say our goodbyes the following morning.
What's included:
- The full attention of 2 of the most experienced guides in the region
- Personalised coaching/development throughout the course
- Camping fees for 3 nights
- National park fees (bivouac tickets)
- Hotel accommodation (based on 2 sharing) with evening meal included (last night)
-
Waterproof
barrels/Dry bags
- Photos of the trip - (provided free of charge)
- Prospector 15 Open Canoe - and equipment (if required)
Optional Extra's:
- Camping equipment (tent, sleeping bag, groundmat) - £40 for all 4 nights
- Single supplement payable for hotel on last night - £40
What's not included:
- Travel to / from the Ardèche
- Food/drink
From £599.00 per person5 nights/ 4 days paddling. 60km Ardeche River trip. Click below for available dates.
