Canoeing down the Ardèche Canyon.

Just an hour's drive from my house in Provence, the Ardèche Canyon and River offer superb hiking and canoeing opportunities. Several companies organize the descent of the river by canoe, providing canoe rental and van transfer back to the start, in the village of Vallon Pont d'Arc. It costs about 20€ per person, which isn't bad considering you're out all day... You can choose to canoe through 8km, 24km, or all 32km of the canyon river. Christine and I chose the full 32km...

Here's me in the back letting Christine do all the work while I snap photos. We are about to cross under the Pont d'Arc, a natural limestone archway above the Ardèche river.

The river snakes its way eastward, through breathtaking scenery. Jagged and rocky cliffs line both sides of the river while forested hills paint the backdrop.

Here is one of the highest cliffs, appropriately named La Cathédrale (can you make out a cathedral?). Christine and I had our lunch here after about 4 hours of paddling... There are plenty of spots to pull over and have a bite on the banks, or a swim in the cool waters.

Here I am doing a few circles as Christine rests on the bank...

A picture of our canoe as we take a rest after 5hours of paddling.... Does this canyon ever end?

Luckily there are a few rapids to help us along the course. Not too technical, they provide some excitement every few kilometres... Below is a video of Christine and I negotiating one of the rapids...