What to do in Ardèche

Discover the activities to do in Ardèche! The Ardèche is a key destination for vacations rich in outdoor activities and has incredible natural settings to discover!

Department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, the Ardèche takes its name from the river that runs through it. It is a territory with a huge contrast between its northern and southern parts where the soil, the climate, the vegetation and the landscapes have nothing to do with each other: the north is rather humid and green, while the south is rather chalky and dry with a Mediterranean vegetation. So you can enjoy different environments, each offering its own set of activities!

Overall, the Ardèche is home to large forests with more than 45% of its land covered by them, making it an attractive spot for activities such as hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking or even quad biking. Most of these forests make up the Monts d'Ardèche Regional Nature Park, which is itself the location of many of the outdoor activities offered in the department. Its reliefs also allow the practice of climbing, canyoning and via ferrata, as well as caving in its many underground caves, especially around Aubenas.

The Ardèche is also famous for its gorges in the south of its territory, passing through Vallon-Pont-d'Arc and its famous Pont d'Arc. It is a privileged place to do the main activity on the river of Ardèche: canoeing. If you go to Ardèche and you want to visit its gorges, canoeing is the activity you should not miss! You can of course enjoy swimming in the fresh water of the river, and even do stand up paddle if you want to do a more quiet activity.

The Ardèche is also the discovery of a cultural heritage, with notably the Chauvet cave and its paintings reproduced in the Chauvet 2 cave located near the Pont d'Arc. The department is also full of picturesque villages, some of which are classified among the most beautiful villages in France. And if you have some time left during your stay, don't hesitate to take a ride on the Ardèche train or on a velorail to admire the Ardèche nature in an original way. As for the thrill seekers, a bungee jump from the Banne viaduct will give you the adrenaline rush you are looking for!