Hiking and trekking in southern Ardèche

Need for nature and authenticity

Beavers, otters, rare plants, Bonelli eagles, Circaètes Jean le Blanc, vultures… many animals that we don’t have the chance to cross very often. Even so, the Rhône banks and the National Nature Reserve of « Les Gorges de l’Ardèche » have a wonderful diversity of fauna and flora to offer.

The Rhône banks, which are easy to reach, provide walks for the younger ones, especially on the ViaRhôna. As for the Gorges de l’Ardèche, each walker that enters into them instantly fell for their magic, feeling very small while surrounded by breathtaking cliffs. It’s a true privilege to be able to enter the Nature reserve and walk within it, there’s also the possibility to spend the night in the bivouac, with the sound of nocturnal animals in the background.

And why not ask for a guide to get a chance to find beaver’s trails or observe a vulture nest with binoculars ?

Exceptional sites to discover on foot only

Hiking gives the possibility to get to otherwise inaccessible places and feel privileged. And what a reward, after a great walk and a tiny climb, to get on top of the Dent de Rez to admire a panoramic view on the Lavenders Flat Summit and the Rhône Valley! The Dolmens of Bois des Géandes throne on top of the Laoul woods and take the traveller back in time to Neolithic. A few « drailles » (a path for livestock animals) further, some other treasures hide beetween juniper and garrigues (typical biotope of southern France) there are very old « capitelles » (stone huts ) which some have been renovated and many terrace, remains of an ancestral agriculture. Some walks will lead you on higher heights like the Joanade in Viviers or in the Sainte Baume Gorges, starting from the Saint Montan village, a medieval village labelled « Village de caractère ».