Rather than sending us on the very busy routes through the Ardèche Gorges starting from Vallon-Pont-d’Arc or Ruoms, Clément, the campsite owner, took the time to talk to us and suggest an easier route, one that was genuinely suitable for children and, above all, much quieter.
What we really appreciated was that we simply had to enjoy ourselves, as the campsite took care of everything:
- transport to the starting point, above Balazuc
- all the equipment ready for us on arrival
- simple, reassuring organisation, perfect for our first family canoeing adventure.
The route runs from Balazuc to Pradons, taking you directly back to the campsite, and covers around 7 kilometres. The cliffs are a little lower than those in the Ardèche Gorges, but the scenery is still wild and magnificent. And above all, there are far fewer people, which makes all the difference when you are travelling with children!
We took our time, with absolutely no pressure: more than 6 hours for a route that can be completed in two. We stopped whenever we felt like it, to swim in spots that are impossible to reach on foot, let the children play in the water, and jump safely from small rocks… Simple moments, but incredibly precious ones.
The day before, we had prepared a picnic with products from the Ruoms market: local ham, good bread and delicious peaches. We enjoyed it by the river, surrounded by nature, before leisurely making our way back to the campsite to recharge our batteries.
In the end, this canoe trip down the Ardèche will remain one of our favourite holiday memories. A moment filled with sharing, laughter and freedom, perfectly summing up what we experienced at Camping Les Coudoulets: a stress-free family holiday, filled with nature and simple moments to enjoy together.
