Walks and hikes in Ardeche

Hiking Gorges ArdecheHiking Gorges Ardeche
©Hiking Gorges Ardeche

The diversity of landscapes and the exceptional richness of natural environments make the Ardèche a privileged department for hiking. With its some 6000 kms of marked Ardèche trails there is something for everyone. Families can access the must-see sites such as the Pont d’Arc, the more experienced will indulge in a more sporting practice in the Ardechean mountains.

Hiking in Southern Ardèche

This region has a large number of must-see natural sites which are all exceptional places to visit.

The gorges are among the most visited natural areas. Numerous trails sometimes equipped with handrails allow you to walk along the rivers and have a great view from landscaped lookouts.

One of the most beautiful hikes along the gorges is between the Bivouac du Gournier and the cirque de la Madeleine.

Among the gorges and natural sites to see absolutely, let’s quote:

  • The Gorges of the Ardeche, Chassezac, Cèze…
  • The Pont d’arc: a unique natural arch in the world, 54 meters high
  • The Aven d’Orgnac: a grotto classified Grand Site de France.

Not to mention the Chauvet Cave and its exceptional drawings and paintings. Old of 36,000 years it is one of the oldest testimonies of rock art and is classified since 2014 to the World Heritage of UNESCO.

Walks to discover traditional villages

Located in the Rhone Valley, the department is made up of several small geographic regions that harbor countless small, preserved villages that are the starting point for beautiful walks and hikes accessible to the whole family.

In the Ardechoise Mountain, in the heart of the Monts d’Ardèche Regional Nature Park, the spa town of Saint-Laurent-les-Bains, a pretty small mountain village, is the starting point for many walks. You can discover different types of landscapes, from the chestnut groves of the Cevennes to the Ardèche plateau which culminates at 1500 meters above sea level and offers a view of the Mont Mézenc and the Mont Gerbier de Jonc.

Southern Ardèche with Mediterranean accents has many, many villages such as

  • Saint Martin, with an important historical and religious heritage, an ideal place to visit the Gorges,
  • Balazuc on the cliffside above the river, ranked among the most beautiful villages of France
  • Vallon pont d’arc where it is good to stroll in its old alleys typical of southern villages.

The Cévennes ardéchoises also lists a multitude of villages including

  • Thines which overlooks a wild valley with century-old chestnut groves and perched hamlets,
  • Naves and its hills of olive trees, a very pretty town that has many vestiges of the Middle Ages,
  • Les Vans, a thousand-year-old town whose architecture, streets and fountains constitute a very rich heritage.

Ideas for hiking trips in Ardèche

What could be more exciting than to be accompanied by a guide passionate about his region, the time of a hike in the middle of nature to discover, the landscapes and the cultural heritage. These are so many riches that your hosts of Villages de Gîtes will have at heart to make you discover from your holiday rental.

Discovering the Southern Ardèche

Pascal your host of the Clé des Champs, takes you on a hike to discover magical places between the Gorges de l’Ardèche and Cévennes (gorges of La Beaume, La Dourbie). These circuits he has imagined and enriched over time, according to the discoveries, by associating visit of villages of character (Balazuc, Labeaume, Chassiers,….), geological curiosity or singular places (hanging gardens, caves, cirques, waterfalls….)

Guided hike in Ardeche

From the gite village of La Fontinelle, Nicole and Jean Claude share with you their passion for hiking in the most beautiful natural sites of their region. Gorges of the Ardèche, Chassezac and Cèze or the bois de Païolive in Les Vans, so many enchanting places with an exceptional natural heritage to discover as you hike.

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