France family activity holiday
| country: | France |
| location: | Ardeche |
| departures: | 2010: 15 Aug |
| price: | From £555 (8 days) per adult excluding flights. From £560 - £740 per child (8-14). Price depends on the number of activities chosen. We can arrange flights from the UK. Recommended minimum age 8 years |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
France family activity holiday:
The Gorge d'Ardeche is known locally as the "Grand Canyon of Europe". The river winds its way past steep canyon walls and towering cliffs creating the perfect location for canoeing, climbing and walking. The holiday is based in Vallon Pont d'Arc where you will find a wide choice of restaurants, cafés, shops and, of course, a fabulous weekly market. We also visit the neighbouring but less visited Cevennes region for a thrilling canyon descent amidst stunning countryside. This really is the active way to explore the very best of France
Accommodation:
La Bastide d'Iris - La Bastide d'Iris is approximately five kilometres outside Vallon Pont D'Arc in the sleepy Provencal village of Vagnas. It is a three star establishment enjoying a rural setting and is a charming retreat to return to after throwing yourself down the rivers and canyons of the Ardeche.
The ten double rooms and two family suites are all tastefully furnished. Every room has en suite facilities, telephone, TV and are equipped with air conditioning - a welcome respite during the heat of a French summer. Even better for cooling off is the swimming pool in the hotel garden, and, for children with boundless energy, there is also a large grassy play area at the rear of the hotel.
We must stress that La Bastide is a quiet retreat and a car is absolutely essential during your stay. If you are staying here then you will drive into Vallon to meet our activity transfers. The hotel does not have a restaurant but Chez Coco, half a mile down the road is good and reasonably priced. Otherwise you will have to drive to local restaurants and bars as well as our welcome and farewell meals in Vallon Pont D'Arc. For a real treat, try the excellent 'Le Petit Aubergs' in La Bastide de Virac
Cher Berneron - Chez Berneron is a two star family owned hotel in the heart of Vallon Pont D'Arc. This is a good choice if you want easy access to a good variety of bars, cafes, restaurants and the general hubbub of a small and typically Ardechois town.
You will receive a warm reception from the Berneron family who have been welcoming guests here for over 65 years. Rooms all have either a bath or shower, toilet and direct dial phone. Parking in Vallon is never easy in summer but there is a large public car park to the rear of the hotel. The hotel's most compelling attributes are undoubtedly the swimming pool and the extremely good restaurant where we host both our welcome and farewell meals.
The Gorge d'Ardeche is known locally as the "Grand Canyon of Europe". The river winds its way past steep canyon walls and towering cliffs creating the perfect location for canoeing, climbing and walking. The holiday is based in Vallon Pont d'Arc where you will find a wide choice of restaurants, cafés, shops and, of course, a fabulous weekly market. We also visit the neighbouring but less visited Cevennes region for a thrilling canyon descent amidst stunning countryside. This really is the active way to explore the very best of France
Accommodation:
La Bastide d'Iris - La Bastide d'Iris is approximately five kilometres outside Vallon Pont D'Arc in the sleepy Provencal village of Vagnas. It is a three star establishment enjoying a rural setting and is a charming retreat to return to after throwing yourself down the rivers and canyons of the Ardeche.
The ten double rooms and two family suites are all tastefully furnished. Every room has en suite facilities, telephone, TV and are equipped with air conditioning - a welcome respite during the heat of a French summer. Even better for cooling off is the swimming pool in the hotel garden, and, for children with boundless energy, there is also a large grassy play area at the rear of the hotel.
We must stress that La Bastide is a quiet retreat and a car is absolutely essential during your stay. If you are staying here then you will drive into Vallon to meet our activity transfers. The hotel does not have a restaurant but Chez Coco, half a mile down the road is good and reasonably priced. Otherwise you will have to drive to local restaurants and bars as well as our welcome and farewell meals in Vallon Pont D'Arc. For a real treat, try the excellent 'Le Petit Aubergs' in La Bastide de Virac
Cher Berneron - Chez Berneron is a two star family owned hotel in the heart of Vallon Pont D'Arc. This is a good choice if you want easy access to a good variety of bars, cafes, restaurants and the general hubbub of a small and typically Ardechois town.
You will receive a warm reception from the Berneron family who have been welcoming guests here for over 65 years. Rooms all have either a bath or shower, toilet and direct dial phone. Parking in Vallon is never easy in summer but there is a large public car park to the rear of the hotel. The hotel's most compelling attributes are undoubtedly the swimming pool and the extremely good restaurant where we host both our welcome and farewell meals.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrival and welcome. We recommend arriving at the hotel between 4pm and 6pm. In the evening your guide Pat Heffron (and possibly his dog Joy) will join you at Chez Berneron for an introductory dinner in the hotel's restaurant. |
| Day 2: | Canadian canoeing. We spend time this morning practising in the canoes before embarking on an 8km descent. There are several exciting rapids en route (they can be avoided if you prefer!). We stop at the famous arch for a refreshing dip and some well deserved rest and relaxation. |
| Day 3: | Adventure walk. This walk is hugely popular with adults and children alike - a real adventure! We follow the course of the river whilst exploring caves, scrambling along rocky ledges and climbing over boulders and other obstacles. The walk finishes in the early afternoon leaving plenty of time for swimming or exploring the town. |
| Day 4: | Free day. The Ardeche has so many places of interest that it would be a shame not to give you time to explore. Alternatively there are many activities available locally including relaxing by the hotel pool - the choice is yours! |
| Day 5: | Canyoning. Today we travel to a beautiful lake near Villefort in the Cevennes. From there, you can hire a motor boat, sail or windsurf. In the afternoon we continue to our canyon where we swim, slide and jump into deep pools as we descend the river. A perennial favourite for everyone! |
| Day 6: | Rock climbing and high ropes course. We offer two activities today. After breakfast, we head to a rock face to try climbing - instruction and supervision are provided. In the afternoon we try out a "Tarzan Ropes Course" with a variety of different tasks and challenges that will test us both physically and mentally. |
| Day 7: | Ardeche canoe descent. A full day 27km descent of the Gorge d'Ardeche caps a splendid activity holiday. We will pass through fabulous steep sided gorges with rock faces towering to heights of 900ft. There are numerous rapids interspersed with calmer stretches which allow us to fully appreciate the stunning scenery. A farewell dinner takes place tonight. |
| Day 8: | Depart or extend your stay. |
how this holiday makes a difference
|
This family holiday is based near the town of Vallon Pont d’Arc in the Ardeche Region of Southern France.
We work and liaise very closely with local activity providers who are fiercely dedicated to ensuring that the balance between tourism and the natural integrity of the region is strictly maintained. This means that the size of our family groups is kept to a maximum of 20 in any given week, which immediately removes the necessity to utilise large tourist transfer buses, whose presence can cause major congestion and air pollution during the height of the summer. Equally and by consensus we have contracted with our local French suppliers to only include activities in our itineraries which have zero or absolute minimum environmental impact and do not in any circumstances involve any form of motor based activities. We also actively support and promote the policy of only utilising local guides and instructors, whose training and skills allow the local communities to benefit economically from the visitors who use their services. The Ardeche as a region can become very popular in the summer and it is a cornerstone of our policy to educate our clients in their individual and collective responsibilities in setting an example as to how tourism can impact positively on an area e.g sensible disposal of waste and garbage. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |