Canyoning in the Vercors – A nature adventure close to Lyon, Grenoble and Valence

Canyoning is a mountain sport. However, it is accessible to anyone in good health. It is recommended that you know how to swim and are not afraid of water. If this is the case and you still want to try the adventure, we can find the route that suits you best. The only contraindications to the activity are recent bone trauma and injuries, heart problems, and the activity is not recommended for pregnant women. In any case, it is best to contact us to discuss it.

We have classified the canyons as beginner, athletic or technical.

Beginner canyons are open to everyone, beginners or not. You just need to know how to swim and not be afraid of water. For some canyons, there may be small steps to climb down to reach the start.

Sport canyons are open to people who can easily walk 30 to 45 minutes uphill, on approach and return steps. The route takes between 2 and 3 hours and you must be able to walk on terrain such as boulder fields in rivers.

Technical canyons are open to athletic individuals who have already practised canyoning or climbing and, if possible, abseiling. A telephone contact is essential in order to confirm your level of ability to access these challenging routes.

Canyoning is still a water activity. However, not all canyons are the same. Some are considered to be less aquatic because the water is shallow and the flow is relatively low. If you have any concerns about water, please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss them.

On the other hand, neoprene wetsuits float naturally, so there is no risk of drowning even if you are not a strong swimmer! Our guide is also there to reassure you and adapt the canyon descent to your needs and desires.

Some canyons may feature vertical waterfalls that must be crossed by jumping or using a rope. For beginner canyons, we choose routes with small waterfalls so that you can learn abseiling at your own pace. If you are afraid of heights, your guide is there to reassure you and lower you safely if necessary. And if you really dread vertical drops, we also offer ‘water hiking’ routes where ropes are not necessary and the waterfalls are smaller and easy to bypass. Feel free to call us to discuss your options.

Losing your only pair of glasses when you’re short-sighted isn’t much fun… But don’t panic, if you need to keep your glasses on during the outing, you can easily slip them into your wetsuit before jumping or sliding. For those who wear contact lenses, simply close your eyes when entering the water. And if you have an old spare pair of glasses, even better, but it’s very rare to lose your glasses while canyoning.

Some courses, such as water hikes, are accessible from the age of 6. Beginner canyons are accessible from the age of 8, sports courses from the age of 12 and technical canyons from the age of 14. There is no real age limit, except that after the age of 70, we become more fragile. Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss this further.

Many of you ask us this question. However, each canyon is different. Some are very beautiful due to their amazing geological formations, such as Les Ecouges or Le Furon. Others feature lush vegetation, such as Léoncel. Some canyons are very vertical, while others are much more aquatic, with numerous jumps and slides.

Finally, we also offer routes off the beaten track, where you will encounter few or no other people. Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information.

At the start of the season (May-June), the water can be a little cold (around 10°C) and in summer it can rise to 18°C. But don’t panic, the neoprene wetsuit and neoprene boots provided will keep you warm. The cold water warms up on contact with your body and keeps you warm throughout the canyoning trip. And for those who feel the cold, we have extra lycra suits available.

To go canyoning, you will need to bring a swimsuit and closed-toe shoes such as trainers with laces. We do not accept water shoes, as they do not provide sufficient support and are very slippery in the canyon. You should also bring dry clothes, a towel and a change of shoes for after the activity. You can also bring a bottle of water and some snacks.

Waterproof cameras and GoPros are permitted, but you are responsible for them.

We provide you with a neoprene wetsuit and booties to wear in your shoes so you don’t get cold in the water. A helmet and harness are also provided for abseiling or zip-lining.

We are primarily an organisation offering canyoning excursions. The nature activities and canyon treasure hunts we offer are designed to help you discover the natural environment in a fun way and in little-known areas, while also offering something original in the Vercors, in canyons that are rarely visited by traditional canyoning enthusiasts.

The outings are therefore still canyoning trips, with abseiling, natural slides and jumps. They just offer that little bit extra, allowing you to learn more about the flora, fauna and geology of the Vercors canyons.

We do not have premises to welcome you and, as you come from very different locations, we prefer to limit your travel. We therefore arrange to meet you directly at the start of the canyons. The meeting points for each canyon will be communicated to you before each outing, by text message or email.

As canyoning instructors, we offer personalised individual training to teach you how to abseil independently, or to learn equipment and rope progression techniques. Please do not hesitate to contact us for a personalised quote.

We also offer environmental training. Whether you are a federal or professional supervisor, working in a school setting or simply a nature enthusiast, we can create a tailor-made offer for you. We can cover topics such as fauna, flora, geology, the impact of the activity, climate change, as well as training to discover nature activities and small games and workshops that you can set up yourself.

Contact us for a personalised quote.