Day 1 : Bienvenue.

 We meet at Marseille airport and drive to a small village on the French Riviera, few miles before Cassis and its infamous Calanques.

 We check in a cozy Guest House and enjoy our first local meal but before traditions are kind of strong in France and we will have the “Apéro” with an infamous Pastis or glass of Rosé.

 Night at the Guest house..

Day 2 : On the water. (Full day sea kayaking)

 Today we are on the salt water and will paddle in one of the most scenic place of the whole Mediterranean coast. The “Calanques” is what is left of antique rivers drowned by the glaciers melting. The white cliffs surrounding us look like mini fjords and the water is warm enough for a good swim.

 Depending on the wind condition we will trace our route for today, anyone we choose it will last long as a great paddling session.

 We are back at our Guest house in the evening and today we will learn with our host how to succeed in a real “Bouillabaisse de Marseille” cooking. For the laziest ones a good option is to wait for the Bouillabaisse to be served and enjoy it.

Night at the Guest house.

Day 3 : We hit the road North. (3 to 4 hours driving)

 We leave the Coast to get in the “Arrière pays” and reach the Cévennes. The Southern end of the Central mountain Range. On our way to this great area between Provence and Central France influence we stop for lunch at a wine property. Some of my favourite along the “Côtes du Rhone” is the infamous “Gigondas”, a strong blend of “Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache and Cinsault” grapes, all of them growing at the foot of the “Dentelles de Montmirail”. For the ones who want to try a bit more we are few miles away from the “Chateauneuf du Pape” production.

 Do not worry the driver will stay with Diet Coke (and if he does not and insist in saying that after 2 bottles of wine he drives better we will find a place where to stay at the domain).

 In the afternoon we arrive at our base for tonight on the Ardèche river shoreline. This is the perfect place to try some white wines (Viognier) at the “Apéritif” and enjoy a local “Soupe au Pistou” (Basil soup).

 Night at the Guest House.

Day 4 : We go down to the river (class II full day paddling)

 In the morning we have a look at the water level and decide on the boats we will use (we can choose between open canoes and sit on tops). These will be our first miles along the Ardèche (the most famous river in France for canoeing).

 Our put in is a small village called Voguë and we follow the first curves of the river getting used to single paddles.

 After 4 miles we reach Balazuc, a village hanging from the cliff over the river. One of the prettiest villages in France. A good spot for lunch is 500 meters down stream the bridge at a local community of Craftsmen.

 In the afternoon we continue down the river and after few small rapids pass by the “Défilé de Ruoms”. This is a corridor of limestone walls where the river has been working its way for thousands of years. A great place where to paddle a canoe.

 We reach the village of Ruoms and stop for today.

 Our night is again at a local Guest House.

Day 5 : French Grand Canyon (class II full day paddling)

 Today is a great but long day; we have around 35 km to paddle under the sun.

 We are in the Gorge of the Ardèche, a 100 meters deep canyon. To get in the Gorge is not allowed to any body… the entrance is kept by “Charlemagne” (the toughest rapid we have to deal with, actually this is an easy and tiny S with some few small rocks).

 After this experience we are at the gate of the Canyon : the “Pont d’Arc” a 47 meters high natural bridge designed by the river. “Vallon pont d’arc”, the village beside is home of the last slalom K1 Olympic champion and of many paddlers since the first run of the river in 1932.

 This is a long day in the Canyon but the Landscape is incredible all along the way. Just make sure you keep some energy for the last 2 kms, with the wind in the face some fellows think the river is going uphill..

 The dinner and rest at the Guest House are worth.

 Night at the Guest house.

Day 6 : To another river. (2 ½ hours driving).

 After the hard work of Day 6 today is a relax day.

 We wake up a bit later and have time for a walk in the village before heading North East. We will cross the “Rhone” and head to the “Vercors”, the foothills of the Alps. This place is well known for the “Resistance” movement that took place during World War II.

 It is also famous for its local “Champagne called Clairette de Die” a great frizzy wine made along the “Drome” valley and which capital is the beautiful village of Die.

 You can be sure we will pas by a cold cave and have a taste of this “sang de la Terre”.

 The afternoon is free to relax, shop in town or go for a short hike around.

 At night time we will discover another kind of cuisine; as the Dróme makes its way from the Alps to the Provence we will have some nice surprises for dinner.

 Another night in a local guest House.

Day 7 and day 8: Paddling the Drôme River. (2 days canoe paddling)

 The Drome is a cold river flowing from the Vercors. Again we choose between open and sit on top canoes to paddle the 50 km between Die and Crest.

 Overnight will be half way at Vercheny (in a Guest House), we will leave the canoes on the bank and reach the house for “aperitif” and dinner. We are on our way to the Olive oil land… you will feel it.

 Second day on the Drome is an easy paddling until reaching Crest, the end of our paddling and a beautiful town with an imposing tower over viewing the river and its paddlers.

 We are back in Southern France and Provence… cuisine is not anymore a mix but a real cooking with lavender smell from outside.

 From here we head west to the Southern end of the Massif Central, crossing the “Causses”. The Causses are limestone plateaux formed during the secondary area and cut by deep gorges and clear rivers flowing down… We reach Quezac and have our night at the Guest house after the local recipe : Aligot… this is countryside and we might meet more cows or sheep than people….

Day 9 and 10 : Two days on the Tarn river.

 We get on the water at the bridge of Quezac. A village known for its natural gaz mineral water.

 We will paddle 40 km during the two days on class II crystal clear waters.

The Gorge of the Tarn is another famous river for canoeing and we enjoy great lookouts to the Causses around from this narrow gorge.

 This is a beautiful river where we will enjoy paddling. The over night is at another charming guest house discovering the specialities of the Southern Cévennes.

Day 11 : Driving back.

 We drive back to Marseille and the airport passing by the country side and discovering new places.

 We can take a free morning to repack or buy last souvenirs and take our time to reach back a town close to the airport of Marignane.

 Any outdoor activity or guided cultural tour is possible to organize during this day.

Day 12 : Transfer to the airport and fly back home.