Discover Les Gorges du Tarn otherwise ...

We have tried for you a canoe descent in the beautiful Gorges du Tarn.

This is a  Great Site is an ideal playground for lovers of outdoor sports and enthusiasts of discovery that we are! We opted for an 11-kilometer route connecting the charming village of La Malène and the unmissable site of Pas de Soucy.

A lunch in the heart of the gorges ...

 

We arrive in La Malène, a small picturesque village located in the heart of Les Gorges du Tarn, in the morning, we go directly to the village bakery and grocery store to buy homemade bread sticks, to garnish our sandwiches and some cakes. Our picnic is ready , it's time to go  

The first paddle strokes ...

Arrived at the meeting point, we pick up the paddles and the life jackets ... Two by two and off we go for an initiation to canoeing! We leave the village of La Malène behind us and set off to explore the famous gorges. From the first strokes of the paddle, good humor, wonder and excitement are there.

Swimming, relaxing & picnicking

 

We stop 800 meters from La Malène to enjoy a sandy beach on the right bank of the river. An ideal place to relax in the sun, swim and for the more adventurous, take advantage of the reliefs offered by the cliffs of Les Gorges du Tarn to dive. On the edge of the beach, a small shaded corner makes us eye. Quite cracked, it's time to prepare the picnic! On the menu, delicious sandwiches made with local products. A real moment of pleasure and conviviality in the heart of Les Gorgesdu Tarn ! 

In the heart of the canyon ...

 

It is time to continue our adventure towards Pas de Soucy! After several kilometers along the water, we arrive in the narrowest part of Les Gorges du Tarn, Les Détroits. We face with a gigantic wall that plunges straight into the river, the place seems unreal. We paddle between the cliffs of this impressive canyon for over 600 meters…

The heritage of the Gorges du Tarn ...

A hundred meters after Les détroits ( the straits )  we see some mysterious houses which seem cut off from the world. It is La Croze, a hamlet typical of Les Gorges du Tarn. A couple from the region explains that the river is the only way to get to the hamlet. Unfortunately, they add that it is impossible to visit the site outside the European Heritage Days, since all the houses belong to a single family. Surprised and amazed by this little discovery, we continue our way…

A mushroom

With each stroke of the paddle, Les Gorges du Tarn reveal new surprises! On our right, at the top of a cliff, a mushroom of several meters ... naturally sculpted in the rock. We choose this place to take a break and enjoy the river.

Sublime in every way

 

 We leave the pebble beach to reach the unmissable Cirque des Baumes ... The site takes his name from the balms or caves carved by erosion and the wind that we can see from our canoes. Les Gorges du Tarn never cease to amaze us with landscapes more sublime than each other.

A breathtaking day in the heart of Les Gorges du Tarn ...

The river calms down, a few more paddles and we end our adventure! We stop on the left bank shortly before Le Pas de Soucy and board on the  minibus in the direction of La Malène. The journey is accompanied by captivating explanations of Les Gorges du Tarn. We can even see rocks with unusual shapes hidden in the cliffs, like the bride and groom or the face of Christ. The return is made with joy and good humor after a breathtaking day at the Heart of Les Gorges du Tarn!