La Valette Boutique
Sanilhac-Sagriès, 30700 Gard, France
A limestone canyon carved by the same river that runs under the Pont du Gard, a village built for it, and an eight-kilometre paddle that ends at the aqueduct itself. About fifteen minutes from Uzès.
Collias is a small village on the Gardon river, about fifteen minutes from La Valette Boutique, sitting at the mouth of the Gorges du Gardon, a twenty-nine kilometre limestone canyon with cliffs up to 150 metres high. The river here is calm and shallow enough for a family paddle, and the classic route, eight kilometres downstream from Collias, ends directly beneath the Pont du Gard. The gorge itself, recognised by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve since 2015, is also good walking and climbing country, home to Bonelli's eagles, Egyptian vultures and a colony of European beavers.
| Location | Collias, Gard |
|---|---|
| Region | Occitanie |
| Heritage status | UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2015 |
| Distance from Uzès | 11 km · about 15 min by car |
| Nearest airport | Nîmes (FNI), about 35 min |
| Typical visit | Half a day for the paddle, a full day with hiking |
| Known for | An 8 km kayak route that ends at the Pont du Gard |
| River grade | Class I, suitable for beginners and families |
| Season | April to October, water levels permitting |
Fifteen minutes from home
We expected a river paddle and a nice canyon. What we did not expect was how quiet it is once you round the first bend out of Collias: no road noise, cliffs rising on both sides, and the sense of having the gorge to yourself even on a busy summer weekend, since almost everyone stays on the water rather than the banks.
Arriving at the Pont du Gard by kayak, from underneath, having paddled the whole way there, changes how the bridge feels entirely. It is the same monument, but the approach makes it feel earned rather than simply visited.
Kayak Vert, based in Collias, is the long-established operator for this stretch of the Gardon and publishes current opening dates and water-level conditions on its own site. We recommend checking before setting out, since the route closes in periods of low water.
What it is
The Gorges du Gardon stretch twenty-nine kilometres between Saint-Anastasie and Collias, cut by the same Gardon river that flows beneath the Pont du Gard further downstream. Limestone cliffs rise up to 150 metres above the water in places, and in dry periods stretches of the river disappear underground entirely, resurfacing further along the canyon.
The gorge and its surrounding plateaus were recognised by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve in 2015, the only French site honoured that year, and a smaller Réserve Naturelle Régionale of 491 hectares sits within it, on the commune of Sanilhac-Sagriès, the same commune as La Valette Boutique itself.
"Paddling the last bend before the Pont du Gard rises ahead of you, with no road in sight and only the sound of the water, is the best fifteen minutes from La Valette we know."La Valette Boutique, 15 min away
Beyond the basics
When to go
The Gardon's water level, not the calendar, decides whether the kayak route runs. Spring and early summer are the most reliable window.
Water levels are highest after winter rain, the gorge is green, and daytime temperatures are comfortable for a few hours on the water without needing an early start.
Crowds thin considerably once the summer holidays end, and water levels are usually still workable, though it is worth checking conditions the same week.
The most popular season, but also the most likely for low water to shorten or close the route in a dry year. Book ahead regardless, and check conditions the morning of.
Practical information
Full day combinations
Paddle from Collias to the Pont du Gard in the morning, arriving under the aqueduct by early afternoon, then swim in the Gardon before the drive back.
A morning on the water, back to Uzès for lunch and an afternoon in the old town, fifteen minutes between the two.
Skip the water entirely and walk one of the marked trails along the plateau above the gorge, with the same views and a fraction of the effort.
Leave La Valette by 8h30 in July or August to be on the water before the heat and the crowds arrive, and to have the best chance of a full-length route if levels are borderline.
Yes. The Gardon on this stretch is Class I, calm water suitable for first-time paddlers and families with older children. No prior experience is needed.
About 11 km, roughly fifteen minutes by car.
No. The route depends on the Gardon's water level, which is highest in spring and can drop too low to paddle in a dry summer or through autumn and winter. Check with a rental operator before planning a visit outside spring and early summer.
About an hour and a half for the eight-kilometre route, plus time for the return shuttle back to Collias, which is included with rental.
No, though it is often confused with one. It is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, a different designation that recognises the landscape's ecological value and its balance with human use, awarded in 2015.
Yes. Marked hiking trails follow both sides of the canyon from Collias, with viewpoints over the gorge, and the area is also a well-regarded climbing destination.
La Valette Boutique is in the Gard, fifteen minutes from Collias and the Gorges du Gardon, five minutes from Uzès. Two boutique apartments in an 18th-century stone house.
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