The White Waters of the Pays des Ecrins

The Pays des Ecrins is an unmissable destination for white water sports in France.

Situated in the Hautes-Alpes the region’s torrents and rivers (the Gyr, the Onde or the Durance) allow for a varied range of water based sports.

Rafting, airboat, white water swimming, kayaking, canoeing, paddle board and canoe raft are all possible and the most practised activities.

Besides the natural water courses, l’ Argentière-La-Bessée boasts a white water stadium which regularly welcomes competitions of international renown.

The Durance is the most important river in Provence. From its origins above Montgenèvre on the Italian border at 2390m it finally meets the Rhone downstream of Avignon, flowing through The Pays des Ecrins for about 35 km en route.

It is a rain-fed river; its flow depends on the natural water supply provided by snow melt and rainfall. Rated categories II to IV/V it is the playground of all European kayakers!

All rivers are navigable from April to August and you can follow activities live on the Durance online.

To Camp Near the Water

Le camping des Ecrins, in l’ Argentière-La-Bessée is situated at the white water stadium on the banks of the Durance.

A Family Holiday

Multi-activities family holidays are available from 32€ per person per day (base of 4 people) for 7 nights. This stay includes the accommodation + ½ day’s hiking to discover the local fauna, ½ day’s initiation to via ferrata and ½ day’s rafting to discover the Durance  and a 1 multi-activities card.

Water Based Events:

Saturday 27th of May: Les radeliers de la Durance (the raft men): Departure at 9h30 from l’ Argentière-La-Bessée towards Saint-Clément-sur-Durance

24th and 25th of June: French white water swimming championships based in l’ Argentière-La-Bessée

8th to the 15th of July: French canoeing and kayaking slalom championships all categories based at the white water stadium in l’ Argentière-La-Bessée.

23 and 24th of Septembre: Regional selections Canoe-Kayak

Get there:

By plane, Turin Caselle airport then shuttles or car. By train, YGV Paris-Milan with a stop in Oulx then shuttle, or by overnight train from Paris to in l’ Argentière-La-Bessée

Image Credit: Jan Novak/OTI PAys des Ecrins