Not easy to distinguish at first glance a kayak from a canoe.
The kayak (1 place)
The canoe (2/3 places)
A bit of history to start!
The kayak is a boat of Inuit origin, while the canoe is the boat used by the Amerindians. Canoes or kayaks were used as a means of transport but also for hunting. The oldest models are more than 4000 years old.
Canoeing and kayaking in the Gorges de l’Ardèche.
At the beginning of the 20th century, boatmen sailed with their boat in the Gorges de l’Ardèche, the river serving at the time as a means of transport for goods produced in South Ardèche (wood, sand or coal).
With the arrival of tourists from Northern Europe in the early 50s, a new way to discover the Gorges de l’Ardèche is developing. In addition to the traditional boats, kayaks or canoes now sail.
The traditional kayak is handled with a double paddle and the kayaker sits in the boat, conversely the canoe is handled with a single paddle and in a kneeling position. Manoeuvrable boats, traditional kayaks and canoes require a bit of experience and practice.
These traditional boats have been gradually improved to reach the canoes and kayaks that sail under the Pont d’Arc today.
No more canoeing or kayaking in fiber or wood, today the best rental companies of Vallon Pont d’Arc use boats called “sit on top” and “self-draining”, easy to use for beginners and very safe.
The kayaker or canoeist of the Base Nautique du Pont d’Arc are now seated in plastic boats and use double paddles to propel themselves safely on the river.