Some rivers save their best for last. The Ubaye is one of them. After flowing through the entire lower valley from Jausiers, it plunges into the Gorges Royales — six kilometres of limestone, technical rapids and silence between two storms — before disappearing into the turquoise waters of Lac de Serre-Pонçon.
The Ubaye at its finest
Downstream from the classic run — from our base at Le Martinet to Le Lauzet, the Ubaye threads between limestone cliffs reaching over a hundred metres in places. This is the start of the Gorges Royales — six kilometres of canyon carved by the river and glaciers into this limestone over millennia.
This section is not just the most spectacular visually. It is also the most technically demanding: several class III, IV and V follow one another in a tight canyon, with no easy exit once committed. The reputation of this stretch has spread far beyond the region — expert kayakers from around the world come to run it.
The descent ends in a striking way: the canyon opens suddenly onto the 3,000 hectares of Lake Serre-Ponçon. After the intensity of the gorge, the silence and space of the lake hits like a release. It is one of those moments you cannot describe — you have to live it.
When the gorge opens onto the lake, everyone goes quiet. Even after ten runs, it catches you off guard every time.
How does the descent work?
Meeting point is at the Le Martinet base, as with all sessions. Our guides kit you out on site, then a minibus transfers the group to Le Lauzet-Ubaye — the put-in for the Gorges Royales, about ten kilometres downstream.
The descent then covers the 6 km of canyon through to the take-out on Lac de Serre-Ponçon. A second shuttle brings everyone back to base at the end of the session.
The full session lasts around 3 hours (welcome, kit-up, outbound shuttle, safety briefing, paddling, return shuttle, de-kit). We offer 3 time slots each day to fit around your other plans:
- Meet at 9 am — finish around noon
- Meet at 1 pm — finish around 4 pm
- Meet at 4 pm — finish around 7 pm
Who is this run for?
This run is for rafters who have already paddled with us on the Lower Valley — with friends or as a family with sporty teenagers. The Gorges Royales require that you have already found your footing in a raft, learned to read the current and held your role in the crew. If this is your first experience of whitewater, our guides will steer you towards a suitable run first.
Open to participants aged 14 and over, in good physical shape. Every member of the crew must be able to swim 25 metres and submerge. The demanding character of the canyon leaves no room for hesitation: you need to be able to paddle actively and follow your guide's instructions at all times.
It is often during a session on one of our regular runs that the idea takes shape: throughout the descent, the guide watches each person's ease in the water, their independence in the rapids, their technical grip. If the level allows — for the whole group or part of it — they may suggest coming back to take on the Gorges. A second outing to plan, and to earn.
When to come?
Peak season (July–August) — The Gorges Royales are at their best. Steady flow, bearable water temperature, long days: the ideal time to discover this run with family or friends.
Shoulder season (April–June and September–October) — The run is navigable depending on current flow. In spring, higher water levels give the rapids an even sharper character. Autumn often offers ideal conditions for experienced paddlers, in a much quieter gorge.
Le Martinet base — the starting point for the Gorges
All sessions leave from Méolans-Revel. A shuttle takes you up to Le Lauzet — the descent ends on the lake. Access, parking and times on site.
