White Water Rafting · Lake Serre Ponçon

White Water Rafting · Lake Serre Ponçon

11 offers 32€ – 60€ 5.0 (25 reviews) Verified March 2026
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How to choose

11 tours on the Durance and Guil rivers, from 32 € to 60 €, covering half-day to full-day sessions. Three intensity levels structure the offer. Beginners and families go for the "Everybody welcome" tours (32 €,60 €, including the Guil/Durance combo with local tasting): no prior experience needed, guides lead the raft. "Occasionally sporty" sessions (40 €,55 €) run 2h to 2h30 on the Durance between Rabioux and Embrun, with some technical rapids requiring basic fitness. The two "Sporty" options (51 € and 57 €) push into the Écrins National Park and the Guil gorges, where current and wave intensity step up sharply. Budget under 40 €? Start with Nomad River School on the Guil at 32 €. Chasing the highest intensity? The airboat descent on the Guil at 57 € is the clear pick.

11 offers available

Best value
Rafting Down the Guil River in the Queyras Regional Nature Park, near Embrun5.0 (7)
32€See offer
Top rated
Rafting down the Durance river in Embrun5.0 (12)
39€See offer
Rafting down the Durance River between Rabioux et Embrun5.0 (1)
40€See offer
Rafting Discovery on the Durance River from Saint-Clément-sur-Durance, near Embrun5.0 (1)
41€See offer
Canoe rafting down the Durance to the Ecrins National Park
42€See offer
Cano-raft down the Durance river in Embrun5.0 (3)
45€See offer
Airboat Discovery on the Durance River from Saint-Clément-sur-Durance, near Embrun
47€See offer
Sporty Rafting in the Ecrins National Park from Saint-Clément-sur-Durance, near Embrun
51€See offer

Our picks

Best value

Rafting Down the Guil River in the Queyras Regional Nature Park, near Embrun

At 32 €, Nomad River School's Guil River tour is the cheapest option and spans from a half day to a full day, open to all levels.

32 €See offer

Highest intensity

Sporty Airboat Descent on the Guil River from Saint-Clément-sur-Durance, near Embrun

Nomad River School's sporty airboat descent on the Guil, rated "Sporty" at 57 €, is the most technically demanding run in this lineup.

57 €See offer

Perfect for families

Rafting down the Durance river in Embrun

Hakuna Matata Rafting's Durance session runs 1h30 to 2h30 at 39 €, rated "Everybody welcome", with a convenient meeting point right in Embrun.

39 €See offer

Best experience add-on

Rafting Down the Guil and Durance Rivers with Local Products Tasting from Eygliers

At 60 €, Nomad River School combines the Guil and Durance rivers with a local products tasting, making it the most complete half-day package available.

60 €See offer

Frequently asked questions

Which river section delivers the most intense rapids?
The Guil River inside the Écrins National Park, tackled on the sporty airboat descent, offers the most technical whitewater. It's rated "Sporty" and priced at 57 €, which signals the step up in difficulty compared to the Durance runs.
Do I need rafting experience to book a tour here?
No. Six of the 11 tours are rated "Everybody welcome," meaning zero prior experience is required. Guides control the raft and brief you fully before launch. If you've never been on a river, start with the Guil tour at 32 € from Saint-Clément-sur-Durance.
What's the difference between rafting, cano-raft and airboat?
Standard rafting uses a large inflatable raft with a crew paddling together. A cano-raft is a smaller, more maneuverable inflatable canoe that puts you closer to the water. An airboat here refers to a propelled inflatable craft that lets you cover more ground at higher speed. All three are available in this area.
When is the best time to raft near Lake Serre Ponçon?
The season runs May through September. Snowmelt from the surrounding Alps peaks in late May and June, boosting water flow and rapid intensity on both the Durance and Guil. If you want calmer conditions for a first experience, July and August are safer bets.
Is the Durance or the Guil more exciting?
The Guil, flowing through the Queyras Regional Nature Park, is generally narrower and more technical than the Durance. The sporty tours on the Guil reflect that: the airboat descent is the highest-priced option at 57 €, while the entry-level Guil rafting still starts at just 32 €.
What's the cheapest way to try rafting near Lake Serre Ponçon?
The Guil River tour with Nomad River School starts at 32 €, covers a half day to full day, and is open to all levels. It's the lowest entry point across all 11 available tours in the area.

Practical info

Season

May – September

Equipment

Wear a swimsuit and secure footwear (water shoes or old trainers that strap on firmly). Operators provide wetsuits, helmets and buoyancy aids, but bring a dry change of clothes for after, especially on the half-day sporty runs where water exposure is sustained.

Getting there

Most meeting points are in or around Embrun and Saint-Clément-sur-Durance, roughly 30 km east of Gap via the N94, with operators like Nomad River School based at the Base de loisirs du Sersas in Saint-Clément-sur-Durance and Hakuna Matata Rafting meeting clients in the car park on the route de la Madelaine in Embrun.

See also

White Water Rafting elsewhere

BovecVerdon GorgeOmišLa Plagne, ParadiskiSamoëns, Le Grand MassifAroucaJasperChamonix Mont-Blanc

Other activities in Lake Serre Ponçon

Paragliding

Updated on 3 March 2026