Canyoning in the Haute-Savoie Gorges

Guided canyoning half-days run in the gorges of Haute-Savoie, in the French Alps about 45 to 75 minutes from Geneva by car. Typical meeting points are near Annecy and the Giffre valley around Samoëns, and the exact location is arranged on booking. Canyoning combines walking, swimming, jumping, sliding down smooth rock chutes and abseiling beside waterfalls, following a stream through a narrow limestone or schist gorge. Prices are about EUR 55 to 95 per person for a half day of three to four hours. The activity is rated moderate: no technical experience is needed, but participants must be able to swim, be comfortable in cold water and heights, and cope with several hours of scrambling. Minimum age is set by each operator and by the difficulty of the canyon, so families should check before booking. The guide supplies the wetsuit, helmet, harness and neoprene shoes, and participants bring swimwear, a towel and a change of clothes, as well as a dry layer for after the descent. Groups are led by state-qualified canyoning guides, who in France hold a professional diploma, and operators run safety briefings on harness use, jumping technique, hand signals and what to do if separated from the group. Guides rig ropes at technical sections, assess water levels and carry rescue equipment, and can arrange evacuation by the local mountain rescue service if needed. Canyons can become dangerous after heavy rain or snowmelt, when water levels rise quickly, so trips are cancelled or moved to different canyons when flash floods or storms are forecast. The best season is June to September, when water levels and temperatures are most favourable, while spring runs are colder and more powerful. Because meeting points are in France, a passport or identity card is needed to cross the border, and a car or organised transfer is normally required to reach the canyon car park.