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Canyoner abseiling down a waterfall on a sunny day, surrounded by green vegetation

Canyoning in Val d'Aran and the Pyrenees · Val d'Aran and the French Pyrenees

Arlos (France)

In Arlos, just across the border, the route is designed on a child's scale: gentle water chutes and two short abseils, with a 20-minute approach walk before you get into the water. The canyon with the lowest minimum age of all our options, ideal for the youngest in the group to have their first go.

  • CategoryAdventure and nature
  • OptionFamily
  • Duration1 h 30 · from age 4-5
5.0· 76 Google reviews
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Prefer something else?

Other options

Person sliding down a natural water chute in the Bausen canyonBeginner

Bausen

Natural water chutes, short jumps and the odd abseil, surrounded by lush vegetation. The entry-level canyon, with no previous experience needed.

1 h 30 · from age 9

€47 per person
The Cascade d'Oô waterfall in the Lac d'Oô massif, French PyreneesEasy to intermediate

Gorges d'Oô (France)

An intermediate canyon in the French Pyrenees, with abseils, jumps and narrow gorge sections surrounded by forest. Includes a 45-minute approach.

1 h 30

€55 per person
Person abseiling down a waterfall in a narrow canyonEasy to intermediate

Viu de Llevata / Erta

An opening jump and a water chute, followed by several technical abseils (7 m, 5 m and 8 m), 8 m and 9 m chutes and a final 3 m jump beneath an old stone bridge.

2 h 30 · from age 14

€66 per person
Person abseiling down a large waterfall in a technical canyonTechnical

Barbarruens

The most demanding canyon: water chutes, jumps, 5 abseils and sections with fallen logs and side streams, near Seira (Ribagorza, Huesca). For groups with real technical experience.

3 h 30 · from age 14 · technical level 5

€75 per person

Reading the landscape

Val d'Aran and the French Pyrenees: the landscape up close

Wildlife, Plants, Geology and Heritage: a closer look at the setting of this activity. Documentary images of species or places not taken at the exact point of the route are shown for reference only, and sightings are not guaranteed.

Brown trout, reference image (wildlife)
Brown troutSalmo trutta · a native species found in the clean water of the valley's canyons, part of the same Garonne basin that flows down through Bausen and Arlos.
White-throated dipper, reference image (wildlife)
White-throated dipperCinclus cinclus · a bird tied to fast-flowing, clean water, and a sign of the good water quality in these canyons.
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WildlifeWildlife of the rivers and canyons of the Val d'Aran and the French Pyrenees
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Enclosed riverside woodland, reference image (plants)
Enclosed riverside woodlandThe constant moisture of moving water sustains dense riverside vegetation (hazel, ash, ferns) that closes over the canyons like a green tunnel.
Moss and lichen on wet rock, reference image (plants)
Moss and lichen on wet rockThe permanently damp canyon walls support a carpet of mosses and lichens not found in the rest of the surrounding forest.
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PlantsThe riverside woodland of the canyons
View the documentary source ↗
The Gorges d'Oô waterfall, reference image (geology)
The Gorges d'Oô waterfallA French canyon shaped by water eroding granite rock, with natural pools and chutes.
The Barbarruens canyon, reference image (geology)
The Barbarruens canyonThe most technical of the five, with jumps and abseils over limestone carved by water over thousands of years.
Narrow gorge, reference image (geology)
Narrow gorgeVertical walls hollowed out by water over thousands of years, typical of the most technical sections such as Barbarruens or the Gorges d'Oô.
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GeologyCanyons carved by water, Val d'Aran and the French Pyrenees
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Bausen and Arlos, border valleys, reference image (heritage)
Bausen and Arlos, border valleysBausen (Val d'Aran) and Arlos (France) are mountain villages on either side of a border that for centuries was crossed on foot, through the same valleys that are descended by canyoning today.
Gorges d'Oô, Pyrenean beauty since the 19th century, reference image (heritage)
Gorges d'Oô, Pyrenean beauty since the 19th centuryThe Lac d'Oô cirque, beside which one of the canyons runs, has been a well-known beauty spot since the days of Romantic Pyrenean tourism in the 19th century.
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HeritageBorder villages of the Val d'Aran and the French Pyrenees
View the documentary source ↗

Local photos: Ecotour archive. Documentary images: free-licence image banks or Wikimedia Commons, used under licence or with permission. The species and features shown are documented in the area, but seeing them during the activity is not guaranteed.

Before you book

Is this activity right for you?

Check at a glance.

  • Physical effort3/5
  • Technical difficulty3/5
Great fit

You'll love it if…

  • You are looking for a first taste of canyoning, with no previous experience needed (Bausen, Arlos).
  • You already have experience and want to step up a level (Gorges d'Oô, Viu de Llevata / Erta, Barbarruens).
Worth a second look

It might not be for you if…

  • You are afraid of water, jumps or abseils, or you cannot swim.

Who'll be with you on this activity

Specialist canyoning guide

The activity is led by a professional with the right qualifications for canyoning. Ecotour manages the experience and confirms the route, meeting point, equipment and safety instructions before the outing.

Included

  • Guide for the whole descent

  • Technical equipment (wetsuit, helmet, harness, rope, descenders, karabiners)

  • Accident and third-party liability insurance

  • Booking management

  • Access to the Ecotour Explorers community

  • Included in the activity.

    Public liability and accident insurance

Not included

  • Transport to the meeting point

  • Towel and change of clothes

Before you set off

What to bring

Map, compass and personal items for the route

Swimwear, already on under the wetsuit.

Hiking boots

Old closed-toe shoes you don't mind getting wet (some canyons involve mud or loose stones).

Warm layers and waterproofs for rain and wind

Towel and a change of clothes for after the descent.

Map, compass and personal items for the route

Sun protection.

Mountain helmet resting on a rock

Wetsuit, helmet, harness and ropes

No need to bring them: the guide provides them.

Once your date is confirmed, you'll receive the final kit list, adapted to the forecast and ground conditions.

Frequently asked questions

What people ask us

01Which canyon do you recommend if I have no experience?

Bausen or Arlos, both easy and suitable for families. Arlos takes children from age 4-5 in its family option, Bausen from age 9.

02What if I already have experience and want a higher level?

The Gorges d'Oô and Viu de Llevata / Erta are intermediate; Barbarruens is technical (level 5), with 5 abseils and a 3 h 30 descent, for groups with real experience.

03Do I need previous experience for the easy canyons?

No. The guide teaches you the abseiling and movement techniques you need before you start.

04What should I bring?

Swimwear under your clothes, closed shoes that can get wet, and a towel and change of clothes for afterwards. The wetsuit, helmet and technical equipment are included.

05How wet do you get?

Quite a lot: every canyon has swimming sections, water chutes and jumps into the water. The wetsuit provided keeps out the cold.

06What happens if the water flow is not right on the day?

The guide assesses the conditions and may adapt the chosen canyon or reschedule the activity for safety.

Gallery

Moments from the activity

Reviews

What people who have done this experience say

Excellent5.0
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