Embrunais & Serre-Ponçon
Lake Serre-Ponçon for paddleboarding, sailing and swimming; the Durance around Embrun for rafting.
ACTIVITY
Whitewater & lakes
Rafting on the Durance, kayaking on mountain rivers and water sports on vast Lake Serre-Ponçon: summer is also a time to get out on the water.
Four essentials at a glance
- Best time
- May to September, depending on river flow.
- Level
- From swimming to challenging rafting.
- Guidance
- Required for whitewater activities, with qualified instructors.
- Key areas
- Embrunais & Serre-Ponçon, Écrins, Guillestrois & Queyras.
ACTIVITY
Why here
The Durance and its tributaries, such as the Guil and Gyronde, offer whitewater routes for all levels, with a whitewater stadium at L’Argentière-la-Bessée. The whitewater stadium, developed in 1993, hosted a European championship in 2006.Source: Département des Hautes-Alpes (new tab)
Lake Serre-Ponçon, one of the largest artificial lakes in Western Europe, lends itself to sailing, paddleboarding and swimming.
Key figures
3,000 ha
Area of Lake Serre-Ponçon
Source: Ministère de la Culture (DRAC PACA) (new tab)400 m
Whitewater stadium at L'Argentière-la-Bessée, 50 slalom gates, World Cup in 2011
Source: Département des Hautes-Alpes (new tab)35 km
The longest navigable route on the Durance without getting out, from L'Argentière
Source: Département des Hautes-Alpes (new tab)55.6 %
of summer visitors swim, 10.4 % take part in whitewater activities
Source: Hautes-Alpes Développement (hautes-alpes.net) (new tab)
When to go
- January : Outside the stated periods
- February : Outside the stated periods
- March : Outside the stated periods
- April : Outside the stated periods
- May : Possible months
- June : Favourable months
- July : Favourable months
- August : Favourable months
- September : Possible months
- October : Outside the stated periods
- November : Outside the stated periods
- December : Outside the stated periods
Favourable monthsPossible monthsOutside the stated periods
Dates for your diary
Mid-AugustEmbrun
Embrunman
Every year around 15 August (latest edition on Saturday 15 August 2026; 2027: mid-August, exact date to be confirmed)
The swim (3.8 km) takes place at Embrun's plan d'eau.
Source: Finishers (new tab)
Our advice
- Only take part in whitewater activities with qualified supervision.
- River flow varies with snowmelt: ask the local outdoor operator for advice.
- Lake Serre-Ponçon’s water level falls in late summer: check which beaches are accessible.
- Protect yourself from the sun, which is strong at this altitude.
The editorial selection
- School and instructor
Club Nautique Alpin Serre-Ponçon
Embrun's sailing base on Lake Serre-Ponçon, the CNA runs sailing courses from age 4, rents dinghies, catamarans, windsurf boards, wings, paddleboards and kayaks, and offers adaptive sailing.
Embrunais & Serre-PonçonView entry - Guide and mountain leader
Bureau des Guides et Accompagnateurs de Briançon
From Briançon, this guides office covers a very wide range of guided activities, from ice climbing in winter to canyoning and paragliding in summer.
BriançonnaisView entry - Guide and mountain leader
Bureau des Guides et Accompagnateurs de La Grave-La Meije
At the foot of La Meije, the La Grave guides office leads mountaineering, off-piste skiing and summer activities on some of the most committing terrain in the Southern Alps.
ÉcrinsView entry
Latest stories
Your questions
Practical guides
Spots by area
Écrins
L’Argentière-la-Bessée and the Gyronde in Vallouise for kayaking.
Guillestrois & Queyras
The Guil for whitewater enthusiasts.
Key organisations
Fédération française de canoë-kayak (new tab)
Clubs and competitions
EDF Hydro (new tab)
Operator of Serre-Ponçon; follow the instructions near the structures
Sources
- Ouvrages de Serre-Ponçon (new tab) · Ministère de la Culture (DRAC PACA)
- Terre de Jeux : canoë-kayak (new tab) · Département des Hautes-Alpes · 2024
- Tourisme : chiffres clés (new tab) · Hautes-Alpes Développement (hautes-alpes.net)
- Embrunman (new tab) · Finishers · 2026
Figures checked on 19 October 2026. Event dates may change: check with the organisers.