Whitewater: a river with rapids
Is it worth the trip?
Not for grade III paddlers. Suits expert paddlers only, by its grade.
The spot in two facts
- Grade IVat its hardest
- Moving waterthe water
Full forecast
every day, every number
Not for grade III paddlers. Suits expert paddlers only, by its grade. See it for expert paddlers.
Forecast updated . It refreshes every three hours. Forecast data: ECMWF, DWD, Météo-France and NOAA, served by Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0). Changed by us. Generated using E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information.
Map
the spot and its town
Durance, Rabioux, Welle on Google Maps · Directions
Each place wears its best day on these dates: green good, amber fair, pale red poor, as the key says.
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More kayaking near here
3 places
- Durance, Le Rabioux - Embrun 0.1 km away
- Durance, Vague et Rapide du Rabioux (Chateauroux) 0.5 km away
- La Durance 0.5 km away
About
the place in full, sources, credits
About Durance, Rabioux, Welle
A launch on the Durance. Grade IV, on the international scale. Suits expert paddlers only, by its grade. 4 paddling schools, clubs or hire within 10 km, the nearest 4.2 km away. The town to stay in is Chateauroux les Alpes. Within 5 km we also list 5 kayak spots and 1 mountain bike area.
- River Durance
- Grade Grade IV, on the international scale.
- Who it suits Suits expert paddlers only, by its grade.
- Access No source states the access rules: check locally.
- Schools, hire 4 paddling schools, clubs or hire within 10 km, the nearest 4.2 km away.
Spots and rivers: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Whitewater sections © Rivermap (rivermap.org), Riverzone and Jonathan Riddell, ODbL.
The score is the conditions only: the journey, the price and the partners never change it (how we score, how we earn).
Rough cost (estimate): about US$1,430–US$2,680 each
about US$1,430–US$2,680 each · 6 nights, 2 sharing: flights, hire car, stay, food, kayak hire.
Our estimate from typical public prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book (where they come from). Prices are about, in US Dollar (USD): our pound figures at the European Central Bank's rate of 30 October 2026.
How we worked it out
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to MXP, estimated from distance and season, 1 airline on the route, with a hold bag | about US$496–US$1,030 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | about US$141–US$234 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | about US$328–US$543 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | about US$315–US$583 |
| Kayak hire | 5 days, or about US$114 to fly your own | about US$154–US$288 |
| Total | about US$1,430–US$2,680 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026.
Where to stay: Chateauroux les Alpes
3 min by car · 8 places to stay
about US$121/nightcountry average
About Chateauroux les Alpes its beds, food and every spot near it
About US$121 a night is our estimate of the country's average 2-star double room that month: not each town's price, and not a quote. Drives are estimates. Prices are about, in US Dollar (USD): our pound figures at the European Central Bank's rate of 30 October 2026.
Getting there: about 17h 25m
About 17h 25m door to door from Chicago
Fly ORD → MXP, direct, then 3h 50m by road
Flights ORD → MXP on your dates · Skyscanner
An estimate, one way; the journey never changes the score.
On the water
Kayak trips and courses in Chateauroux les Alpes · GetYourGuideKayak hire in Chateauroux les Alpes · GetYourGuide
River level
Gauge at La Durance à Embrun [La Clapière], 9 km downstream: 20 m³/s, low for November (updated 3 h ago). Running.
Bands are this gauge's own record: under its usual low, running, high, and in flood on its few highest days a year. Not a runnable range for the section: check before you go. River flow in France: Hub'Eau (hubeau.eaufrance.fr), data from the hydrometric services (SCHAPI, DREAL), Licence Ouverte 2.0. Credits
Paddling schools, clubs and hire nearby
Yes, we raft! 4.2 km
Stade d'eau vive de Saint-Clément 4.7 km
Slalom course St. Clément 4.9 km
Rêves de Rivieres 8.7 km
La Petite Mer 16 km
The nearest named schools, clubs and kayak or canoe hire within 25 km, in a straight line. Listings, not a recommendation. Schools, clubs and hire: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Credits