Torrent de Pareis got its name from the stream Pareis that carved the canyon over millions of years. The most interesting entry into the canyon is by the sea from the village of Sa Calobra through two narrow tunnels in the rock. Tunnels lead to the coast where the stream Pareis flows into the sea.

In summer the stream dried on its way which allow tourist to bath on the beautiful pebble beach. It is also possible to enter the Torrent de Pareis from the upper village Escorca. The entire canyon is 7 km long. The total height from the sea to the highest point is 720 m.

The canyon is surrounded by the steep rocky walls. In the deepest places the walls reach a height of 400 m. At the bottom of the canyon you can see a small salt lake, created by the sea tide. In the walls you can find the caves that were dug by rain water. This also created a lot of water tunnels and deep lakes in the canyon.

During your trip to Torrent de Pareis you will see the huge rocky blocks. They are pieces of canyon walls, which over the years broke off due to erosion and fell to its ground. The whole area of ​​Torrent de Pareis was announced a significant natural heritage for its geological and biological value.

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The entrance to the gorge is paid and a basic adult ticket costs 4 Eur.

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Alploch Gorge, Austria by Bernhard Maeser

Both gorges Rappenlochschlucht – Alploch, which are about 1 km from each other, are divided with Staufensee lake with beautiful blue water. After appointment you can also see here 100 years old hydroelectric power plant.

Rappenlochschlucht – Alploch Gorges are a beautiful place suitable for hiking. On the rock walls there are romantic narrow wooden trails and the beauty of the canyon is doubled with amazing local waterfalls. The trail is also suitable for families with children. Rappenlochschlucht – Alploch Gorges are open from April to October. In the summer months (July and August) tourists have the opportunity to enter the gorges free of charge every Thursday.

Rappenlochschlucht, Austria by Bernhard Mäser

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Bärenschützklamm Steige, Austria by Sonicccgraz

Bärenschützklamm, sometimes called also as Mixnitz Klamm according to the village Mixnitz at which the gorge is located, is really very beautiful natural gorge through which leads the tourist trail. The trail is located near the small town of Pernegg an der Mur. Bärenschützklamm offers a truly magnificent walk through the rocks by wooden walkways, stairs and ladders. Thanks to this wooden trail you can get into otherwise totally inaccessible places. You will see the beautiful waterfalls, rock overhangs and absolutely stunning natural gems, everywhere around you.

The hiking trail has been operating since 1901. In 1978 the gorge was declared as a natural protected monument. In 1997 there was a big storm that heavily damaged the trail but fortunately it was repaired within few years.

Bärenschützklamm by AndreasResch

The trail through Bärenschützklamm is only 5 kilometers long and you will pass the elevation of 350 meters (from 750 meters to 1100 meters). More experienced hikers can then continue climbing the mountain Hochlantsch (1722 meters above sea level). The valley is a part of the mountain Grazer Bergland.

The entrance to the valley is not for free. In 2010 it was € 3.50 per adult. But believe me, it’s really worth to visit this gorge, so beautiful and long pathway through such a beautiful countryside you can not find anywhere else!

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The sinkhole is about 138.7 meters deep and it is the biggest gorge of its kind in the Czech Republic and even in the Central Europe. The upper part of this nature unique is about 174 m long and 76 m wide. There are two platforms for tourists at the edges. The first one is Upper Bridge constructed in 1882. The second one is little bit lower called Lower Bridge. This lower bridge comes from 1899 and it is about 92 m above the bottom of Macocha that you can see from there.

Macocha Abyss (named in 17th century) was created by fall of ceiling of huge cave hole. That’s why its bottom is covered by debris. The River Punkva is rising here and fills up two small lakes called Horní (Upper) and Dolní (Lower). Horní lake is approximately 13m deep and you can see it from the Upper Platform. The Lower one is hidden between rocks and it is about 30 m deep.

Underground River Punkva is made by several local brooks which became bigger river underground. It is coming from north part of Moravský kras (Moravian Karst) to the east. Macocha Abyss is the only place where Punkva River goes to daylight. Then, the river goes its wandering in Punkvení jeskyně (Punkva Caves). The whole cave complex is made by more than 30 kilometers of underground passages partly filled with water.

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Of course the establishment of the nature reserve was not just about protecting the plant and animal life in the region, but it is also about protecting and preserving the rich history of the region. The Ardèche Gorges had been home to men since the days of prehistory. There have been numerous artifacts uncovered throughout the years which date back thousands of years into the past.

Cirque Madeleine, Ardeche Gorges, France by Jean-Christophe BENOIST

There is so much to see and do when you choose to visit the Ardèche Gorges. And while it may be tempting to camp wherever you feel like, camping is limited to the Gournier and Gaud areas of the park. Upon arriving to the area, take the time to pick up the local guidebook which offers a lot of information about the geology, flora, fauna, history as well as climate of the region.

You will find that there are more than 250 kilometers of hiking trails which are prominently marked throughout the Ardèche Gorges Nature Reserve. For those who do not want to make their way into the gorges on their own, there is also a number of different guided walking tours that will take you into some of the most popular destinations as well as the protected regions within the Park.

Archs, Ardeche Gorges, France by Brian Smithson

For those who are looking for adventure, there are no limitations when it comes to climbing or caving within the Ardèche Gorges. However, if you do plan on going caving or exploring any of the cliffs, it is important that you report your itinerary to guide office prior to going out. Not only is this for your own safety, but it is also due to the fact that there are a number of protected species located in certain areas of the park. The park rangers will be able to inform you of whether or not you will be allowed to go climbing or caving within a certain area.

There is also an amazing 20 mile long canoeing descent into the Ardèche Gorges. This descent includes more than 25 different rapids which makes it a very popular and thrilling challenge for just about anyone. However, there is also a shorter descent which will take you down into the gorge in less than five miles. You may also trek on foot along the canoeing paths which can take you as much as 12 hours to complete.

Archs, Ardeche Gorges, France by Stephane Vervalle

Needless to say that the awe-inspiring views afforded to one who visits the Ardèche Gorges are well worth the trip to the region. Every year countless people make their way to the gorges in order to experience nature in its most pristine and picturesque form.

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Verdon Gorge, France by Miguel Virkkunen Carvalho

One of the most popular destinations in the country is that of the Verdon Gorge (Gorges du Verdon). This amazing canyon is 700 meters deep and 21 kilometres in length. The canyon itself varies in width along its length from a narrow passageway of only six meters wide to a massive stretch of more than 1500 meters.

Verdon Gorge was formed as a result of tectonic movements and erosion from the Verdon which flows through the canyon from the village of Castellane to Rougons. The river itself is a fast flowing stream which continues to cut deeper and deeper into the bedrock. The source of the Verdon River can be found 2500 meters above sea level; just outside of Col de la Sestrière. At Rougons, the river slides into a very narrow crevice and is hidden from view until it reemerges at the Lac de Ste-Croix.

Verdon Gorge from the top, France by maarjaara

Of course there is nothing new about the beauty of the Verdon Gorge. As far back as 400,000 years ago, primitive man has called the area around the gorge, home. There have been thousands of artefacts found in this area. As a result of these discoveries, the local Museum of prehistory was established back in 2001. Today it is considered to be one of the largest in all of Europe.

For the most part, to access the Verdon Gorge you will need to take your choice of the North or South Rim roads which leads out of Moustiers-Ste-Marie and makes its way to Pont de Soleils. The North Rim Road is more than 31 kilometres long and offers some of the most impressive views into the canyon. The South Rim Road is 48 kilometres long and also offers some awe-inspiring views of the deep canyon. For those wishing to drive both the North and South Rim roads, expect to spend an entire day of driving.

Walls of the Verdon Gorge, France by François Philipp

It is also possible to visit the Verdon Gorge by raft or hiking. Rafting on the Verdon River is for extremely experienced persons only due to the very violent and dangerous trip. The trip itself will take 6 to 8 hours to complete. There are also 10 hiking trails along the rim that range from 2 to 8 hours to complete; and take you from the roof down to the basement of the gorge.

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