Extreme sports at the Souleuvre Viaduct

Spending a day at the Souleuvre Viaduct is a perfect thrilling adventure to share with your loved-ones! With a bunch of friends, we decided to join the world reference in extreme sports, AJ Hackett Normandie, to face our fears, slip outside our comfort zone and enjoy the thrills of the giant zip line, the bungee jump and the giant swing. A truly exhilarating experience!

ziplining across the Valley

Today is the big day for my friends and I at the famous Souleuvre Viaduc, a unique location in the heart of Normandy’s lush countryside. After a comforting coffee at the reception hall, Séverine and Alexis strap into their harness and get equipped with a camera for the zip line tandem ride.

Time for the countdown….3, 2, 1 and jump! They take the plunge from the top of the zip line platform and fly across the valley at a speed of 100km/h, suspended on the cable. We soon loose sight of our friends and rush down to meet them 200 metres below. With a huge smile on his face and his heart still racing, Alexis claims that the views from the zip line are unrivalled : “you haven’t seen this valley until you’ve seen it from a moving bird’s-eye view“. Well, we’re ready for more breathtaking panoramic views…Next? The bungee-jump!

The bungee jump: an adrenaline rush like no other

To reach the jumping platform, we walk over a high suspended wooden bridge swinging slightly with the wind and the effect of our weight. Enhancing the nerve-wracking atmosphere for the soft ones at heart, it provides however the best panoramic views of the valley. Once we set foot on the platform, my friends settle in the spectator area. Meanwhile, I meet Théo, my instructor and the brief on safety rules begins in a very reassuring, informal way. I try and relax, listening to my own music before the jump while taking deep breaths. Théo ties my ankles with straps while I admire the tremendous landscapes around me at this unprecedented height: we are standing at 63 metres above ground! I face my fears standing on the edge of the platform, my heart is racing…

It’s time for the final countdown…. 3, 2, 1 and dive! I fly, free fall at an incredible speed and come to a sudden halt and lie hanging upside down in the air for a while. Wow, I did it! I hear my enthusiastic friends cheering from the top! This sensational feeling, exciting, thrilling and terrifying all at the same time is something that few life experiences can match! In the afternoon, Clément and Jérémy decide to take the big plunge too.

The giant swing

To put our nerves to the ultimate test, the last challenge of the day is the Giant Swing, which operates on the same principles as the bungee jump, yet offers a whole different feeling as you swing smoothly like a pendulum over the valley’s scenery.  In this giant swing, up to 3 people can be seated, meaning you can share the experience with 2 friends! The other Clément, Jérémy and Séverine are strapped into the swing, suspended by the waist and lifted up into the air at a height of 55 metres. Jeremy is in charge of pulling the release cord which will drop them into a free fall! Before they know it, they suddenly begin flying at a speed of 130 km/h with the wind rushing in their hair, as the swing is released. Screams of joy and excitement are heard throughout the valley as they swing back and forth until they slow to a stop. They are lowered back to the ground, with a huge smile on their faces which no doubt will stay with them for the rest of the day.

After this last activity, we need to recover from our emotions! As if we couldn’t get enough of these crazy, fun activities that get our hearts pumping, we enjoy a drink at the bottom of the viaduct while watching other adrenaline junkies flying through the air and screaming their lungs out.