Kayak & canoe · CANOE TRIPS IN FRANCE
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 9 canoe trips in France worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Rent a single or double kayak, or a three or four-person canoe, from Aquattitude in Montpezat. Paddle through Baudinard Canyon and the lower Verdon Gorges at your own pace, with calm water, 150-meter cliffs, caves, beaches, parking, changing rooms, and basic safety gear included.
“Excellent value for money with picturesque views of the Verdon Gorge. Highly recommend”
Set out from Vitrac on a gentle downstream canoe trip through the Dordogne Valley. Choose a 2 to 6-hour route, paddle past castles, cliffs, caves, villages, and old bridges, stop for swimming or lunch, then return by shuttle. Sarlat pickup is available, and instruction is provided in English.
“Fantastic day on the water seeing beautiful villages on the way . It was a very hot day so was perfect for swimming too!”
Paddle your own canoe or kayak from Vitrac to Beynac on a calm, scenic stretch of the Dordogne. You will pass La Roque-Gageac, Castelnaud, Beynac, and several castles, with time to stop for a picnic, swim, or riverside snack. No guide accompanies you, but staff explain the route before departure.
“From the start the staff were welcoming and friendly. They explained the route and what to expect. The trip itself was wonderful a relaxing ride down the river, a fantastic way to view the wildlife and magnificent views of the towns. We would definitely take a lunch with us next time and stop on one of the banks to enjoy the river”
Join Alain Bateaux for a flexible 12 km Ardèche canoe or kayak trip from Mazes plain. Amélie, Frédéric, and Loïc provide safety and paddling advice before you set off for three slides, calm water, picnic stops, and the famous Pont d'Arc. You must be over 7 and able to swim.
“Un vrai bonheur ! On a été très bien accueilli par Amélie, Frédéric et Loïc ! Une équipe au top qui a a coeur de partager leur passion et vous donne toutes les consignes pour faire votre descente en toute sécurité et comprendre comment ramer (et oui ça s'apprend ^^) La descente était top et les paysages sont splendides : 3 toboggans, 3 rapides en mode crescendo et passage sous le pont d'arc après un picnic au bord de l'eau ! C'était magique, on y retournera avec plaisir pour la version plus longue ! Merci à toute l'équipe d'Alain Bateaux 💪👏”
You’ll paddle about 6 km through the Ardèche Gorges, pass beneath the famous Pont d’Arc, and have time to swim or picnic. Alain Bateaux provides canoes or kayaks, safety gear, a full briefing, private parking, beach access, and a return shuttle.
“Fijne afvaart, ideale duur. Personeel is vriendelijk. Hou er wel rekening mee dat de totale activiteitsduur minstens 3 uur is gezien retour naar vertrekpunt niet wordt meegerekend in de 1,5 uur. Toch aanrader!”
Canoë Butterfly gives you a self-guided Dordogne outing from Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, with a canoe, paddle, life jacket, insurance, route advice, paper guide, and shuttle transport. Choose a 1 to 5-hour descent, ask for an initiation, and paddle past castles and villages at your own pace.
“One of the best activities we have ever done on a vacation! Beautiful scenery with castles above and charming villages to visit along the way. It rates more than 5 star!”
Start at Alain Bateaux in Salavas for a 6 to 7 hour canoe or kayak descent through the Ardèche Gorges. You’ll receive a full safety briefing, paddle beneath Pont d’Arc, pass through the nature reserve, and finish at Saint-Martin-d’Ardèche before the return shuttle.
“1. Organisation & Service Von der Buchung bis zur Rückkehr lief alles reibungslos. Die Reservierung war unkompliziert, das Personal war freundlich, kompetent und hat uns alles erklärt — Bootstyp, Tourverlauf, Sicherheitsregeln. Es gab einen zuverlässigen Shuttle-Service, der uns am Ende der Tour wieder zurück zum Ausgangspunkt gebracht hat. 2. Ausrüstung & Sicherheit Das Material war in sehr gutem Zustand: stabile Kanus / Kajaks, ordentliche Paddel, saubere Schwimmwesten. Bevor es losging, erhielten wir eine gründliche Einweisung in Paddeltechnik und Verhalten in schwierigen Streckenabschnitten – besonders wichtig bei Stromschnellen. 3. Tour & Natur Die Strecke war atemberaubend schön. Atemb...”
Set off at 9 a.m. from Alain Bateaux in Salavas for a 24 km canoe or kayak run from Châmes to Saint-Martin-d’Ardèche. You’ll paddle 5 to 6 hours through the road-free Ardèche Gorges Nature Reserve, tackle named rapids, and finish at Sauze with return transport included.
“Zeer leuk! Een unieke belevenis! Je moet wel sportief zijn voor 24-32 kilometer kajak.. zeer verrassende momenten! Die je niet snel zal vergeten!”
Paddle 20 km from Saint-Chély-du-Tarn to Pas de Soucy through the Tarn Gorges, with a shuttle from La Malène, film locations from Lucy, picnic stops, and about five hours of rowing. Canoes, safety gear, waterproof storage, and return transport are included.
Pick the water, the hull or the hour.
