Canoeing on the Dordogne, France

This canoeing holiday is a leisurely way to explore one of France's most interesting waterways. There are no major weirs to carry your canoe round, and the flow of the water does much of the work for you!

The Dordogne river has glorious golden-pink limestone cliffs and runs though the walnut groves and truffle woods of the Périgord. You have many opportunities for sightseeing as you travel downstream past châteaux (both imposing and magnificent), ancient villages, and world-famous prehistoric sites. Plenty of diversions away from the river, too: from Souillac you can visit the prehistoric sites of Lascaux and Les Eyzies, or, from St Sozy, get to Rocamadour, a spectacular cliff-clinging town.

The canoeing is safe, not demanding, and we give you a lesson on handling your canoe before you set off. We have chosen lovely, friendly hotels throughout including the pleasant, traditional Quercynois hotel in picturesque Carennac and the quintessentially French Hotel Grangier in St. Sozy, All hotels with their own swimming pools.

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1 - Arrive at Sarlat Our 3-star hotel is a lovely country house, set in 3 acres of private pine woods, overlooking the Sarlat valley.

Day 2 - Sarlat/Carennac 15km/8mi/4hr
After breakfast, we take you upstream to near the pretty riverside town of Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne for the briefing and canoeing lesson. Then it's an easy paddle down to Carennac. This is one of the Dordogne's most picturesque villages, with lovely 16C houses. Our hotel, with outdoor pool, is right in the heart of the village, overlooking the river.

Day 3 - At Carennac
You are in a fairy-tale village with a jumble of cottages and 16 century turreted manor houses and the remains of the ramparts and the once-magnificent priory.  Fenelon, still celebrated as the village's most famous son, was the very popular bishop here in 1681 - and a local aperitif is named after him! It's fun exploring the narrow streets and alleyways and walks round the village and on the causse provide some of the very best views of the Dordogne. To explore further afield, you might like to hire a bike and visit the Gouffre de Padirac (9km away), one of the region's important spectacles - amazing caverns, huge galleries, and a boat trip on the underwater lake.

Day 4 - Carennac / St Sozy 20km/13mi/4hr
On the first part of the journey you pass below massive cliffs, paddling past four impressive riverside chateaux before arriving at St Sozy and our friendly little hotel.

Day 5 - At St Sozy
Why not relax at the hotel's pool? Or take a pleasant walk to the south of the river by the Rochers Ste Marie and the Grotte de Lacave?  Rocamadour is only a 15km taxi ride away. Together with the Mont St Michel, it is France's most venerated religious site. Kings have climbed the steps to the basilica on their knees. Sailors pray to the Black Madonna when in peril and the bell of her chapel rings each time she rescues another ship. The chapel is full of little model ships presented in gratitude.

Day 6 - St Sozy/Souillac 16km/9mi/4hr
Today is an easy paddle, with lots of interesting things along the river. You pass - and can visit - the caves of Lacave (over a mile of caverns with curious stalactites reflecting in the water) and some beautiful riverside chateaux (look out for Belcastel and the impressive Chateau de la Treyne in particular).

Day 7 - At Souillac
The prosperous farming country around Souillac was created from marshland by industrious 12-13C Benedictine monks. Of the powerful abbey they built, just the abbey church remains, with outstanding basrelief sculpture. Today Souillac is a bustling town, with good shops and a weekly local market. Visit the Musee de l'Automate, the largest collection of mechanical toys and dolls in France.

Day 8 - Souillac / Sarlat 12km/7mi/3hr
Relax while canoeing down to Grolejac via St Julien (lovely village, good lunch stop) through the heart of peaceful and prosperous Perigord countryside, with lots of time for swimming or lazing by the river. We pick you up from here and take you to Sarlat in time to explore the old regional capital before dinner. The Vieux Quartier is an astonishingly beautiful jumble of varying architectural styles, virtually all pre-C17.

Day 9 - Leave Sarlat
You leave your hotel after breakfast.

Is this trip for you?
This is a low level canoeing holiday and is easy for beginners. This holiday is best suited for couples and families with children 8 years of age and older. The reason for the age limit is that children must be able to swim away from danger in the event of capsizing.  All customers must be able to swim at least 50m fully clothed.

We provide 2/3 person canoes (minimum age 8 years). Single-person kayaks are also available if specified when you book, but only suitable for children over 12 unless experienced. Should the river, at any point, be deemed too high to safely canoe, Headwater bikes are provided at no extra charge for all days affected.