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I'm sure someone with experience will come along shortly and tell you but from what I could see last year at Les Peupliers and all along the Tarn there was slow bits and faster bits with loads of canoists on the rivers.  I've never canoed before and if we hadn't had the dog would have given it a go!

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww16/feeblecat/France%2009/DSCN0413.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww16/feeblecat/France%2009/DSCN0410.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww16/feeblecat/France%2009/DSCN0418.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww16/feeblecat/France%2009/DSCN0512.jpg

There are a few 'rapids' on the Tarn, some of which can be tricky, but nothing like the Ardeche.   If the river level is low then some of them can be so low that you have to get out and walk - but if the river level is high then they can look quite wild. There are a couple of sections where the only way through is through a 'flume' and those bits can be really good fun.  We've got out and gone back to do those sections again - and we haven't gone in once.  Lots of people do it, most of them not experienced, so if you're reasonably fit then you should be fine. 

We've canoed down the whole of the popular sections - last time in August last year, and there was nothing to worry us.  We have our own canoe but aren't experts, and we're 60 and 61 - so if we can do it I'm sure you can.

Hi,

We were at Les Peupliers the middle two weeks in August last year and did two half day trips starting at different locations (sorry can't remember where we started from at the moment) yes there are a few rapids and depending on where you start from the river can be very busy but it is great fun as others have said take your time and enjoy and if it's as hot down there this year as it was last (in the 40's every day !) you'll have a great time.

Ade

Quote: Originally posted by AdeM on 29/3/2010

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Hi,

We were at Les Peupliers the middle two weeks in August last year and did two half day trips starting at different locations (sorry can't remember where we started from at the moment) yes there are a few rapids and depending on where you start from the river can be very busy but it is great fun as others have said take your time and enjoy and if it's as hot down there this year as it was last (in the 40's every day !) you'll have a great time.

Ade

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What a fantastic area, we didn't get to half the places we wanted to because the weather was just to good to be travelling around we just spent most of our time at different parts of the river, it is truely a stunning area and one which we will definately return to again, well worth the drive down.

We are splashing out a bit on a trip to Mexico this year as I promised my daughter that if she worked hard on her GCSE's she could choose the holiday !

From Les Peuplies, it's good to do the descent from les Vignes - just enough 'Gorge' to make it spectacular, but still do-able.  The best time is early in the morning, because then you're doing the Gorge part whilst it's still shaded.  When you get out into the hot sun it can get very hot indeed - and you'll need dips in the river to cool off.  There are plenty of places to pull in and picnic.  Take plenty of water and snacks with out in your 'barrel' - you'll need both.

There are lots of different options - from St Enemie, from Le Malene, from the Cirque de Baumes, or from Les Vignes, and as Johnnny says, from almost all campsites alongside the river.  All alongside the river there are places to hire canoes, and you can hire them from from almost every campsite.

The most spectacular views are to be had doing the descent from Le Malene to Les Vignes, which is much further up the Gorge, and you do get the best part of the scenery.

We've done two sections, adding up to just over forty kilometres, but it used to be that you couldn't actually do the whole length in one 'hit' because at certain points there are barrages across the river so you have to get out.  At Les Vignes you start off just below one of these barrages.

Quote: Originally posted by feeblecat on 28/3/2010

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I'm sure someone with experience will come along shortly and tell you but from what I could see last year at Les Peupliers and all along the Tarn there was slow bits and faster bits with loads of canoists on the rivers.  I've never canoed before and if we hadn't had the dog would have given it a go!

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww16/feeblecat/France%2009/DSCN0413.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww16/feeblecat/France%2009/DSCN0410.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww16/feeblecat/France%2009/DSCN0418.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww16/feeblecat/France%2009/DSCN0512.jpg

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feeblecat...I've been trying to locate a spot from where we were set off when we hired some kayaks last year. I remember the "dam" with the slit through which we had to get through....it's in one of your pics. Can you tell me where on google maps that was.... I'm actually trying to locate a campsite that we saw further up from the "dam". Our canoe guide had told us to paddle up to that big rocks and deep water and then comeback down. Whilst we were at those rocks we noticed it was at teh edge of a campsite...so dont know what the name of that campsite was.

thanks

Ek

No replies, so 'bumping' this up.  It's possibly at Les Vignes - though I haven't looked at Feeblecat's pictures.

Here's a website which might help you locate campsites http://www.campings-des-gorgesdutarn.com/les_campings.html - but I wouldnt' worry - almost every site will offer either riverside access or canoeing trips!  You may not want to be too near one where canoe trips start from as it will increase noise, traffic, and the number of canoes actually on the river.  It's much nicer to have a quieter site and have to travel a bit rather than be too near a setting off, or landing, point.  The clatter of canoes being launched, and shrieking voices would put me off a site too near a launch site.

Quote: Originally posted by Val A on 04/6/2014

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No replies, so 'bumping' this up.  It's possibly at Les Vignes - though I haven't looked at Feeblecat's pictures.

Here's a website which might help you locate campsites http://www.campings-des-gorgesdutarn.com/les_campings.html - but I wouldnt' worry - almost every site will offer either riverside access or canoeing trips!  You may not want to be too near one where canoe trips start from as it will increase noise, traffic, and the number of canoes actually on the river.  It's much nicer to have a quieter site and have to travel a bit rather than be too near a setting off, or landing, point.  The clatter of canoes being launched, and shrieking voices would put me off a site too near a launch site.

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Hi Val. Thanks for the response. I'll look at the links. This particular campsite was defintley a private beach...the canoe company started closer to the dam, but told us to paddle up to the big rocks for diving/jumping. That's when we saw that the rocks were at a campsite beach.

The other issue my OH has is that she's not keen to travel so far down this year....we travelled to Porta Ventura by Car last year and camped at beach. As we share the driving she's not keen on long journey, although we had a stopover for a couple of nights at Dome de Puy on our way down.

Ek