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My son, 17 next year, is keen to take a friend on a 3/4 day kayaking trip in France next summer. He and I did the Ardeche from Vogue to St.Martin in stages this summer and he is fairly proficient so my wife and I are generally happy for them to go off on their own. Other than the Ardeche can anyone suggest any other rivers where they might be able to kayak down for a few days camping overnight.

Thanks.

The Tarn - you can kayak or canoe various sections, and there are lots of campsites alongside the river. We've done both the major sections.

The Orb from Roquebrun in the Languedoc - haven't done this one - river levels were too high when we were there.

Thanks Val. It's in the early stages of planning at the moment. Their intention is to go on their own, as we will not be going to France next year. We would be happy for them to do so if it's planned well enough. Having said that one possibility is that I take them to France and bring them back. We did a couple of trips on the Tarn 3 years ago, wasn't sure that 3/4 day trips are available? Do you think the Dordogne might be suitable? I get the impression it is a bit 'tamer' than the Ardeche?

There aren't any 'organised' three or four day trips on the Tarn - but if you have your own kayaks then you can do various sections, from right at the top of the Tarn Gorge near St Enemie, to the section beyond Millau where the Tarn is much 'tamer'.  In high summer the water levels may not be so 'interesting' but earlier in the summer, after short periods of rain, then the rapids can be very 'white water'.

Some of the campsites will even organise taking your own equipment up river so that you can canoe/kayak back.

I think you can also canoe/kayak on various sections of the Verdon (but not right through the Gorge as far as I am aware).

The Ceze can be anything but tame in rain - we met some people this year who had been at a campsite along the Ceze and the water level had risen four and a bit metres in a few hours!  Although for the most part it is a tame river, it does show another side sometimes.

Somewhere, in the depths of my memory I've got a website about 'canoeable' rivers in France.  I'll trawl through the old cogs tonight, and see what comes up!

The Tarn is a really lovely river to canoe down, and actually has quite a long stretch of 'navigable' river, so it might just be worth looking into websites dealing with canoeing in theTarn.

We found the Dordogne less than inspiring.  It was our 'ambition' to canoe the Dordogne - and we did so this year, but found it a bit like the M25 compared to the Tarn and the Ardeche which can definitely be an adventure. We've still to do the Ceze, though that might be a trip for next year.

They may be better canoeing down the Ardeche again - solo (or rather duo) which with two teenagers would be rather good fun, I would have thought!  My sons did the descents with us, in the past, and have now done it again several times on their own - and I'm sure I know which they would prefer!

By the sound of that they might find the Dordogne slightly dull after doing the Ardeche this year. Looks like doing that again might be the best idea.

Thanks

Quote: Originally posted by Val A on 28/10/2010

Somewhere, in the depths of my memory I've got a website about 'canoeable' rivers in France.  I'll trawl through the old cogs tonight, and see what comes up!

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VB's post reminded me - here's the 'Canoeable Rivers' website I mentioned earlier.

Quote: Originally posted by Val A on 02/11/2010

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VB's post reminded me - here's the 'Canoeable Rivers' website I mentioned earlier.

 

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Nice one... This is what I need to help locate areas for camping !

thanks