

Ardèche – One of the most popular white water spots in Europe For the rest of the country, paddling is most fun in the summer outside the vacation season. We recommend May and September as ideal travel months for the south of France. On the other hand, you will have to tow or carry your canoe in places where the water is too shallow. In the south of France, the rivers often have very little water in high summer, which makes canoeing easier for inexperienced paddlers due to the lower currents. Above all, you should try to avoid the French school vacations, because the French also like to be on the rivers with their families for a canoe trip. In the south of the country, thanks to the Mediterranean climate, summer comes early and goes late. Especially the annoying portage for families can be completely avoided here. Another big advantage are the mostly natural rivers. If the worst comes to the worst, the next town or village is never too far away. In addition, the country is quite densely populated and you are never really in isolated wilderness. Especially in the rural areas you can also find many affordable accommodations. Thus, most campsites have playgrounds, swimming pools, restaurants and a small grocery stores.

Good weather in the south allows swimming fun for the little ones and the numerous campsites have also adapted to families. Paddling with kids in Franceįor families with children, the country offers the best conditions. A tour like this is really fun if you round off the evening with a visit to a restaurant to enjoy French cuisine. Idyllic accommodations with equally beautiful hotels and guesthouses await you along many stretches of river. Of course, you should always leave the place as you found it.Įven those who do not like camping are well served in France. Thus, it is common to see canoeists pitching their tents on the riverbanks. Wild camping is generally not allowed in most parts of France, but is often tolerated in the wilderness. Canoe rental stations also often offer camping equipment and it is very typical that at the end of a tour you are brought back to the starting point by a shuttle bus. For river paddlers, France has some of the best canoeing spots in Europe Multi-day canoe trips in FranceĮspecially on the popular rivers, numerous campsites have settled, which also specialize in canoe tourism. Beautiful bays, azure waters and steep cliffs, such as those found near Marseille, definitely make for a unique paddling experience in good weather conditions. Especially the Mediterranean Sea in the south is a true paradise for sea kayakers.

There are also plenty of opportunities for coastal paddling. The only candidate here is Lake Geneva (Lac Léman in French), which the French share with Switzerland. Likewise, the largest lakes in the country cannot compete with other big lakes in Europe. Lake chains are rather not found in France.

In Provence, whitewater rivers are waiting, flowing through gorges rarely found in Europe. Thus, you often have the good weather on a canoe trip also on the side. Many of the popular rivers are located in the south of the country. Compared to the rivers in other countries like Germany, they are often left in their natural state, making a canoe trip a lot more relaxed (less portages ) and natural. It is mainly the beautiful rivers that make the country so attractive among paddling enthusiasts. Loire – An endless natural river Kayaking and Canoeing in FranceĬanoeing enjoys great popularity in France and attracts not only its own citizens but also many tourists who want to explore the country’s beautiful waters during a vacation in nature.
