Sarlat la Canéda: The Dordogne valley by canoe
Recommended by 94% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Bergerac, France
+3
- 2 to 6 hours (approx.)
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
·
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Sightseeing by coach can feel passive, so experience the beautiful Dordogne Valley in an active way when you take to the water on a guided canoeing tour. Choose your tour duration to paddle past up to six castles—unmissable cultural attractions in this French region. Your guide is on hand to answer questions and lead the way so you don’t risk getting lost.
- Pick a tour to suit your schedule, and see from two to six castles
- Get some gentle exercise while seeing the sights
- All necessary canoeing gear is provided, so you don’t need your own
- Enjoy views from a unique vantage point on the water
What's Included
- - Vests - Containers (box) - Paddle - Canoe - Insurance - Topo Guide
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting points
Select a meeting point
Type to search
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Arranged start time
Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
Select your preferred rental option to see hours.
View tour option
What To Expect
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Susan_F
This was a really fun way to see the Dordogne valley from a different vantage point. The canoes were great, and the staff at Canoes Loisirs very helpful. We had a great three hours paddling down the river.
Reviews
4.7
based on 341 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Wen_S, Aug 2026
It was nice, except for how much my arms were sore. It had a beautiful view, and there was a few rope swings that were really fun! 😁( ＾ω＾ )
Graham_P, Aug 2026
A fantastic way to experience the Dordogne Valley. The canoe trip was peaceful and relaxing, with stunning scenery all around us. It was the perfect way to slow down, enjoy the beautiful surroundings and take in the river at a leisurely pace.
Keep an eye out for the rope swings and jumping spots along the way — definitely worth having a go, especially with the kids! Great fun and highly recommended for families.
Lell_H, Jul 2026
This is a fantastic way to spend time together seeing the River Dordogne. We had a blast. We booked for the 6 castles not realising the length we would be rowing so we opted for 3 castles and that worked out so much better as it was still a 4hr session as we shopped for lunch along the way and a drink and to purchase a photo, so we defo got our moneys worth but more leisurely. The kids enjoyed the rowing and we had such a giggle - defo recommend to anyone visiting this region. We were a family of four, our children are 6 & 8yrs and perfect for them to join in and we had a 4 person canoe.
Tom_M, Jul 2026
Great scenery all along the way. We did the ‘6 castle’ option (putting in at Carsac) and it took a full day of mellow paddling to reach the take-out point by 6pm. If you’re planning on getting out and exploring the villages along the way I’d just stick to the ‘5 castle’ option.
Maxine_D, Jul 2026
Bring sunscreen
Staff are friendly and responsive
This is a well oiled machine designed for the customer
Kathryn_D, Jul 2026
Wonderful morning spent canoeing with beautiful views. Well organised and easy. Would do this again. Very enjoyable
jq76phkd7g, Jun 2026
Highly recommend to also do Calviac to Vitrac route if you have time as it’s much calmer. Great service also in English.
Margaret_E, Jun 2026
This trip was unforgettable! Travelled to Sarlat by train 0615 from Bergerac .. was shuttled to base camp and canoed for 2.5 hours down river. The scenery was sublime and you have time to picnic or find a cafe on the way.
Was given a lift back to Sarlat station by le Boss .. a highly entertaining experience too.! Thanks to all of you for making it a truly exceptional experience!
Don’t let age get in the way .. I am 69 and let the river do the work! Perhaps yiu could opt for four bridges rather than five if you have doubts that it may be too much. It’s a long way from bridge four to five!
Mark_D, Jun 2026
Be ready for some awesome countryside as you paddle down the Dordogne. There are a couple of spots to stop to pur have food but I would recommend bringing a lunch for a picnic on the shore.
Bradley_D, Jun 2026
We are a family of 5 with kids 12, 10, and 6. We had two canoes; it was great for a family. You are going with the current so it isn’t too difficult, especially if you take the 10am trip. Make sure to get there 15 minutes before your scheduled time to get checked in. We went from Carsac to Beynac, and it was wonderful. Bring a snack and skip the snack shacks — that will give you time to explore La Roque which is wonderful.
MICHEL_M, Oct 2025
After watching a video of Rick Steve's paddling the Dordogne river, we decided that this would be a fun experience during our trip to the Périgueux region. We enjoyed our two hour journey going down the slow moving river. We saw wild life, cliffs, grotos and castles.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for your lovely comment! We’re delighted you enjoyed your time on the Dordogne and that the experience lived up to your expectations. We hope to see you again on the river one day!
Sharon_D, Oct 2025
Exceptional service. We used the pickup service in Sarlat to bring us to the canoes. At the 4th bridge our canoe became stranded. We were rescued, but the waterproof bucket stayed with the canoe. The next day our personal items from the bucket were delivered to the hotel. Fantastic experience just steer clear of the big boats!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you very much for your kind review! We’re glad we could help and that your belongings were safely returned. It’s great to hear you enjoyed the experience despite the adventure — and yes, avoiding the big boats is always good advice 😉 We hope to see you again on the Dordogne!
Susan_F, Oct 2025
This was a really fun way to see the Dordogne valley from a different vantage point. The canoes were great, and the staff at Canoes Loisirs very helpful. We had a great three hours paddling down the river.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you very much for your kind feedback! We’re delighted you enjoyed discovering the Dordogne Valley from the river and that you had a great time paddling. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
Robert_G, Oct 2025
The canoe trip was wonderful. The trip took about 4 hours and we really enjoyed the pristine river and magnificent chateaux. The company 'canoes loisirs' were so welcoming and professional.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you very much for your lovely review! We’re delighted you enjoyed the canoe trip, the beauty of the river, and the châteaux along the way. It was a pleasure welcoming you, and we hope to see you again soon on the Dordogne!
Michael_C, Oct 2025
The 5 Chateaux canoe tour with Canoe Loisirs offered a nice self-paced 2.5-hour trip down the Dordogne river, amidst lovely scenery and architecture. The canoe ride leaves from the Vitrac riverside in the county of Domme (not to be confused with the town of Domme on top), and glides downstream to just past Beynac, and a shuttle then brings to back to the Vitrac base camp hourly.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you very much for your kind review! We’re glad you enjoyed the 5 Châteaux canoe tour and the beautiful scenery along the Dordogne. We appreciate your clear description of the route and shuttle system, which will be very helpful for future guests. We hope to welcome you back on the river soon!
Emily_K, Sep 2025
A fantastic way to see the Dordogne river, towns and castles. The operator was really easy to deal with, we picked up the canoes from them and then once finished they drop you back to the starting point. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you very much for your kind words! We’re delighted you enjoyed exploring the Dordogne, its towns, and castles by canoe. We’re glad the pick-up and drop-off service worked well for you, and we truly appreciate your recommendation. We hope to see you again on the river!
David_K, Sep 2025
We had a great day on the river and this was exactly as described. The scenery was spectacular and we managed to dock en route for lunch easily.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you very much for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear you had a great day on the river and enjoyed the spectacular scenery. It’s great that the stop for lunch worked out so easily. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure on the Dordogne soon!
Paul_H, Jul 2025
The company provides all the kit and you canoe downstream for a couple of hours to their other base, they bring back by bus. Very well organised.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re delighted you enjoyed your experience. 😊
Randal_W, Jul 2025
Canoeing down the Dordogne River was one of the highlights of our trip to France. The entire experience was peaceful, scenic, and surprisingly easy, even for beginners. The river flows gently, making it perfect for a relaxed paddle while soaking in the beauty of the surrounding countryside.
The views were absolutely stunning—from medieval castles perched on cliffs to charming stone villages nestled along the riverbanks. We passed under ancient bridges, alongside limestone cliffs, and through stretches of forest that felt untouched by time. It was like paddling through a living postcard.
The rental company made everything simple. They provided a well-kept canoe, safety equipment, a map, and clear instructions. The staff was friendly and helpful, offering suggestions on routes and pointing out the best spots to stop for a picnic or swim. We felt well-prepared and completely at ease.
One of the best parts was the freedom to go at our own pace. We stopped for lunch on a small river beach and even had time to explore a nearby village before finishing the route.
If you're visiting the Dordogne region, I highly recommend taking a canoe ride. It’s a perfect blend of nature, history, and tranquility—and a truly memorable way to see the heart of the French countryside.
If I had to make one suggestion for those considering the amount of time, the 4-castle ride is a solid 5-6 hours of straight canoeing to complete the full length. We stopped at a few snack areas along the way, but there are portions of the river with no current whatsoever and you will need to exert yourself to get down the river. If we did it again, we probably would have chosen to leave at the departure location, rather than being bussed up river for an even longer ride. That would have shorted the ride to about 3 hours of canoeing.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for your positive advice, we're delighted that you've enjoyed your trip. Hope to see you again on the river soon !
Romina_C, Jul 2025
Well organized and beautiful experience. They were organized, relaxed, kind, clean, and punctual.
The river was warm, clean, and a fun ride.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
We appreciate your review, thank you. See you soon on the river.
Canoes Loisirs
David_W, Jul 2025
If you are staying in the area and you like outdoor activities this is a must! The pacing of the river is perfect, the views are amazing and the ability to go at your own pace is excellent.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for your kind feedback !
lynne_f, Jun 2025
Fantastic day on the water seeing beautiful villages on the way . It was a very hot day so was perfect for swimming too!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
We're delighted that you've enjoyed your day !
Jason_W, Jun 2025
Excellent day out watching King fishers, buzzards, kites, dragon flies and much more.while paddling on lovely river.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for your nice review !!
John_T, Jun 2025
Amazingly beautiful trip— and you get some exercise, too! The Dordogne is beautiful, even on a rainy day!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for your feedback ! hope to see you again soon !!
Mike_M, Jun 2025
This is one of the best experiences around. Such a relaxing trip amongst great scenery. If you are a fan of castles, this is for you.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience, see you again soon on the river.
Alison_H, May 2025
If we could choose only one thing to do in the area, this would be it. A relaxing downstream paddle past wooded riverbanks, cliffs, caves, towns, and castles. Perfect day!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank's for your review !
Canoes Loisirs team.
Judy_Y, Sep 2024
Paddling on the river and getting to see the towns from a different perspective was great. Unfortunately the weather want perfect but we got the most of it. We stop at the fist town for lunch and it was a nice break. We had dinner plans so had to rush through the rest of the ride. If it was a nice day, I would definitely stop at each town to explore
Donna_A, Aug 2024
Such an incredible trip! A. Little long unless you lkle A very long river run. There’s a bend in the river where a scene in the movie Ever After was filmed. So cool! The view of the castles was incredible. We saw fish, got out at one of the snack bars for burgers, frites, and a bottle of wine. Soooo much fun! Bring sunscreen, sunglasses AND a hat. Depending on the time of day, there’s not much shade. Water shoes are helpful but not absolutely essential. Definitely some kind of shoe, sandal, etc essential
Carol_W, Aug 2024
The whole experience was great with lots of laughter
We where picked up by mini bus in Sarlat taken to the meeting point to get our canoes, everything went well, a very organised experience.
Kate_C, Aug 2024
Fantastic full day on the river - would highly recommend it for all ages. It took 5 hours but plenty of time to relax
From $28.43
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Sarlat la Canéda: The Dordogne valley by canoe
341
2 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$28.43
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Explore Similar Things to Do
- Half-day Tours
- Walking Tours
- Bus Tours
- Historical Tours
- Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises
- Private and Luxury
- Private Sightseeing Tours
- Cultural Tours
- Bergerac
- Half-day Tours - Saint-Emilion
- Walking Tours - Saint-Emilion
- Bus Tours - Saint-Emilion
- Historical Tours - Saint-Emilion
- Half-day Tours - Bordeaux
- Walking Tours - Bordeaux
- Bus Tours - Bordeaux
- Historical Tours - Bordeaux