Canoeing on the Dordogne

Location: The Dordogne, France. Holiday type: Independent canoeing, hotel-to-hotel. Managed locally by Headwater employed rep. Duration: 9 days (8 nights) Hotels: Mid range/good value. Meals: Continental breakfast and all evening meals. Prices from: Please call. Departs: Every two days from 23 May '12 to 24 Sep '12   JFMAMJJASOND

Highlights Safe, undemanding canoeing holiday on the most celebrated river in France. Great choice for families - all hotels have pools and you've the option to pre-book Headwater bikes for all non-canoe days making it easy to explore locally too.

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive at Sarlat

Our *** 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

A fairytale village with a jumble of cottages and 16C 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

Relaxed 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.

Note: the village fete takes place in St Sozy over the 3rd weekend in July. Great atmosphere but if you prefer things quiet, perhaps choose an alternative date.