Self-Launched Canoeing on the Dordogne

Make your way to Rocamadour — the nearest train station is Rocamadour-Padirac on the Brive–Figeac line (~£15–20 from Brive-la-Gaillarde by regional train). Settle into your budget accommodation just outside the ancient town walls and spend the afternoon wandering the medieval alleyways and climbing to the clifftop sanctuary. Grab dinner in town at one of the many restaurants serving local duck confit and walnut salad (budget ~£15–20 for a main and a glass of local wine).

🚌Regional train Brive-la-Gaillarde to Rocamadour-Padirac (~£15–20 one-way), or drive/hire a car from the nearest major hub (Brive or Cahors)

🛏Gîte or chambre d'hôtes near Rocamadour — try Gîtes de France listings or Booking.com for options around £35–50pp/night for a shared or twin room

• →Explore Rocamadour's medieval alleyways and clifftop basilica (free to enter)
• →Climb the 216 Grand Escalier steps to the Sanctuary of the Black Madonna (free)
• →Browse local restaurants for duck confit, foie gras and Rocamadour cheese

Take a local taxi (~£20–25 shared) or arrange a shuttle to the put-in point near Thezel, just south of Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne. Hire a two-person Canadian canoe or solo kayak from one of the many local outfitters such as Canoe Vallée Dordogne or Safaraid (expect ~£20–30pp per day including buoyancy aid and paddle). Paddle the easy 13 km downstream to Carennac, one of the 'Plus Beaux Villages de France', with its 16th-century turreted manor houses. Book a room in Carennac in advance.

🚌Taxi/shuttle to put-in point (~£20–25 split between group); paddling is the transport

🛏Chambre d'hôtes or small hotel in Carennac — options available from ~£40–55pp/night on Booking.com or Airbnb

• →Canoe/kayak hire from local outfitter near Thezel (~£20–30pp including safety gear)
• →13 km easy downstream paddle to Carennac
• →Explore Carennac village, the priory and riverside promenade (free)

A day off the river to explore the surrounding area. The headline attraction is the Gouffre de Padirac (9 km away), one of France's great natural spectacles — a vast chasm descending 75 m to an underground river and caverns. Book tickets directly at gouffre-de-padirac.com (adult entry ~£18). Hire a bike from a local rental shop (~£12–15/day) or take a taxi (~£15 each way) to reach it. In the evening, pick up ingredients from a local market for a self-catered picnic or eat out in the village.

🚌Bike hire (~£12–15/day) or taxi to Gouffre de Padirac (~£15 each way)

🛏Chambre d'hôtes or small hotel in Carennac (same as Day 2, ~£40–55pp/night)

• →Visit Gouffre de Padirac — underground caverns and boat trip on underground lake (~£18 entry, book direct at gouffre-de-padirac.com)
• →Bike hire for the day (~£12–15) or taxi to Padirac (~£15 each way)
• →Walk the causse plateau above Carennac for panoramic Dordogne views (free)
• →Browse Carennac village market if visiting on market day (free)

Collect your hired canoe or kayak again (arrange a second day of hire with the same outfitter, or use a different local company) and paddle 20 km downstream past massive limestone cliffs and four impressive riverside châteaux. The river does much of the work here — simply steer and soak up the scenery. Arrive at Meyronne, a tiny village dominated by a spectacular 11th-century château now operating as a hotel. Budget accommodation options are available in the village or nearby Souillac.

🚌Canoe/kayak hire (~£20–30pp); arrange upstream drop-off or return with the hire company

🛏Budget hotel or chambre d'hôtes in Meyronne or Souillac — from ~£40–55pp/night

• →20 km downstream paddle past riverside châteaux and limestone cliffs
• →Swimming stops along the river (free)
• →Picnic lunch on the riverbank — stock up in Carennac before departing

Spend the morning at the Grotte de Lacave, a stunning cave system on the south bank of the Dordogne featuring underground lakes and rock formations. Entry is ~£14 (book direct at grottelacave.fr). In the afternoon, take a taxi (~£15) or local bus to Martel, the medieval 'town of seven towers', which is only a short distance north. Stroll the well-preserved market square and arcaded streets. Return to Meyronne in the evening.

🚌Taxi to Grotte de Lacave (~£8–10 each way) and to Martel (~£15 each way), or hire a bike for the day (~£12–15)

🛏Budget hotel or chambre d'hôtes in Meyronne (~£40–55pp/night)

• →Grotte de Lacave — cave tour with underground lake (~£14 entry, book at grottelacave.fr)
• →Visit Martel, the medieval town of seven towers (~£15 taxi or local bus)
• →Relax by a local riverside spot or hotel pool (free)

An easy 17 km paddle downstream, keeping an eye out for Château Belcastel and the magnificent Château de la Treyne perched above the river. There are sandy beaches along the way ideal for lunch stops and swimming. Hire canoes from an outfitter near Meyronne for the day (~£20–30pp). Arrive in Souillac, a busy market town, and check into your accommodation. Evening: explore the medieval abbey church with its remarkable carved doorway.

🚌Canoe/kayak hire (~£20–30pp including safety gear and paddle)

🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Souillac — options from ~£30–45pp/night on Booking.com

• →17 km downstream paddle past Château Belcastel and Château de la Treyne
• →Swimming and picnic stops on river beaches (free)
• →Evening visit to Souillac's Romanesque abbey church (free)

Souillac is a pleasant base for a rest day. Visit the Musée de l'Automate, France's largest collection of mechanical automata and antique dolls (~£8 entry). Browse the weekly market (held Wednesdays and Saturdays) for local duck, goose, walnuts, truffles and regional cheeses. The surrounding causse countryside makes for excellent walking or cycling. If you want a foodie treat, seek out a local restaurant offering a set-menu lunch (menu du jour) for ~£15–20 — exceptional value for French regional cooking.

🚌On foot or hire a bike locally (~£12–15/day)

🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Souillac (~£30–45pp/night)

• →Musée de l'Automate — mechanical toys and automata (~£8 entry)
• →Souillac market — duck, foie gras, walnuts, truffles, cheeses (free to browse)
• →Walking or cycling on the causse plateau above town
• →Set-menu lunch at a local brasserie (~£15–20)

The final canoeing day — a relaxed 20 km paddle via St-Julien-de-Lampon (a lovely village and excellent lunch stop) through the heart of Périgord countryside. Take plenty of time for swimming and lazing on river beaches. Take out at Grolejac and organise a taxi (~£20–25) or pre-arrange a shuttle to Sarlat, 10 km away. Sarlat's Old Town is one of the finest collections of medieval and Renaissance architecture in France. Spend the evening exploring the pedestrianised centre and pick up supplies at the Saturday market.

🚌Canoe/kayak hire (~£20–30pp); taxi from Grolejac to Sarlat (~£20–25)

🛏Budget hotel or chambre d'hôtes in Sarlat — try Hôtel de Selves or similar, from ~£40–55pp/night

• →20 km final paddle to Grolejac via St-Julien-de-Lampon
• →Swimming stops and picnic on river beaches
• →Explore Sarlat's UNESCO-listed Old Town (free)
• →Sarlat market — truffles, foie gras, duck, walnuts, strawberries (~free to browse)

Enjoy a final breakfast in Sarlat before heading home. The nearest train station is at Sarlat-la-Canéda (direct trains to Bordeaux, ~2.5 hrs, ~£15–25 on SNCF). If you need to finish at Carsac-Aillac (as in the original tour), it's a short 6 km taxi ride (~£10–12). Book train tickets in advance at sncf-connect.com for the best fares. Alternatively, pick up a hired car from Sarlat to explore more of the Dordogne or Périgord region.

🚌Taxi to Sarlat station (~£5–8); train Sarlat to Bordeaux (~£15–25 on SNCF)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final morning stroll through Sarlat's Old Town
• →Train from Sarlat to Bordeaux (~£15–25, book at sncf-connect.com)
• →Optional short taxi to Carsac-Aillac for the official end-point (~£10–12)