Self-Launched Canoeing on the Dordogne
9 days · Dordogne Valley, France
Exodus charges £1,750
No-markup version: ~£830 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, 9-day independent paddle down the Dordogne from Rocamadour to Sarlat — the same flat, gentle river, the same golden limestone cliffs, riverside chateaux and medieval villages as the guided Exodus holiday, but booked yourself. You hire your own canoe from local river operators (they give you a briefing and route map), sleep in budget guesthouses and chambres d'hôtes in each village, and move yourself between bases by local bus/taxi. Estimated at roughly £850-950 per person for 9 days (excluding international travel to France), versus ~£1,750 for the operator version. Costs are approximate and depend on season and how far ahead you book.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Rocamadour
Rocamadour
Arrive under your own steam — fly into Brive–Souillac or Toulouse, then take the train to Rocamadour-Padirac station (about 20 min from Brive) and a taxi or the seasonal shuttle up to the village. Check into a budget guesthouse or chambre d'hôtes just outside the ancient town walls. Spend the late afternoon wandering Rocamadour's medieval alleyways, then eat a simple dinner of duck confit or walnut salad in a village bistro.
🚌Flight to Brive–Souillac or Toulouse, then train to Rocamadour-Padirac (~£8-12) and taxi/shuttle to the village (~£8)
🛏Family-run guesthouse/chambre d'hôtes near Rocamadour old town (approx £45-60/night double)
- →Wander Rocamadour's medieval lanes and the Grand Escalier
- →Sunset views over the Alzou canyon
Rocamadour to Carennac (first paddle)
Carennac
Take a taxi or local bus upstream to the small hamlet of Thezel / Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, where you meet your hired canoe operator. They give you a briefing, a buoyancy aid, a helmet and a waterproof map before you set off. Paddle the easy 13 km downstream to Carennac, one of the Dordogne's prettiest villages with its 16th-century houses and cloister. Your guesthouse overlooks the river.
🚌Local taxi/bus to the put-in at Thezel (~£20 shared), then canoe 13 km downstream
🛏Guesthouse or small hotel in Carennac centre (approx £50-65/night double)
- →Canoe hire with briefing and route map (approx £25-30/day)
- →Paddle the calm Dordogne to Carennac
- →Explore Carennac's cloister and old quarter
At Carennac — Padirac and the causse
Carennac
A rest day off the water. Walk the marked paths on the causse above the village for the best panoramas of the Dordogne valley, or hire a bike from a local rental shop. In the afternoon take a taxi the 9 km to the Gouffre de Padirac and book a boat trip through the underground caverns and lake (book online in advance — timed entry slots sell out in summer). Back in Carennac, try a glass of the local Fenelon aperitif.
🚌Taxi to/from Gouffre de Padirac (~£20 return), or bike hire (~£15/day)
🛏Guesthouse or small hotel in Carennac centre (approx £50-65/night double)
- →Gouffre de Padirac cave boat trip (approx £18-20, book via GetYourGuide or direct)
- →Causse walking trails above the village
- →Optional bike hire
Carennac to Meyronne
Meyronne
A longer paddle — around 20 km — down past massive limestone cliffs and four impressive riverside chateaux before reaching Meyronne. Pick up your canoe from the local hire base (many riverside campsites and canoe hire points let you take the boat one-way and arrange collection downstream). Check into a simple guesthouse in Meyronne; the original tour's chateau hotel is a splurge upgrade if you fancy one night of luxury.
🚌Canoe 20 km downstream (one-way hire approx £30, includes downstream pickup)
🛏Budget guesthouse/auberge in Meyronne (approx £45-60/night double)
- →Paddle beneath the cliffs past riverside chateaux
- →Swim stops on the gravel beaches
At Meyronne — Lacave and Rocamadour
Meyronne
A day off the river. Visit the Grottes de Lacave (a short taxi ride south of the river) and explore the Rochers Sainte-Marie. If you're up for a bigger day out, take a taxi the 15 km to Rocamadour to see the basilica and the Black Madonna chapel properly. Eat dinner in a Meyronne auberge or self-cater from the village shop.
🚌Taxi to Lacave (~£15) and/or Rocamadour (~£30 return)
🛏Budget guesthouse/auberge in Meyronne (approx £45-60/night double)
- →Grottes de Lacave tour (approx £12-14)
- →Optional return trip to Rocamadour sanctuary
Meyronne to Souillac
Souillac
An easy 17 km paddle with plenty to spot along the way — look out for the Chateau de Belcastel and the impressive Chateau de la Treyne perched above the river. Arrive in Souillac and check into a budget hotel or hostel in the town centre. Have dinner at a local crêperie or pick up picnic supplies for the next day.
🚌Canoe 17 km downstream (one-way hire approx £25-30)
🛏Budget hotel/hostel in Souillac (approx £40-55/night double)
- →Canoe past Belcastel and Chateau de la Treyne
- →Evening stroll through Souillac
At Souillac — abbey, market and automata
Souillac
Explore Souillac on foot. The 12th-century abbey church of Sainte-Marie survives from the Benedictine monastery with its famous bas-relief carvings. Visit the Musee de l'Automate, France's largest collection of mechanical toys and dolls, and time your day to catch the weekly local market for cheese, walnuts and duck produce. A quiet, low-cost day in town.
🚌On foot around town; local bus if needed (approx £2-3)
🛏Budget hotel/hostel in Souillac (approx £40-55/night double)
- →Souillac Abbey Church (free)
- →Musee de l'Automate (approx £7)
- →Weekly local market and food shopping
Souillac to Grolejac / Sarlat
Sarlat-la-Canéda
Today's relaxed paddle takes you down to Grolejac via St-Julien — a lovely village and a good lunch stop — through peaceful Perigord countryside with plenty of time for swimming and lazing on the riverbank. At the end, arrange downstream pickup, then take a local bus or taxi to Sarlat. Explore Sarlat's stunning Old Town with its jumble of medieval and Renaissance architecture.
🚌Canoe 20 km downstream (hire approx £30 with pickup), then bus/taxi to Sarlat (~£8-15)
🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse in Sarlat-la-Canéda (approx £50-70/night double)
- →Canoe to Grolejac via St-Julien
- →Swimming and riverside picnic
- →Evening walk through Sarlat Old Town
Leave Sarlat
Sarlat-la-Canéda
Check out after breakfast. From Sarlat, take the local bus or train onwards — connections to Souillac and then Brive or Bordeaux for onward flights and trains. If time allows, fit in one last market or a coffee in the square before you go.
🚌Local bus/train from Sarlat (~£8-15)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Final morning in Sarlat Old Town
- →Onward travel
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£830 | £1,750 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £920 per person (53%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£830
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Canoeing on the Dordogne cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £830 per person for 9 days in Dordogne Valley, France. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £1,750 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £830 — a saving of roughly £920 (53%) per person.
How long is the Dordogne Valley, France trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Dordogne Valley, France.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, foodie trip through Dordogne Valley, France, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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