FAQ – A canoe-kayak trip or itinerant hike
Need additional information to prepare for your canoe-kayak descent for the day or for a touring hike lasting from 2 to 7 days? You will find in this FAQ what you might wonder about before your departure.
– Practical questions –
– Special FAQ on a traveling hike –
Yes, as long as you know how to swim more than 25 meters without assistance, submerge yourself and are over 6 years old (even accompanied by adults).
The courses are open to beginners, we advise you to set off on a 9 km course initially to get your bearings with the activity.
We provide you with a life jacket to wear throughout the course, it is mandatory.
For people with reduced mobility, the activity is accessible to daring people with an aptitude for sporting activities. The person must be able to swim alone and return to shore in the event the boat overturns. Please note, we are in a natural environment, the embarkation and disembarkation points can be uneven and make access difficult.
The 9 km “Minis” courses in class 1 (Vayrac-Gluges, Saint-Sozy-Pinsac) are the shortest, so they are most suitable for the youngest or for people who want to combine several activities in the same day .
The 9 km course in class 2 (Monceaux-Brivezac) is not more complicated, the water is a little livelier and fresher given that it comes out of the dams upstream.
The “Classic” courses of 18 km in class 1 (Vayrac-Saint-Sozy, Saint-Sozy-Souillac) are not technically more difficult than those of 1h30 but they are simply longer.
It depends on whether your companion is more of an otter type or hates water!
Only you know him, but it is true that if he is not used to this type of activity, boarding can stress your pet and it is not impossible that you turn around during the descent.
Also pay attention to its heat resistance which can sometimes be high. If you want to board with your companion, your dog can occupy the middle seat in a dedicated canoe.
Do not hesitate to let us know when making your reservation. 5€ per dog will be requested. Please note:
You will be asked to keep him on a leash at the leisure centers and on the bus.
It is imperative to remove your dog's leash and harness on the boat.
Your dog must be social to be able to ride the bus with other people and potentially other dogs.
Dog life jackets are not provided.
Reservations for a full-day or half-day ride are not obligatory, but strongly recommended in high season.
Availability of equipment cannot be guaranteed to people without reservations, especially on sunny days! For itinerant hikes lasting several days, reservations are required in order to block the equipment and reserve seats on the bus, via the reservation platform .
The shuttle is part of your service.
If you plan to leave your vehicle at the arrival point, the shuttle will pick you up in the morning (ask about available times) at the parking point.
Mandatory reservation. If you have chosen to leave your car at the starting point, the shuttle will pick you up at the end of the ride. The chosen time will be noted on your rental contract.
Large free parking lots are available to allow you to leave your vehicle at the different bases. These car parks are private, but not monitored.
In summer, a swimsuit, shorts, t-shirt and caps are sufficient.
In spring and fall, you should bring a windbreaker and warm clothes to wear during stops.
Bring dry clothing to change into upon arrival. In all cases, wearing closed shoes such as water shoes or sneakers is necessary when walking in the water.
Glasses should ideally be attached with a cord. Do not take any valuable items that you will not need and that you risk losing in the river.
Canoeing is 100% fun, so take the time! A break is necessary! Descend at your own pace, swimming, ricocheting and picnicking on the pebble beaches... keeping an eye on the shuttle schedule. The time of your bus is noted on your contract, plan to arrive 15 minutes before the chosen time.
Of course, you can bring your picnic and take a break along the way wherever you want.
Don't forget to take water to hydrate yourself. Nature is beautiful, let’s respect it. Remember to bring back your waste!
The river is a natural environment and its bed moves every year.
Its depth varies from a few centimeters to several meters, sometimes very quickly. Be careful and choose beaches with a gentle slope and without too much current for your picnic or swimming breaks. So you will fully enjoy these moments of pleasure. Tip: you can swim with your life jacket, you will become the kings and queens of the board!
The difference between canoeing and kayaking is in two aspects: paddle and legs.
The kayak is an Eskimo invention. The pilot sits inside the boat. It has a double paddle . His legs are therefore elongated .
Conversely, in a real canoe , we sit on our knees and the movement is done using a simple paddle .
Nowadays, our boats are hybrids between these two types of boat: we sail comfortably seated and we use a double paddle . The boat is most often a “sit on top”, the legs are free . We are no longer sitting at the bottom of the boat, but on the boat. Comfort and safety!
Prices are fixed and calculated per person, depending on age, type of boat and route chosen.
Rain does not prevent navigation on the Dordogne.
However, heavy rains over several days can cause water levels to rise. Beyond a certain threshold, we will be forced to postpone or cancel your stay. Everything will be done to ensure your comfort and safety.
In the event of an emergency, call the firefighters immediately: dial the emergency number 18, and geolocate yourself using the SOS button on the Canoë France application .
We will be able to tell the firefighters your exact location. If you wish to abandon, go to one of the collection points listed on the app and call us to arrange your return as soon as we have a vehicle available.
Please note, you may be charged a supplement.
Safaraid Dordogne declines all responsibility in the event of theft or loss of your personal effects during your descent from the Dordogne or in one of the various car parks available to you.
If you damage or lose equipment, you will be charged for it. You will therefore need to contact your insurance to make your Civil Liability work.
The day before departure:
Reception at the Safaraid base in Vayrac between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Drafting of the rental contract, description of your hike (a river map will be provided to you), provision of luggage tags for people who have chosen this option, you can, if you wish, take your containers so that they are ready for departure the next day. The next day:
For departures from Argentat, the meeting is at 8:30 a.m. at the Vayrac base for departure by bus.
For departures from Vayrac, the appointment is free between 9:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. at the Vayrac base.
An unsupervised private car park is at your disposal in Vayrac to park your vehicle.
At the end of your hike, we will pick you up at the meeting point and at the time indicated on your contract.
If you have chosen to reserve campsites : all campsites are accessible directly by canoe.
Go to reception to be told your location and to pay for your night. If a change needs to be made to your reservation, the campsites remain available to you directly. If you have chosen luggage transport: your luggage is collected every day from 11:30 a.m. and dropped off at the next campsite around 3:00 p.m. (1 piece of luggage per person + tent folded into a bag + sleeping bags tied together or grouped in a bag).
Each campsite has a Safaraid luggage room.
At the Vayrac base, you will find free private parking to park your vehicle during your stay.
If you come by train, you can go to Saint-Denis-Lès-Martel station and reach the base on foot (you are a 4 km walk).
You can also take a taxi from where you are or hitchhike if you have a little time on your hands. If you come by plane, the “Brive-Vallée de la Dordogne” Airport is 30 minutes from Vayrac (approximately 25Km). You can order a taxi there.
Depending on your stay and the number of people per boat, we will provide you with a sit-on-top kayak (1 or 2 places) or a Canadian canoe (2 or 3 places), a 55L container per person is included (without luggage transport, otherwise 1 per boat), a vest and a paddle per person.
A waterproof card with all the instructions will be given to you before your departure.
Remember to download the Canoë France application to prepare your stay and guide you throughout your hike.
It is best to bring a padlock and chain or even a bicycle lock to secure your boat.
All along the route, you will find towns and villages offering shops to keep you supplied. Some riverside campsites also have small grocery stores. Plan the first picnic before leaving Vayrac, because leaving from Monceaux you would have nothing until Beaulieu (18km further down).
Yes, wild camping is tolerated on the banks bordering the Dordogne.
Fires are prohibited there to preserve nature. It is also important to respect private property as well as residents.
Bring your camping equipment (tent, mattress, sleeping bag, stove, etc.), things suited to the current weather. Water shoes or sneakers so you don't hurt yourself on the pebbles, something to cover your head and your toiletries. Think about the essentials: natural sunscreen (or better, anti-UV t-shirt so as not to pollute our natural environment), headlamp, mosquito repellent and first aid kit, water.
No, campfires are prohibited in the Dordogne Valley to avoid any fires and protect this site, classified as a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
If you want optimal comfort, let yourself be tempted by the hotels and guest houses near the river. You will find addresses via our partner , but also by preparing your route on a route plotter. Do not hesitate to contact your hosts to organize your arrival, most of them are used to canoe-kayak stops. You will find somewhere to dock nearby, just remember to take your boat out of the water and bring an anti-theft device to secure it for the night.
Embark with your essentials for your stay in order to optimize your luggage. Don't worry about living, you will find villages to resupply you as you descend.
You have room for a 55L container at the rear of the single-seater kayak and also the possibility of putting a waterproof bag at the front of the kayak.
You have a 55 liter container per person provided to you. These boats allow you to carry the equivalent of 4 55 liter drums. If you choose to take a canoe for 3 adults, you will not be able to take your luggage with you. In fact, the weight destabilizes the boat and falls are too frequent. You will then be advised to take a canoe and a single-seater kayak.
You can bring one piece of luggage per person.
For small items like duvets or mattresses, make sure to tie them together, this makes it much easier for us to handle your luggage 😉 We will label all your luggage before your departure.
In France we have gotten into the habit of classifying the technicality of rivers from 1 to 5.
Level 1 is accessible to everyone as long as you know how to swim.
This remains imperative! Overturning is always possible when canoeing. The rivers have been there for millennia, and they will be there the next time you come, so if you're afraid, don't force yourself! It is better to find a place to meet for the picnic only. Level 1 : the river goes down.
Untimely reversals can happen! You have to steer the boat and you can sometimes find yourself wet! Level 2 : it's not for the Olympic selection, but it's moving!
Having some practice at lower levels or having had an initiation is recommended, but not obligatory. Level 3 : French legislation limits free rental to this technical level.
We're getting into the serious descents! Obstacles are not visible, eddies and large waves. Level 4 : the Olympic Games, wind-up slalom gates, timer, etc.
Level 5 : this is the extreme!, this is the limit of navigability.
Level 6 exists, but it's more like free fall!
Can't find the answer to the question you asked yourself?
Do not hesitate to contact us, we remain at your disposal!
