Dordogne Rafting Holiday

There’s nothing quite like messing about on the river, and that’s exactly what you’ll be doing on a one a holiday rafting along the Dordogne in France. Start at Argentat and then float down stream and pitch up at campsites – or wherever takes your fancy – along the way. If camping’s not for you, just opt for the hotel package instead.

There’s something rather magical and Brothers Grimm about the Dordogne Valley. Gingerbread-like houses dot the banks of the river, underground caves studded with stalagmites and stalactites curl and loop beneath the surface, and magnificent castles loom in the distance. Add Medieval towns, forests you could easily get lost in, and countryside any tourist board would die for, and it’s no wonder this part of France is so popular with holidaymakers.

The beauty about this holiday is that you get to choose your highlights – and there are a fair few to pick from here. It’s possible to navigate the whole distance of the Dordogne River from Argentat, but it’s also equally possible to spend plenty of time pottering and not covering much distance at all. If you’d rather take time to sightsee, some of the places you might stumble upon are the Chateau de Castelnaud – an impressive Medieval castle, Chateau Fenelon – more stately home than rambling castle though it does come with three turrets, and the ‘Grottes de Lacave’ – a magical underworld of caves. You’ll be given a river map at the start of your holiday so you can plot the places you want to go.

If the idea of being tied to a rigorous schedule fills you with dread, this option of going it alone certainly won’t. You’ll be master of your own ship (well, raft) on this trip and you can float down river and moor wherever takes your fancy (though pitching up on private land might not go down so well). All in all, this tour’s about adventure and taking charge of your own path – but you’ll have to be happy on water to get the most out of it. And if you’d rather not camp, there’s always the option of staying in hotels instead.

There is no prior experience required what so ever. You are on an inflatable raft on the river and only need to cover 10kms per day (although you can do more if you want) so it is very much suited to people who want to potter along and stop for picnics on the river bank and take in the scenery.

There are lots of camp sites along the way - these aren't booked in advance, as it all depends on how far you get during the day. The operator has been running these trips for 25 years and has never had any problems with people not finding anywhere to camp! Whether you decide to camp wild or in a site, you will be provided with all the information you need - so there is no worry about camping on someone's private land.

If you are worried about biting insects, you shouldn't have too much of a problem. Mosquitoes tend to occur more around stagnant water so are not usually an issue. Midges are also not known to be an issue.

The water is very clear indeed - there are no motorised boats allowed on the river, so there is no pollution.