France · CANOES & KAYAKS
Good kayak trips fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Paddle Marseille’s Côte Bleue calanques with a guide, swim in a quiet cove, and see cliffs, caves, wildlife, and coast from the sea.
“Very nice tour with a cool guide! He told us some nice facts about the local sealife as well.”
Review of Marseille’s 3 to 4-hour catamaran tour, with Frioul swims, snorkeling, paddleboarding, drinks, and practical booking tips.
“Was fun! Was a little bit cold and windy so we didn’t go the paddle boarding but had fun anyways. The views are amazing.”
Paddle the Dordogne from Vitrac past castles, cliffs, caves, villages, and swimming spots, with equipment and shuttle transport included.
“Exceptional service. We used the pickup service in Sarlat to bring us to the canoes. At the 4th bridge our canoe became stranded. We were rescued, but the waterproof bucket stayed with the canoe. The next day our personal items from the bucket were delivered to the hotel. Fantastic experience just steer clear of the big boats!”
Kayak from Pampelonne Beach to Cap Camarat, snorkel in clear water, and try a 3-metre cliff jump on a guided Saint-Tropez outing.
“We loved our canoeing and our guide was amazing. We also got the opportunity to snorkel. Very well worth the money.”
Paddle Sète’s Corniche by sea kayak, exploring cliffs, caves, canals, and coastal views with friendly guides for a flexible 3-hour outing.
“Great adventure on the Mediterranean! We confirmed our event details via email and also at the BikeMed/KayakMed office with Patrick while walking the city. He was able to accommodate my anglophone, although my GF is fluent. We gathered at the pier location and were given instruction from our guide Monsieur Olivier. He briefed us on paddling skills and safety, and was clear with his examples. The tour was amazing. We used the full time exploring landmarks and the rocky coast. The power and energy of the Med put a smile on face! "Oliver" explained some of the history of the city and was open to questions. He shared time chatting…”
Paddle the Dordogne from Vitrac to Beynac past medieval villages and castles, with swimming, picnic stops, equipment, and shuttle return included.
“We had the best day canoeing. We were recommended to do this and although it was 2 hours away from where we were staying we booked it anyway. We are so glad we did. It was absolutely brilliant. The scenery was stunning. We saw lots of wildlife including herons, kingfishers and deer. We stopped a couple of times along the way for a break and to eat our picnic lunch. We didn’t use them but there were quite a few snack bars to stop at along the river. The transport at the other end was great and got us back to where we had parked easily. If you are thinking…”
Paddle Corsica’s rocky Isolella coast, pass a Genovese tower, and swim in the sea on a guided three-hour kayak trip from Porticcio.
“Attività divertente e gioiosa in mezzo al mare. La guida è stata molto carina, disponibile sia a parlare in francese che in inglese per i turisti multilingua. La consiglio per una gita di qualche ora.”
Kayak La Ciotat’s Calanques, sea caves, Green Island, and clear water on a guided three-hour trip with equipment and photos included.
“This was a fun family adventure! We enjoyed learning a bit of the history of La Ciotat, the water was clear and warm, and the cave at Green Island was a great destination to explore. Thank you to our guide who helped us feel safe so we could focus on the fun. The time flew by in a flash.”
Paddle the Esterel coast from Agay, tracing red-rock creeks with a guide, nature talks, swimming, lockers, and a small-group setting.
“Avons passé un super moment ! 2 heures de découverte avec un animateur passionné et passionnant. Paysages magnifiques Première expérience de kayak pour nous mais sûrement pas la dernière ! Merci beaucoup”
Paddle along Sète’s Corniche, through sea caves and past cliffs, with a friendly guide, local stories, and time for a swim.
“Wonderful outing with Olivier, he gave good instructions, fun kayak along the coast and through caves. Some history information about the local area. So good to see Sete from the water.”
Paddle Marseille’s Blue Coast by sea kayak, stop at a secluded cove, swim in clear water, and enjoy expert guidance for $66.52.
“We were really looking forward to this tour!! I booked a morning tour as it was recommended to us that the water would be calmer. (Family of 5 - kids are 12, 9, and 6.) Unfortunately, very late the evening before they cancelled our tour and we were told no mornings were available for the foreseeable future. We were given options on afternoon tours. We chose one and hoped for the best. The tour is out of a public parking lot/boat ramp at the very outskirts of Marseille. It was extremely hot, in the 90s with "feels like" temps of over 100 degrees. The check-in was very chaotic. The workers…”
Paddle Cap d’Agde with guide Nathan, explore volcanic cliffs and Grande Conque’s black sand beach, with snorkeling and a small-group feel.
“Nathan is a nice and social guy, and he makes the trip very good. We didn't expect That we are going snorkeling, so That was a nice surprise.”
Paddle Ramatuelle’s crystal-clear coast between Pampelonne and Cap Camarat, with snorkeling, swimming, and an optional 3-meter rock jump.
“We had a wonderful morning exploring the coastline of Cap Taillat by Sea Kayak. It was our first time sea kayaking but we were very well looked after by Marco and Jo who guided us to a fabulous snorkelling spot and then round the Cap to a quiet beach where we could relax in the crystal clear water before heading back to the boat house.”
Rent a kayak in La Ciotat for seven hours and paddle through the Calanques, Grand Mugel, and Ile Verte at your own pace.
“Although we were an hour late, Justine was very kind and understanding of our tardiness. She was very lovely and gave us a good demo on how to paddle properly, and equipped us in the appropriate kit. Although we encountered some choppy waters whilst on our way to the calanques, where we got to swim around by lovely beaches. There is a possibility to visit and island with a restaurant which is very fun. We greatly enjoyed the trip. Would highly recommend, especially if the day is sunny!”
Paddle La Ciotat’s Calanques with a local guide, visiting Île Verte, sea caves, cliffs, and quiet coves on a beginner-friendly kayak tour.
“It was worth it! If you're a beginner, it's not intense. Thomas was a kind and patient guide.”
Pick a ticket, a vineyard or a stretch of coast.
