Explore the Valley of Castles by Canoe

For your first time canoeing, this is the place to do it.

Not sure you’ll enjoy canoeing? We’ve got exactly what you need. A calm 9 km route, all nature, with no difficulty at all—and a medieval castle perched on its cliff to top it all off.

All less than 10 minutes from Sarlat, starting from Carsac.

Departures at 10 am and 11 am every day – Please arrive 20 minutes before your chosen time at the Vitrac base

This route is our little secret. Less well known than our other descents, but often the one our customers prefer when it’s their first time and they’re hesitating when choosing a route.

We’ll take you by shuttle to Carsac-Aillac.

As soon as you dip your paddle into the water, you’ll understand it’s different. Here, the river is calm and wide, surrounded by greenery. No crowds, no noise—just nature taking over again.

You gently enter the Cingle de Montfort: a spectacular meander where the river draws a huge loop, almost closing in on itself, framed by limestone cliffs that plunge into the water. This geological phenomenon is extremely rare—there are only three along the entire Dordogne. You’ve got a one-in-three chance of being on the most beautiful one.

And at the top of the cliff, there it is: Montfort Castle. Perched on its rocky spur since the 10th century, it watches over the river in silence. From the road, you catch a glimpse of it. From your canoe, you simply look up, and it fills the sky. It’s the kind of moment that makes you want to stop paddling and stay there for a few seconds.

And here’s what makes this route truly special: once you’re on the water, there are no constraints. Your car will be waiting for you right at the finish, at our Vitrac base. You can do the descent in 1 hour if you’re feeling sporty, or take 3 hours if you fancy a long swimming break, a picnic on a gravel bar, or just sitting still watching swifts swirl above the cliffs. No one is waiting for you, no one is counting the hours. You decide. That’s what a real holiday feels like.

Set off on a memorable family experience

Are you in Sarlat or the Dordogne Valley for a few days and looking for an activity that everyone will truly enjoy—especially the kids?

Our canoe base is an 8-minute drive from Sarlat, and what you’ll discover on the river by choosing this route is something you won’t have seen from your car.

Continuous departures between 9:30 am and 3 pm – Return shuttle every hour

From our Vitrac base, you set off on the Dordogne, a gentle, calm river with no difficulty at all. No experience needed, no technique required: after a few paddle strokes, you find your rhythm, and the Dordogne Valley starts to unfold before your eyes.

First favourite: La Roque-Gageac.

A medieval village listed among The Most Beautiful Villages of France, but from the river it takes on a whole new dimension.

The ochre stone houses are literally clinging to a limestone cliff over 80 metres high. The view is striking. The kids can’t believe it. Neither can the adults.

Then you carry on at an easy pace. Along the banks: weeping willows, pebble beaches perfect for a swimming break, and kingfishers skimming the water.

Then Castelnaud appears: its medieval castle—one of the best preserved in the Périgord—towers over the river from its rock. That’s where your descent ends, on an image you won’t forget.

This route is perfect for families with young children. Not too long, not too short, it combines nature, castles, swimming—everything we consider essential for a great day canoeing on the Dordogne.

The valley’s iconic descent

It’s the canoe route on the Dordogne that every guide recommends.

There are landscapes you’ve seen in photos for years, and they still leave you speechless when you see them in real life.

This descent from Vitrac to Beynac is one of them.

Continuous departures between 9:30 am and 3 pm – Return shuttle every hour

The Dordogne Valley is listed as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It’s no coincidence: it’s one of France’s best-preserved natural areas, with its limestone cliffs, lazy meanders, and fortified castles that look like they’ve come straight out of a history book. From the river, you’re right in the heart of it all.

You leave Vitrac, near Sarlat, and let the river guide you.

First stop: the Pendoile limestone cliffs. And to think the river has shaped this valley for millions of years.

Second stop: La Roque-Gageac, a troglodyte village nestled between cliff and Dordogne, where the houses seem to grow straight out of the rock. Look up: exotic gardens cling up there on the cliff face. Incredible, but true.

Next you pass Castelnaud: its 12th-century medieval castle was one of the major stakes of the Hundred Years’ War. It stands above the river, imposing, and opposite it is Beynac, its rival castle since the Middle Ages. Right now, you’re paddling between two enemy fortresses. Some holiday moments are like that—and worth more than any museum visit.

Between these two fortresses, you’ll be able to spot two castles that helped keep watch over Beynac and Castelnaud: Marqueyssac Castle and its hanging gardens, and Fayrac Castle, on the opposite bank.

A few hundred metres after the village of Beynac: a listed medieval village, a royal castle, a terrace with breathtaking views over the whole valley—you’ve arrived.

You rest your paddles, take a breath, and you understand why people say the Dordogne is one of the most beautiful rivers in France.

With a bit of luck, you might have time to enjoy a drink with a view of Beynac Castle or Monrecour, depending on your choice, while you wait for the shuttle back to the Vitrac base.

For those who want to see it all

Got a whole day ahead of you and want to make it unforgettable? This route was designed for you.

A chance to get some exercise without needing any experience or exceptional fitness.

Departures at 10 am and 11 am every day – Please arrive 20 minutes before your chosen time at the Vitrac base

Our shuttle takes you to Carsac, a small Périgord village upstream in the valley, where the river is still wild and little frequented.

You set off in the cool of the morning with a rare feeling: the Dordogne is almost yours alone!

Then the valley opens up. Over 25 kilometres, 6 castles will pass by—some perched on vertiginous cliffs, others nestled in the greenery… all steeped in history.

Montfort with its spectacular meander, one of the most photographed in France. La Malartrie, nestled at the foot of high cliffs. Castelnaud and its Hundred Years’ War castle. Fayrac, more discreet, barely visible in the trees. La Roque-Gageac, clinging to its cliff like an eagle’s nest. Beynac, royal castle of the Périgord, and finally Les Milandes, once the home of Joséphine Baker, who entered the Panthéon in 2021.

Between two castles, you take your time. A swimming break in a shaded cove. A stop for ice cream or coffee in La Roque-Gageac, accessible directly from the river. A picnic on a pebble beach, listening to the herons.

With 4h30 on the water—without counting breaks—you’ve got plenty of time to enjoy every moment.

It’s the full version, the generous version of the Dordogne. The one you come back from exhausted, delighted, and already nostalgic.