It can get very hot in the summer in the Dordogne region of France in the summer. An ideal family holiday activity is to hire canoes or kayaks and paddle down stream and admire the stunning chateaux, riverside villages and countryside.

There are two main rivers that are suitable; the Dordogne and Vezere (pronounced Viz-air) rivers. They are wide calm and slow running. These are good conditions for the novice to safely venture out on the water. Always were a buoyancy jacket in case you fall in and hit your head on a rock or get waked in the head by someone else's paddle by mistake

Most of the major villages and towns along these rivers have companies happy to to rent you a canoe or kayak for a few hours, half a day or a full day. Some of them will arrange to pick you up further on down the river in their van and trailer to save you having to paddle up stream against the current to get back to where you started.

My advice is to pick a town that is a few miles up stream from a few attractive riverbank villages and a few castles. Find a rental company and start your trip from there. Not only will you have a great time on the water but you will also have some fantastic sights to see. The Dordogne river flows from the east to the west. The Vezere river flows from the north east to the south west. Remember to bring some money with you for beer, wine and snacks at the bar and cafes you pass.

Dordogne Canoe Safety Tips

Before you go canoeing on the Dordogne or Vezere Rivers there are some important things you should know to keep yourself safe. Kayaking and Canoeing is a lot of fun, but if you don't know the dangers, you could get into trouble on the water. In the Dordogne region it is normally hot in the summer so be sure to bring the proper equipment. Use high factor sun block and protect your self from burning by wearing sun hats, long sleeves and thin trousers.

Always bring along extra clothing in a waterproof container. You want to be prepared in case your canoe tips or the weather changes. When you get into your canoe try and have someone hold the canoe steady. You don't want to tip the canoe before you even get out on the water. Crouch low, keep your knees bent and grab the sides of the canoe for balance as you walk to your seat. Always walk along the center, keeping your feet on the center line will help keep the canoe from rocking. Stay low, do not stand up or walk in your canoe when you are away from shore.

Again, always wear your life jacket, you never know when you might fall out or tip over unexpectedly. Avoid sudden or jerky movements, rocking from side to side could cause the canoe to tip over. Stay away from low hanging trees and branches near the shore. Be aware of the currents in the water, you don't want to end up floating farther downstream than you planned. If the current starts to pull you along faster or you see lots of rocks in the water ahead of you paddle away from them or paddle towards the shore. Always sit on the seats or in the center of the canoe, sitting on the side of a canoe will cause it to tip over. Do not canoe in bad weather.

Avoid letting big waves hit the side of your canoe. Always try to keep your canoe at a right angle to the waves otherwise the wave might push your canoe over. If your canoe tips over, don't panic. Stay with your canoe, paddle or push your canoe to shore. With the help of the other person in your canoe, you can get out in shallow water and flip the canoe to dump out the water and climb back in. Your canoe will float even if its full of water until you can get to shore to empty it. Make sure you have a first aid kit with you. Tie all your equipment to the canoe.

Put your equipment into a waterproof bag to keep it dry and tie it to one of the center beams in the canoe so that you don't lose everything if your canoe tips over. Bring some rubbish bags. Do not litter. Carry home everything you bring with you so you do not harm the wildlife and make the place look messy. The only thing you should leave is your thanks. Now grab your paddle and life jacket, canoe safely and have fun on the water!

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