plambers

Hi. Will be near Sarlat for a week with husband and teens in early July. Was most excited about canoe ride down the Dordogne but DH recently had hip replacement surgery so cannot do a canoe. How does the boat ride compare? I want to do canoe with kids-how long is it and is there a place we can meet my husband along the banks? Thanks

StCirq

By boat ride do you mean the gabarres? They are medium-size boats that hold maybe 30 people and there's a running commentary (it's veryinteresting). There's no comparison between it and a canoe. The gabarres don't really "go down" the river - they make a circuit. I've only done the one from Beynac, but I think there may be one from La Roque-Gageac as well.

You can choose among several alternatives for length of canoe rides.To end up in Beynac you'd have to choose an outfit upstream in someplace like Vitrac, near Sarlat. If you like I can investigate if there are companies that allow you to beach at Beynac, though I'm thinking since there isn't really a beach there, you might have to continue to Allas-les-Mines or somewhere further downstream. All the canoë/kayak companies have designated boarding and landing spots

plambers

St Cirq, yes I mean the gabarres.
It sounds wonderful to see the stunning castles from the water. Would you advise the gabarres then? Is commentary in English also? We are just trying to figure out the easiest way for the 3 of us to canoe and meet Kevin at the end. Thanks for your help and investigation.

cybertraveler

bookmarking

StCirq

Yes, you can choose a gabarre ride that has commentary in English (it will also be in French). From the gabarre you will see Beynac of course, a private castle owned by Americans from Texas (at least it has an interesting history), and a glimpse of Les Milandes, Josephine Baker's castle. The only one of those that is a fortified castle is Beynac. The commentary is very good, all about the river trade from Bordeaux and plenty of Hundred Years War information, plus information on the local ecosystem and growth of the towns along the river. It's been slightly different every time I've gone, but I've always enjoyed it.

The gabarre ride lasts about an hour. Your canoe trip will no doubt be two or three times that long, even if you choose the shortest route.

Google Canoë Dordogne Périgord. Click on Descente sur la Dordogne. Look at the list and click on the websites (or "plus savoir") for any outfit that is based in Vitrac, Cénac, La Roque-Gageac, or Castelnaud. Check to see if they have a trip that ends in Beynac or lets you get off there. I just checked and though there's no beach in Beynac there is a landing for canoës, but I don't know if it's just a stopping point or somewhere you can end a trip If it is, it will be easy. Your husband can just hang out in one of the riverside cafés and wait for you. If you have to continue the trip to some farther spot, he'll have to drive (can he?) to meet you farther down the river.

kja

I took the gabarre ride from La Roque-Gageac -- loved it! Like the one StCirq described, it had commentary in English and was very interesting. I didn't canoe while in the Dordogne, but I saw a LOT of canoes in the area earlier that day, so it might also be an option for your family....

plambers

Thanks all. So it might be a good to idea to take the gabarre ride Sunday after lunch and market. St Cirq, is there one that you recommend? Do we need to book in advance?

Also interested in a bike ride for a day. I understand there is a bike track from Sarlat to Souillac. Where can we rent bikes? Is this a fun activity? Is is a flat trail?

tomboy

Fun? not for me
Flat? yes

StCirq

All the gabarre trips are pretty much identical, and there isn't much choice, and no you do not need to reserve in advance. The ticket window, at least in Beynac, is right in the park at the water's edge, near the café. There's another in the main parking lot.

You can rent bikes from Liberty Cycle in Sarlat or most any campground. Yes, the ride is flat. Fun? No, not IMO. Boring path for the most part, unless you veer off into some of the villages like Carlux.

plambers

Thanks both of you on the bike riding. I love to ride bikes but might take a pass on this. Perhaps when in Provence...

StuDudley

Plambers

You must not have read any of the into in the 2 itineraries I sent you. There is plenty of info in there about Gabarres trips, and which specific ones we took (we did both of them).
http://www.gabarres.com/?lang=en

We took a trip early in the morning (first trip of the day), in mid-Sept. When we returned, there were long lines waiting for the next trip. I suspect many people had to wait in line a long time to catch a trip. We reserved in advance. Because of the sun exposure, one of the 2 possible trips was best in the morning. In the afternoon, one of the villages or maybe an important castle was in the shade and not as "photographic".

I would certainly reserve a trip in advance for your mid-June trip in the afternoon after the Sunday market and lunch. Actually, I would never want to do a gabarre trip at that time on a Sunday (because of the crowds). Wait until early Monday morning. You can reserve on the web site.
http://www.gabarres.com/practical-in...times/?lang=en

Stu Dudley

StuDudley

Reserving a trip on the English site does not work. Switch the language to French (via the French flag).

Stu Dudley

maitaitom

We picked ours up at La Roque-Gageac (SC is correct...no reservations necessary). two companies worked ouit of there...Norbert and Gabares Caminade. We took the latter since it was the next boat out. Although a little cheesy, the audioguide does provide fun facts. Here's our day where we did that boat ride (with some photos)...we loved it!

http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/chap...gardens-boats/

twk

Regarding doing a canoe ride and meeting your husband along the way, you could do that by going to the canoe outfit at Vitrac (I believe) that terminates in Beynac. Your husband could drop you off, and you could beach the canoe at La Roque Gageac to meet up along the way, if you want to.

StCirq

You absolutely do not need to reserve in advance, even on a busy day or busy time of year. And Sunday is no problem - the line goes really fast, and you can hop right on the gabarre within minutes.

The canoë outfit in Vitrac, as I mentioned in a previous post, would be great if it lets you off at Beynac. It would be ideal if your husband can sit at the quai-side café in Beynac to wait for you.