Another way of canoeing
As soon as you embark, you are free to sail the river at your own pace, stopping off at one of the many beaches and taking a dip, sometimes involuntarily, with the aim of being on time for the shuttle back to your starting point. On the other hand, it is totally forbidden to camp on the banks of the river, or to build any kind of campfire.
We also discovered another, more rewarding and educational way of exploring the river. In this case, we called on one of our partners, Patrick Lakatos, an experienced river guide. With his swarthy complexion, Indiana Jones-style hat and full beard, Patrick seems to have lived his whole life on the river. With his expert handling of his canoe, he will accompany you throughout the day (9.30am-5pm) and take you down the river in a completely different way, telling you anecdotes, distilling information about the life of the gabariers, and helping you discover the fauna of the Dordogne, its flora, its heritage, its secret corners and its history.
On the programme:
- Before setting off, a bit of technique to get to grips with the canoes and the descent of the river.
- in the form of regular stops along the riverbanks, discovering the flora and fauna
- search for edible or medicinal plants
- observation of animals and their habitats
- description of places visited
- anecdotes
- convivial sharing over a picnic lunch (please bring your own)
- a little bit of geology
- discovering unusual places, caves and places you wouldn't dream of going on a traditional descent.
- description and observation of fish
It's a great one-day adventure that offers something for everyone, as well as sailing on one of France's most beautiful rivers.
More info here : www.guideriviere.fr
